‘Colonialism weakened confidence in our traditions; India’s intellectuals must recognise civilisational strength’
- Writers shape societies, not institutions
- Literature influences generations
- India was once global knowledge leader
- Time to take India’s authentic history to people
Idrees Bukhtiyar
Srinagar, May 30: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said that writers, poets and scholars play a far greater role in shaping societies and civilisations than institutions, asserting that literature possesses the power to influence generations in ways that governments and organisations often cannot.
Addressing the inaugural session of the third edition of the two-day Kashmir Literature Festival (KLF) at SKICC Srinagar, Sinha highlighted the transformative power of literary works and urged the country’s intellectual community to rediscover and project India’s civilisational heritage.
“I have seen institutions spending crores of rupees, yet failing to create the impact that a single novel can create in society. Literature has the power to influence minds and generations in ways institutions often cannot,” he said.
According to organisers, the two-day festival features literary discussions, poetry sessions, historical debates and interactions involving writers, historians, researchers and academicians from different parts of the country.
The LG said India’s literary world has yet to fully realise and articulate the depth of the country’s ancient knowledge systems and cultural legacy. Drawing a parallel with the Hindu epic Ramayana, he remarked that India’s intellectual community resembled Hanuman before he was reminded of his immense strength.
“Just as Hanuman Ji was reminded of his powers before crossing Lanka, our literary and intellectual community must recognise the strength of India’s civilisational heritage and present it before the world,” he said.
Describing writers and creators as immortal through their works, Sinha said great poets, authors and thinkers continue to inspire humanity long after their lifetimes.
“The human body is mortal, but creation becomes a symbol of immortality. Great writers and creative minds live on through their contributions,” he said.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to shed the colonial mindset, Sinha said India must reclaim its historical narrative and ensure that its history is not presented in a distorted manner.
“The time has come to completely remove the colonial mindset. We must ensure that our history is narrated accurately and authentically,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor urged scholars, historians and researchers to take India’s authentic history to local readers and future generations, emphasising that the country had been a major centre of science, culture and knowledge when many parts of the world were still struggling for advancement.
“We must remind the world that India was a leading centre of knowledge, science and culture long before many modern civilisations emerged,” he said.
Sinha described the failure to adequately document and preserve India’s own history as one of the country’s major shortcomings in modern times. He said several narratives had emerged over the years that overlooked India’s indigenous contributions to science and knowledge.
He noted that references in Persian and Arab literature acknowledged India’s contributions to medicine, mathematics and scientific thought, adding that researchers across the world had recognised the influence of Indian knowledge systems on global civilisations.
“Colonialism weakened confidence in our own civilisation and intellectual traditions. The roots of our knowledge systems have always been deep and strong,” he said.
Highlighting India’s scientific achievements, Sinha said discussions on the history of science often focus on Western figures, while India’s own scientific advancements and maritime capabilities receive comparatively less attention.
He also referred to historical accounts linking Alexander and King Porus, saying they reflected the advanced metallurgical traditions of ancient India and its reputation for high-quality steel.
The Lieutenant Governor reiterated that writers and thinkers hold a unique place in society because of their ability to shape public consciousness.
“Writers are greater than nations because they influence the thinking, direction and character of societies and civilisations,” he said.
He added that alongside India’s rich past, the country’s contemporary achievements should also reach the people.
“We must take both our historical legacy and present accomplishments to the people. India has emerged strongly and today stands as the world’s fourth-largest economy,” he said.