Prez: Violence was never part of ‘Kashmiriyat’, but became a daily reality
Kovind urges Kashmir’s younger generation to take rich legacy forward
President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday said that violence was never part of “Kashmiriyat” but became a daily reality. He, however, termed it an aberration and urged Kashmir’s younger generation to take their legacy forward.
“Kashmiriyat” is the centuries-old indigenous tradition of communal harmony and religious syncretism in the Kashmir Valley. It also refers to the ethno-national and social consciousness and cultural values of the people of the scenic Himalayan region.
Mr Kovind, who is on a four-day visit to Kashmir Valley, said that it was most unfortunate that this outstanding tradition of peaceful coexistence was broken and violence, which was never part of “Kashmiriyat”, became a daily reality.
“It (violence) is alien to Kashmiri culture, and it can only be termed as an aberration, a temporary one, much like a virus that attacks the body and needs to be purged. Now there is a new beginning and determined efforts to regain this land’s lost glory,” he said in his convocation address at the University of Kashmir in Srinagar.
He said that almost all religions that came to Kashmir embraced the unique feature of ‘Kashmiriyat’ that shunned orthodoxy and encouraged tolerance and mutual acceptance among communities.
Making a passionate appeal to the youth of Kashmir to take forward the legacy, he said, “I take this opportunity to urge upon the younger generation of Kashmir to learn from their rich legacy. They have every reason to know that Kashmir has always been a beacon of hope for the rest of India. Its spiritual and cultural influence has imprint all across India.”
The President began his speech with a few words in Kashmiri. He said, “Mei sapaez khushi tuhi meelith (I feel happy to meet you all)”, evoking a round of applause from the audience including dignitaries and faculty and students of the University of Kashmir at the Sher-iKashmir International Convention Centre on the banks of famed Dal Lake.
In a veiled reference to the conflict in J&K which has affected nearly everybody, particularly in the Kashmir Valley, the President said that democracy has the capacity to reconcile all differences and bring out the best of the citizens’ potential.