Srinagar, June 20 : Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said Kashmir was once among Asia’s foremost centres of learning, attracting scholars from Afghanistan, Central Asia and other regions, while Sanskrit texts preserved and studied in the Valley were translated into Arabic and carried India’s intellectual traditions far beyond its borders.
Addressing the inaugural session of the Nalanda Dialogue-2026 at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) here, LG Sinha said Kashmir and Nalanda shared a deep civilisational bond and served as two of the world’s most influential centres of knowledge, shaping philosophical, scientific and cultural discourse across continents.
“Such events bring a sense of reflection and stability to our lives. They help us understand our past, assess our present and prepare for the future through meaningful dialogue and intellectual engagement,” he said.
Recalling the glory of ancient Nalanda, Sinha said memories of its famed nine-storey library continue to symbolise India’s rich knowledge tradition and its contribution to global civilisation.
He said Nalanda, Takshashila, Vikramshila and several other ancient institutions were not merely centres of education but global hubs of learning that attracted scholars from different parts of the world.
“India’s identity has always been rooted in its great knowledge centres. These institutions became meeting points of cultures, ideas and intellectual traditions and reflected the openness of Indian civilisation,” he said.
Highlighting Kashmir’s historic role in the exchange of ideas, LG Sinha said the region was home to Sharada Peeth, one of the most respected centres of learning in the ancient world.
“Kashmir was once a major centre of knowledge. People travelled from distant lands to acquire learning here. Scholars from Afghanistan and other regions came to study Sanskrit and various branches of knowledge before carrying that learning to different parts of the world,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor said Kashmir played a crucial role in the transmission of knowledge from India to other civilisations.
He said scholars from different countries regularly visited Kashmir, while several Sanskrit works studied in the Valley were translated into Arabic, helping Indian ideas travel across regions.
“Sanskrit texts were translated into Arabic and important streams of Indian knowledge reached the Arab world through these exchanges. Kashmir served as an important bridge connecting different intellectual traditions,” he said.
Referring to India’s contribution to mathematics and science, Sinha said the concept of zero travelled from India to Baghdad through ancient knowledge networks and later reached Europe, profoundly influencing scientific and mathematical thought.
“The journey of knowledge from India to Baghdad and then to Europe illustrates the extraordinary reach of our civilisational wisdom. India’s intellectual contributions played a significant role in shaping human progress,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor said Kashmir and Nalanda represented a larger civilisational vision based on learning, dialogue and the pursuit of truth.
He said both centres demonstrated how knowledge can unite societies, transcend geographical boundaries and contribute to human development.
LG Sinha said India, as the inheritor of a great civilisation, has the responsibility of carrying forward this legacy with courage, foresight and innovation.
He said governance becomes more humane and responsive when guided by wisdom, ethics and cultural values. “When governance is informed by knowledge and human values, it becomes more sensitive to the needs of society. Our civilisational traditions continue to offer important lessons for the modern world,” he said.
Calling for a renewed civilisational outlook, the Lieutenant Governor said there was a need to reconnect ancient centres of learning stretching from Bihar to Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and Kashi to strengthen India’s collective consciousness.
“We must revive the spirit that once connected different regions through knowledge, culture and intellectual exchange. This shared heritage has the power to strengthen national consciousness and inspire future generations,” he said.
Expressing satisfaction that the dialogue was being held in Srinagar, Sinha said the city itself possessed a rich legacy of scholarship, cultural exchange and intellectual engagement. “There was a time when ideas moved freely across regions and civilisations. The exchange of knowledge that characterised our ancient world is once again gaining momentum, and forums such as the Nalanda Dialogue are helping revive that spirit,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor said Kashmir has historically been a major centre of Sanskrit scholarship and philosophical inquiry, where eminent thinkers contributed to the advancement of Indian thought and gave new dimensions to intellectual traditions.
Describing cultural exchange as an essential requirement of the present age, Sinha said dialogues of this nature help generate solutions to contemporary challenges while drawing inspiration from timeless wisdom.
He said the discussions would contribute to policymaking, academic cooperation and cultural understanding, while encouraging young people to become active participants in nation-building.
“Our youth must emerge as drivers of change and become a source of ideas and decisions that shape the future. Knowledge, innovation, science and culture must work together to build a stronger India,” he said.
Emphasising the importance of India’s growing global influence, Sinha said the country must further strengthen its soft power and cultural diplomacy by showcasing its civilisational strengths before the world.
“When India’s youth engage with and promote the country’s rich intellectual and cultural heritage, our soft power and cultural diplomacy become stronger. India’s civilisational traditions remain among its greatest strengths,” he added.
The Lieutenant Governor said the Nalanda Dialogue not only reaffirms India’s enduring commitment to knowledge and human values but also revives the historic links between Kashmir and Nalanda, two centres that helped shape some of the world’s most enduring traditions of learning. (KNO)
