Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said writers, poets and scholars play a greater role in shaping civilizations than institutions, as he inaugurated the two-day Kashmir Literature Festival-2026 at SKICC Srinagar.

Addressing writers, researchers, historians, academicians and literary figures during the inaugural session, the Lieutenant Governor welcomed all guests who had arrived in Jammu & Kashmir from outside the Union Territory and said he was confident they would “feel and witness” the cultural, intellectual and literary depth of Kashmir during the festival being held on May 30 and 31.

“I welcome everyone who has come to Jammu & Kashmir from outside. I am confident that during these two days, you will not only see but also deeply feel the literary, cultural and intellectual soul of this land,” Sinha said.

The Lieutenant Governor said India’s literary world has still not fully realised or expressed the strength of the country’s civilizational knowledge and heritage.

“India’s literary world is still like Hanuman Ji before realising his own strength. Just as Hanuman was reminded of his powers before crossing Lanka, our literary and intellectual community too must realise the depth of India’s civilizational strength and present it to the world,” he said.

Calling writers immortal through their creations, Sinha said great poets, authors and creators never die because their works continue to inspire generations.

“Great poets, writers and creative minds become immortal through their knowledge and work. The human body is mortal, but creation becomes the symbol of immortality,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor said he had witnessed many occasions where institutions spent crores of rupees but failed to create the impact that a single novel or literary work could........

© The Kashmir Monitor News