Charar Sharif, OCT 5: Chairperson of the J&K Waqf Board, Dr. Syed Darakhshan Andrabi, was honoured with the prestigious “Hazrat Sheikh-ul-Alam Award” at a ceremony organised by Kashmir Markaz Adab wa Saqafat at the Sheikh-ul-Alam Conference Hall here on Sunday.

The award recognised her contribution towards the preservation and promotion of Kashmiri culture and the Rishi tradition.
Renowned writers, poets, intellectuals and social activists, including Dr. G.N. Haleem, Syed Mohammad Hussain Haqqani, Ghulam Nabi Adfar, Dr. Owais Matoo, Asim Asadi, Haji Younis, Abdul Rasheed Matoo, Bilal Ahmad, Mohammad Shafi, Mohammad Amin, Sajjad Ahmad and Advocate Owais Ashraf, attended the event.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Andrabi said she has authored 16 books in Kashmiri and Urdu. Recalling her literary journey, she credited writer Inayat Gul for mentoring her since Class 12.
“I am very happy to receive this award from Kashmir Markaz Adab wa Saqafat,” she said, recalling that the organisation had honoured her with the “Khalat-e-Noor” award in 2012 when she was a student.
Zahoor Ahmad Shah, Imran Ali Shah, Nasir Ahmad and Mohammad Siddiq Ganai, among others, appreciated Andrabi’s literary contributions and commitment to cultural preservation.
Asim Asadi read the citation and highlighted the organisation’s literary and cultural activities, while the programme was anchored by Inayat Gul. Syed Mohammad Hussain Haqqani presented Naatiya Kalam on the occasion.