GUWAHATI, March 1 - Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi presented the Ahmed Ali Baskandi Award 2015 to veteran teacher and philanthropist Maulana Taibur Rahman Barbhuiya at a function held at Rabindra Bhawan on Monday evening, stated an official press release today.
The award, which carries a citation, robes (anga bastra), sarai and Rs 1 lakh, has been instituted to promote communal harmony.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Gogoi said, �Humanity is the greatest virtue and my government is according top priority to the promotion of humanity by encouraging harmony among all sections of people irrespective of caste, creed and religion.� Service to mankind is the crux of all religions and the State government is serving mankind over and above everything else by ensuring the welfare of everybody, Gogoi claimed, adding the freedom struggle led by Mahatma Gandhi witnessed the active participation of people of all religions and the country is marching ahead by embracing everybody irrespective of caste, creed and religion.
Gogoi said for ages, people belonging to all religions have been living in Assam amiably and contributing to strengthen the demographic mosaic of the State, adding it is also the duty of the government to see that this age-old amity gets stronger by every passing day and no genuine citizen is harassed in the State. Gogoi also underlined the need of education for changing the society towards betterment and said that his Government is also spending generously on education in the State, especially in the minority-dominated areas.
Maulana Taibur Rahman Barbhuiya, the award winner, while speaking on the occasion, expressed his gratitude for instituting the award after Ahmed Ali Baskandi and said that this gesture of the government would further strengthen communal harmony in the State. He further said that the recognition would motivate him to work more relentlessly for the society.
Cultural Affairs Minister Bismita Gogoi, Parliamentary Secretary Rakibuddin Ahmed and MLA Anjan Dutta also spoke on the occasion.
