“Lieutenant Governor said the archive would help preserve folk narratives, traditional poetry and other forms of indigenous expression, ensuring that the cultural memory of the region is not lost with changing generations………..”
Mohammad Irfan
Seeking to transform Jammu and Kashmir’s rich literary and cultural inheritance into a sustained movement of preservation, promotion and economic opportunity, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday proposed the creation of a dedicated ‘Veshow Archive’ to document the region’s oral traditions, folk tales, folk poetry and historical narratives. Inaugurating the Veshow Festival in Kulgam, the Lieutenant Governor outlined an ambitious five-point roadmap for expanding the festival beyond its literary character, envisioning it as a platform connecting cultural heritage with tourism, traditional craftsmanship, education, research and the creative economy. Calling for a renewed commitment to preserving the region’s civilisational inheritance, Sinha said Jammu and Kashmir must resolve to emerge as a major cultural centre of the country. The proposal for a Veshow Archive emerged as one of the most significant components of his address, reflecting the growing importance of systematically documenting cultural traditions that have largely survived through oral transmission, community practices, manuscripts and generations of local storytelling. The Lieutenant Governor said the archive would help preserve folk narratives, traditional poetry and other forms of indigenous expression, ensuring that the cultural memory of the region is not lost with changing generations. The initiative, if implemented with institutional support and community participation, could provide an important repository for researchers, writers, historians, students and future generations seeking to understand Jammu and Kashmir’s literary and cultural evolution. Since its launch in 2023, the Veshow Festival has evolved into a recognised platform for literary dialogue, creativity and cultural exchange, bringing together writers, poets, scholars, artists and readers. Sinha said the growing participation of literary personalities demonstrated that ideas and creative expression transcended geographical boundaries. He described the festival as a reflection of Jammu and Kashmir’s intellectual and cultural consciousness, adding that its growing recognition provided an opportunity to establish a stronger institutional framework for preserving and promoting the region’s heritage.
Veshow Archive To Preserve Oral Traditions, Folk Literature: The proposed Veshow Archive assumes particular significance in a region where a considerable part of its literary and cultural heritage has been preserved through oral traditions rather than formal documentation. Folk songs, devotional poetry, traditional stories, historical accounts, local expressions and narratives passed down through generations constitute an important part of Kashmir’s collective memory. Much of this material continues to exist in the knowledge of elderly residents, traditional performers, local historians and families maintaining old manuscripts and literary collections. The absence of systematic documentation and preservation mechanisms creates the possibility of valuable cultural material gradually disappearing as traditional forms of communication and community practices undergo changes. The proposed archive could address this gap by creating a structured repository of oral histories, folk poetry, regional literature, manuscripts, photographs, audio recordings and other forms of cultural documentation. Such an initiative could also provide researchers with opportunities to examine the evolution of local languages, social practices, religious traditions and cultural exchanges that have shaped the region over centuries.
Five-Point Roadmap To Transform Festival Into Cultural Movement: Outlining his vision for the festival’s future, the Lieutenant Governor proposed five major initiatives aimed at expanding its reach and establishing a more permanent institutional framework for cultural preservation. Apart from the creation of the Veshow Archive, the roadmap includes the use of modern language technologies to promote multilingual translations, expansion of mobile libraries in remote villages, integration of the festival with tourism and handicrafts, and establishment of a Veshow Writers’ Residency to attract authors and poets from across the country. The proposals seek to give the festival a wider role in promoting regional literature, encouraging reading habits, supporting traditional occupations and establishing cultural links between Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country. The language technology initiative is particularly significant for a region with a rich multilingual literary tradition. Greater use of digital translation tools could help make Kashmiri and other regional literary works accessible to readers beyond their traditional linguistic boundaries. Translation of local poetry, folk narratives and historical writings into other Indian and international languages could also provide wider recognition to regional authors and introduce the literary heritage of Jammu and Kashmir to new audiences. The proposal for expanding mobile libraries is aimed at taking books and reading opportunities to remote villages where access to organised literary institutions and public libraries remains limited.
