‘Identify misinformation, counter it with verified facts’
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Oct 11: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today called for correcting the narrative regarding Jammu Kashmir by identifying the misinformation and countering it with verified facts.
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“For decades, a manipulated narrative was propagated here in Jammu Kashmir. Writers and media figures grudgingly admit that, out of fear of terrorists and their ecosystem, they were forced to promote the narrative being pushed from across the border in the Valley,” the LG told Kashmir Literature Festival at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), here today.
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“Writers must do research and use critical proof to challenge and correct the misleading historical accounts,” he said.
Sinha said that the terror ecosystem has been dismantled and now is the time to present the true narrative of Jammu Kashmir, free from all bias and fear of guns, to strengthen the trust and accelerate socio-economic growth.
Sinha said during the colonial era and after independence a certain group of writers distorted our history to shape their ideological agenda.
“Today the young historians must provide accurate and factually correct accounts challenging those lies. In the last few years, new writers have tried to do justice to the injustice done to the history of India, which is an excellent initiative. Efforts are also being made to take Indian literature to the world, which is highly commendable,” he said.
The LG highlighted the need for offering new perspectives and vision to the readers in a rapidly evolving world to meet unprecedented challenges and opportunities, and understanding of nature, culture and people’s well-being.
Sinha called literature the “soul of a nation” and writers the “engineers of human consciousness.” He said that literature has the power to awaken minds and guide societies toward wisdom and harmony.
“Engineers build the structures of progress, but writers build the structures of thought. Through their words, they awaken society’s mind, inspire imagination, and guide generations toward wisdom and harmony,” he said.
Quoting ancient Indian texts, the LG said that India’s civilizational ethos has always placed great value on knowledge and scholarship. “A scholar gets respect in the country and all over the world,” he said, referring to Vedic verses that celebrate learning and friendship with scholars.
Drawing a personal connection, Sinha said though he studied engineering and not literature, he found a strong link between the two. “When I worked on mathematical and scientific designs, I aimed to create solutions that could accelerate social development. Similarly, a writer creates structures of words that stimulate social consciousness and inspire progress,” he noted.
The LG said that writers and thinkers are like gardeners who choose words as carefully as flowers, shaping the emotional and intellectual landscape of a nation. He stressed that literature provides society with imagination, empathy, and moral clarity values essential for nation-building.
Sinha also narrated a parable about an emperor advised by a wise writer to remember the phrase “This too shall pass,” underscoring the importance of equanimity in both joy and sorrow. Whether in happiness or in pain, this message reminds us of life’s balance and the enduring power of words,” he said.
The LG commended the organizers for bringing together distinguished minds and said such festivals reaffirm Kashmir’s identity as a land of wisdom, culture, and creativity.
“Literature reflects the heartbeat of a nation. It is through the words of writers that civilizations evolve, heal, and find their purpose,” he said.
Amongst the various programmes, the Panel discussions on “Narratives in Kashmir” was very interesting and resonated with the audience. Brigadier Sushil Tanwar, a decorated serving officer and author of the much acclaimed book “ Mukhbir” highlighted the importance of narrating the stories of common man in Jammu & Kashmir and their close relationship with security forces.
The need for contesting negative narratives with honest story telling & highlighting the number of sacrifices made by common people along with the security forces is also an intellectual responsibility, he said.
Lieutenant General (Retd) DP Pandey; Yuvraj Srivastava, Founder Srikula foundation; senior officials, prominent literary personalities, members of Srikula foundation, people from different walks of life and youth in large number attended the inaugural ceremony.
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