Bhatkal: The Karnataka Urdu Academy honored Bhatkal's renowned analyst, writer, poet, and media personality, Dr. Mohammad Hanif Shabab, in recognition of his invaluable literary contributions in a special ceremony held in Bengaluru on Thursday. On this occasion, he was felicitated with a special award along with a cash prize of Rs 50,000.

Dr. Mohammad Hanif Shabab is associated with the well-known news portal SahilOnline and has also contributed to several other Urdu newspapers. He previously served as a sub-editor for the renowned Mumbai-based Urdu daily Inquilab.

Apart from being a doctor by profession, Dr. Shabab is an experienced journalist and a successful educator. He has also served as the former General Secretary of Bhatkal’s century-old and largest socio-cultural organization, Majlis-e-Islah wa Tanzeem. His role in guiding young minds on Islamic principles has been remarkable. He has published two poetry collections in Urdu, Sulagte Khwab and Lahu Lahu Mausam, while several of his unpublished works stand as a testament to his poetic excellence.

The award ceremony took place on Thursday, February 27, in Bengaluru, where the Karnataka Urdu Academy honored a total of 35 individuals from various literary fields. Among them, Dr. Mohammad Hanif Shabab and nine others received a special award and a cash prize of Rs 50,000 each, while the remaining awardees were presented with cash prizes of Rs 25,000 and Rs 10,000 each.

The Karnataka Urdu Academy bestows this honor to encourage individuals making significant contributions to Urdu literature and journalism, recognizing their pivotal role in promoting the language and its literary heritage.