Inaugurates third edition of Kashmir Lit Festival

SRINAGAR, MAY 30: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha Saturday inaugurated the third edition of Kashmir Literature Festival in Srinagar. On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor urged writers on shaping positive discourse through fiction, non-fiction and other creative forms and inspire people because writer’s craft lives not only in words, but in the pulse of people.

Addressing a gathering, the Lieutenant Governor said that we must erase every trace of the colonial mindset and ensure that people abroad do not distort our history and present to serve their own narratives. He said it is the responsibility of writers to correct such errors and take the truth to global readers.

“We must repeatedly remind the world that when the Vedas were composed some 6,000 years ago, India was the center of the world’s economy, education, culture, and philosophy. For centuries, India was the engine of global civilization and culture. It laid the foundations for socio economic advancement across the world through its gift in science, mathematics, astronomy, and medicine,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

He stated that there is an urgent need to restore history and convey its true form to every section of society so that India’s narrative is properly shaped. The Lieutenant Governor observed that our ancestors, since the Vedic age, recorded facts and transmitted knowledge with great accuracy, but for various reasons modern times saw India lose the habit of writing its own history.

“We failed to communicate our priceless traditions, culture, knowledge, and sciences and that’s why many people to claim that certain things came from other places or introduced by the invaders. These assertions are baseless,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor said that foreign historians have, sometimes deliberately, omitted India’s ancient discoveries and achievements in science, literature, art, and architecture.

“When India stood at the peak of scientific achievement, many countries showed almost no mention of science. The earliest references to science, mathematics, and astronomy in Persia and other places appear only in the eighth century, and even those owe much to India. Europe’s first Renaissance in the 12th century drew on India’s treasury of knowledge, science, culture, and art. Centuries before any other countries discovered invention and innovations, India had already established itself as a scientific civilization,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor said that India’s modernity has often led the world, with scientific contributions unmatched in history. He also said that writers should present creation of our nation’s great talents in simple, accessible language.

“India’s story is not only of the past but of the present. Despite centuries of subjugation and plunder, we have risen to become the world’s fourth largest economy, the fastest growing major economy for years, and by 2047 we aim for a fully developed nation. Today, pride and ownership of this heritage are awakening across society. The task is not self praise, but for respected writers and thinkers to build India’s new narrative on this strong foundation. They must remember that writers have the power to change civilizations,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

‘Infiltration, smuggling into Gujarat eliminated

Bhuj (Gujarat), May 30: Union Home Minister Amit Shah Saturday said infiltration into Gujarat and cross-border smuggling have been completely eliminated due to strengthened border fencing, enhanced maritime security and the state government’s firm political resolve.

Chairing a high-level security review meeting in Bhuj on issues concerning Gujarat’s border and coastal districts along the India-Pakistan Border (IPB), Shah said the state’s security landscape had undergone a significant transformation in recent years.

“Border fencing, maritime border security and the strong political will of the state government have brought about a significant transformation in Gujarat’s security landscape. This has resulted in the complete cessation of infiltration into the state and smuggling on the border,” he said.

Shah directed authorities to adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards all unauthorized encroachments within the 0-15 km belt along the international border and stressed the need for constant monitoring of centres of radicalization in border areas.

The meeting was attended by the Gujarat Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, Director General of Police (DGP), senior state government officials and the District Magistrates (DMs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs) of Kutch, Vav-Tharad and Patan districts.

Highlighting concerns over illegal infiltration, Shah instructed district administrations, police and revenue officials to work in close coordination to identify and deport illegal infiltrators already settled in border areas.

He also asked District Magistrates to closely monitor demographic changes in border districts and submit regular reports. At the same time, he described reverse migration driven by industrial development in border regions as a positive sign.

Calling for district-specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Shah said local administrations must address emerging threats, including drone activity, narcotics trafficking and infiltration attempts.

The Home Minister further ordered the formation of Security Coordination Groups in every district comprising the Border Security Force (BSF), Indian Coast Guard, Income Tax Department, Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Lead Bank Managers.

He emphasized strict vigilance against hawala transactions, mule accounts, shell companies, suspicious financial dealings, suspicious vehicles and irregular GST collections in border districts. Shah directed financial crime-fighting agencies to work closely in border regions and asked the Income Tax Department, in coordination with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), to conduct extensive survey campaigns.

Given Gujarat’s proximity to the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), Shah said coastal security must remain a priority and called for stronger coordination with the Indian Coast Guard.

He also directed officials to ensure 100 per cent saturation of all Central and State government welfare schemes in border villages alongside the implementation of the Vibrant Villages Programme.

New Delhi, May 30: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the 134th episode of his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on Sunday, officials said on Saturday.

The programme is scheduled to be broadcast at 11 a.m. across All India Radio (Akashvani), DD News and official government digital channels.

In the previous episode of the programme on April 27, the Prime Minister highlighted the National Archives of India’s unique digital database created through the dedicated Abhilekh Patal Portal, enabling access to more than 20 crore invaluable documents related to India’s history.

The Abhilekh Patal Portal for Access to Archives and Learning is an initiative of the National Archives of India aimed at making its vast repository of archival records easily accessible to the public with just a click.

