Sonia Gandhi recalls legendary Kashmiri poet Mahjoor's contribution

Srinagar : Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who is on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday stressed how Kashmiri poet Ghulam Ahmad Mahjoor had delivered his message of brotherhood in the common's man language. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also lauded Mahjoor by saying that the revolutionary poet should have been honoured many years ago.

Speaking at the occasion of releasing a commemorative postage stamp in the poet's honour, Sonia Gandhi said that Mahjoor was a great example of the country's great tradition and a social reformer of his times. "Mahjoor's contribution has been significant and it is because of his great contribution that he is known as the poet of Kashmir” said Sonia Gandhi.” He had progressive ideas and through his verses he delivered a message of universal brotherhood” added the Congress President.

"He had the capacity to deliver his message in a language the common man understood well and for this reason, Rabindra Nath Tagore had called him the 'Wordsworth of Kashmir'," further said Sonia Gandhi.
The Prime Minister said Kashmir was known as the heaven on Earth not just because of its geographical beauty, but by "great spiritual personalities" who furthered "universal values those glorify human virtues". "I will briefly mention just two great personalities of Kashmir - Lalla Arifa or Lallashwari and Sheikh Nuruddin Wali, who are the champions of the soul of Kashmir and Kashmiriyat.

Department of Posts is bringing out the stamp on Mehjoor, a poet of great excellence and doyen of secularism. This is the second occasion that a postage stamp on Kashmir is being released. In 2006, the then President A P J Abdul Kalam released a postage stamp on J-K High Court on its 150th anniversary at the same venue. Samuel said the stamp is of Rs 5 denomination, and will be available at Srinagar GPO after the its formal release. First Day Cover and information brochure will also be released on the occasion. Release of the postage stamp on Mehjoor is a historic event for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.