Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said that the Kashmiri Pandit community endured genocide and was uprooted from its ancestral soil, but preserved its culture, faith, education and language despite immense hardships.
Speaking at the launch of the book The Waves of Resilience: Story of Radio Sharda, Sinha said the community left behind all material possessions but carried with it the light of tradition and values.
“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”, he said.
Sinha said that more than two decades later, in 2011, Radio Sharda became a beacon of hope and unity by connecting Kashmiri Pandits across the world to their roots.
He said Radio Sharda has played a significant role in preserving songs, stories and traditions, while also providing a platform to poets, scholars and artists whose voices continue to inspire younger generations.
Sinha said Radio Sharda and various government initiatives have created new pathways for the youth of the community, and urged them to protect and expand their rich cultural heritage.
“Youth must ensure that Kashmiri Pandits’ cultural legacy thrives, evolves and endures meaningfully for generations to come,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor said successive generations of Kashmiri Pandits endured profound hardships beyond the genocide, a wound that time cannot fully heal, and added that initiatives like Radio Sharda have served as a vital lifeline in reinforcing community bonds.
He also felicitated prominent citizens from the community belonging to diverse fields for their contribution to society.
