Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, released the book 'Jammu Kashmir & Ladakh Through the Ages: A Visual Narrative of Continuities and Linkages’ in New Delhi today. Many dignitaries including Union Minister of Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan Chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) and Editor of the book Prof. Raghuvendra Tanwar were present on the occasion.

In his address, the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation emphasized that the National Book Trust (NBT), through its latest publication, has effectively dismantled a long-standing myth about India by presenting facts and evidence, thereby establishing historical truths. He said that there was a myth that India was never united and the idea of ​​independence for this country was meaningless — a misconception that many had come to accept as truth. The Union Home Minister highlighted that while most countries' geopolitics have defined their boundaries, India’s case is unique in that this nation has been defined by its geo-cultural expanse, and whose borders are made up of cultural unity. He elaborated that India's essence lies in its geo-cultural identity, with its cultural fabric binding the nation from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Bengal to Gujarat. He argued that interpreting India solely as a geo-political entity overlooks its true nature. Instead, a deep understanding of India requires viewing it through the lens of its geo-cultural identity. He stressed the importance of historical research and academic institutions in promoting this perspective to the world, as it is crucial to understanding the elements that culturally unify the country.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation highlighted the linguistic diversity of India as one of its greatest strengths, which is particularly evident in Kashmir. He noted that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has revitalized regional languages by forming two Union Territories and recognizing their official languages. While Hindi, English, and Sanskrit have retained their importance, Prime Minister Modi has ensured the survival and growth of languages like Kashmiri, Balti, Dogri, Ladakhi, and Zanskari by incorporating them into governance. Shri Shah emphasized that this effort reflects Prime Minister Modi's sensitivity and commitment to preserving the cultural and linguistic heritage of the nation, especially for languages spoken by a small number of the population. Shri Shah remarked that Kashmir has long suffered under the onslaught of fundamentalists, invaders, and plunderers with expansionist ambitions.

Shri Amit Shah said that Articles 370 and 35A were obstacles, preventing Kashmir from being fully integrated with our country. Shri Shah noted that Prime Minister Modi's resolute determination led to the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019. He further said that by abolishing Article 370, Modi ji ended a tainted chapter of post-independence history and initiated a new chapter of Kashmir's development in tandem with the rest of India.