Youth of Jammu and Kashmir continue to demonstrate their potential when given the opportunity. Among them is Mohammad Arif Naqshbandi, who has earned recognition in society through consistent effort and commitment. His work, rooted in community welfare and social activism, is now being acknowledged beyond local circles. With ties to a Sufi family, Naqshbandi’s dedication to public service reflects a tradition of spiritual and social responsibility.
Mohammad Arif Naqshbandi was 19 when he decided he wouldn’t wait for change, he would create it himself.
“I started from a very young age, and only for sawab (divine reward),” says the now 29-year-old activist. For the past decade, Naqshbandi has worked in the shadows organizing, educating, and advocating in one of India’s most challenging regions.
Born and raised in Kupwara, a remote district of Jammu and Kashmir, Mohammad Arif Naqshbandi has spent the last decade working quietly but consistently for the betterment of his people. A postgraduate in Political Science from the University of Kashmir and a second master’s degree holder in Public Administration from IGNOU, he chose a path few tread in a region often defined by its hardships.
“I was deeply affected by the condition of our society,” Naqshbandi says. “Love for humanity is what drew me in. I could not stand by and do nothing.”
Over the years, Mohammad Arif has worked across a wide range of social causes, human rights, education, environmental awareness, women’s empowerment, and youth mobilization. What stands out is not the scale, but the sincerity of his efforts, often carried out at the community level with limited resources but a deep sense of purpose.
His contributions have not gone unnoticed. This year, Mohammad Arif Naqshbandi was honored with the Uttam Bharat Puraskar and the Global Human Rights Award (GHRT) a recognition he calls “not mine alone, but a tribute to every person in our society striving for change.”
Belonging to a family with a strong Sufi lineage, Naqshbandi attributes much of his moral grounding to his upbringing. “My uncle, Miyan Mohammad Maqbool Naqshbandi, is a man of vision and heart. He has been a constant source of inspiration for me,” he shares.
Raised by a single mother, he speaks with quiet pride about the strength she instilled in him. “My mother raised me single-handedly. She never let me feel the absence of anything except to give more.”
Despite his achievements, Naqshbandi is candid about the challenges he faces. “Positive work doesn’t always get positive responses,” he admits. “There’s often resistance people are skeptical or simply indifferent. But that never stopped me.”
For Naqshbandi, the journey is far from over. His future plans remain firmly rooted in grassroots service. “Society and the environment are both suffering. If we don’t act now, we will be answerable to our people and to the generations to come.”
Asked if there’s a particular moment that changed him, he pauses briefly. “There wasn’t one. It’s a series of small moments the poverty, the suffering, the injustice. That becomes a responsibility.”
