New Delhi, Feb 08: A historic one- day seminar titled “Sufi Saint and Statesman: The Life and Legacy of Padma Bhushan Mian Bashir Ahmad Larvi” was organized at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). The auditorium of the School of Social Sciences was packed to capacity, reflecting the deep interest and reverence for the towering personality of Mian Bashir Ahmad Larvi.

The seminar was organized under the banner of the Gujjar Bakerwal Tribal Academic Forum, JNU, under the leadership of Assistant Professor Dr. Naseeb Ali Choudhary. Hon’ble Member of Parliament Mian Altaf Ahmad Larvi graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, while eminent educationist Prof. Ahmad Qadoos Javed presided over the session. Distinguished academic and former Vice- Chancellor of the University of Jammu, and Dean at JNU, Prof. Amitabh Mattoo, attended as a special guest.

Welcoming the dignitaries and participants, Dr. Naseeb Ali Choudhary expressed gratitude for their presence. In his inaugural address, Prof. Amitabh Mattoo described Mian Bashir Ahmad
Larvi as a people-centric leader, noting that he was not only a distinguished politician but also a refined literary personality with a deep interest in intellectual and cultural pursuits. Sharing his personal interactions, he highlighted Mian Sahib’s vision, simplicity, compassion for the poor, patriotism, and commitment to social harmony.

Chief Guest Mian Altaf Ahmad Larvi stated that Baba Mian Bashir Ahmad Larvi made the principles of humanity the central mission of his life and always advised others to follow the same path. He distanced himself from any activity that could lead to injustice, oppression, division, or despair among the people. He recalled that Mian Sahib resigned early from the position of Zaildar as he opposed the oppressive nature of the system and strongly advocated for its abolition.

He further emphasized Mian Sahib’s deep affection for his community, mentioning that he regularly visited Gujjar populations across different states of the country.

He described his lifelong service to the Naqshbandi Sufi order as a spiritual mission promoting humanity, brotherhood, honesty, compassion for the poor, devotion to God, and love for the Prophet, beyond caste or social distinctions.

In public life, he remained steadfast in his principles and worked tirelessly for the welfare of marginalized communities- whether it was securing Scheduled Tribe status, initiating Gojri radio broadcasts, expanding educational opportunities, or establishing hostels for Gujjar students. In recognition of his multifaceted social, political, and humanitarian services, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan on January 26, 2008.

In his keynote address, noted writer and broadcaster Hassan Perwaz highlighted the multidimensional personality of Mian Bashir Ahmad Larvi, describing him as a spiritually accomplished Sufi with clarity of vision, moral integrity, and unwavering commitment to truth and service.

He spoke about his disciplined spiritual life, compassion for the underprivileged, and deep attachment to literature. His habit of diary writing, later published under the title “Yaad-e-Raftagan” by Mian Altaf Ahmad Larvi, was described as a valuable historical resource for scholars.

The keynote also highlighted his political journey, noting that he won the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections four consecutive times, including his victory from Budhal (Rajouri) in 1983, before voluntarily retiring from politics in 1987. The address further underlined the continued public trust in the family’s legacy, reflected in Mian Altaf Ahmad Larvi’s multiple electoral victories and his recent success in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from the Rajouri-Poonch- Anantnag constituency.

The political prominence of the fourth generation was also noted with the election of Mian Mehr Ali from Kangan.

Dr. Ibrahim Misbahi presented a detailed analysis of Mian Sahib’s spiritual life, focusing on his journey through the stages of spiritual realization.

In his presidential address, Prof. Ahmad Qadoos Javed observed that the seminar clearly demonstrated that Mian Bashir Ahmad Larvi was not only a great figure for his own community but an inspiring personality for people across all sections of society. He stressed the need to understand and follow his principles as a true tribute. He also strongly advocated for the inclusion of the Gojri language in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution to promote its literary and cultural growth.

Among the distinguished participants were Prof. Mohammad Khwaja Ikrāmuddin and Prof. Sanjeev Kumar Sharma from the School of Social Sciences, JNU; Dr. Abdul Hakim Choudhary from AIIMS; and several other eminent personalities. A large number of scholars, students, and community members attended the seminar, including a significant participation from the Hindu Gujjar community.

The seminar concluded with a vote of thanks, acknowledging the efforts of Dr. Naseeb Ali Choudhary and his team for organizing a meaningful and memorable academic event in the national capital.

Mumbai, Feb 08: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said the Sangh had asked him to continue working despite his age, while stressing that he would step down from the post whenever the organisation directs him to do so.

He also said that the person heading the Sangh will always be a Hindu, irrespective of his caste, with the top post going to the best available candidate.

“There is no election to the post of RSS chief. Regional and divisional heads appoint the chief. Generally, it is said that after turning 75, one should work without holding any post,” Bhagwat said.

He was responding to questions during an interactive session with attendees here at a programme to mark the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) centenary.

“I have completed 75 years and informed the RSS, but the organisation asked me to continue working. Whenever the RSS asks me to step down, I will do so, but retirement from work will never happen,” he said.

