KARGIL, JANUARY 25, 2022 (VoL Desk): The Home Ministry today announced the Padma Shri award to a renowned writer and poet from Kargil, Akhone Asgar Basharat and artist from Leh Tsering Namgyal among other Padma awards to 128 other people.

Secretary Padma Angmo, CEC Kargil Feroz Ahmad Khan, CEC Leh Tashi Gyaltson, Deputy Commissioner Kargil, Santosh Sukhadeve, President AJUIAK Sheikh Nazir Mehdi among others have congratulated both the awardees on their achievement.

Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC Kargil, Feroz Ahmad Khan congratulated Basharat on tweeter. “A very experienced & nuanced writer Akhone Asgar Basharat from Kargil has been conferred with Padma Shri Award 2022. On behalf of the people of Kargil, I congratulate him & salute his dedication. This is the result of his lifelong passion for literature”, maintained a tweet by LAHDC Kargil on behalf of the CEC.

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Pertinent to mention that Shri Tsering Namgyal from Hinju village, Wanla of Leh district is the second person this year to get Padma Shri from Ladakh in the field of Art. Namgyal has been bestowed upon with the prestigious Padma Shri award for his immense contribution in the field of Woodcraft.

Basharat is a renowned author of the Balti language hailing from the picturesque village of Karkitchoo in Kargil. In his more than 50 years of a writing career, he has compiled and published three books. He has also authored two books.

As a compiler, he has compiled Guldasta-eNajaat, a book of Balti Masnavi and Behra Taweel; Muhzinul Bukaa collection of Bati Marsia and Noha; Raaah E Behasht, a collection of poetry of old Balti poets including some works of Persian poets as well.

Apart from compilation works, Basharat has also authored two poetry books titled Guldastae Basharat and Bazme Basharat. He has also remained associated with All India Radio, Kargil station for a long time. He is also known for his poetry on local issues.

The Padma awards are one of the highest civilian awards in the country. 128 people have been honoured this year with the Awards that are conferred in three categories – Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.

These awards are conferred by the President at ceremonial functions held at his official residence – the Rashtrapati Bhawan – around March or April each year.

India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, who died last month in a horrific chopper crash, has been honoured posthumously with Padma Vibhushan – the country’s second-highest civilian award.

Vaccine makers – Cyrus Poonawalla of the Serum Institue and Krishna Ella and Suchitra Ella of Bharat Biotech – have been honoured with Padma Bhushan.

The heads of tech giants Microsoft and Google Satya Nadella and Sundar Pichai have been named for the Padma Bhushan honours.

Singer Sonu Nigam and Olympic gold-medallist Neeraj Chopra have been honoured with a Padma Shri.