Day 2 of Chinar Book Festival Celebrates Journalism and Kashmiriat; Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to Speak Tomorrow
Srinagar, 19 July 2026: Grey clouds and steady spells of rain did little to dampen the spirit of the Chinar Book Festival as visitors arrived in large numbers at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) on Sunday – Day 2 of Chinar Book Festival. Families, students, teachers and book lovers filled the festival grounds, where the second day marked the beginning of a series of literary sessions at Authors’ Corner along with the ongoing workshops at Children’s Corner and engaging cultural performances.
The festival’s literary sessions commenced with “Beyond the Headlines: Journalism as Storytelling,” a panel discussion, which brought together senior journalists Sanjeev Gupta from Dainik Jagran, Naresh Kaushik from PTI, Prashant Asthana from Navbharat Times and Nayanika Sengupta from Hindustan Times. Moderated by Javaid Malik, the session offered students a rare glimpse into the world of journalism, exploring how news stories are written and reported in current times.
The panel reflected on the evolving media landscape, discussing the changing dynamics of print, television and digital journalism, the growing influence of social media and the responsibilities that accompany reporting in the digital age. Students from BHSS Mujgund, Sultan-ul-Arifeen School, Kashmir Harvard Educational Institute, Blue Bells School, GHSS Rainawari, Government Polytechnic College Bemina and Government Degree College Kulgam participated enthusiastically, posing insightful questions on career opportunities, newsroom ethics, essential skills and the future of journalism. Drawing from their professional experiences, the panellists encouraged young aspirants to cultivate curiosity, integrity and a commitment to factual reporting.
Another engaging session at the Author’s Corner was “Urdu, Kashmiriat and the Rich Tapestry of Shared Cultural Tradition.” Moderated by Dr. Hafeezur Rahman, Convenor, Khusro Foundation, New Delhi, the discussion brought together Prof. Mufti Mudassir Farooqui, noted scholar and Head, Department of English, University of Kashmir, and Asiya Qadir, Academic Head, Birla Open Minds International School. Prof. Farooqui spoke about the deep interconnection between Sufism and the Rishi tradition, observing that Kashmir’s culture was shaped through centuries of dialogue and mutual respect, with the Rishis playing a pivotal role in fostering harmony across communities. Speaking on the role of language in building bridges, Asiya Qadir said that learning multiple languages broadens one’s worldview and strengthens bonds between people.
More than 4,000 students from schools, colleges and universities from across Srinagar and neighbouring areas participated in various activities on the Day 2 of the Chinar Book Festival. In the Children’s Corner, over 2,500 children took part in a series of fun learning activities. In the morning session, young crafters tried their hands on creating paper craft with “Art Safari” by Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya, bringing colours, sparkles and paper to life through paper butterflies. Students were also introduced to the digital library, an initiative of the Ministry of Education that offers free access to more than 7,000 e-books in 23 languages. Creative imagination was at centre stage in the second session, “Book Cover Design Workshop” by National Centre for Children’s Literature (NCCL), the children’s wing of NBT. The final session of the day “Harf-o-Hunar: English Calligraphy Workshop” was conducted by Malik Mukhtar where students learned an elegant style of lettering on their own.
Continuing the festival’s cultural spirit, Raja Art and Culture, Dilshad Cultural Forum, Kalidas Theatre Group and Pompoush Folk Theatre performed traditional folk theatre of Kashmir. The evening came alive with soulful performances by Dr. Shazia Hameed, Rashida Akhter and Abid Ali, adding melody and warmth to the festival atmosphere.
Day 3 will be headlined by a special interactive session with astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, AC, alongside a vibrant programme of children’s workshops, literary discussions and cultural performances. The Chinar Book Festival continues till 26 July at SKICC, Srinagar, with something for every age group.
