SRINAGAR, July 25 — Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off a Reading Marathon today on the banks of Dal Lake, marking a unique convergence of knowledge, fitness, and environmental responsibility.
Organised by the National Book Trust as part of Education Week to celebrate six years of the National Education Policy, the event drew thousands of college and university students from across Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking at the ceremony, Manoj Sinha emphasized that education must transcend textbooks and examination halls to become a way of life that reaches playgrounds and social spaces, describing the marathon’s motto, “Run for a Green Future,” as a vital life philosophy requiring patience, discipline, and sustained collective effort.
Encouraging the youth to put knowledge into practice, Manoj Sinha urged participants to adopt three pledges: making reading a daily habit, embracing environmental conservation, and maintaining a lifelong commitment to positive social change.
He noted that true transformation occurs when knowledge inspires real action, such as advocating for nature conservation. On the eve of Vijay Diwas, he also invoked the bravery of young Kargil War heroes, urging the youth to embody a “Nation First” attitude, self-discipline, and leadership to drive the nation forward. The flag-off ceremony was attended by prominent dignitaries, educational leaders, literary figures, teachers, and students.