For Brij Lal Bhat, retirement could have meant leaving Kashmir behind. Instead, it became the beginning of another chapter of service.
Born on 16 March 1945 in Anantnag, Kashmir, Bhat built his early career around a subject deeply connected to the region’s rural economy: horticulture. He became a first-class postgraduate in horticulture and later travelled to Washington State University in the United States for specialised training in marketing and refrigeration.
He returned to Jammu and Kashmir with knowledge that could change how the region’s farmers grew, stored and sold their produce.
Over the years, Bhat held several important positions in the state’s agriculture and horticulture sectors. He served as Project Director of Agri Export Zones, Chief Executive Officer of World Bank-assisted Indo-Australian and Italian projects, and Director of Horticulture Planning and Marketing.
His work went beyond growing fruit. Bhat helped strengthen the entire chain, from research and production to post-harvest handling and value addition. He introduced cardboard packaging, helped establish cold-chain systems and developed main and satellite fruit and vegetable markets across Jammu and Kashmir. He was also involved in getting Jammu and Kashmir recognised as an Agri Export Zone for apples and walnuts and led state delegations to SAARC countries to promote Kashmiri fruit exports.
But there was a part of his career that stayed with him. He had seen Kashmir through difficult years, and after retirement, he decided not to leave.
As he later explained, government service had limited what he could do directly for people. Once those restrictions were gone, he chose to remain in the Valley with his wife and children and work with communities.
He joined the work of Vivekananda Kendra and took responsibility at the Shri Ramakrishna Mahasammelan Ashram in Nagdandi, Anantnag. Today, he serves as Chairman of its Administrative Committee. There, his agricultural experience found a new purpose.
Barren and less productive land was turned into demonstration blocks of high-density apple and walnut orchards. The idea was practical: show rural communities that scientifically managed orchards could make otherwise unproductive land economically useful. His work also moved beyond agriculture.
At Nagdandi, Bhat helped build programmes connecting young people across Kashmir, including youth activities, yoga, study and character-building initiatives. The Ashram also became a place for connecting displaced Kashmiri Hindus with their roots and for encouraging dialogue and social interaction among different communities.
He also oversaw major expansion of the Ashram’s infrastructure. Accommodation that once housed about 12 people was increased to around 150, with plans and support to eventually accommodate around 400 people. The official citation records logistical support of ₹8.85 crore for heritage development.
Bhat’s earlier achievements had already earned him a State Marketing Award from the Ministry of Agriculture and a National Udyog Rattan Award. His later social work brought further recognition from organisations working in Kashmir.
In January 2026, his decades of work received national recognition when he was named a Padma Shri awardee for Social Work. He was honoured for service associated with peace, harmony and community development in Jammu and Kashmir.
For Bhat, the award came after a lifetime of work, but his most unusual decision had happened years earlier: when he finally had the freedom to leave Kashmir, he chose to stay.