The RSS does not have community-based representation, and volunteers rise through ranks based on their work, Bhagwat said, adding that the RSS chief has to be a Hindu, irrespective of caste.

He pointed out that when the RSS was founded, its work began in a Brahmin-dominated community and hence, most of its founders were Brahmins, which led to the organisation being labelled as a Brahmin outfit at the time.

People always look for an organisation that has representatives from their community, he said.

Bhagwat said he could not give a definite answer on whether the Sangh head would be from the SC or ST background, as the decision rests with those who appoint the chief.

“If I were to choose a chief, I would go by the ‘best available candidate’ criterion. When I was appointed RSS chief, there were many best candidates, but they were not available. I was the one who could be relieved from duties and appointed,” he said.

He said that to belong to the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe communities is not a disqualification, and neither is being a Brahmin a qualification to become the RSS chief.

The RSS chief further said situations could be supportive or adverse, and there was no need to dwell excessively on them.

“What we need to think about is finding solutions rather than focusing on problems. As long as truth does not come forward, illusion remains effective,” he added.

In a lighter vein, Bhagwat said the organisation “extracts work till the last drop of blood from its volunteer” and maintained that there had not yet been a situation in the RSS’s history where someone had to be retired.

Bhagwat said the Sangh’s work was about inculcating “sanskar” (values) and not about campaigning.

“We have lagged behind in promoting ourselves. Excessive campaigning leads to publicity and then arrogance. One needs to protect oneself from it. Publicity should be like rainfall, adequate in timing and quantity,” he said, adding that the RSS was carrying out outreach initiatives.

Bhagwat further said that English would never be the medium of communication in RSS functioning, as it was not an Indian language. “We want to work with Indians. Wherever English is necessary, we use it. We are not averse to it,” he said.

He said people should be able to speak English in such a manner that native English speakers would be willing to listen. “We should master English, but that does not mean we forget our mother tongue,” Bhagwat said.

Recalling a similar interaction in Bengaluru, he said representatives from several southern states could not understand Hindi, and he had responded to their queries in English.

He added that while interacting with the Indian diaspora abroad, communication was done either in Hindi or the mother tongue, depending on whether they were from English-speaking or non-English-speaking countries.

Asked about the work of Sangh volunteers in Muslim communities despite resistance, Bhagwat said that if both sides oppose each other, there would only be confrontation, and no work can be done.

He asserted that the RSS does not target any caste or community but works geographically.

“If an area has a population of 10,000, we try to work there. Once we spread geographically, all classes and communities will be reached. If you look at the top circle of the RSS, most communities have representation,” he said.

Bhagwat said the RSS believes in exposing corruption and supports anyone fighting against it.

“Our volunteers are told to support those who fight corruption. The RSS is in favour of strict laws and legislation against corruption and will support action against corrupt people,” he said.

He said corruption lies in people’s minds and not in the system.

“There are people who corrupt the system and some who improve it,” he added.

Mumbai, Feb 08: The Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department participated in OTM Mumbai 2026, held at the Jio World Convention Centre in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai, from February 5 to 7. The department’s presence proved to be a major highlight of the event and a significant success, officials said .

According to an official statement, the pavilion, under the leadership of Director Tourism Kashmir, Syed Qamar Sajad (JKAS), achieved significant visibility and impact at the event. “His continuous guidance, tireless efforts, and day-to-day involvement played a key role in making the department’s participation highly successful.”.

Other visiting officers, including officials from the J&K Tourist Office Mumbai, also remained actively engaged throughout the event, interacting extensively with exhibitors, trade professionals, and stakeholders, the statement said.

“The Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Pavilion, with its mesmerising and aesthetically captivating design, stood out as the centre of attraction at OTM Mumbai-2026. In addition to the pavilion, J&K Tourism branding at the International Pavilion and exclusive lanyard branding created significant buzz across the venue.” the statement said.

The overall presence was so impactful that it gave the impression that OTM Mumbai-2026 was predominantly dedicated to the promotion of Jammu and Kashmir Tourism, it reads.

The pavilion witnessed an impressive footfall, attracting a large number of national and international exhibitors, travel professionals, and tourism stakeholders. Many international visitors even enquired about the geographical identity of Jammu and Kashmir, reflecting the strong global curiosity and interest generated by the pavilion. Numerous travel and tourism stakeholders visited the pavilion and held meaningful interactions and meetings with the visiting officers, it added.

The pavilion further showcased interactive exhibitor engagements, trade meetings, and a virtual reality (VR) experience for visitors. The display of Kashmiri classical musical instruments and traditional handicrafts such as Paper Machie added immense cultural charm and authenticity, enhancing the overall appeal of the pavilion.

The statement said that all co-exhibitors representing Jammu and Kashmir Tourism expressed high satisfaction with the Department’s well-planned marketing strategies, the beautifully designed pavilion, and the disciplined and professional networking environment maintained throughout the event.

The statement further said that overall, the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Pavilion remained the centre of attraction and recorded a very encouraging response. It is strongly hoped that this successful participation will translate into significant tourism growth for Jammu and Kashmir in the upcoming season,”