Srinagar, Jan 26: Jammu and Kashmir has honoured 56 individuals for distinguished service across public life, social reform, arts, sports, and national service during the Republic Day celebrations. The list of awardees reflected a wide spectrum of contributions, ranging from acts of bravery in the face of terrorism to sustained work in social development and cultural revival.
Among those recognised was Arhan Bagati, 26, the youngest recipient this year, whose work spans public policy, the Paralympic movement, cinema, and grassroots development in Jammu and Kashmir.
Bagati is widely known for his role in Indian para-sports, having served as India’s first and the world’s youngest Deputy Chef de Mission for the Indian contingent at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. He assumed the position at the age of 22, marking a first for India and drawing international attention for his leadership within the Paralympic ecosystem. Associated with the Paralympic Committee of India since 2014, he has worked as an Awareness and Impact Ambassador and contributed to athlete-support initiatives, including digital platforms designed to assist Indian para-athletes during major international competitions.
Beyond sports administration, Bagati has been closely involved in initiatives aimed at reshaping Kashmir’s socio-economic and cultural narrative. A Kashmiri Pandit by background, he is the founder of KYARI (Kashmir’s Yumberzal Applied Research Institute), a research-driven organisation working on education, sanitation, sustainable mobility, tourism, women’s economic empowerment, and youth welfare in the region.
Under KYARI, Kashmir hosted its first literary festival in over three decades, an event inaugurated by the Lieutenant Governor and attended by policymakers, writers, economists, and cultural figures from across the country.
Bagati has also played a visible role in efforts to revive film production in the Valley. He was a co-producer of the 2025 Hindi-language action thriller Ground Zero, starring Emraan Hashmi, and later served as an associate producer on the war film 120 Bahadur. His work facilitated the return of large-scale Hindi film productions to Kashmir after decades, involving extensive on-ground coordination with local stakeholders and security agencies. Industry observers have noted these projects as important confidence-building measures for positioning Kashmir as a viable and secure destination for creative and cultural industries.
Academically, Bagati has pursued an international education with a focus on governance and public leadership. He is an alumnus of Pomona College in the United States and has studied at the University of Cambridge. He is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Policy at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, with a stated focus on public policy challenges and institutional development in Jammu and Kashmir.
In 2026, he is also leading the India Trek, an academic and cultural exchange programme involving students from leading global universities, including Harvard and MIT. The initiative brings international students to different parts of India, with a significant focus on Jammu and Kashmir, to engage directly with the region’s history, culture, and contemporary realities.
Bagati’s writing and public engagement have appeared across national media platforms, where he frequently addresses issues related to national security, public policy, and Kashmir’s evolving socio-political landscape. His work has previously been recognised through national honours such as the Hindustan Times “30 Under 30 – Social Impact Leader” and the ET Indo Global Leaders Award for Excellence in Social Impact.
Officials said this year’s Republic Day honours sought to recognise sustained, long-term contributions rather than isolated achievements. Bagati’s inclusion, they noted, reflects the growing emphasis on youth-led leadership and multi-sectoral engagement in shaping Jammu and Kashmir’s future.
