‘Lal Ded united divided minds’

Pune, Jan 27: The philosophy of Lal Ded, the 14th century Kashmiri mystic poet unites divided minds, the speakers at this year’s Lal Ded National Award said in Pune on Saturday.

On the occasion of the 8th Lal Ded National Award distribution on behalf of Sarhad, Pune, the speakers were all praise for the philosophy of Lal Ded also known as Lalla Aarifa and Lalleshwari, a Kashmiri mystic poetry.

Lal Ded National Award 2024 was bestowed upon Nirupama Kotru, an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer from the 1992 batch.

Minister for Higher and Technical Education, Maharashtra, Chandrakant Patil presented the award to Kotru at the Navalmal Firodia Auditorium in Bhandarkar Institute.

The award comprises a cash prize of Rs 51000, a memento, a citation, and books.

Speaking on the occasion, Patil said: “During the period when Lal Ded was prominent in Kashmir, the tradition of saints was flourishing in Maharashtra. Saints like Namdev and Dnyaneshwar worked towards creating social awareness. From Lalleshwari to Sheikh Nooruddin Noordani (RA), also known as Nund Reshi, saint poets played a significant role in fostering the tradition of harmony in Kashmir. A similar role was performed by the saints of Maharashtra. This signifies that the tradition of unity and harmony was being shared even during those times.”

Senior industrialist Abhay Firodia said that in Indian culture, as well as in all religions, the principle of values is deeply rooted.

“If we aim to provide the right direction to society, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to values and principles,” he said. “The importance of value-based thinking has been acknowledged in Indian culture. Religion serves as a means of cultivating values, and all religions emphasise the importance of value cultivation. When a person’s actions are grounded in values, they contribute positively not only to themselves but also to society as a whole. Lal Ded spent her life promoting these values, which served as a unifying force.”

GST Additional Commissioner Jasmit Singh Dhandra highlighted the connection between Maharashtra and Kashmir in his speech, emphasising that Lal Ded’s philosophy was not confined to tradition, making it relevant even today for uniting divided minds.

“Coordination is the essence of Kashmiri culture, which significantly influences the region's personality,” he said.

This year’s recipient, Nirupama Kotru, has been serving in the IRS since 1992.

In her heartfelt acceptance speech, Kotru thanked Sarhad Pune for the honour bestowed upon her.

She recalled her profound connection with Kashmir during her years of dedicated service.

Quoting a verse of Lal Ded, Kotru elucidated its profound meaning, emphasising that lord Shiva pervades every being and particle, transcending the differences between Hindu and Muslim religions.

She recounted that Lal Ded’s spiritual quest was rooted in the pursuit of self-discovery and unity with the divine.

“The power of self-identity is evident in art, literature, and culture, which was highlighted through a quote from Lal Ded. Every individual is a part of a culture, and it aids in understanding one's purpose. I don't view my work merely as a job; instead, it is a passion. It provides an opportunity for self-discovery and learning, which is why I have gained invaluable experiences from my involvement in theatre, art, and dance within the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,” Kotru said.

Founder President of Sarhad, Pune, Sanjay Nahar had announced the initiation of an award in Lal Ded's name, exclusively for Kashmiri women making national-level contributions.

During the award ceremony, Nahar said that the award conferred to Nirupama Kotru was the 8th Lal Ded National Award.

He said that the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th awards, which were not conferred during public ceremonies due to the COVID-19 pandemic and unforeseen circumstances, would soon be presented to the recipients at a ceremony in Pune.

Padmashri Prankishor Kaul and Shailesh Pagaria also attended the programme.

Sachi More moderated the programme while Shailesh Wadekar delivered the vote of thanks.