Karan Singh: ‘Kashmiriyat’ Is the Soul of Coexistence; Humanity Must Rise Above Religious Divides

June 27, 2026

Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir Sadr-e-Riyasat (Head of State) and Governor Karan Singh on Saturday stressed the need to preserve Kashmir’s centuries-old tradition of coexistence, saying that the values of Kashmiriyat, Sufism and shared cultural heritage remain vital for promoting peace and communal harmony. He said humanity must always rise above religious differences and called for sustained interfaith dialogue to strengthen mutual understanding.

Singh was addressing an Interfaith Dialogue on “Urdu, Kashmiriyat and Shared Cultural Traditions” at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar.

Calls for Greater Interfaith Dialogue

Congratulating the organisers, Singh said the themes of interfaith dialogue, Urdu, Kashmiriyat and shared cultural traditions were deeply interconnected and significant enough to warrant extensive discussion individually.

Recalling the historic Parliament of the World’s Religions held in Chicago in 1893, where Swami Vivekananda delivered his landmark address, Singh said interfaith dialogue is not about establishing the superiority of one religion over another but about understanding different faiths and recognising their common values.

Quoting the Rig Veda’s verse, “Ekam Sat Viprah Bahuda Vadanti” (Truth is One; the wise describe it in different ways), he said all religions ultimately lead to the same truth.

“If God is one, there cannot be different Gods for different religions. Just as there are many routes to reach the top of a mountain, different religions also lead towards the same destination,” he said.

Highlights Kashmir’s Shared Spiritual Legacy

Speaking about Kashmir’s rich civilisational history, Singh said the Valley has been home to diverse spiritual traditions, including Vedic culture, Buddhism, Shaivism and Sufism, all of which have shaped its unique identity.

He paid tribute to revered spiritual figures such as Lal Ded, Mir Syed Ali Hamdani and Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani (Nund Rishi), saying they promoted love, tolerance and peaceful coexistence among communities.

“Sufism flourished in Kashmir because it spread the message of love, not hatred. No religion can prosper through hatred; humanity must always come first,” he said.

Singh also said efforts are underway through the Interfaith Harmony Foundation and the Dara Shikoh Centre to strengthen dialogue among different faiths. He expressed hope that a dedicated interfaith movement would emerge in Jammu and Kashmir to further promote communal harmony and mutual respect.

Urdu Is an Indian Language, Says Singh

Speaking on the importance of Urdu, Singh rejected the notion that it is a foreign language, saying it originated in India and has become an integral part of the country’s cultural and literary heritage.

He noted that Urdu served as the official language of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state because it provided a common medium of communication for people speaking Kashmiri, Dogri, Ladakhi and other regional languages.

Calling for greater efforts to preserve and promote Urdu, Singh said every language represents knowledge and culture.

“Urdu must be protected, promoted and used wherever possible. Every language is a gift of Mother Saraswati, and opposing any language is like insulting the very source of knowledge,” he said.

Emphasis on Peace and Shared Heritage

Concluding his address, Singh reiterated that Kashmir’s identity has historically been rooted in inclusiveness, tolerance and shared cultural traditions. He said preserving the spirit of Kashmiriyat and encouraging dialogue among communities would play a key role in strengthening peace and social harmony in the region.