Srinagar, November 1 : Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said that Dr. Rahi Masoom Raza inspired generations to dream and believe in their potential. Speaking at the inaugural session of a three-day international seminar on Rahi’s legacy at the University of Kashmir, Sinha said that Rahi’s greatest gift was the message of self-realization and the art of living life with purpose.
He urged that Rahi’s ideals be carried beyond seminars and shared widely with the public, calling them “an invisible infrastructure for India’s progressive society.” Asper KNS, Sinha said Rahi’s thoughts promote unity, equality, and collective growth, especially uplifting marginalized communities.
The event was jointly organized by IDEA Communications, the University of Kashmir, Majlis Fakhr-e-Bahrain, and J&K Bank.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Nilofar Khan chaired the session, while Professor Naveen Chand Lohani (Uttarakhand Open University) and Brij Mohan Sharma (Chief Secretary, Department of Culture, J&K) attended as special guests. Noted Bollywood lyricist Sameer Anjaan delivered the keynote address.
In his speech, Sinha said the seminar’s aim is to generate new ideas inspired by Rahi’s vision for a developed India. “This Amrit Manthan will bring new reflections and a new path for society,” he said.
During the event, Urdu poet Dr. Noor Amrohvi, editor Ajit Singh, educationist Vijay Dhar, and Urdu scholar Professor Muhammad Zaman Azurdah were honored for their literary and social contributions.
Professor Nilofar Khan highlighted that writers like Rahi remind us literature not only mirrors society but also guides it.
Sameer Anjaan praised Rahi’s emotional depth, saying his words connected directly with people’s hearts. Professor Lohani noted that Rahi’s literature “respects emotions, not boundaries,” and remains deeply relevant today.
Asif Azmi, Director of IDEA Communications, said the seminar marks the beginning of Rahi’s centenary celebrations, which will continue through 2026.
The seminar brings together over 40 scholars from India and abroad, including representatives from Qatar, the USA, and leading Indian universities. They will present research papers on Rahi’s literary and cultural contributions.
A Mushaira and poetic symposium will be held on November 2 at Tagore Hall, Srinagar, organized by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture, and Language. Poets from India, Qatar, and the USA will participate.
