J&K jurno gets international award (Person of The year 2013) in Journalism-Bravery

NEW DELHI: Gates & Custodian awarding body India and United Kingdom handed over an international award ( Person of The year 2013 Award) for accomplishment to Jammu and Kashmir based Journalist, Ajmer Alam Wani in Journalism Bravery Category. The is an International Award for accomplishments and was presented by Member Parliament Rajya Sabha, Mohsina Kidwai at India Islamic Culture Centre New Delhi.   

Among other distinguished guests, prominent were Film Star Sushant Singh, Film Star Rati Agnihotri and Safdar H Khan, Chairman Delhi Minority Commission.  Dancer Sudarshan Sahu, DIG Lucknow Navniet Sikera,Golfer Neelam Pratap Rudy, Ms. Iran Mallika Amina,Wrestler Sushil Kumar, Singer Manoj Tiwari. Mohsina Kidwai MP Rajya Sabha, Rashi Anand, Poonam Anand NGO Lakshaym.The special attraction of the awards being was “Capt Vijyant Thapar Bravery Award” in the honor of the Kargil War Hero who laid down his life at the age of 22. The award was bestowed on the winner by the parents of slain hero.

 

Besides Ajmer Alam Wani, Editor-in-Chief, of JK Monitor, receipent of Person of the Year Award in Journalism Bravery category, Others who received the award included, Melica Amina Miss IRAN 2009 CG Intel New York City (International).  Sushil Kumar (Sports) -He is an Indian World Champion wrestler who won Gold Medal in 66 kg, free style competition at the FIFA 2010 World Wrestling Championship, besides many other medals, he received Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2009, India's Honour for sports-persons.

Actor Rajeev Bhardwaj in (Television-Male), Prof AK Sengupta (Education-Economist), He is Pro-Vice Chancellor and senior professor at the University of Lucknow. He has worked as consultant for World Bank and United Nations Development Proghramme.  Sandeep Marwah (Film-Promotion), He is Director an Asian Academy of Film and Television and Asian School of Media Studies, Marwah a renowned international media person, founder of Film City Noida, Producer of 1800 largest number of short films in the World, teacher to 12000 media professionals from 92 countries, Tibor Kovacs, Director Hungarian Information and Cultural Centre and Cultural Consellor- Embassy of Hungary.  Comedian Rajeev Malohatra, and some other TV personalities.  

Sumita Dass, CEO Award function says “The Gates and Custodian person of the year award is the result of private initiative and desired of the cultural, social and community support. The award was a prize and philosophy at the same time. We honored people, characterized by directness, openness, humanity and tolerance. “Person of the Year” has proven to be a riser who has shown the will to achieve outstandingly for the community & environment”.

 

The Gates and Custodian person of the year award is the result of private initiative and desired of the cultural, social and community support. The award was a prize and philosophy at the same time. We honored people, characterized by directness, openness, humanity and tolerance. “Person of the Year” has proven to be a riser who has shown the will to achieve outstandingly for the community & environment.

Meanwhile, Anshum Anand, Country head Gates ETH Foundation hosted and unveiled his dream project as Actor Sushant Singh Actress Rati Agnihotri Neera Sareen and Anshum Anand Person of the Year Award and unveiling of his dream project as Project Bhaavini. Gates Education, Training & Healthcare Foundation (Known as Gates ETH Foundation), strive to provide education, healthcare & vocational training support to girls and women from underprivileged families within India.

This award is given annually to a person that demonstrates exceptional courage & devotion to the cause. It is a prestigious honour that serves to recognize the best of the best within our society. While choosing Ajmer Alam Wani as the recipient, several things were considered including leadership and character. What set Ajmer Alam Wani apart from other candidates was his ability to take charge of stressful situations and responsible behavior while reporting from terrosirm trouble Jammu and Kashmir and highlighting the problems of rural people.

His recent contribution towards the society was to expose the examination fees over charging nexus and unearth the scam in Doda district which forced the Education Department to return the extra charged money to students which was collected from over 10, 000 students and amounted in lakhs.

He is visionary, strategist and tactician with consistent record of delivering extraordinary results, dedicated to fostering and achieving excellence and maintaining high professional ethics and standards. Offering a gratifying career span of around 13 years in print, and electronic media and internet journalism. Possess strong editing, proofreading and research abilities using a wide range of sources gained through professional exposure. Possess rich exposure in the field of writing/editing reports, political stories, industry profiles, features, human interest articles on environment, crime, human rights, education etc. and developing content for mainstream media & local media, business periodicals etc.

