UNI Urdu service awarded

New Delhi, Mar 30 (UNI) The UNI-Urdu Service was today conferred an award by the Delhi Urdu Academy for its invaluable contribution in promotion of Urdu journalism.

The award, which carries a cash of Rs 21,000, citation and a shawl, was presented to Mr M K Laul, General Manager of the UNI,by former Prime Minister I K Gujral in the presence of distinguished Urdu scholars and writers at the Ghalib Institute here.

Education Minister of Delhi Arvind Singh Lovely, noted Urdu Scholar Gopi Chand Narang and Syed S H Naqvi,Convenor of the Awards Committee were also present on the occasion.

The UNI Urdu Service, which was set up in 1992, has made a significat contribution in bringing standardisation in Urdu newspapers by providing them not only domestic, but also regional and international news. The Service is subscribed by over 65 leading newspapers across the country.

The former Prime Minister also presented the All India Bahadhur Shah Zafar Award to Prof Jagan Nath Azad (posthumously), which was received by his son Adarsh Azad. The award carries of Rs one lakh and eleven thousand in cash.

Nine Urdu scholars, poets and writers were also presented awards in their respective fields, including calligraphy, linguistic integration and creative prose.

They are Prof Abdul Haq, Dr Nigar Azeem, Mr Nusrat Gwailiari, Mr Siraj Naqvi, Bilquees Zafeerul Hasan, Madan Gopal, Mohammed Maroof Khan, Ms Kaneez Warsi and Mr Shafeeq-Ur-Rehman.

UNI/SMA AT KP1836