New Delhi: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah released the book Jammu Kashmir & Ladakh Through the Ages: A Visual Narrative of Continuities and Linkages in New Delhi today. The event was attended by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) Chairman and Editor of the book Raghuvendra Tanwar, and several other dignitaries.

During his address, Amit Shah said that the National Book Trust’s publication effectively dismantles long-standing myths about India’s unity by presenting historical facts and evidence. He noted that the book refutes misconceptions suggesting India was never a united nation, highlighting instead its unique geo-cultural identity, which has bound the country together from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Bengal to Gujarat.

Amit Shah stated that the history of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh has been misrepresented by certain historians with narrow perspectives. He asserted that such distortions have been refuted by the evidence presented in the book, which showcases Kashmir's deep-rooted cultural, linguistic, and spiritual ties with the rest of India. He stressed that Kashmir has always been, and will remain, an integral part of India, a reality no legal provision or article could alter.

The book documents Kashmir's rich heritage over the past 8,000 years, drawing upon ancient texts and historical records. It highlights the region's role as a hub of Shaivism, Buddhism, and other spiritual traditions. Amit Shah praised the book’s comprehensive depiction of Kashmir’s contributions to India’s cultural and intellectual legacy, including its links to the refined principles of Buddhism, the use of Sanskrit as detailed in Rajatarangini, and the preservation of art, literature, and architectural traditions.

He remarked that for decades, history in the country was written with a limited lens, focusing on a narrow geography rather than engaging with the diverse experiences and contributions of the people. He called for historians to document India’s history with pride and authenticity, based on evidence and the country’s millennia-old culture.

Amit Shah also highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to preserve and promote regional languages and cultures, particularly in Kashmir and Ladakh. He credited the Modi government with integrating languages such as Kashmiri, Balti, Dogri, Ladakhi, and Zanskari into governance, ensuring their survival and growth.

Referring to the abrogation of Article 370, Shah said it was a landmark decision that removed barriers to Kashmir's full integration with the rest of the country. He attributed the reduction in terrorist incidents and the restoration of democratic processes in the region to the removal of Article 370. He noted the significant decrease in stone-pelting incidents, record turnout in elections, and the thriving tourism and entertainment industries as evidence of positive transformation in the region.

He added that the region has witnessed unprecedented development in recent years, including the establishment of IITs, IIMs, AIIMS, government medical colleges, and extensive infrastructure projects such as the world’s largest railway arch bridge and Asia’s largest tunnel. The Modi government’s initiatives have extended 4G and 5G connectivity to nearly 87 per cent of villages, further accelerating development.

Amit Shah emphasised that the Modi government has dismantled the ecosystem of terror in Kashmir and strengthened the region’s peace and stability. He expressed confidence that the cultural and historical glory of Kashmir would soon be fully restored, enabling its people to write new chapters of progress and heritage.

Quoting Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Shah reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir is not only a part of India but an inseparable part of its soul.

BI Bureau