The third edition of the Chinar Book Festival opened to a spectacular beginning today at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), drawing an overwhelming response from readers, students, educators, authors, artists and families from across the Valley. Organised by the National Book Trust, India, under the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the District Administration, Srinagar, and the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL), the nine-day festival brings together more than 200 publishers and bookstalls showcasing thousands of titles in English, Urdu, Kashmiri, Hindi and several other Indian languages.
The festival was inaugurated by Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir in the presence of Prof. Milind Sudhakar Marathe, Chairman, NBT, India; Shri Atal Dulloo, IAS, Chief Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir; Shri Ram Niwas Sharma, IAS, Secretary, School Education Department and Administrative Secretary, Higher Education Department, Jammu & Kashmir; Shri Akshay Labroo, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar; Shri Yuvraj Malik, Director, NBT, India; Dr. Shams Equbal, Director, National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) and Dr. Amit Wanchoo, Chief Convener of the Chinar Book Festival.
The Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, Shri Manoj Sinha, also released the Urdu translation of Jammu Kashmir & Ladakh Through the Ages along with 24 bilingual books developed through the first-ever Gojri Translation Workshop conducted during the 2025 edition of the Chinar Book Festival. The collection comprises four titles in Dogri–Gojri, six in English–Gojri, four in Kashmiri–Gojri, and five titles each in Urdu–Gojri and Hindi–Gojri. He also launched the first set of five novels developed under the Rajtarangini Workshop, an NBT, India initiative reimagining the iconic characters of 12th-century Kashmiri historian Kalhana’s Rajtarangini for contemporary readers. Among the other notable releases during the inaugural ceremony were The City of Seven Bridges, the English translation of Kashmiri author Shri Gauri Shankar Raina’s acclaimed Hindi novel Saat Pulon Ka Shahar, and An Indian Muslim Speaks by noted scholar and convenor of the Khusro Foundation, Dr. Hafeezur Rahman.
In his keynote address, the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, observed that in a remarkably short span of time, the Chinar Book Festival has established itself as a distinguished celebration of literature, ideas and intellectual discourse in Jammu and Kashmir. He noted that, over the years, the festival has evolved into a platform that celebrates India’s cultural and linguistic diversity while strengthening the spirit of national unity.
Calling the Chinar Book Festival a symbol of change, peace and self-belief, he said, “Chinar Book Festival sends a powerful message to the youth that no power is greater than the might of the pen and the written word,” he said. Urging visitors to cultivate a lifelong reading habit, he encouraged every student to read at least one book beyond their academic curriculum every month and resolve to write a minimum of two pages every week.
In his address, Chairman, National Book Trust, India, Prof. Milind Sudhakar Marathe, observed that the Chinar Book Festival reflects the spirit of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 by encouraging learning beyond classrooms and nurturing a lifelong love for books and knowledge. Appreciating the District Administration’s efforts to combat substance abuse in the region, he called upon the youth to embrace the message, “Say No to Drugs, Yes to Books,” and make reading an integral part of their daily lives.
Dr. Amit Wanchoo, Chief Convenor of the Chinar Book Festival, invited the people of Srinagar and all districts of Jammu and Kashmir to participate in the nine-day celebration of books, ideas and culture. He encouraged families, students and readers to make the most of the diverse programme of literary discussions, cultural performances, workshops and interactive sessions and engage with eminent writers, scholars, artists, innovators and thinkers from across the country as well as Jammu and Kashmir.
Shri Yuvraj Malik, Director, National Book Trust, India, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the District Administration, the School Education Department, the Higher Education Department, partner organisations and the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Describing the Chinar Book Festival as a brand ambassador of Kashmir’s rich literary and cultural heritage, he said that it has contributed to the growth of literary tourism in the Valley. The festival is also increasingly attracting international interest, drawing foreign tourists and members of the Indian diaspora to Kashmir, he added.
On Day 1, the Children’s Corner was abuzz with colour and imagination. Budding artists participated in a drawing competition on the theme Sare Jahan Se Accha highlighting India’s Journey from ISRO to ISS. In another session titled ‘Tales Under the Chinar’, storytelling came alive through a delightful puppet show by Ambreen Rasool who captivated young souls with the unique story of friends Hangul and Haput in Kashmiri.
The day concluded with a rich cultural showcase which included a traditional Rouf dance performance, a theatrical presentation by the Yomburzal Youth Club and a soulful musical performance by Waheed Jeelani who mesmerized the crowd.
