Srinagar: A 12-year-old boy from a small hamlet in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district scripted history on Thursday when he received the prestigious Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, the highest civilian honor for children in India.
President Droupadi Murmu conferred Ayaan Sajad, a young Kashmiri singing sensation of Dargund Srigufwara, with the prestigious award for his outstanding contribution in the ‘Art and Culture category’.
The ceremony, held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, celebrated the achievements of exceptional children across the nation.
The young Kashmiri singer became an internet sensation after his Kashmiri song hit the right chord with the audience, earning him recognition. He rose to prominence with his soulful rendition of the Kashmiri song BeDard Dadi Chane, which became an Internet sensation.
Ayaan’s soulful and attractive voice has resonated with audiences, earning him millions of views online.
Radio Jockey (RJ) Umer, a well-known local voice, recognised Ayan’s talent and gave him a platform to perform, following which both of them produced BeDard Dadi Chane under Mashq Talks – Music, blending Sufi melodies with pop and rap elements.
Ayaan while talking to KNO said, “This award is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream, inspiring me to strive even harder to safeguard and celebrate the cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir through my art. I dedicate this honor to my parents, mentors, and everyone who supported and believed in me. I hope my journey serves as a source of inspiration for young artists to chase their dreams.”
The young singer said that the art transcends boundaries and unites people through shared emotions and stories. “My aim is to use my creations to highlight the rich heritage and vibrant diversity of Jammu and Kashmir, inspiring the world to cherish and protect our cultural essence,” he added.
In his message for youth, he said that one must have “self-belief, being yourself and feel proud of your culture and traditions.”
His father Sajad Ahmad, who is a teacher, said that he along with his family are very excited as his son has received the highest civilian award at a very young age.
He said that Ayaan is a gifted child with a soulful choice and he will do wonders in times to come.
Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday presented the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar to 17 children, including a boy from Kashmir, recognizing their exceptional courage and outstanding achievements across diverse fields, including art, culture, sports and innovation.
The President underlined the importance of nurturing and celebrating young talents.
“Providing opportunities and recognizing children’s talents has always been a part of our tradition. This tradition should be further strengthened to ensure that every child realizes their full potential,” she said.
The award celebrates extraordinary accomplishments in seven categories: art and culture, bravery, innovation, science and technology, social service, sports and environment.
The honourees — seven boys and ten girls selected from 14 states and Union territories — were presented with a medal, certificate and citation booklet.
Among them was Keya Hatkar, a 14-year-old author and disability advocate, recognized for her excellence in art and culture.
Despite living with spinal muscular atrophy, she founded initiatives like “IM POSSIBLE” and “SMA-ART,” promoting inclusivity and disability awareness.
Among the other awardees 17-year-old Vyas Om Jignesh, who has cerebral palsy, was lauded for his dedication to Sanskrit literature, having memorised over 5,000 shlokas and performed in over 500 shows.
In bravery, Saurav Kumar (9) was recognised for saving three girls from drowning, and 17-year-old Ioanna Thapa was honoured for rescuing 36 residents from a fire.
In the innovation category, 15-year-old Sindhoora Raja was awarded for creating self-stabilizing devices for Parkinson’s patients, and cybersecurity entrepreneur Risheek Kumar (17) was honoured for launching Kashmir’s first cybersecurity firm.
Hembati Nag, a judo player from a Naxal-affected area was awarded in the sports category. She overcame numerous challenges to win a silver medal at the Khelo India National Games.
Chess prodigy Anish Sarkar, the youngest FIDE-ranked player at just three years old, was also honoured.
“Congratulations to Master Ayaan Sajad on receiving Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar from Hon’ble President Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji. He is a Singer par excellence. I wish Ayaan all the best for future endeavours. May you inspire many more youngsters across J&K UT,” J&K LG, Manoj Sinha.
