Ahata Waqar Chanapoora, Srinagar, – a day-care and recreation centre for Senior Citizens – has become the twinkling pulsation of old aged persons as it provides various options and programmes to entertain them . The first ever day-care and recreation centre for Senior Citizens in the state at Primary Health Centre, Chanapoora was inaugurated by the Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Justice Gita Mittal on April,10 2019. In spite of Covid 19, blitz, the centre now continues relentlessly to take care of elders by organising various health awareness and recreational pursuits.
The centre possess facilities of library, recreational hall, reading room, pantry, counselling centre, Geriatric OPD and Physiotherapy. The Centre has been established in recognition of the contributions and achievements made by senior citizens in different spheres of the society. The District Legal Services Authority, Srinagar, the Social Welfare Organization, Srinagar and the Directorate of Health services Kashmir are providing logistic support to Ahata Waqar for organising various events for the senior citizens.
Besides, providing recreational facilities to the senior citizens, the centre also provides a platform where they share their precious experiences and experiences to surmount various issues faced by the society. The dwelling has a functional library that includes books on the discourses of religion, philosophy, etc. for the senior citizens. The facility also has a fully furnished hall fitted with AC and heating system with computers, LCD TV, and other tools of entertaining resorts for the elderly. The government has kept several staff members available at this centre along with Para-legal volunteers from District Legal Services Authority Srinagar for providing legal advice to the elders. Above all, senior citizens can get regular health check-ups at this centre as specialist doctors and physiotherapists are also available. In fact, this is a place of cheerfulness and glee for old individuals.
The Organization of Ahata Waqar besides, providing medical and legal facilities to senior citizens, also conducts socio- cultural interactions with the prominent and reputed citizens of our society who have shown exceptional concert in their lives, The most prominent among these have been so for, Gh, Jeelani Nehvi (IAS Retrd), Mrs. Naseema Lankar, (IAS Retrd), the renowned Psychiatrist, Dr. Mushtaq Margoob, Mrs, Dr. Nighat Shafi Pandit, Former HOD SMHS, Dr, Gazanfar Ali, President, IRRT, Adv. Abdul Rashid Hanjura, Prof. Zaman Azurda, Prof Shad Ramzan and Prof Farooq Fayaz, etc.
This humble writer was also invited for an interactive-session on Wednesday, 6th August, 2025. Honoured personalities who constituted the presidium included Dr Farooq Ahmad Lone, a sincere and diligent officer, Former Chairman J&K PSC, Dr. Waseem Raja, JKAS, a dynamic officer, Joint Director Tourism Kashmir. Peerzada Abdal Mehjoor, Prominent Broadcaster, Writer and President of J&K Mehjoor Foundation, and Farooq Ahmad Geelani, famous Former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Gh. Nabi Shah, SP, and Arshad Ali Qadiri, DFO, Srinagar. The interactive-session was attended by a large number of senior citizens from different walks of life , school students , writers , poets and cultural activists . On this occasion, the tranquil atmosphere of Ahata Waqar Chanapoora was permeated with divinity as the successful event started with an inspiring Tilawat of the Holy Quranic verses by Haji Ghulam Hassan Shah and poignant Naat -e -Sharief by Javed Ahmad Beigh.
Speaking on the event, Dr. Waseem Raja while felicitating said, “social interactions with experienced academicians and social activists not only enhance community cohesion but also raises awareness on pertinent issues and promotes holistic well-being among senior citizens and susceptible populace”.
Peerzada Abdal Mehjoor expressed his views, emphasizing “the importance of community support and collaboration in advancing societal welfare initiatives.” His views marked a thought provoking discourse on ways and means to cope up in the society. He said, “Education brings a desired change in the individuals and promotes welfare of the society ”.
Farooq Geelani stressed on the need for “organising social discourses among the youth at regular intervals to foster thoughtful interaction, sharing experiences, and reflecting on education, values, and community engagement”. He said our education should teach to safeguard our environment. This Writer, while speaking started with the significance and role of education in the evolution of human beings in the light of the ancient history of man, the Holy Quran, and the Traditions of the Holy Prophet Mohammad SAW . I said,
“History is witness to the fact that no human civilization has evolved without education. History also reveals that the first presence of a human being was witnessed in the deserts of Mesopotamia (3000 BC) known as ‘Cradle of Civilization’, now Middle East and it is there that first writing began on the sand dunes or walls of a house when a human was just moving his fingers. As the saying goes,
“Opportunities once granted must be explored; once explored, they bring
Perceptible changes in our lives.” And that is what the first human did in the deserts of Middle East. So I mean to say that Education of every sort is indispensible, if Humans want to survive and advance.