Rishi-Sufi tradition At The Heart Of Kulgam’scivilisational Identity: Highlighting Kulgam’s historical and civilisational heritage, Sinha said the district represented a unique cultural tradition where spirituality, creativity, nature and humanity had historically coexisted in harmony. He recalled the contributions of Yogini Lalleshwari, Nund Rishi, Sayyid Hussain Simnani and other saints and thinkers whose teachings shaped the region’s traditions of compassion, simplicity, brotherhood and spiritual awakening. The Lieutenant Governor said the Rishi-Sufi tradition carried a universal human message that placed humanity above divisions and dialogue above discord. He described the Veshow Literary Festival as a contemporary expression of this living legacy, providing a space where ideas, creativity and cultural identities could come together. The emphasis on the Rishi-Sufi tradition places the festival within a broader cultural narrative of Jammu and Kashmir, where poetry, spirituality and shared social experiences have historically played an important role in shaping community relationships. The region’s literary heritage, particularly its devotional poetry and oral traditions, remains an important source of cultural identity. The compositions associated with Lalleshwari and Nund Rishi, for instance, continue to be remembered and transmitted across generations, reflecting themes of human dignity, spiritual inquiry, compassion and social harmony. Their teachings have transcended the boundaries of literary expression and become part of the region’s broader cultural consciousness.
Linking Heritage With Tourism, Traditional Livelihoods: A major dimension of the Lieutenant Governor’s proposal was the integration of cultural activities with tourism, handicrafts and local livelihoods. Sinha said the festival should directly contribute to promoting Kulgam’s offbeat destinations, traditional crafts and homestay facilities, using its growing recognition as a platform for attracting visitors. He observed that the festival’s unique design brought together literature, art and livelihood, with literary discussions, book launches, exhibitions of traditional craftsmanship and an antique village showcasing the region’s history and traditions. The Lieutenant Governor said the festival’s branding should be leveraged to promote local tourism and provide greater visibility to artisans and traditional craft communities. This approach could offer an alternative to conventional tourism promotion by placing local history, literature, folk culture and craftsmanship at the centre of the visitor experience. Kulgam possesses considerable natural and cultural attractions, and linking these resources with organised cultural activities could provide additional opportunities for the local economy. The integration of literary festivals with homestays, traditional food, handicraft exhibitions and heritage experiences could encourage visitors to explore lesser-known destinations and engage more closely with local communities.For artisans, such platforms could provide opportunities to showcase traditional products, interact directly with buyers and create greater awareness about crafts that have often struggled to find wider markets.
Youth And Digital Platforms To Preserve Cultural Memory: The Lieutenant Governor also called upon young people to use digital platforms, podcasts and modern communication tools to document and promote the stories, traditions, literature and craftsmanship of Kulgam. The suggestion reflects the growing role of digital technology in preserving cultural heritage, particularly at a time when traditional forms of storytelling and community-based transmission are undergoing rapid changes. Digital recordings of folk songs, interviews with elderly residents, documentation of traditional occupations and digitisation of manuscripts could help create an accessible record of the region’s cultural practices. Young people could play an important role in this process by using smartphones, audio-visual platforms, podcasts and social media to bring lesser-known stories and cultural personalities into public attention. A systematic programme could encourage students and young researchers to document local histories, traditional festivals, folk performances, craft techniques and the experiences of senior members of their communities. Such participation would also help bridge the generational gap between those who have inherited traditional knowledge and younger people increasingly exposed to digital forms of communication. The proposed multilingual translation initiative could further widen the reach of these resources, enabling regional literary works to reach national and international audiences. For the Veshow Archive to achieve its intended purpose, however, digital documentation would need to be supported by proper cataloguing, preservation standards, copyright safeguards and participation from scholars and local knowledge holders.
“Lieutenant Governor felicitated the ‘Keepers of Veshow Heritage’ in recognition of their contribution to preserving the region’s cultural traditions.He also visited an exhibition showcasing Veshow traditions and released the festival magazine….….”
