Excellence in coop sector, media awards to be presented on April 21

The legacy of late Thakur Ved Ram, a visionary who pioneered the cooperative movement in the handloom sector both at the national and international levels, will once again be celebrated through Thakur Ved Ram National Awards 2024-25. The prestigious award ceremony is set to take place on April 21 at the Bhuttico Auditorium in Kullu, as announced by Bhuttico chairman and former Horticulture Minister Satya Prakash Thakur.

Satya Prakash said that the Bhuttico Board of Management had finalised the list of awardees for this year, recognising individuals who had made remarkable contributions to diverse fields. This year, the International Award for Cooperative Sector would be presented to Shambhu Prasad Ghimre of Kathmandu, Nepal, in honour of his exceptional work at the global level in promoting cooperative values.

At the national level, Mahadev Palsana of Rajasthan and Sukhram Bhunlang of Kullu would be awarded for their noteworthy efforts in strengthening India’s cooperative sector. In the weaving sector, Bimla Mal of Chamoli in Uttarakhand, along with Beli Singh Newal and Chandermani of Kullu, would be felicitated for their outstanding skills and dedication to the craft.

Media professionals would also be recognised during the ceremony. The late Subhash Sharma National Award for Excellence in Electronic Media would be conferred upon Pankaj Bhargav of IndiaTV, while Aditya Kant Sharma of The Statesman, Chandigarh, will receive the award for excellence in print media. Celebrated author SR Harnot of Shimla would be honoured for his significant contributions to Hindi literature.

Further, the Purohit Chander Shekhar Bebas Lok Sahitya National Award would be presented to Nem Chand Thakur of Arki in Solan district. The Chand Kullvi Lal Chand Prarthi Pahari Kala Sanskriti National Award would go to Ramdev Kapoor, a retired District Public Relations Officer of Lahaul, for his work in preserving and promoting Pahari art and culture.

In recognition of their efforts in promoting Pahari language and traditions, Yadav Kishore Gautam of Nalagarh in Solan and Virender Veer of Jawalamukhi in Kangra would be felicitated with Thakur Molu Ram Pahari Bhasha Aur Sanskriti National Award. Besides, Satpal Bhatnagar of Kullu and Sudarshan Vashisht of Shimla would be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement National Award for their lifelong service and impact in their respective fields.

The award celebrations would be accompanied by cultural programmes. A kavi sammelan would be held on April 19 in the memory of poet Purohit Chandershekhar, featuring prominent poets from across the region. The poetic evening would be graced by former Naib Tehsildar and acclaimed Pahari singer Dharmender Sharma, who would be the chief guest of the event.

On April 21, a Chand Kullvi Lal Chand Prarthi Cultural Evening would be organised to celebrate the richness of Pahari art and tradition. Charu Prarthi would be the chief guest of the event while former Customs Officer Sonam would be a special guest.

Satya Prakash said that Thakur Ved Ram National Awards were a proud tradition aimed at preserving the memory and ideals of the Bhuttico founder.

Himachal Tribune