E-Paper
A septuagenarian dedicated to the welfare of Kashmiri Samaj
PRAKASH NARAIN Hangal, who donned the mantle of the 10th president of the Kashmiri Samaj, Allahabad, since April 2004, is a born organiser and remains active in social and cultural activities. Even at the age of 70, he is quite active and dynamic and loves to carry out his job with a sportsman's spirit.
PRAKASH NARAIN Hangal, who donned the mantle of the 10th president of the Kashmiri Samaj, Allahabad, since April 2004, is a born organiser and remains active in social and cultural activities. Even at the age of 70, he is quite active and dynamic and loves to carry out his job with a sportsman's spirit.
Son of the Late Chand Narayan Hangal, who was a lecturer at the Government Inter College in Jhansi, Prakash was a good sportsman during his student life and participated in many prestigious tournaments of hockey, football and cricket and even won laurels for his remarkable performance. He had been to various parts of the State during his service in State's Agriculture Department and took up different challenging tasks and succeeded in accomplishing them. "Whenever, some functions were to be held in our department, my bosses used to entrust me with responsibility to organise the affair. And I always came up to their expectations," says Prakash while talking about his organisational capacity.
His organisational skill was even recognised by the members of the Kashmiri Samaj and when it came to choose the 10th president of the body they elected Prakash unanimously. When asked as to how he became the chief of the Kashmiris' body unopposed, he said he was one of the founder members of the Samaj and also held the posts of joint secretary and treasurer before becoming the president and the members themselves forced him to accept the responsibility. He says, he was a non-controversial office-bearer and always worked for the Samaj with complete dedication.
"We organise at least three programmes every year and there are some Kashmiris, including Justice (retired) PN Bakshi, RK Sangloo, a High Court advocate, Mala Tankha and Dr GK Shangloo and others, who specially devote their time and energy for the success of these programmes," he says. He also remembered the contributions of the Late ON Sharga in this connection.
When asked what were the main objectives behind setting up the Kashmiri Samaj, Prakash said in fact a large number of people with their roots in Kashmir were living in Allahabad for several hundred years but they did not have a common platform. Therefore, some Kashmiris huddled to devise ways to unite all Kashmiris in Allahabad and ultimately the organisation was set up in 1975. Late Rajan Nehru, wife of RK Nehru, a close relative of the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, became its first president.
Since its inception, the organisation is active in providing educational, medical and social help to Kashmiris and others, who really need it. Besides, the Samaj works for promotion of cultural, social and spiritual activities. Moreover, it works for various charitable objects. The Samaj also publishes an yearly journal 'Minarika,' which contains details and other information about members.
The Kashmiri Samaj also set up a trust in the memory of Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru in 1999, which provides scholarships and awards to the bright and talented students and funds for medical treatment to those who cannot afford it.
Prakash says Kashmiris get an opportunity to interact with each other on the occasion of Navreh, the New Year of Kashmiris (the first day of the Chaitra Navratri), the Independence Day and the Republic Day. "Besides, we keep meeting in matrimonial and other functions also. And in case of death in any member's family every member is informed," he adds.
Prakash feels happy over the success of his organisation in promoting unity and interaction among Kashmiris and claims there are many other active members, who will help maintaining the same enthusiasm. His wife Jyoti Hangal, too, is a social worker and currently she is chairperson of the All India Kashmiri Samaj Marriage Bureau, and helps him bear his responsibility in a more organised manner.