He has keen sense of the print media, matured outlook on coverage, analysis with an intuitive talent for connecting with the target audience. Proven track record in journalism and editing coupled with strong news sense, sound judgment and excellent attention to detail and well versed with internet journalism (site updating), blogging, social networking. Was felicitated with the Safder Hashmi Memorial Award for Journalism (2003) besides received Letter of appreciation from former Chief Minister (CM) Mufti Mohammed Sayeed for reporting the rural issues/problems and highlighting the problems faced by the people of trouble torn state of Jammu and Kashmir in respect to the ongoing militancy.

BACKGROUND:
Ajmer Alam Wani, was born in a far flung village Geosti in Chiralla area of Tehsil Thathri in district Doda of Jammu and Kashmir state on August 14, 1976. Being from a middle class family, he completed in basic education from a Government School, which was not having own building and at that time was running in a open ground under open sky bearing the heat of direct sun and during rainy season, getting wet which many times resulted in fever to him and his other class mates.

Being son of a government Teacher, he used to study at home but in the absence of electricity as the entire area that time was without electricity connections. After completing his primary education from Government Primary School Geosti, he took admission in Government High School (Sewa) Chiralla. He used to walk 8 kilometres daily on foot to reach the school and same distance after the school timing to reach home as the area is still unconnected by road. He used to take part in debates and was quite active in games and other extracurricular activities.

After completing his 8th class examination he went to Government Higher Secondary School Doda where he completed his class 9th and 10th. He was average students in studies but active in other activities. He was fan of nature and pet animals. And tamed dogs, cats, and some birds at home. He was a great lover of nature and planted many flowers and trees around his house which are now fully grown. He was great lover of green gold and since his child hood stood against the felling, cutting of green trees and rose many a times against the encroachments of forest land and was against the conversion of forest land into agriculture land. With the spurt of active militancy in the state and in the his native village, he went to Aligarh in year 1992, and faced the entrance test and took admission in class 11th in Aligarh Muslim University and till completing his graduation (B.Com Hons) in the year 1998 he remained there as a regular student. In addition to his studies, he took part in many games and debates. In the year 1998, he applied for admission for M.Com in University of Jammu in Jammu and completed his post graduation in the year, 2001.

During the same period he joined evening classes and also completed his Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication form Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan’s Jammu Centre. In addition to pursuing his Post Graduate Studies in Commerce, he also appeared in the Civil Services Examination (KAS) conducted by the Jammu Kashmir Public Service Commission and cleared the preliminary examination and then after cleared mains examinations also. Though he appeared in the interview (final stage) but due to lack of properguidance he could not do well and fell short of few marks thus could not got selected.

After completing his Post graduation, he joined a local news paper Kashmir Times as a Staff Reporter/Sub Editor at its head office in Jammu in the May 2001, and since day one in journalism he become the voice of voiceless villagers, and was critic to government for ignorant attitude towards villagers. Form the beginning; he started highlighting the rural threats ot forests, environment and nature.  He remained critic to militants for killings innocent militants and damaging the peaceful status of Jammu and Kashmir State for which he was threatened many a times. Not only thing his family living in the village was attacked by the armed militants three times causing loss of property. During his time in Kashmir he was a popular voice of villagers living in erstwhile Doda district and in the year 2005, he took break form Kashmir Times and left for Hyderabad and joined E-TV Urdu of Newstoday Network in world famous Ramoji Film City (RFC) as Copy Editor/Reporter.

There too, he keep focussing on environment and nature of Kashmir and tried his best to highlight the Govt apathy towards preservation of nature and forest. He was adjudged best Copy Editor of the month at Newstoday Pvt Ltd.
E-TV (Urdu) for a special on the Waterways of Kashmir. But due to some family compulsions, he had to take a break from E-TV, and returned back to own state. Where he joined another local English daily news paper State Times, as Proof Reader/Sub Editor. Later he joined another local newspaper in Jammu as Managing Editor and besides managing the editorial/news affairs for the paper, he remained focused on writing on issues concerning common masses, environment, and against those troubling the peace in state.

After remained associated with some local news papers as editor, he joined a news portal JK MONITOR in January 2010 with a motive to provide wider platform to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to reach the global community with the real concerns/problem and issues. Since then he has been working tireless for highlighting the real issues confronting the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the political exploitation of commoners.

Besides, he has contributed many articles, analytical and human interest stories on environment and degradation of forests, for several online news portals like South Asia Post, Ground Report, American Chronicle, Merinews, Punjab Newsline, Kashmir Watch, Associated Content, and Allvoices. Being a journalist, he is focussed, unbiased and dedicated. He never came under pressure or any sort of influence. His news judgement is praise worthy and one must say he is a born journalist.

He is a dedicated and passionate journalist having gift for covering complex news stories in a way that captures the attention of the audience and informs the public debate. He is a hard-working, thorough, and have experience in both print and broadcasting. His journalism is focused on delivering balanced, impartial and objective coverage, and ensuring that all relevant voices and opinions are aired and published.