SRINAGAR: Nazim Nazir was buzzing like his busy bees with gratitude, thanking people and fielding calls after Narendra Modi granted the Pulwama beekeeper’s wish for a selfie together, a moment the PM later shared on social media, referring to him as “my friend Nazim”.PM Modi engaged with three budding entrepreneurs from Kashmir during the “Viksit Bharat Viksit J&K” programme at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar on Thursday, underscoring the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship in the region.Nazim shared his inspiring journey in beekeeping and honey extraction. Starting with just two honey bee boxes in his attic when he was in Class X, Nazim received support from J&K’s agriculture department to expand his business. Today, he owns a dozen bee boxes and supplies organic honey to markets across the country.Modi expressed his admiration for Nazim’s accomplishments, likening them to a “sweet revolution” akin to the white and green revolutions. When asked about his professional aspirations, Nazim said: “My parents expected me to become a doctor or engineer. I deviated to pursue a successful venture in honey.”The PM interacted virtually with two other young entrepreneurs., including a woman from Rawalpora involved in the bakery business. She highlighted her commitment to maintaining quality by preparing bakery items with her friends and selling them in the Srinagar market on demand. Modi assured her of full support from J&K authorities to nurture her business.The PM connected with Hameeda from Ganderbal, who collects cow milk from nearby villages and produces dairy products like curds and cheese, packaging milk for distribution to markets in Srinagar and beyond.
