Books inspire change, build a stronger society: LG Sinha at Chinar Book Festival

Calling books the foundation of an enlightened society, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said the Chinar Book Festival is helping restore Jammu and Kashmir’s legacy as a centre of learning and literature, while urging youngsters to cultivate the habit of reading beyond textbooks.

Sinha was speaking at the third edition of the Chinar Book Festival in Srinagar. The Lieutenant Governor congratulated the National Book Trust and the organisers for their commendable work.

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“This festival is more than just an event. It is a movement to build a vibrant community of readers, writers, and thinkers. Our goal is to transform Jammu and Kashmir into a national hub for knowledge, culture, and creativity. I hope this book festival will inspire the youth to read every day, protect endangered languages, and use literature as a way to value and respect diversity,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor said that books are like living conversations and they force us to think deeply, ask questions, challenge what we believe, and inspire us to grow.

“Nothing matches the power of writing. Combined with a strong imagination, it becomes a lasting strength. A vibrant book festival creates such an environment and a welcoming space where literature becomes accessible, inspiring, and meaningful for everyone,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

“In Kashmir, the Chinar is a living symbol of patience, beauty, and endurance. Writers and their books share this same lasting spirit, guiding human civilisation through the ages. Together, we share the responsibility to restore Jammu and Kashmir as a leading hub for education, literature, and youth empowerment,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

He observed that the China Book Festival has become a strong national platform of ideas, debates and knowledge exchange. Its identity is no longer confined to stalls and book launches; it has become a means to generate new ideas, encourage dialogue and empower youth. He said in past editions, workshops, panel discussions and literary conversations have given new energy to Jammu and Kashmir’s rich literary tradition.

The Lieutenant Governor urged youth to read at least one book beyond their textbooks every month, and he asked every young writer to resolve to write at least one page daily.

“Through the Chinar Book Festival, we are ensuring that our children have roots to their identity as well as wings for future flight. I want to see this as a platform where local libraries and small-town book clubs also connect with the spirit of this festival, so that this celebration of knowledge reaches the public throughout the year and fosters exchanges among literary, musical and visual art forms, where words become voice, poetry takes colour and stories become our shared experiences,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor visited various book stalls and interacted with the exhibitors. He released several publications in different languages. He also asked organisers to plan a similar book festival in Jammu.