Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir is shedding its past to emerge as a vibrant, progressive and aspirational region, driven by entrepreneurship, education, cultural revival and sporting achievements, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Sunday, asserting that the Union Territory is increasingly being recognised for its startups, uninterrupted economic activity and growing international sporting events.
“Gone are the days of shutdowns and stone-pelting. Today, Jammu and Kashmir is making headlines for its thriving startups, with schools, colleges, and businesses operating seamlessly throughout the year,” Sinha said while addressing students from various educational institutions of Maharashtra visiting the Union Territory under the Yuva Sangam initiative.
The Lieutenant Governor’s remarks came as he addressed the felicitation ceremony of the Kashmir Marathon, where he congratulated the winners and highlighted the need to translate the event into sustained opportunities for local athletes.
A total of 68 medals were awarded, with 34 each in the full marathon and half marathon categories. Sinha said every medal represented dedication, perseverance and the pursuit of a dream, adding that the true spirit of a marathon extended beyond the winners to every participant who completed the race through sustained effort and determination.
He particularly welcomed the separate category for Jammu and Kashmir residents, saying the initiative had provided young people, including those from far-flung areas, a platform to discover and showcase their potential.
“Tourism Department, Jammu Kashmir Sports Council, and private institutions must provide trainers for today’s local winners, support and mentor them, and guide them so that, building upon this marathon, they can reach national and international tournaments. I want the medal won by local youth at today’s Kashmir Marathon to mark the beginning of a new journey,” he said.
Sinha expressed confidence that with appropriate training, mentoring and institutional support, future marathon champions would emerge from Jammu and Kashmir. He said talent existed across the country, but opportunities were not always equally accessible, making it important to create platforms that enabled young people to compete at higher levels.
Highlighting the growing international profile of the Kashmir Marathon, the Lieutenant Governor said the event had helped position Srinagar among cities hosting prestigious long-distance races. Participants from across India and abroad, he said, also served as ambassadors of Jammu and Kashmir by carrying back memories of its hospitality and natural beauty.
He also underlined the role of sporting events in promoting fitness and raising awareness about lifestyle-related diseases. Pointing to the participation of both young runners and people above 50, Sinha said marathons could inspire people to adopt healthier routines.
“Marathons inspire people to make a new beginning towards a healthy life. I am fully confident that the sight of young participants and also senior runners above the age of 50 in this very Kashmir Marathon can inspire lakhs of people to take a step forward and at least include a daily walk in their routine,” he said.
Referring to the broader transformation underway in Jammu and Kashmir, Sinha said opportunities for progress were expanding across tourism, startups, agriculture, handicrafts, technology and education. He said young entrepreneurs were creating new success stories, while Srinagar and Jammu had developed increasingly vibrant theatrical, musical and artistic spaces, with exhibitions and cultural events finding a wider audience.
He also stressed the importance of collaboration in fostering innovation, saying transformative ideas rarely emerged through individual effort alone. Talented people, mentors and institutions, he said, needed to work together within an ecosystem built on trust, support and cooperation.
Addressing the visiting students from Maharashtra, Sinha highlighted the rich civilisational heritage shared by the two regions and said such interactions helped strengthen appreciation of India’s cultural legacy. He encouraged the students to share their experiences of a changing Jammu and Kashmir and the opportunities emerging across different sectors.
Calling upon young people to take responsibility for shaping the country’s future, the Lieutenant Governor said collective effort, hard work and a commitment to public good were essential to building a developed India and a self-reliant Jammu and Kashmir.
“Shaping the future in the right direction lies in our own hands. Today, it is essential that we take responsibility for our own tomorrow and, through determined effort, create a new history,” he said, urging people to rise above personal interests and turn challenges into opportunities.
Sinha also commended the Jammu and Kashmir Police and security forces, saying their efforts over the past six years had helped foster an atmosphere conducive to hosting prestigious international-level events in the Union Territory.
Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Secretary Tourism Avny Lavasa, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg, Inspector General of Police Kashmir Sujit Kumar, Srinagar Senior Superintendent of Police G.V. Sundeep Chakravarthy and Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo, besides senior civil and police officials, prominent citizens, sportspersons and youth, attended the felicitation ceremony.