The platform contains reference material of nearly 100 million files preserved by the institution.

Addressing the episode of his last radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’, the Prime Minister underlined the growing role of technology in connecting people with their past.

“In these rapidly changing times, technology has become a huge part of our lives. Today, we are witnessing the wonders of technology in connecting our past with the present. A recent development in this direction has delighted those involved in education and history,” PM Modi said.

“Just a few days ago, the National Archives of India shared a unique database on a dedicated portal. This organisation has digitised and made public more than 20 crore invaluable documents. Some of these are very interesting — 7th-century Gilgit manuscripts written on Bhoj Patra. Here, you will also find an interesting 8th-century text, Shri Bhuvalay. This text, based on numbers, is in the form of a grid,” he added.

The Prime Minister also talked about Class 12 student Sanjana Philo Chacko from Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram who brought laurels to the country by winning a silver medal at the European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO) 2026 held in France’s Bordeaux.

Sanjana, who has consistently excelled in mathematics, was part of the four-member Indian team selected after a rigorous multi-stage national selection process.

In the same episode, PM Modi also made a pointed reference to Kalari cheese — a traditional delicacy of Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir.

He described cheese as the part of India’s cultural heritage and hailed its ‘global recognition and triumph’ at the International cheese competition held some time ago in Brazil.

After the special mention of Kalari cheese, also called as “Mozzarella of Kashmir”, the local delicacy found its sales hitting the roof.

‘PM Modi’s JAI Mantra guiding armed forces’

Pune, May 30: Chief of the Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, on Saturday said that self-reliance and innovation have become key pillars of India’s military preparedness, asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mantra of JAI — Jointness, Atmanirbharta and Innovation — will continue to shape the future direction of the Indian Armed Forces.

Addressing a press conference after reviewing the Passing Out Parade (POP) of the 150th Course of the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Pune, General Dwivedi described the occasion as both a proud and emotional moment, particularly because of his long association with the institution.“Today, 353 cadets are passing out from this great institution, including 18 women cadets. This is a proud moment for the Academy, the Armed Forces and the country,” he said.

Highlighting the increasing participation of women in the Defence forces, the Army Chief said the presence of women cadets in growing numbers reflected the changing aspirations and confidence of modern India.

“This reflects the confidence of changing India and the expanding role of women in national Defence,” he said.

General Dwivedi emphasised that the character of warfare is undergoing a significant transformation and future conflicts would no longer remain confined to traditional battlefields. According to him, military engagements of the future would unfold across multiple domains, including land, air, sea, space, cyber, electromagnetic and cognitive spheres, requiring armed forces to be prepared for a far more complex security environment.

Referring to India’s military action carried out on May 7, 2025, against terror infrastructure located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, the Army Chief said the operation showcased the country’s resolve and operational capability.

“Operation Sindoor demonstrated India’s resolve and the Armed Forces’ ability to deliver a calibrated, precise and purposeful response. This operation underlined the importance of integrated planning, real-time Intelligence, precision targeting, strong air defence, secure communications and synergy across domains,” he said.

General Dwivedi noted that the Indian Army is fully aware of the rapid evolution taking place in warfare and is actively transforming itself into a force prepared for future challenges. He said the younger generation of officers and soldiers would play a critical role in this transition.

“The Indian Army is fully conscious of the rapid changes taking place in warfare and is transforming itself into a future-ready force. In this journey, the contribution of the younger generation will be pivotal,” he said.

He further elaborated on several initiatives that form part of the Army’s ongoing modernisation drive.

“The raising of multi-drone battalions, Divyastra batteries, Shaktimaan regiments, Bhairav battalions and other technology-enabled structures from within our resources is part of this transformation. The next major step is networking and data centricity,” he stated.

The Army Chief reiterated that self-reliance and innovation remain central to strengthening India’s Defence capabilities and ensuring long-term military preparedness.

“Atmanirbharta and innovation are also central to the Army’s preparedness,” he said.

Explaining the broader approach being adopted to achieve these goals, General Dwivedi said the Army is collaborating with multiple stakeholders across the country.

“As part of a whole-of-nation approach, we are working closely with DRDO, industry, start-ups, academia and national institutions to convert indigenous ideas into battlefield capabilities. In this regard, our Prime Minister’s mantra of JAI — Jointness, Atmanirbharta and Innovation — will continue to guide us,” he said.

The Army Chief also underlined that the role of the military extends beyond combat operations and battlefield responsibilities. He said the Armed Forces continue to make significant contributions to nation-building through a wide range of activities.

According to him, the military remains deeply engaged in border security, disaster relief operations, educational initiatives through Army Goodwill Schools, assistance to citizens living in remote regions, and programmes aimed at youth engagement and development.

“A strong military gives strength to the nation and a united nation gives strength to the military,” he said.

Speaking about veterans, Veer Naris, dependants and military families, General Dwivedi said, “They all remain an integral part of the Army fraternity. Their dignity, welfare and honour will always remain our sacred responsibility.”

Concluding his remarks, the Army Chief congratulated the graduating cadets of the NDA and encouraged them to uphold the traditions of service, leadership and commitment to the nation as they embark on their careers in the Armed Forces.