Kashmir a reservoir of wisdom, unparalleled natural beauty: Ram Nath Kovind

SRINAGAR — Describing Kashmir as a reservoir of wisdom endowed with unparalleled natural beauty, Indian President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday said that he wishes to see Kashmir as a paradise on the planet.

The Indian President was addressing the 19th annual convocation of the University of Kashmir at Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) here in Srinagar.

In his address, President Ram Nath Kovind was all praise for Kashmir, its beauty, people, tradition and culture.

He said he is feeling blessed to be in Kashmir which is not only a reservoir of wisdom but also endowed with unparalleled natural beauty.

The President said, “It is impossible to write a history of Indian philosophy without referring to Kashmir’s contributions to it. One of the oldest manuscripts of the Rigveda was written in Kashmir. This is the most conducive region for philosophies to prosper.”

He said close to three lakh students are receiving degrees today. “With more than 2.5 lakh Bachelors and more than 1,000 Doctorates over the past eight years, the University has made remarkable progress”.

“I wish to see Kashmir as a paradise on earth. I am banking on the younger generation of Jammu and Kashmir to realize this dream which I am sure will come true sooner than later. Kashmir is bound to acquire its rightful place as the crowning glory of India,” he said, adding that Kashmir is a place where communal harmony exists since centuries.

He said, “It was most unfortunate that the outstanding tradition of peaceful coexistence was broken (during militancy). Violence, which was never part of ‘Kashmiriyat’, became the daily reality. It is alien to Kashmiri culture and it can only be termed as an aberration – a temporary one, much like a virus that attacks the body and needs to be purged. Now, there is a new beginning and determined efforts to regain this land’s lost glory,” he said.

The President said as Kashmir has turned a new leaf while whole of India is watching Kashmir with admiration and pride.