Hyderabad: The Telangana Urdu Working Journalists Federation (TUWJF) rolled out an elaborate felicitation ceremony on Saturday at the Press Club in Basheer Bagh, drawing prominent faces from journalism and politics to honour distinguished contributors in Urdu media.
The gathering, attended by leading journalists and officials, celebrated the unwavering commitment of Urdu media professionals to journalistic integrity and public engagement. Among the major honours, the Faiz Mohammed Asghar Award was jointly awarded to Iftekhar Ali Wajid from Etemaad Daily and Yasirullah Shakeel of 4TV. The Tabassum Fareedi Award went to Shahid Ahmed Tawakkal from Adilabad and Waheed Gulshan. Veteran journalist Naeem Wajahat from Siasat Daily and Mohammed Asad of Karimnagar were recipients of the Habib Ali Al-Jilani Award.
Press photographer Mohammed Aleemuddin of Press Photo Service was recognised with the M A Rahim Press Photographer Award. A special honour in the overseas category was conferred on long-serving expatriate journalist K N Wasif for his contributions to non-resident Indian media circles.
The event also saw a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award presented to the late Habeeb Ali Al Jeelani for his long-standing dedication to Urdu journalism. The award was handed over by INN Chairman Sameer Waliullah, as fellow journalists and Federation members paid heartfelt tributes.
The ceremony’s chief guest, Barrister Asaduddin Owaisi, MP and AIMIM President, applauded the awardees and commended the Federation for recognising the contributions of Urdu journalists. Owaisi underlined the cultural weight of Urdu in Indian society and contrasted India’s inclusive language policy with Pakistan’s failure to grant Urdu official recognition despite symbolic claims of support.
Criticising Islamabad’s use of religious texts to stir unrest, he accused Pakistan of manipulating Quranic verses to provoke extremism. Referring to the terror attack in Poonch earlier that day, in which an Andhra Pradesh soldier and a cleric lost their lives, Owaisi expressed sorrow and saluted the Indian Army for foiling such cross-border attempts. “Pakistan will collapse under the weight of its own deceit,” he said.
Owaisi also called for restraint and maturity in Indian politics. “Whether BJP or Congress—enough of the mudslinging.The nation requires Hindu-Muslim unity now more than ever,” he declared to thunderous applause.
Telangana Government Advisor Mohammed Ali Shabbir, who also spoke at the event, praised the role of Urdu journalists in promoting democratic values and public awareness.He praised Owaisi’s bold participation in recent all-party national security meetings and noted the consistent opposition of Indian Muslims and ulema to terrorism. “Recognising honest journalism is crucial to protecting both democracy and communal harmony,” he added.
TUWJF President M A Majid presided over the programme, welcoming guests and honouring the awardees. General Secretary Syed Ghouse Mohiuddin conducted the proceedings, while Ayesha Batool concluded the event with a vote of thanks.
Among the guests were Telangana Press Academy Chairman and IJU President Srinivas Reddy, Delhi-based senior journalist Farooq Argali, former Minorities Commission Chairman Mohammed Qamruddin, TUWJF President Khwaja Warahat Ali, and structural engineer Basharat Ali. Women journalists including Sajida Sana were also in attendance, participating actively in the event.
The entire event was coordinated by a dedicated team comprising M A Mohsin, Azmath Ali Shah, Ahmed Jilani, Ejaz Khan, Khaleel Farhad, Farooq Ali, Hassan Irfan, Habibuddin, and Mohammed Sohaib, alongside other Federation members.
In its closing note, the TUWJF reaffirmed its mission to advocate for Urdu media rights, uphold press freedom, and bring national recognition to the contributions of Urdu journalism in India.
पाकिस्तानी बहुत बड़े झूठे हैं, “ऑपरेशन Bunyan al-Marsous का गलत मतलब निकाल रहे हैं।”pic.twitter.com/n7ftK5NMFg
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) May 10, 2025