The Holy Quran places significant emphasis on education and the pursuit of knowledge, urging believers to seek learning throughout their lives for both spiritual and worldly growth. Verses like “Read! In the name of your Lord who created” (Quran 96:1) and “My Lord! Increase me in knowledge” (Quran 20:114) highlight importance. Education is seen as a means to understand Allah’s creation, fulfil one’s duties, and contribute to a better society. Allah when created Adam, made him to learn before sending down, Prophet Muhammad SAW emphasized the importance of seeking knowledge throughout his life. A Hadith, highlights its value, Hazrat Anus, RA, Ibn Majah, “Seeking knowledge is a duty upon every Muslim and one who pursues knowledge, even the fish of the sea pray for him”. Another Hadith narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurrairah RA emphasises, the divine reward for pursuing knowledge: “Whoever takes a path in search of knowledge, Allah will make him walk one of the paths to Paradise,” (Muslim Sharief ).
I further said, “We have to believe firmly that nothing is impossible provided you choose the right path and determine your goal in a realistic manner. There is an onerous duty on each of us to contribute in the positive social change, where equality, fraternity and optimism in the future would be the cardinal principles. Where, justice, fairness and transparency would be institutionalized. Where the benefits of development reach to the poor and marginalized. Where, freedom of thought and tolerance for dissent gets space. This is only possible when we imbibe the values of citizenship in ourselves for which meaningful and socially relevant education will play a dominant role”.
I said “We are a terra firma of 1.30 crore people, 50 lakh are the youth. God has blessed us with the human capital, resources and bounties of Nature. We have the capacity and capability to be one of the leading people of the country and of the world, provided we adhere to three “D” postulates, Duty, Devotion and Discipline.’’
I also said to the students that’ “I too had to face many tough times and tides in life, but I never gave up, don’t lose your heart but chase your dreams and goals with sincerity, diligence and with firm determination. The only important thing is that to set your goal in a realistic and pragmatic manner because as the saying goes that it is no fun to run on the wrong track. In setting your goal. kindly introspect yourself for aptitude, potential and interest. Please don’t get swayed by traditional and social considerations. There was a time when we would not think beyond Doctors or Engineers. But now things have changed, there are “N” numbers of opportunities in the world. Many of the opportunities are still untapped and unravelled.
While sharing my lifelong journey and experiences, I underscored the “need for social commitment, consistency and handwork to achieve and enrich cherished goals in life”. “Life, at times, senses tough while pursuing conviction and coping with adversity but it has to be made a catalyst for growth and resilience”, I said. I also stressed on “the need for protecting Environment (NLCO is doing a commendable job in this regard) and learning Kashmiri language, which can be taken up as an optional subject for UPSC and PSC exams”.
Dr. Farooq Ahmad Lone in his inspiring address shared his experiences as an officer of the Administration and urged the need for selfless service and spirit of compassion to address chronic problems confronting the society. “Mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive keeping an eye on vision.”, he added.
The Chairman Ahata Waqar Ab. Ghani Paray welcomed the guests whereas, its organiser and former Director Doordarshan, Shabir Mujahid presented vote of thanks. The Secretary of the organization Er. Khazir Mohammad Trag and Qazi Ab Rashid also spoke on the occasion. Mushtaq Ahmad Shah, Media Secretary also spoke and discussed the purpose of the felicitations. He read out the written souvenir describing my life anecdote.At the end, I was offered a written souvenir/ memento as a token of Love and Honour Dr. Laila Sultana nicely moderated the event and ensured silky proceedings and exciting treatise among participants.
I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Management of the Organization, “Ahata Vaqar” for the invitation to speak before a huge dignified gathering on 6th August 2025. I also wish to convey my appreciation for the interactive session and the recognition it entailed. It was genuinely a privilege to stand before cerebral, well thinking and renowned band of citizens of the society.
Felicitations and Benedictions transmit bliss, joy and dole out as reminders of the journey we have undertaken and the efforts invested, turning such moments as Aristotle’s says, a kind of” Catharsis, or Purgation, relieving ones emotional fret and hassle.”
Author can be reached at drfarooqpeer@gmail.com
