Pulwama, Aug 17: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday called for institutionalising regular interfaith dialogues in schools, colleges, and community centres, as he outlined a six-point roadmap for fostering communal harmony and preserving India’s shared heritage.
Addressing the Mulaqat programme organised by the Save Youth Save Future Foundation here, the LG said dialogue is not merely an exchange of words but a bridge between hearts, a means of nurturing trust and a path to peace and prosperity.
Quoting ancient wisdom from the Rig Veda—”Sangachchhadhwam Samvadadhwam, Sam Vo Manamsi Janatam”—the LG reminded the gathering that walking together, conversing together and making space for one another in our hearts is the essence of India’s civilisational ethos.
“Mutual trust and respect for all faiths and beliefs was an integral part of our way of life. The civilisation of our beloved Bharat gave us a profoundly beautiful message 6,000 years ago to walk together, converse together and make space for one another in our hearts,” he said.
Sinha said that India’s soil has welcomed faiths, cultures, and traditions from across the world, weaving them into the fabric of the country. He said this confluence of traditions is visible today in the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the world is one family—and in the ethos of Kashmiriyat, which teaches that true identity lies in conduct and humanity, not in labels of faith or community.
“Such initiatives need to be expanded on a much broader scale. I believe that another meaning of true peace is that it begins when we start understanding one another. From that perspective, our gathering here is not merely a social meeting. The true meaning of Mulaqat is to listen to one another, understand one another, respect one another and, wherever there is distance between hearts, take the first step towards dialogue,” the LG said.
The Lieutenant Governor outlined a six-point roadmap: institutionalising regular interfaith dialogues in educational institutions and community centres; appointing Youth Peace Ambassadors to lead cultural exchange, community service, and environmental protection initiatives; preserving historical and cultural sites as common heritage; promoting digital literacy to counter misinformation; ensuring social justice and equal opportunities through impartial systems delivering education, employment, healthcare, and justice; and constituting Village Peace Committees representing all sections of society to strengthen compassion, humanity and development.
“It is the collective responsibility of the public and the administration to ensure that youth receive an education that teaches them to ask questions, access to technology that guides them towards progress, and the character that inspires patriotism and nation-building,” he said.
The LG stressed that while governments can make laws and administrations can provide systems, true harmony is built by the people themselves. He called upon administrative officers to ensure the safety of citizens, equal opportunities in development and proper implementation of welfare schemes.
Earlier, the Lieutenant Governor flagged off the Tiranga Yatra from Sports Stadium, Pulwama, and commended the people of Pulwama for their enthusiastic participation in the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ and other national integration programmes.
The event was attended by DIG South Kashmir Range Javaid Iqbal Matoo, Deputy Commissioner Pulwama Dr Basharat Qayoom, SSP Pulwama Tanushree, Save Youth Save Future Foundation Chairman Wajahat Farooq Bhat, and other senior officials, civil society members, prominent citizens, and a large number of youth.
