SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said writers, poets and scholars play a greater role in shaping civilisations than institutions as he inaugurated the two-day Kashmir Literature Festival 2026 at the SKICC in Srinagar.
Addressing writers, researchers, historians, academicians and literary figures during the inaugural session, the Lieutenant Governor welcomed guests who had arrived in Jammu and Kashmir from outside the Union Territory and expressed confidence that they would experience the region’s rich cultural, intellectual and literary heritage during the festival being held on May 30 and 31.
“I welcome everyone who has come to Jammu and Kashmir from outside. I am confident that during these two days, you will not only see but also deeply feel the literary, cultural and intellectual soul of this land,” Sinha said.
The Lieutenant Governor said India’s literary world had yet to fully recognise and project the depth of the country’s civilisational knowledge and heritage.
“India’s literary world is still like Hanuman before realising his own strength. Just as Hanuman was reminded of his powers before crossing Lanka, our literary and intellectual community too must realise the depth of India’s civilisational strength and present it to the world,” he said.
Describing writers as immortal through their creations, Sinha said great poets, authors and creative minds continue to inspire generations through their work.
“Great poets, writers and creative minds become immortal through their knowledge and work. The human body is mortal, but creation becomes the symbol of immortality,” he said.
He said literature often creates a greater societal impact than institutions despite the vast resources spent on them.
“I have seen institutions spending crores, yet failing to create the impact that one novel can create in society. Literature has the power to influence minds and generations in ways institutions often cannot,” he said.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks from the Red Fort, Sinha said the time had come to shed the colonial mindset and reclaim India’s authentic historical narrative.
“We must ensure that our history is not presented in a distorted manner,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor urged scholars and researchers to work towards making authentic history accessible to readers and future generations, adding that India had long been a global centre of science, culture and knowledge.
He said India had laid the foundations of mathematics, science and astronomy that later influenced several civilisations, while lamenting that modern India had failed to adequately document and preserve its own history.
Sinha also highlighted references in Persian and Arab literature acknowledging India’s contributions to medicine, mathematics and scientific thought, and said colonialism had weakened confidence in the country’s own knowledge traditions.
Referring to India’s present achievements, he said the country had emerged as the world’s fourth-largest economy and expressed confidence that it would achieve the vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
“Writers are greater than nations because they shape the thinking and direction of societies and civilisations,” he said.
Rejecting concerns over a decline in reading culture, Sinha said the world was reading more than ever, aided by digital platforms and open-access communication.
The Lieutenant Governor also paid tribute to freedom fighters, saints, scholars and workers for safeguarding India’s civilisation and identity during difficult times.
The two-day Kashmir Literature Festival at SKICC features literary discussions, poetry sessions, historical debates and interactions involving writers, historians, researchers and academicians from across the country. (KNO)
