Shah highlights India’s unique ‘Geo-Cultural’ identity at book launch
NEW DELHI, Jan 2:
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said Article 370 sowed the seeds of separatism in the minds of the youth of Kashmir and the Narendra Modi government not only ended terrorism in the valley but also the ecosystem of terrorism.
Shah said Article 370 and Article 35A, both of which were abrogated on August 5, 2019, were the key hurdles in the way of full integration of Kashmir into India.
Referring to Kashmir’s relations with the rest of India, the home minister said India is the only country in the world which is geo-cultural and whose boundaries are formed by its culture. India can be understood only from the Indian perspective and not from the geo-political perspective, he said here while releasing a book ‘Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh: Through the Ages’.
From the Silk Route to Central Asia and from Shankaracharya temple to Hemis monastery; and from trade to spirituality, strong foundations of both are present in and of Kashmir’s culture, he said.
Shah said Article 370 gave the false impression that Kashmir’s integration with India was temporary.
“Many people often ask me what is the relation between Article 370 and terrorism. They don’t know that Article 370 sowed the seeds of separatism in the minds of the youth of the valley.
“There are Muslim populations in many other parts of the country. Why are those areas not affected by terrorism?” he said.
The home minister said some people say Kashmir is close to the border with Pakistan and hence, the problem came.
“But Gujarat is also close to the border with Pakistan. Rajasthan is also close to the Pakistan border. Why terrorism has not grown there?” he asked.
Shah said Article 370 gave the false impression that Kashmir’s integration with India is temporary and that sowed the seeds of separatism which later turned into terrorism.
Unfortunately, over 40,000 people lost their lives due to terrorism in Kashmir, he said.
“The Modi government not only ended terrorism in Kashmir but also the ecosystem of terrorism,” he said.
The home minister said Kashmir’s development was delayed by decades and for years, there was bloodshed in Kashmir and the country had to watch it in silence.
“After the abolition of Article 370, there has been 70 per cent reduction in incidents of
Art 370 sowed seeds
terrorism in Kashmir and it has proved that Article 370 fuelled the fire of terrorism. In 2018, there were 2,100 incidents of stone pelting in Kashmir but in 2024, not a single incident of stone pelting took place,” he said.
Meanwhile, At the book launch of ‘J&K and Ladakh Through the Ages’, Union Home Minister Amit Shah delivered a speech, highlighting India’s unique identity as a ‘Geo-cultural’ nation.
In his address, Shah refuted colonial-era myths that had distorted India’s history and stressed the deep cultural ties that unify the country from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Gandhar to Odisha, and Bengal to Assam.
Shah in his speech spoke about the significance of India’s ancient history, stating, “The history of all corners of our country is thousands of years old where activities were done to give something to the civilizations of the world.”
He pointed out that colonialism aimed to erase the “real history of India”, propagating a false narrative about the unity of the nation. Shah explained that during colonial rule, there was an effort to make Indians forget their past achievements, and a myth was created that India was never united, and the idea of independence was redundant. This narrative, he said, was accepted by many at the time.
“The definition of our country written in history during British rule was wrong because of their lack of knowledge,” Shah stated. He also stressed that the existence of nations across the globe is defined geopolitically, often through boundaries established by wars or agreements.
In contrast, India, he argued, was unique in that its unity has always been based on its culture, not just its geographical borders.
“India is the only nation in the world which is a ‘Geo-cultural’ country and the boundaries are defined because of culture,” Shah said.
“From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Gandhar to Odisha, and Bengal to Assam, we are connected because of our culture,” he continued saying that the unity of India is evident through the shared cultural heritage of its diverse regions.
According to Shah, India’s boundaries are not merely geographical but are deeply intertwined with its culture, traditions, and values. He also criticized those who view countries solely through a geopolitical lens, arguing that they cannot truly comprehend India’s distinct identity.
