Jharna given Padma Shri
Eminent Bangladeshi social worker Jharna Dhara Chowdhury yesterday received the prestigious Padma Shri civilian award from Indian President Pranab Mukherjee at an impressive ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here.
Jharna, secretary of Gandhi Ashram Trust in Noakhali, was warmly applauded by the distinguished audience when she received the award.
An ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi, she was among the six foreigners selected by the Indian government for this year's honour for their contributions in social work.
She was named winner of the award on January 25 on the eve of India's Republic Day.
She was among a galaxy of eminent personalities including industrialist Adi Godrej and actor Nana Patekar who were conferred the civilian awards in different categories of Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and Padma Shri.
Famous painter Sayed Haider Raza was given the prestigious Padma Vibhushan and so were industrialist Adi Godrej and classical singer Ustad Abdul Rashid Khan.
Actor Rajesh Khanna was awarded the Padma Bhushan posthumously. Khanna's wife Dimple Kapadia received the award on his behalf.
At the age of eight, Jharna was touched by Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi's principles of non-violence, self-reliance and community work.
Following bloody riots between Muslims and Hindus in late 1946 in southern Bangladesh or the then East Bengal, Gandhi travelled barefoot around villages there for about four months preaching communal harmony and non-violence before the clashes finally ended.
Gandhi Ashram Trust was established soon after Gandhi's visit to Noakhali.
Jharna joined the Trust after spending many years working in various social organisations.
Like many Gandhian followers, she stayed single to focus fully on her work.
When East Bengal became part of Pakistan, Gandhian followers and the charitable trust went through a turbulent period. The ashram has gradually regained its past glory since 1971.
In 1990, Jharna took over the responsibility of running the trust.
Today it is working directly with 25,000 poor families, both Muslims and Hindus. It has become a centre for various activities including training programmes for rural women to boost their income, free education for poor children and poverty alleviation schemes.
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