Srinagar, July 18: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday attended the third edition of the Chinar Book Festival in Srinagar, describing the literary event as a transformative movement aimed at nurturing a vibrant community of readers, writers and thinkers across Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor congratulated the National Book Trust and the organisers for successfully hosting the festival and said the event has emerged as a powerful platform for knowledge-sharing, literary engagement and cultural exchange.
“This festival is more than just an event. It is a movement to build a vibrant community of readers, writers and thinkers. Our goal is to transform Jammu and Kashmir into a national hub for knowledge, culture and creativity,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He expressed hope that the festival would inspire young people to develop a habit of reading every day, safeguard endangered languages and embrace literature as a means of promoting diversity, mutual respect and social harmony.
Highlighting the significance of books, the Lieutenant Governor said literature encourages critical thinking, sparks curiosity, challenges established beliefs and inspires personal growth. He remarked that the power of writing, combined with imagination, creates a lasting impact on society and strengthens intellectual development.
The Lieutenant Governor observed that within a short period, the Chinar Book Festival has evolved into a unique celebration of ideas and has become a vibrant intellectual movement across Jammu and Kashmir. He compared writers and thinkers to the iconic Chinar tree, saying both symbolize endurance, beauty and wisdom while guiding civilization across generations.
Calling for collective efforts to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s historic reputation as a centre of education, literature and youth empowerment, the Lieutenant Governor said the festival now serves as a national platform for meaningful debates, knowledge exchange and creative dialogue.
He noted that workshops, literary discussions and panel interactions organised during previous editions have infused fresh energy into the region’s literary traditions. He also appreciated initiatives aimed at reviving the ancient Sharada script and promoting cultural integration through programmes such as Tamil-Kashmiri dialogues under the spirit of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.”
The Lieutenant Governor stressed that the true success of a book festival should not be measured by book sales alone but by the ideas it generates and the impact those ideas create in educational institutions and society.
“If discussions initiated here inspire future collaborations or if a young reader discovers a book that changes the course of life, that will be the greatest achievement of the Chinar Book Festival,” he said.
Encouraging young people to cultivate reading and writing habits, the Lieutenant Governor urged every student to read at least one book beyond academic textbooks every month and called upon aspiring writers to commit themselves to writing at least one page every day.
He said the Chinar Book Festival is helping children remain connected to their cultural roots while preparing them for future opportunities. He also envisioned the festival expanding its reach by connecting with local libraries, educational institutions and small-town book clubs to ensure that the celebration of knowledge continues throughout the year.
During the visit, the Lieutenant Governor toured various book stalls, interacted with exhibitors, released several publications in different languages and suggested that a similar book festival be organised in the Jammu region as well.
The event was attended by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, National Book Trust Chairman Prof. Milind Sudhakar Marathe, Commissioner Secretary School Education Ram Niwas Sharma, National Book Trust Director Yuvraj Malik, Chief Convener of Chinar Book Festival Dr. Amit Wanchoo, Director of the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language Dr. Md. Shams Equbal, eminent literary personalities, students, book lovers and senior civil and police officers, including Chairperson J&K Waqf Board Dr. Syed Darakhshan Andrabi, Vice Chancellor SKUAST Kashmir Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Principal Secretary Culture Brij Mohan Sharma, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo and SSP Srinagar Dr. G.V. Sundeep Chakravarthy.(KNC)