Mobile Libraries To Take Literature Beyond Urban Centres: The proposal to expand mobile libraries in remote villages also addresses an important aspect of cultural development: equal access to literature and educational resources. While literary festivals and cultural events provide opportunities for interaction, their impact can remain limited if access to books and reading materials is concentrated in urban centres. Mobile libraries could help bridge this gap by taking books to villages, schools and communities that have limited access to established public libraries. Apart from academic publications, these libraries could carry regional poetry, folk literature, biographies, children’s books and translated works from different Indian languages. Writers’ residency could attract national literary attention. The proposed Veshow Writers’ Residency represents another important element of the Lieutenant Governor’s cultural roadmap. The initiative is intended to attract authors and poets from across the country, creating opportunities for literary interaction and exchange between local writers and national-level literary personalities. A writers’ residency in Kulgam could provide visiting authors with an opportunity to explore the region’s natural landscape, interact with local communities and understand its literary traditions. At the same time, local writers could benefit from discussions, collaborative projects, workshops and exposure to different literary styles and languages. Such programmes could strengthen the position of Jammu and Kashmir within India’s wider literary landscape and provide a platform for regional voices to reach national audiences.
Recognising Custodians Of Veshow Heritage: During the event, the Lieutenant Governor felicitated the ‘Keepers of Veshow Heritage’ in recognition of their contribution to preserving the region’s cultural traditions. He also visited an exhibition showcasing Veshow traditions and released the festival magazine. The recognition of local custodians is significant because cultural preservation often depends on individuals and communities who continue to maintain traditional practices, folk knowledge, crafts and oral narratives outside formal institutional structures. These individuals frequently serve as living repositories of local history, preserving knowledge through storytelling, traditional performances, craft practices and community participation. Acknowledging their contribution could encourage greater community involvement in future documentation and preservation initiatives. The exhibition provided an opportunity to showcase the cultural richness of the Veshow region, while the festival magazine offered another platform for literary expression and documentation. The presence of writers, poets, scholars, artists, elected representatives and local residents also reflected the festival’s growing role as a meeting point for different sections of society. The event was attended by Kulgam MLA Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami, former District Development Council chairman Mohd Afzal Parray, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg, IGP Kashmir Sujit Kumar, DIG South Kashmir Javed Iqbal Mattoo, Deputy Commissioner Kulgam Shahzad Alam and SSP KulgamAnayat Ali Choudhary, besides prominent literary personalities, youth and a large number of people.
Kashmir Horizon View: The Veshow Festival’s proposed expansion raises a larger question about how Jammu and Kashmir can institutionalise its cultural resources and translate its literary inheritance into a sustained programme of education, research, tourism and economic development. While festivals provide valuable platforms for interaction and public engagement, the preservation of cultural heritage requires continuous efforts beyond annual celebrations. A properly maintained Veshow Archive, regular literary residencies, accessible mobile libraries and structured partnerships with educational and cultural institutions could help establish a permanent framework for safeguarding the region’s intellectual legacy. The initiative could create opportunities for researchers to study regional languages, folklore, historical narratives and traditional knowledge systems, while providing young writers and artists with platforms to showcase their work. It could also help establish Kulgam as a destination for cultural tourism, complementing the district’s natural attractions with literary and heritage-based experiences. The larger challenge will be to ensure continuity, professional management, adequate funding and meaningful participation of local communities. The proposed initiatives would require clear institutional responsibilities, defined timelines and measurable outcomes to move from announcements to implementation. Sinha expressed confidence that the Veshow Festival would inspire young minds, support artisans and strengthen Jammu and Kashmir’s emergence as a national cultural hub. “Let us preserve the rich heritage, promote culture, and shape a new Jammu Kashmir,” he said. The proposed Veshow Archive and the five-point roadmap, if translated into concrete institutional initiatives, could give the festival a significance extending far beyond its annual celebrations. At a time when cultural identities are increasingly shaped by digital communication and global interaction, preserving local traditions while presenting them to wider audiences could become an important instrument of cultural development. The larger vision is to make heritage a living resource rather than a static memory, allowing literature, art, traditional knowledge and craftsmanship to contribute to education, tourism, livelihoods and social harmony. For Kulgam, the Veshow Festival could thus become more than a celebration of its literary past. It could provide the foundation for a new cultural institution connecting generations, strengthening local creative communities and bringing Jammu and Kashmir’s rich intellectual heritage to the national stage.
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