Maatri, Masuri chosen for Vali Gujarati awards

Gandhinagar, Apr 26 (UNI) Eminent Ghazal writers Jalan Maatri and Adil Mansuri have been selected for the Vali Gujarati awards in recognition of their outstanding contributions.

Maatri will be bestowed upon the Vali Gujarati Ghazal Award for 2007 while US-based Gujarati ''ghazalkar'' Mansuri will receive the award for the year 2008.

The awards, instituted by the Gujarat Government, carry a purse of Rs one lakh each. However, the date for the awards presentation function has not yet been announced.

The awards have been instituted to perpetuate the memory of 17th century poet Vali Gujarati. Ironically, the tomb of Vali Gujarati in the Shahibaug area here, which was razed by rioteers on March 1, 2002, has still not been restored.

Litterateurs and voluntary organizations across the state have been asking the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and the state government to restore the tomb. But, instead of rebuilding the tomb, the AMC has built a road over the burnt remains.

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