SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 29: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said the younger generation has an important role in carrying forward India’s rich traditions of knowledge, literature and culture.
Sinha was speaking at a felicitation ceremony organised by the Wadies Hindi Shiksha Samiti in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, where meritorious students were honoured.
Congratulating the students, teachers, parents and organisers, the Lieutenant Governor said the students being felicitated were not merely competition winners but also representatives of India's rich intellectual and cultural heritage.
Emphasising the importance of the mother tongue, Sinha said language is more than a means of communication and is closely linked to identity, memory and cultural values. He said Jammu and Kashmir's linguistic diversity reflects the broader cultural traditions of India.
He also highlighted the emphasis placed on mother-tongue and Indian-language education under the National Education Policy, saying it can help children learn and develop with greater confidence.
Sinha said children should remain connected to their cultural roots while receiving opportunities to pursue education, technology and modern knowledge.
"The real development of Jammu Kashmir will come when a child in our border villages can say with confidence, 'I can fulfil my dreams,'" he said, adding that children and youth in border areas possess talent, courage and potential.
The Lieutenant Governor outlined five key areas for youth empowerment in border areas — education and technology, employment and entrepreneurship, sports and culture, access to opportunities, and guidance and mentorship.
He called for smart classrooms, digital libraries and skill-development opportunities to reach remote villages. He also stressed the need to create employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in sectors such as handicrafts, horticulture, agriculture, tourism and local industries.
Sinha said young people should be encouraged to participate in sports, arts and other creative activities so that their energy can be channelled productively.
He further called for scholarships, digital platforms, training programmes and national and international competition opportunities to be made accessible to youth living in border areas.
The Lieutenant Governor also suggested that successful professionals from Jammu and Kashmir should regularly interact with students in border areas and provide them with guidance and mentorship.
Urging students to take pride in their language and culture while embracing science and technology, Sinha said every student has a unique ability that should be converted into responsibility and positive contribution.
He also appreciated the efforts of the Wadies Hindi Shiksha Samiti in promoting the Hindi language and congratulated the students honoured during the event.
Senior officials from the Culture and School Education departments, divisional administration, police, JKAACL, educational institutions, teachers, students and representatives of various cultural organisations attended the felicitation ceremony.
