Srinagar, Nov 23: Kashmir based journalists today organised a blood donation camp at Kashmir Press Club (KPC) in memory of their colleagues who have left for heavenly abode in the recent past.
During the camp, 45 journalists donated blood. On the occasion, speakers paid rich tributes to journalists Muddasir Ali, Javed Ahmad, Shahid Bukhari and others who died at a very young age.
“The event was organised to reinforce the fellow feeling among Kashmiri journalists who have been working in difficult circumstances,” senior journalist Riyaz Masroor said.
Speaking on the occasion, freelance journalist Jehangir Ali, the brother of deceased journalist Muddasir Ali said: “My brother always strived to help the newcomers and budding journalists. He trained them to be critical without losing a sense of objectivity and owned their successes as well as their failures.”
“Muddasir left this world without putting any burden on us, but there are some families of our departed journalists who are looking for an institutional response to the social and economic crisis they find themselves in. There should be a mechanism or a body which would look into these issues,” he said.
Journalist Hakeem Irfan said that “journalists like Muddasir Ali upheld the basic principles of integrity and telling truth. We are duty bound to follow their principles.”
Journalist Riyaz Malik said that more such events should be organised where the journalist fraternity can remember the journalists who have left for heavenly abode.
“We must organize such events wherein we can remember and pay tributes to our deceased colleagues. We should organize award ceremonies named after these deceased journalists, organize a series of lectures in their honour,” Malik said.
He added that journalists must also work out a strategy and plan wherein journalist fraternity is enabled to extend financial assistance to the families of deceased scribes.
“We have to take these initiatives today so that tomorrow it would be easier for future journalists to carry on this legacy,” he said.
Paying tributes to deceased journalist Javaid Ahmad, journalist Irfan Yatoo said that Javaid was a wonderful human. “I have learnt a lot from him and in fact, I consider him my mentor as he edited my first copy.” Journalist Neyaz Elahi paid rich tributes to Shahid Bukhari. “Bukhari was a noble soul and helpful person,” he said.
The journalist fraternity thanked the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir for providing their technical support.
Meanwhile, Srinagar Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu also donated blood during the camp. Later, he also paid tributes to the deceased journalists, posting on Twitter: “Visited the Kashmir Press Club in Srinagar today and donated blood as our friends in the media honoured the memory of their colleagues who passed away in recent years (sic).”