2 Oct :The Government of India have decided to confer the Kabir Puraskar (Grade-III) for the year 2008 on Shri Abdul Gani Abdullabhai Qureishi S/o Shri Abdullabhai Ahmedbhai Qureishi r/o Qureshi Manjil, Mill Road, Yakutpura, Vadodara, Gujarat and Shri Ghulam Ahmed Bhat S/o Shri Mohd. Akbar Bhat r/o Hokletri Khan-sahib, Budgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
On 1.5.2006, Vadodara City witnessed widespread communal riots following demolition of a Dargah near Champaner Darwaja. In the ongoing communal violence, two people had lost their life at the same spot. A large violent mob of Muslims had assembled there and two Hindu families in two vehicles passing through that area got caught in the mob fury. Shri Qureishi without caring for his safety, displaying exemplary physical courage, entered the mob riding on his scooter. Braving the stones pelted by the mob, Shri Qureishi stood there firmly and valiantly rescued both the vehicles with their Hindu occupants from fury of the mob. But for this brave act on the part of Shri Qureishi, these persons would have suffered severe casualty. Again on 26.5.2007, one Kalpesh Madhusudan Pawar of Vadodara had gone to Reshamwala Khancha in Yakutpura. Shri Kalpesh would have been hacked to death that night by a violent armed mob of Muslim youth. Shri Qureishi came to know about the plight of this hapless Hindu boy. Without caring for his life, Shri Qureishi barged into the riotous mob. Bearing blows of lathis on his own body, he rescued Kalpesh Madhusudan Pawar, informed the local police station immediately and ensured his safe retrieval and passage to the Police Station. Shri Qureishi displaying rare physical and moral courage, saved the life of a Hindu boy from a fanatic mob. Shri Qureishi risked his own life and body for this act.
In March, 1997, militants attacked villages Sangranpora, Budgam in Jammu & Kashmir in which 7 Pandits were killed. Shri Ghulam Ahmed Bhat reached the spot even before the police and he stood guard for whole of the night saving rest of the family members. On the day following the massacre, Shri Bhat cremated the deceased persons without caring for his own life. Shri Bhat also helped their family members in completing legal formalities required for getting the compensation. Defying the militants ‘ threat, Shri Bhat has all along helped the victims of terrorism. Shri Bhat has great respect for human values and for maintaining communal harmony in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
Kabir Puraskar is a National Award Instituted by Government of India for recognizing the acts of Physical/Moral Courage displayed by a member of one caste, community or ethnic group in saving the lives and properties of member(s) of another caste, community or ethnic group during caste, community or ethnic violence. The Award carries cash amount of Rs. 50,000.