A society that stops reading slowly loses the habit of questioning, imagining and thinking for itself. That is why the Chinar Book Festival matters to Jammu and Kashmir far beyond the few days for which its stalls remain open. At its best, it can become a serious cultural movement that brings books back into everyday life, gives young minds a reason to explore beyond textbooks and restores literature as a living part of public conversation.
The festival has already grown beyond the familiar format of book exhibitions and launches. By bringing writers, readers, students, publishers and thinkers together, it creates a space where ideas can be discussed openly and where literature can connect people across age, language and region. At a time when screens increasingly compete for attention and instant content often replaces patient reading, such a platform is not a luxury. It is a necessity. The real challenge, however, begins when the festival ends. A successful literary event cannot be judged merely by footfall, publicity or the number of books sold. Its true impact will be seen when a student starts reading regularly, when a young writer finds the courage to write, when a school creates a reading club or when a neglected public library begins to attract people again. Jammu and Kashmir has an exceptionally rich literary inheritance. Kashmiri, Urdu, Dogri, Hindi, Gojri, Pahari and other languages have carried the memories, emotions and experiences of generations. These languages should not survive only in ceremonial speeches. They need readers, writers, publishers and institutions willing to keep them alive. The Chinar Book Festival can provide that platform, but the effort must extend well beyond one annual event. The renewed attention to the Sharada script is particularly encouraging. Cultural heritage cannot be preserved by admiration alone. It must be taught, studied and made relevant to younger generations. A language or script begins to disappear when people stop using it, and revival becomes meaningful only when institutions support learning, documentation and public engagement. The festival’s role in connecting different regions and linguistic traditions is equally valuable. Initiatives such as Tamil-Kashmiri literary exchanges demonstrate how books can build bridges where politics and geography often create distance. Literature allows people to encounter lives unlike their own, making diversity something to understand rather than merely tolerate. Yet Jammu and Kashmir must now think bigger. Literary activity should not remain concentrated in Srinagar or limited to major cultural venues. The proposal for a similar festival in Jammu deserves to be taken forward, but that too should be only part of a wider strategy. District libraries, colleges, schools and community centres across the Union Territory should be connected through year-round reading programmes, author interactions, mobile libraries and local book clubs. There is also a need to give local writers greater visibility. Young authors often struggle to find publishers, audiences and serious platforms. A festival that claims to strengthen literary culture must create space not only for established names but also for emerging voices from towns, villages and remote areas. Educational institutions have an equally important responsibility. Reading should not be reduced to examination preparation. Schools and colleges must encourage students to read history, fiction, poetry, biographies and contemporary thought beyond prescribed syllabi. A young person who reads widely is better prepared to understand society and form independent opinions.
The Chinar Book Festival deserves appreciation for creating momentum around books and ideas, but momentum must now become continuity. Jammu and Kashmir has the cultural depth to emerge as an important centre of knowledge and creativity. The way forward is clear: strengthen libraries, support local languages, encourage new writers, take books beyond major cities and make reading a daily habit. A festival can light the spark, but institutions and society must ensure that the flame does not fade. Finally, like the Chinar, which stands through changing seasons with patience, beauty and endurance, writers preserve the spirit of generations through their words. The Chinar Book Festival must nurture these voices, ensuring literature continues to inspire, unite and guide society forward.