Jammu, Apr 28 : Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday launched the book ‘The Waves of Resilience, Story of Radio Sharda’, a compilation of articles by listeners and litterateurs from the Kashmiri Pandit community, highlighting the socio-cultural impact of the community’s iconic radio initiative.
The Lieutenant Governor commended the book’s editor, Ramesh Hangloo, and his team for their role in preserving the community’s rich cultural values, which faced near-erasure during the exodus from the Valley.
“The Kashmiri Pandit community endured genocide and was uprooted from their ancestral soil. They left behind all material possessions, carrying only the light of culture, tradition, faith, education, and language,” Sinha said at the launch event.
“More than two decades later, in 2011, Ramesh Hangloo transformed that surviving light into a beacon of hope and unity through Radio Sharda, connecting Kashmiri Pandits across the world to their roots,” he added.
The Lt Governor noted that Radio Sharda has served as a vital platform, preserving forgotten songs, stories, and traditions while giving voice to poets, scholars, and artists. He described the initiative, alongside various government schemes, as a pathway for the community’s youth.
“Now it is their responsibility to protect and expand this rich cultural heritage. The youth must ensure that the Kashmiri Pandit’s cultural legacy thrives, evolves, and endures meaningfully for generations to come,” Sinha said.
Acknowledging the deep wounds of history, the Lt Governor observed that successive generations of Kashmiri Pandits endured profound hardships beyond the 1990s genocide — a wound time cannot fully heal. He said initiatives like Radio Sharda have provided a vital lifeline, reinforcing community bonds.
On the occasion, Sinha also felicitated prominent citizens of the community from diverse fields for their contribution to society. (KNS)
