Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Aug 2: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today said India’s ancient knowledge systems should be a part of mainstream education, and called on writers to “rewrite history”, which was “distorted” in the past.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
The LG while addressing the inaugural function of the nine-day ‘Chinar Book Festival’ organised by National Book Trust (NBT) of India at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) here said future generations should be told that ancient India was the engine of world civilisation and culture.
Sinha called on writers to think about rewriting history to “correct facts”, which were “distorted” in the past.
“The new generation must be made aware that our civilisation was economically prosperous and it was also the global centre of literature, science and spirituality,” he said.
“We gave the gift of science, mathematics, medicines to the world and we should be proud of our cultural, literary, scientific and spiritual heritage,” he added.
The LG said the roots of “our knowledge and science” have always been immense. “We need to liberate ourselves from the colonial mindset and the new generation must be told that our heritage has been leading in the world and the gift of science that we have given to the entire humanity is incomparable,” he said.
He said in order to strengthen the nation’s spiritual, social, and emotional unity, the unique contributions of writers and thinkers are essential.
Sinha said India’s ancient knowledge systems should be revived and be made a part of “mainstream education”.
Sinha called upon the NBT to publish and translate the Nilamat Purana, Rajatarangini, and Kathasaritsagara into various Indian languages.
These editions in regional language should also be prominently featured at international book festivals to introduce the world to J-K’s unique literary heritage, he added.
The LG also asked the NBT to actively promote famous literature from Kashmiri, Pahari, Gojri, Dogri, Urdu, and Punjabi at book festivals and ensure their translation into various languages to reach a wider audience.
The event also witnessed the inauguration of ‘Saradaksarani’, the first national-level exhibition of Sharada alphabets, and the Kashmiri translation of the book, “Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh-through the ages”. The book was translated into Kashmiri by renowned writer and broadcaster Brij Nath Pandit Betab.
Sinha added that the Chinar Book Festival will connect the new generation to the country’s “precious literary heritage and inspire them to preserve and promote our traditional wisdom left behind by our ancestors”, he said.
He highlighted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is witnessing economic, cultural and scientific renaissance, simultaneously. He said, in order to strengthen the nation’s spiritual, social, and emotional unity, the unique contributions of writers and thinkers are essential.
Prof. Milind Sudhakar Marathe, Chairman, National Book Trust; Shri Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; Prof. Raghuvendra Tanwar, Chairman Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR); Dr Amit Wanchoo, Chief Convener, Chinar Book Festival; Shri Yuvraj Malik, Director, National Book Trust; Vice heads of various educational institutions, senior officials, eminent literary personalities, book lovers, youth and children in large number were present.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
