Cultural awareness crucial for youth’s growth: Ashok Koul
We must work together to build a drug-free & violence-free society: Darakhshan
PULWAMA: The social transformation programme “Aagaaz”—a step towards a better tomorrow—was successfully organized today at Eco Park, CB Nath Rajpora, by the Royal Youth Club Rajpora in collaboration with Awaam Ki Awaaz. The event saw prominent leaders and a large gathering of youth and citizens coming together to discuss social reforms and positive change initiatives within their community.
Ashok Koul, a senior leader, was the chief speaker at the event, while Dr. Syed Darakhshan Andrabi, Chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board, participated as the guest of honor. Among other distinguished speakers were social leader Arshid Bhat, Zaid Arif—Patron of the Royal Youth Club—and Ishfaq Bhat, Patron of Awaam Ki Awaaz. The gathering was filled with enthusiastic youth and prominent citizens from the area, all eager to contribute to the dialogue on societal progress.
In his address, Ashok Koul emphasized the importance of cultural awareness for the development of the youth. He highlighted the urgent need to mobilize young people to uphold the rich moral and cultural traditions of Jammu and Kashmir. “Our youth are facing enormous challenges amid social evils and materialistic pursuits,” he said. “It is essential to nurture a sense of belonging and respect for our traditions to build a resilient and morally grounded generation.”
Dr. Darakhshan Andrabi echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the region is now emerging from troubled times, thanks to recent political reforms. She stressed that everyone must play their part to harness the peace and development achieved under the leadership of the Prime Minister. “Together, we have to create a society free of drugs and violence,” she asserted. “We must safeguard our most valuable asset—our youth—from falling prey to the sinister designs of enemies aiming to destabilize our society.”
The programme provided a platform for the youth to express their views, and many participants lauded the initiative and the organizers for offering such a meaningful forum. Citizens actively engaged in the deliberations, underscoring the collective responsibility to foster social harmony and progress.
The event concluded with a shared commitment among all stakeholders to work collaboratively towards a brighter, more peaceful future for Pulwama and Jammu and Kashmir as a whole.