BUDGAM, October 28: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday stressed the importance of protecting languages and cultural identities, warning that the disappearance of a language also means losing a unique perspective on the world.
Speaking at an event in Bemina, Sinha said a region’s identity extends beyond geographical boundaries, maps and statistics. Its folk traditions, languages, art forms, religious heritage and the lived experiences of its people are equally important in understanding its character.
He said the centre would focus on preserving cultural heritage and languages, conserving manuscripts, promoting digital archiving, undertaking linguistic mapping and encouraging interdisciplinary research.
Highlighting the role of artificial intelligence (AI), the Lieutenant Governor said technological advancement and emotional intelligence should complement each other. He added that emotional intelligence could make technology more responsible, humane and effective.
Sinha urged students to embrace modern technology to enhance their capabilities while safeguarding independent thinking, ethical awareness, imagination and human identity.
“The future will belong to those capable of connecting different disciplines and facilitating dialogue between technology professionals, researchers and traditional artisans,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor also emphasised collaboration among specialists in linguistics, anthropology, ecology, economics, psychology and the arts to address challenges such as climate change, migration and tourism-related issues.
Expressing confidence in the initiative, Sinha said the centre had the potential to become a model for interdisciplinary research and attract scholars from other institutions.
