Jammu, April 29
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said the Kashmiri Pandit community endured genocide and displacement from its ancestral land but safeguarded its cultural and intellectual heritage, speaking at a book launch event in Jammu highlighting the journey of community-run Radio Sharda.
Addressing the launch of The Waves of Resilience: The Story of Radio Sharda, Sinha described the experience of Kashmiri Pandits as marked by deep loss and resilience. He said the community was forced to leave behind its material possessions but continued to carry forward its traditions, faith, education, and language.
“The Kashmiri Pandit community endured genocide and was uprooted from their ancestral soil. They left behind all material possessions, carrying only the light of culture, tradition, faith, education, and language,” Sinha said.
Highlighting the role of Radio Sharda, the Lieutenant Governor said the platform emerged in 2011 as a unifying force for Kashmiri Pandits across the world. He noted that the radio station has helped reconnect the diaspora with its roots while preserving cultural expressions through music, storytelling, and intellectual discourse.
Sinha said the initiative has provided space for poets, scholars, and artists to share their work, ensuring that cultural knowledge is passed on to younger generations. He added that such platforms have also strengthened community ties over the years.
Emphasising the role of the younger generation, Sinha urged Kashmiri Pandit youth to actively safeguard and promote their cultural legacy. “Youth must ensure that Kashmiri Pandits’ cultural legacy thrives, evolves and endures meaningfully for generations to come,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor also acknowledged the prolonged hardships faced by the community over successive generations, stating that the impact of their displacement continues to be deeply felt.
The event concluded with the felicitation of prominent members of the Kashmiri Pandit community from various fields, recognising their contributions and underscoring ongoing efforts to preserve and promote the community’s cultural identity.
