International and National Personalities Honoured with Thakur Vedarām Awards in Grand Ceremony at Bhuttico, Kullu.
Shimla:
A grand celebration marked the birth anniversary of the late Thakur Vedarām, a legendary figure in the Indian cooperative movement and handloom industry on April 21, 2025. Held at the Bhuttico auditorium in Kullu, the event saw the felicitation of distinguished personalities from India and abroad with the prestigious Thakur Vedarām International and National Awards for their exemplary contributions across various fields.
The event was presided over by former minister and Bhuttico Chairman, Satya Prakash Thakur, while Bhupender Mandavi, Regional Director of NCDC for Himachal and Ladakh, graced the occasion as the chief guest.
The highlight of the ceremony was the Thakur Vedarām International Award, conferred upon Shambhu Prasad Ghimire from Kathmandu, Nepal, for his outstanding contributions in the field of cooperative development.
In the national category, the Thakur Vedarām National Award for Cooperative Excellence was awarded to:
- Mahadev Palsana, CAS, Sikar (Rajasthan)
- Sukhram Bhungla, Kullu (Himachal Pradesh)
In the handloom and weaving sector, the following individuals were recognized for their notable achievements:
- Vimla Mal, Chamoli (Uttarakhand)
- Veli Singh Nyool
- Chandramani Bhutti, Kaloni
Renowned writer S.R. Harnot from Shimla received the Thakur Vedarām National Award for his contributions to literature.
In the field of media, awards were presented to:
- Pankaj Bhargava, TV18 India, for excellence in electronic media
- Aditya Kant Sharma, correspondent for The Statesman, Chandigarh, for print media journalism
The Purohit Chandrashekhar Bebas Folk Literature National Award went to Nem Chand Thakur, Arki, Solan, for his dedication to preserving folk literature.
In the domain of arts and culture, Ramdev Kapoor, retired DPRO from Lahaul-Spiti, was honoured with the Chand Kullvi Lal Chand Prarthi Pahadi Art & Culture Award.
The Thakur Maulu Ram Pahadi Language & Literature Award was jointly awarded to:
- Yadav Kishore Gautam, Nalagarh, Solan
- Virender Veer, Jwalamukhi
In recognition of their lifelong contributions, Satpal Bhatnagar (Kullu) and Sudarshan Vashisht (Shimla) were presented with the Lifetime Achievement National Award.
As part of the celebration, a Kavi Sammelan (poetry evening) was organized on April 19 in memory of the late Purohit Chandrashekhar Bebas. Several eminent poets participated and shared their poetry. The event was graced by folk singer and former Naib Tehsildar Dharmender Sharma, who served as the chief guest.
The festivities concluded with the Chand Kullvi Lal Chand Prarthi Cultural Evening on April 21. The event featured cultural performances and was attended by Charu Prarthi as chief guest and Sonam, former customs officer, as the guest of honour.
Addressing the gathering, Satya Prakash Thakur congratulated all awardees and highlighted Bhuttico’s journey of resilience and commitment to quality. He emphasized that Bhuttico’s reputation and the trust it has earned nationally and internationally is due to its unwavering dedication to product excellence.
Chief Guest Bhupender Mandavi praised the initiative, stating, “These awards reflect the spirit of cooperative growth and cultural preservation. The Government of India is committed to promoting cooperative societies, and events like these are a step in the right direction.” He added that NCDC will continue to support and organize such initiatives and looks forward to honouring more talented artisans from Himachal Pradesh.
The event not only celebrated individual achievements but also reinforced the importance of cooperative values, traditional crafts, and cultural heritage in shaping a progressive and inclusive society.
