Srinagar – November 13, 2026: Calling for the creation of a grassroots, people-driven movement to document, conserve, and revitalize Jammu and Kashmir’s philosophical, spiritual, and artistic legacy, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha declared that heritage must not remain static in archives but must actively converse with and guide emerging generations.
Addressing a prestigious national seminar on ‘Revival, Preservation and Sustainability of Cultural Heritage of Kashmir’ organized by Kakini Building Humanity in Srinagar—with Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat joining virtually—the Lieutenant Governor underscored that Jammu and Kashmir’s historical eminence transcends its natural landscapes, anchored firmly in profound foundational contributions to world philosophy, aesthetics, Shaivism, and Sufi syncretism.
“From the transcendental aesthetics of Acharya Abhinavagupta to the eternal mystical verses of Yogini Lalleshwari and Nund Rishi, Kashmir has gifted humanity enduring truths that bridge communities,” Sinha observed. “Every university department, school educator, and cultural institution must collaborate to translate historic manuscripts and democratize access to these intellectual treasures.”
Outlining the scale of ongoing preservation, the Lieutenant Governor disclosed that over 106 monument restoration projects were launched under initial phases, with more than 40 successfully completed. Under Phase III, a massive tranche of 321 conservation projects has been mapped, of which 312 have received administrative approvals. Simultaneously, state archival repositories in Jammu and Srinagar have digitized 96.8 lakh historical pages (representing roughly 68 percent of total records), while field surveys under Mission Gyan Bharatam have catalogued and preserved over 43,000 ancient manuscripts.
Sinha highlighted high-priority restoration works underway at the historic Mubarak Mandi palace complex in Jammu, Kushan-era Buddhist excavations in Baramulla, the ancient Naranag temple complex in Ganderbal, and the spiritual revival of the Harmukh-Gangbal pilgrimage trail.
Reaffirming a vital social truth, the Lieutenant Governor asserted that Kashmir’s literary, intellectual, and cultural fabric remains incomplete without the dignified, secure return of the Kashmiri Pandit community to their ancestral homeland.
Published by True Roots Media