A function was held today to honour the contributions of a great son of soil, Shaheed Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani, who was bestowed Ashok Chakra, the highest peacetime gallantry award of the country on Republic Day this year. The Army Goodwill School Wuzur was renamed “ Shaheed Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani, Ashok Chakra, Sena Medal** Army Goodwill School Wuzur” in a befitting  ceremony by Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh General Officer Commanding in Chief (GOC-in-C), Northern Command. The ceremony was attended by Lieutenant General KJS Dhillon, the Chinar Corps Commander, Mrs Mahajabeen the wife of the martyr, civil dignitaries, student alumni and parents among others.

Late Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani, who epitomised the great saga of extraordinary courage and valour of Indian Army, devoted his whole life to the cause of restoring peace in the Kashmir Valley is one of the Real Heroes of Kashmir and India. Army Goodwill School Wuzur, opened in 1998, was chosen for this great honour as it is located just 14 km from Ashmuji, the native village of Late Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani. It has been a centre of academic excellence in South Kashmir and has nurtured scores of students from that area on the righteous path and glory.

Speaking on the occasion, the General Officer Commanding in Chief Northern Command said that “through this renaming we wish to pay our homage to this great martyr and the real hero, the first Ashok Chakra winner from Kashmir”. He also expressed happiness on the participation of Mohtarma Mahajabeen, wife of the martyr in this solemn ceremony.

Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh also made a reference of other achievers and heroes of Kashmir such as Lt Umar Faiyaz, Inspector Arshad Khan SHO of Anantnag, Rauf Ahmad Dar a tourist guide of Pahalgam among others. Highlighting the spectacular achievements of Indian Army’s contributions towards promoting education in the Valley, the GOC-in-C complimented the successful candidates of Army’s Super 30 (Engineering) and Super 30 (Medical). These students have brought laurels to their state through dedication and hard work and exhorted the youth of Kashmir to emulate these achievers and become role models themselves. 

In the end, the GOC-in-C formally declared the name of the school as “Shaheed Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani, Ashok Chakra, Sena Medal** Army Goodwill School Wuzur”.  As a special gesture, the next of kin of Marhoom (Late) Rauf Ahmad Dar, the hero who saved the lives of five tourists including two foreign tourists, when their raft capsized in Pahalgam's Lidder River on 31 May was also felicitated during the ceremony.