Thakur Ved Ram awards to honour excellence in cooperative sector
The legacy of Late Thakur Ved Ram, a pioneer of the cooperative movement in the handloom sector, will once again be celebrated through the Thakur Ved Ram National Awards 2024-25. The prestigious award ceremony will be held on April 21 at the Bhuttico Auditorium in Kullu, as announced by Bhuttico chairman and former Horticulture Minister Satya Prakash Thakur.
The Bhuttico Board of Management has finalised the list of awardees for this year, honouring individuals who have made exceptional contributions across a range of fields. The International Award for the Cooperative Sector will be conferred upon Shambhu Prasad Ghimre of Kathmandu, Nepal, for his outstanding global work in promoting cooperative values.
At the national level, Mahadev Palsana from Rajasthan and Sukhram Bhunlang from Kullu will be recognised for their dedicated efforts to strengthen India’s cooperative sector. In the weaving category, Bimla Mal from Chamoli village in Uttarakhand, along with Beli Singh Newal and Chandermani from Kullu, will be felicitated for their craftsmanship and commitment to the handloom industry.
The awards also acknowledge excellence in media. Pankaj Bhargav of IndiaTV will receive the Late Subhash Sharma National Award for Excellence in Electronic Media, while Aditya Kant Sharma of The Statesman, Chandigarh, will be honoured for his work in print journalism.
Renowned author SR Harnot from Shimla will be felicitated for his valuable contributions to Hindi literature. The Purohit Chander Shekhar Bebas Lok Sahitya National Award will be presented to Nem Chand Thakur of Arki, Solan, for his literary work in folk literature.
The Chand Kullvi Lal Chand Prarthi Pahari Kala Sanskriti National Award will go to Ramdev Kapoor, a retired District Public Relations Officer from Lahaul, for his dedication to preserving Pahari art and culture. Additionally, Yadav Kishore Gautam of Nalagarh and Virender Veer of Jawalamukhi will be honoured with the Thakur Molu Ram Pahari Bhasha Aur Sanskriti National Award for promoting Pahari language and traditions.
The Lifetime Achievement National Award will be conferred upon Satpal Bhatnagar of Kullu and Sudarshan Vashisht of Shimla, in recognition of their lifelong service in their respective fields.
On April 19, a Kavi Sammelan will be held in memory of poet Purohit Chander Shekhar, featuring prominent regional poets. The event will be graced by poet and singer Dharmender Sharma as chief guest. On April 21, a Chand Kullvi Lal Chand Prarthi Cultural Evening will showcase Pahari art and tradition, with Charu Prarthi as chief guest and Sonam, a former Customs Officer, as special guest.
Himachal Tribune