Padmashri to Vishwamurti Shastri and Faisal Dar from J&K , Asghar Ali, Tsering Namgyal in Ladakh
JAMMU, JANUARY 25: Senior Congress leader and former chief minister of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir State, Ghulam Nabi Azad, besides a renowned Sanskrit Scholar from Jammu and a martial art coach in Kashmir among five people figured in the list of Padma awardees from the twin Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
Azad, who retired from Rajya Sabha as Leader of the Opposition last year, has been conferred Padma Bhushan for his contribution in the field of public affairs. Hailing from J&K’s Doda district, many in the Union Territory still remember him for accelerating development works in the erstwhile state during his less than three year tenure as Chief Minister.
Faisal Ali, who has been conferred Padma Shri for his contribution in the field of Sports, hails from Bandipora in Kashmir. He is a martial arts coach and many of the players trained by him have made a mark at the national level.
Vishwa Murti Shastri, another Padma Shree awardee, is a renowned Sanskrit Scholar. Hailing from Jammu, he is present Director of the Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Gurukul at Katra, member of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, apart from being former Principal of the Rashrtiya Sanskrit Sansthan, Jammu. He has been honoured for his contribution in the field of Literature and Education.
Meanwhile, in the Union Territory of Ladakh, Akhone Asgar Ali Basharat and Tsering Namgyal were conferred Padma Shri for their contribution in the field of Literature and Education, and Art respectively. While the former has got the honour in recognition to his services for the conservation and promotion of Balti language, the latter got it for contribution in wood crafting.
