Solution to Kashmir problem lies in pen, not gun, says Union Minister

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday said the solution to the “Kashmir problem” lies in education and not in “guns or in sticks.”

Pradhan was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the nine-day Chinar Book Festival at Srinagar’s Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre.

“The solution to the problem of Kashmir is not in a gun, not in sticks, but in a pen,” the Union Minister of Education said. He noted that the Kashmir society “is a society that reads and writes. The bravery of Jammu is a great legacy,” he said.

Posting on X, the Union Minister later said the Chinar book festival “is not just a literary gathering, it’s a bold statement and an effort towards civilisational awakening.”

“Jammu and Kashmir is the crown of Bharat. This pious land has always been a seat of learning and a torchbearer of our spiritual and philosophical traditions,” he said.

He stated that “books, education and knowledge are vital to rediscover our intellectual heritage and integrate them into contemporary academic thought.”

He also said under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, “we are transforming Jammu and Kashmir into a hub of knowledge and research through NEP 2020.”

“From smart classrooms to IIT, IIM, AIIMS and other top quality institutions, Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing several new firsts,” he said.

He also appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir administration to make Chinar Book Festival a permanent identity of Jammu and Kashmir. “In addition to Srinagar, a Jammu edition should also be a part of the book festival,” he said.

Talking to reporters after the event, Pradhan said the normalcy is coming and tourism and industry are doing well in Jammu and Kashmir.

He said as the system progresses further, the people will progress in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Union Minister also said that before the abrogation of Article 370, for many years, local body elections were not held. “The grassroots representative should have been there…gradually, in Jammu and Kashmir, the democratic process is being strengthened.”

On Saturday, the Union Minister also addressed the gathering of heads of higher education institutions (HEIs) of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

“Spoke about the far-reaching impact of implementing NEP 2020 in letter and spirit, central role of our HEIs in realising aspirations, how our HEIs can give a new direction to the development of J&K and Ladakh and contributions expected from them for achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat,” said Pradhan.