Modern India forgot to write, preserve its own history correctly: LG Sinha at Literary Festival

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, MAY 30 (STC): One of the greatest failures of modern India was that it forgot to write and preserve its own history correctly, allowing narratives to emerge that credited Persia or the Mughals for India’s scientific and intellectual contributions.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha stated this here today after inaugurating the two-day Kashmir Literature Festival-2026 at the SKICC.
He said, ““India gave the world the foundations of mathematics, science and astronomy. Several civilisations learned from India’s knowledge systems.” He added that references in Persian and Arab texts from the eighth century clearly acknowledged India’s contributions.
He also stated writers, poets and scholars play a greater role in shaping civilisations than institutions and there is need to break the colonial mindset and reclaiming India’s “real history”.
The LG said a single novel can create an impact that crores of rupees spent by institutions often fail to achieve.
“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 in his address to a gathering of writers, researchers, historians and academicians who had assembled at the festival.
LG Sinha welcomed guests who had arrived from outside the Union Territory, expressing confidence that they would “feel and witness” the cultural, intellectual and literary depth of Kashmir during the festival being held on May 30 and 31.
Drawing an analogy from Indian mythology, Sinha said India’s literary world was still like “Hanuman Ji before realising his own strength” and needed to recognise the depth of the country’s civilisational knowledge.
Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech from the Red Fort, Sinha said the time had come to completely erase the colonial mindset. “We must ensure that our history is not presented in a distorted manner,” he said.
The LG said
LG Sinha also rejected the notion that reading culture was declining, noting that research in 2025 suggested over 40 lakh books were published globally. “The doors have opened. We must use these platforms and mediums to build strong and positive narratives,” he said.
Notably, the two-day Kashmir Literature Festival features literary discussions, poetry sessions, historical debates and interactions involving writers, historians, researchers and academicians from across the country.

(Straight Talk Communications)