SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday inaugurated the third edition of the Kashmir Literature Festival in Srinagar, calling upon writers to play a key role in shaping public discourse and strengthening India’s cultural narrative.
Addressing the gathering, Sinha said literature across fiction and non-fiction should help inspire society and reflect the “pulse of the people”, adding that writers carry responsibility beyond storytelling.
He also urged the literary community to help “remove traces of colonial mindset” and counter what he described as distortions of India’s history in international narratives. He said writers must work to present “historical truth” to global audiences and correct perceived inaccuracies.
Sinha referred to India’s ancient civilisational heritage, claiming that the country was once a global centre of economy, education, philosophy and scientific knowledge. He said contributions in areas such as mathematics, astronomy and medicine had influenced global progress over centuries.
He further remarked that India had, over time, lost the practice of documenting its own history adequately, leading to gaps in global understanding of its achievements. He alleged that some foreign historians had overlooked or underrepresented India’s contributions in science, art and culture.
The Lieutenant Governor also said India’s modern progress reflects continuity from its historical foundations, noting that the country is now among the world’s fastest-growing major economies and has set a goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
He added that writers should communicate India’s heritage and contemporary achievements in simple and accessible language, stating that literature has the power to shape civilisations.
The festival continues in Srinagar with participation from writers, academics and literary figures.
