Srinagar, July 28: J&K Innovative Foundation for Transforming Society (J&KIFFTS) on Wednesday organized Best Columnist Award Function – 2021 at Hotel Shahen-Shah Palace here in Srinagar wherein eminent writers and columnists were awarded citations and mementoes.
The function was attended by Professor Mohammad Amin Malik as Chief Guest, JK Fiction Writers Guild’s Syed Wehshi as Guest of Honor, Chairman JK RTI Movement Raja Muzaffar Bhat, Chairman J&KIFFTS Dr Tasaduq Hussain Itoo, besides limited participation of young writers and columnists across the valley keeping the pandemic situation into account.
Speaking at the occasion, J&KIFFTS Chairman Dr Tasaduq Hussain Itoo threw light over the aim and objective of the forum. “The name of the forum itself describes everything that it is meant for?” Dr Tasaduq said.
He said the forum works for creating awareness related to education, health and motivational training programs among youth. He also said that developmental programs about youth is among the topmost priorities of the forum meant for the transformation of society.
“Besides several initiatives, writers council is one of the aspects whose purpose is to encourage the potential of writing among youngsters”, Dr Tasaduq said and added, “The writers are the cream of the society and they are considered the vital tool to revolutionize the society as their pen creates a huge impact on the lives of people”.
While continuing Dr Tasaduq said that J&KIFFTS has launched mental-cum-de addiction programs among youngsters who are indulged in the drug trade. He said during the pandemic the forum was not inactive but carried awareness programs among the public. He also said that today’s function is an honour for us to appreciate the works of those writers and columnists who impacted the minds of people through their writings.
Professor Mohammad Amin Malik who was Chief Guest at the occasion while addressing the gathering hailed the efforts of Chairman J&KIFFTS.
He said good endeavours demand collateral support to impact society so we all have to provide wholehearted support to the Chairman of the forum to make this initiative a successful one.
Terming writers, columnists, activists and philosophers “intellectuals” of the society, Prof Malik said that if we wish to bring out society from present trauma like rising suicides and drug abuse those having pen in their hands should come forward and address the emerging challenges so that the structure of society can be saved.
He urged youngsters to embrace science and technology to come out from mental trauma and appealed to them to make it a priority to take the mission ahead. “We have to make our education system stronger but it is possible only when our writers come to know the worth of pen in their hands and shape the future of the nation," he said.
He also appealed to participants to stand up against the social evils that are detrimental to our dignified survival.
During the function, the Guest of Honor Wehshi Sayeed stressed upon writers to address mental health and drug addiction issues. He termed it a “big problem” that has emerged in Kashmir valley recently.
He urged upon the forum that if you can bring back a hundred people only from the drug trade, it will be a big contribution towards society.
Raja Muzaffar Bhat, J&K RTI Movement hailed the effort of the forum, saying the Chairman should be encouraged for roping different people on a single platform. He said a writer or a columnist is a “voice of society” and he should represent the aspirations of society in an uncompromised way.
He urged the participants to continue their write-ups and rake up the issues that society is facing. “We have a pen in hand and we should know how to use it in nation-building?”.
Before the function culminated, several writers and columnists including Prof. Mohammad Amin Malik, Raja Muzaffar Bhat, Mohammad Arshid Dar, Wehshi Sayeed and others were awarded and were given mementoes.