Tangmarg: Munshi Mukhtar, a retired teacher, trade union leader, present day hotelier and a social activist from famed Gulmarg Assembly Constituency, today formally joined Indian National Congress and was welcomed in to the party fold by JKPCC President, Tariq Karra, at a party function held at Baramulla today.
Son of veteran Congress leader of his times, Munshi Ghulam Ahmad, Munshi Mukhtar had a wonderful career in education department and retired as Headmaster, High School, Madam Tangmarg.
As leader of Teacher’s Forum, he was always on forefront to advocate the issues faced by the teaching community and was respected by the fraternity all along.
His father, Munshi Ghulam Ahmad Lone, was a freedom fighter, who had a long association with Congress. He headed Gulmarg Constituency as Congress President for several years and contested 1977 Assembly elections on Congress ticket, however, unsuccessfully.
Party workers of Tangmarg say that Munshi Mukhtar’s joining has rejuvenated the party in Gulmarg Constituency as they were feeling ‘orphaned’ by the lack of leadership.
Talking to Kashmir Images, Munshi Mukhtar said that though he had no idea of joining politics, friends and well wishers convinced him to do so and also, he wanted to carry forward his father’s legacy.
“My father fought all odds. In tose days, being a Congressman wasn’t “politically correct” but he stood his ground and always stood with Nehruvian ideals, boldly facing the domestic pressures. He had strong conviction and will and till his last breath, stood as a true soldier of the party that ensured India’s freedom from British Raj,” he said.
When asked, how he looks at his future role in Gulmarg politics, he said, “I have joined a party and I am now its soldier. Whatever the party command wants me to do, I will do sincerely, honestly and with dedication.”
