Srinagar, June 13: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday participated in the Global Kashmiri Pandit Conclave held in Srinagar, an event aimed at celebrating the resilience and acknowledging the achievements of the Kashmiri Pandit community, while also laying the groundwork for their return.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the conclave brought together distinguished members of the Kashmiri Pandit community from both India and abroad, marking a significant moment for the community’s journey of renaissance and return to their homeland. The Lieutenant Governor emphasized that the event signifies a pivotal moment of transformation, where those displaced are now returning, viewing this homecoming as the ultimate victory.
Community’s Resilience and Trust in Jammu and Kashmir
The presence of prominent figures in business, corporate leadership, technology, and the arts at the conclave, Lieutenant Governor Sinha noted, sends a strong message of confidence in the prevailing peace and administrative stability in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He described the Kashmiri Pandit community’s journey as one marked by genocide, exile, and profound struggle, acknowledging the global witness to their past suffering and present triumph.
“The community chose a different path. They refused to be defined by wounds and struggle. Instead, they transformed that pain into strength,” the Lieutenant Governor stated, highlighting the community’s proactive approach to overcoming adversity. He urged members of the Kashmiri Pandit community to establish industries, academic institutions, and cultural centers within Jammu and Kashmir, which he believes would serve as an enduring testament to their heritage and create future opportunities.
Economic Empowerment and Cultural Revival
Lieutenant Governor Sinha underscored the importance of the community’s contributions across various sectors, including industry, education, arts, and spirituality, framing it as a form of meaningful service and a legacy that will inspire future generations. He recalled the widespread brutality and massacres faced by the community in the 1990s, which led to their forced displacement and exile within their own country, compelling families to leave everything behind.
He further elaborated on the two paths available to the community in the face of such hardship: despair or rebuilding. The community, he stated, chose creation, reconstruction, and selfless service, thereby making history. Despite enduring the weight of massacres, their ambition and purpose remained undeterred. “Hardship never broke the spirit of the Kashmiri Pandit community. Suffering did not silence their ambition. Instead, they shaped their own destiny by building industries, founding institutions, driving innovation, and earning respect across the world,” he affirmed.
The Lieutenant Governor expressed pride in the community’s current standing, noting their achievements and global recognition for their talent, leadership, and humanitarian contributions. He suggested that the Global Conclave itself signals an opportune time for the reconstruction and revival of the ancient glory of the Kashmiri Pandit community.
A New Era for Jammu and Kashmir
Discussions at the conclave, focusing on global industrial development, institutional building, and fostering a shared economic future, were described as blueprints for cultural revival, economic empowerment, and community restoration. Lieutenant Governor Sinha lauded the community’s transformation of struggle into strength, which forged leaders who excelled in technology, finance, medicine, arts, and civil services. He emphasized that their advancements serve as a reminder of the power of resolve, courage, and determination.
The return of the Kashmiri Pandit community, the Lieutenant Governor stated, is indicative of a new Jammu and Kashmir that has emerged post-2019. He asserted that the strength and hope of this transformed region reflect the community’s resolve and vision. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the transformation of Jammu and Kashmir from a region that witnessed massacres and displacement into a center for reconstruction.
Lieutenant Governor Sinha concluded by stating that history is shaped by those who rise again after immense suffering and challenges. He honored the courage, steadfastness, and achievements of the Kashmiri Pandit community as they return to their roots, a dignified return he attributed to the Prime Minister’s resolve. He pledged a commitment to ensuring a brighter future and the renewed prominence of the Kashmiri Pandit community for the welfare of all humanity. The Lieutenant Governor also highlighted the significant role the community would play in nation-building and India’s developmental journey towards a ‘Viksit Bharat’.
Distinguished speakers and prominent community members shared their experiences and insights during various sessions. Among those present were Nasir Aslam Wani, Advisor to the Chief Minister; Uphaar Kotru, President, Kashmiri Overseas Association (KOA); Utpal Kaul, International Coordinator & Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD); Ashwani Bhat, President, Kashmiri Pandit Association (KPA) Mumbai; Sanjay Koul, President All Minority Employees Association Kashmir (AMEAK); Autar Krishan Trakroo, Social Activist and Organising Secretary, Sanjeevani Sharda Kendra; Dileep Mattoo President Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch (JKVM); and R.K. Bhat, President, Youth All India Kashmiri Samaj. Senior officers from the Police and Civil Administration, prominent citizens, youth, and a large number of community members also attended the event.
The Chenab Times News Desk