Srinagar, Jul 18 (NVI): Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said the Chinar Book Festival is more than a literary event and has evolved into a movement to build a vibrant community of readers, writers and thinkers in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing the third edition of the Chinar Book Festival here, Sinha said the initiative aims to transform Jammu and Kashmir into a national hub of knowledge, literature and creativity.
Congratulating the National Book Trust and the organisers, he said the festival has emerged as an important 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.
Sinha urged the youth to cultivate the habit of reading every day, preserve endangered languages and use literature as a means to promote diversity, mutual respect and social harmony.
He said books encourage critical thinking, spark curiosity and inspire personal growth, adding that literature plays a vital role in strengthening society’s intellectual foundations.
The Lieutenant Governor said the Chinar Book Festival has, in a short span, become a significant platform for the exchange of ideas, literary discussions and creative dialogue. He also stressed the need to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s historical identity as a centre of learning and literature.
Highlighting the importance of the festival, Sinha said its success should be measured not merely by the number of books sold but by the ideas it generates and the impact those ideas have on society and educational institutions.
Encouraging students to develop reading habits, he suggested that every student should read at least one book outside the academic curriculum every month, while aspiring writers should dedicate themselves to writing at least one page every day.
The Lieutenant Governor also appreciated efforts to revive the ancient Sharada script and initiatives promoting cultural integration, including programmes under the “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat” initiative.
During his visit, Sinha 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.
Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, National Book Trust Chairman Prof Milind Sudhakar Marathe, National Book Trust Director Yuvraj Malik and several senior officials, literary personalities, students and book lovers were present on the occasion.(NVI)
