Suhail Rather
Srinagar, Jan 23: Bilal Ahmed Dar, a resident of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district who grabbed the headlines when Prime Minister Narendra Modi recognised him in his Mann Ki Baat radio address in 2017 was invited government of India as a special guest to witness the Republic Day Parade on the Kartavya Path on the 75th Republic Day, 26 January 2024.
According to the invitation letter sent to Bilal, Additional Director General Prasar Bharati , Mukesh Kumar said that he has been recognised by the Prime Minister in the “Mann Ki Baat ” program, and the government extend a cordial invitation for him to be their honoured guest at the Republic Day Parade on Kartavya Path during the 75th Republic Day on 26 January 2024
“Your presence holds significance for the program, and we will arrange your stay, food, and transportation throughout the event," reads the invitation letter.
Bilal is the sole breadwinner from a poor family in Bandipora had a glimmer of hope when in back 2017 Prime Minister Narendra Modi had congratulated him for cleaning Wular Lake and also called him a source of inspiration for "all of us".
Along with the Prime Minister's compliments, Srinagar Municipal corporation had also appointed him as its Swachata brand ambassador for the cleanliness drive with a monthly salary of Rs 8000 and even had promised to allot a vehicle and a shikara to support his campaign.
Bilal was also featured in a documentary 'Saving the Saviour – Story of a kid and Wular Lake'. The documentary depicted the life of Bilal Dar and won several awards at various film festivals.
It is a great honour for me to receive an invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I hope to garner further recognition from the government. I am planning to depart from Delhi tomorrow," said Bilal, whose father, also a ragpicker, passed away in 2003 due to cancer.
