New Delhi, August 19, 2025: A delegation of the All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS), led by its President Ravinder Pandita, met Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in New Delhi on Tuesday and sought the establishment of a Kashmiri Academy and a dedicated museum to preserve and promote the region’s rich cultural heritage.
The AIKS delegation urged the minister to set up a Kashmiri Academy in Delhi-NCR on the lines of the existing Urdu, Sindhi, and Punjabi academies. The academy, they suggested, could be managed by AIKS in collaboration with the state government to promote Kashmiri language, literature, and script. They also called for the creation of a museum showcasing Kashmiri art, culture, and heritage.
Mr. Pandita, who also heads the Save Sharda Committee Kashmir (Regd), further requested government support to organize a two-day “Sharda Festival” in Delhi in October. He informed that the festival would subsequently be held in other parts of the country to highlight Kashmiri traditions and spiritual legacy.
Minister Shekhawat assured the delegation that their proposals would be given due consideration.
The delegation included AIKS General Secretary Sunil Koul, Kusum Shishoo, entrepreneur Rakesh Thussu, and activist Mahaveer Thussu.
