Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 5: Iqwat Foundation today formally launched its App – “Iqwat”, for Global Kashmiri Pandit community. The soft launch of Iqwat App took place on Aug 15th, 2021 in Gurgaon.
Ajay Kaul and Mukesh Kachroo, two of the founders of Iqwat Foundation, held the launch event at Press Club of Jammu in association with YAIKS, GKPD. The App was launched in presence of YAIKS President and North India coordinator, GKPD R. K. Bhat.
Kashmiri Pandits are scattered all around the world and their culture, heritage and language are at a grave threat of getting extinct. The idea of “Iqwat” was conceived as a global virtual
platform to help bring the community together and preserve the fundamental values which it cherishes, said its founders.
They said Iqwat Foundation was set up in 2020 with its Headquarters in Gurgaon, Haryana. “Iqwat” in Kashmiri means “together” and that is what the Foundation aims to achieve through this platform. The App can be downloaded from Play Store or App Store and has various sections of interest. It aims to build the first ever digital global directory of Kashmiri Pandits and one can search his long-lost friends through the members list and get connected” they added.
They said one can join or create various interest groups like Mohalla in Kashmir, Internships, art, classifieds, etc. Detailed Kashmiri Calendar along with Important festivals and key dates can be accessed in one click. The App has also very succinctly captured the pain of 1990 exodus digitally and a section is carved out as Museum to maintain a digital repository of pictures, videos and memories related to this. In addition, the App throws light on the prominent members of the community, obituary section to remember the departed souls and online shopping for variety of Kashmiri spices and other artifacts, they added.
They said one of the main goals of the Iqwat Foundation is to discover and support the promising youth of the community. Iqwat is aiming to achieve this goal by launching various initiatives such as Global Talent Hunt to tap the hidden talent in performing arts. Iqwat Studio will nurture and promote the discovered talent and Iqwat Angels will provide mentoring, guidance and promote entrepreneurship. Iqwat Foundation is keen and open to collaborating with other organizations working for welfare of the community.
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