Srinagar, May 31: The state government Thursday appointed noted writer and former Director Libraries, Archives Archaeology & Museums, Bashir Ahmad Bhat alias Khalid Bashir as the Secretary J&K Academy of Art Culture and Languages.
As per the orders issued here today, the government appointed Bashir as Secretary for a period of two years.
“As approved by the President, J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (Chief Minister) and in terms of Article 8 (a) of the Constitution of the Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, sanction is hereby accorded to the appointment of Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Special Scale KAS officer retired as Director Libraries, as Secretary, J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages for a period of two years,” the order says.
Bhat has held key positions in J&K government. Some of the posts he was heading include: Director Information & Public Relations, Director Archives, Archaeology & Museums, Director Libraries & Research, Special Secretary to Government, Housing & Urban Development Department, Media Officer to the Chief Minister, Joint Director, J&K Institute of Management, Public Administration & Rural Development, Publications Officer, Information Department and Editor, Information Department.
Bashir is a prolific writer and some of his prominent publications include: Sada-e-Neem Shab (Urdu), Jhelum - The River through My Backyard (English), Deeda-e-Aab-e-Rawan (Urdu), Khwaab Paarah (Urdu) and Kashmir Revisited (in hand).
Bhat has also penned the College Tarana of SP College – the first degree college of Kashmir – which was released on the Centenary Celebrations of the college in 2005.
His Urdu poetic collection, Sada-e-Neem Shab was awarded best book of the Year – 1984 by J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages. He was also awarded for his best book of the year-2010 for his Urdu book, Deeda-e-Aab-e-Rawan by J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages.
State’s literary and cultural circles have hailed the appointment of Bashir as the new Secretary.
The post of the Secretary, Cultural Academy was lying vacant following the completion of the tenure by Zafar Iqbal Manhas in August 2011.
The state government had setup a five member selection committee to select the new Secretary for the Academy. The committee was headed by senior National Conference leader and former Academy Secretary Muhammad Yousuf Taing with the then Secretary General Administration Department (GAD) Muhammad Syed Malik, Commissioner Secretary Atul Duloo, noted Kashmiri poet Rehman Rahi and former Secretary of the academy N D Sharma as its members.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 31 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 31 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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