Lieutenant Governor inaugurates 2nd edition of Kashmir Literature Festival at Srinagar

SRINAGAR, OCT 11: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday emphasized the vital role of writers in uncovering the truth of history through research and factual evidence. “Writers must do research and use critical proof to challenge and correct the misleading historical accounts,” he said while speaking at the inaugural session of the Kashmir Literature Festival organized by the Srikula Foundation.

The Lieutenant Governor said that during the colonial era and even after independence, certain groups of writers distorted history to fit their ideological agendas. “Today, young historians must provide accurate and factually correct accounts to challenge those lies. In recent years, new writers have made commendable efforts to do justice to the historical wrongs, which is indeed an excellent initiative. Efforts are also being made to take Indian literature to the global stage, which deserves appreciation,” he added.

He further called for correcting the prevailing narrative regarding Jammu and Kashmir by identifying misinformation and countering it with verified facts.

“For decades, a manipulated narrative was propagated in Jammu and Kashmir. Writers and media figures, out of fear of terrorists and their ecosystem, were compelled to promote the narrative pushed from across the border. That terror ecosystem has now been dismantled, and this is the time to present the true story of Jammu and Kashmir — free from bias and the fear of the gun — to strengthen trust and accelerate socio-economic growth,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

In his address, he also underlined the importance of offering new perspectives and a broader vision to readers in a fast-changing world — one that meets emerging challenges and explores the relationship between nature, culture, and human well-being.

The inaugural ceremony was attended by Lieutenant General (Retd.) D.P. Pandey; Yuvraj Srivastava, Founder of the Srikula Foundation; senior officials, noted literary figures, members of the foundation, youth, and people from various walks of life.