Jammu Jan 13: The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, on Monday inaugurated the International Painting Symposium 2026 at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu, calling upon the country’s young citizens to shape the future of Viksit Bharat 2047 with creativity, responsibility and confidence.
The week-long gathering, scheduled from January 12 to 17, has opened the IIM Jammu campus to artists from across India and overseas, turning the institute into a lively space for creative dialogue, visual storytelling and cultural exchange. The symposium is the fourth painting workshop hosted by IIM Jammu, reinforcing its effort to weave visual arts into its curriculum and campus life.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, the Lieutenant Governor said the initiative was not only an art event but also a reflection of a deeper belief that creativity and education must go hand in hand. He praised IIM Jammu for emerging as a future-ready academic hub with world-class facilities, a green campus and a growing global footprint.
Gupta noted that management education traditionally builds reasoning, logic and decision-making ability, but art develops empathy, ethical vision and emotional balance—traits he said are essential for shaping thoughtful, humane leaders.
“Education must nurture both intellect and spirit,” the LG said, as he appealed to institutes nationwide to embrace art, culture and creative thinking as part of mainstream learning.
The Lieutenant Governor acknowledged IIM Jammu’s steady push to expand cultural engagement, saying its continued hosting of art workshops reflects a long-term commitment more often found in specialised art institutions than in management schools.
Placing the institute’s journey in the wider national landscape, he credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for propelling the growth of modern learning centres that are helping India advance on the strength of knowledge and innovation.
Speaking on Ladakh’s transformation since 2019, Gupta underlined that the Union Territory’s annual budget has risen from around ₹200 crore to nearly ₹6,000 crore, fuelling development in connectivity, education, healthcare, renewable energy and livelihoods. Ladakh’s first medical college, he informed, will soon commence operations, creating more career avenues for local youth.
Inviting academic institutions to expand their presence in Ladakh, the LG urged collaboration that respects the region’s fragile environment and unique way of life. He assured full administrative backing for an IIM Jammu Centre in Leh, noting that partnerships between governance and academia can shape steady and balanced progress.
He added that the symposium reflects the spirit of the National Education Policy 2020, which emphasises holistic and practical learning across disciplines. International participation, he said, reaffirms art as a universal language that builds India’s cultural connections and global reach.
Earlier in the day, the Lieutenant Governor was welcomed by Dr. Milind P. Kamble, Chairman, Board of Governors, and Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu. He inaugurated the symposium, toured the Nalanda Library, held interactions with faculty, and planted a sapling as part of the institute’s sustainability drive.
The programme featured addresses by senior members of the Board and industry leaders, including Guest of Honour Shriram Dandekar of Kokuyo Camlin Ltd. Prof. Shyam Narayan Lal introduced the symposium, while curator Kamlesh Gandhi presented this year’s participating artists.
Concluding his remarks, the Lieutenant Governor congratulated the organisers and artists, and expressed hope that the symposium would enrich the campus environment and inspire future generations of young thinkers.
