Baramulla, Jun 20: The Chinar Corps of the Indian Army, in partnership with the Lakshya Foundation, wound up its six-day outreach programme ‘Mera Desh Meri Pehchan 2026’ here on Saturday, an initiative that saw hundreds of students from across Uri, Sopore and Baramulla engage with India’s cultural diversity.
The event, which ran from June 15 to 20, featured interactive galleries, traditional artefacts, documentary screenings and folk performances representing eight states — Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Nagaland and West Bengal. Organisers said the idea was to offer young participants a window into the country’s varied cultural landscape beyond their immediate surroundings.
The finale at Government Degree College (Boys), Baramulla, was attended by GOC Dagger Division Major General Manoj Joshi, besides other civil and military officials. Students from St Joseph Public School, Baramulla, and the Lakshya Foundation team delivered performances that drew the loudest cheers, blending artistic flair with patriotic themes.
Speaking on the occasion, Army officials stressed the importance of such outreach in keeping the youth connected to the broader national mainstream. “These engagements are not about one-off events. They are about building trust, opening minds and showing young people that they belong to a larger story,” an officer said.
The initiative comes at a time when security forces have been increasingly focusing on youth-centric confidence-building measures in the Valley. Locals, too, acknowledged the effort, with several teachers present at the event noting that students were visibly excited to interact with peers and learn about traditions from other states.
The ‘Mera Desh Meri Pehchan’ series, now in its second year, has emerged as a regular feature in the Army’s civil-military outreach calendar. Officials said the overwhelming response this year — with participation exceeding expectations — has encouraged them to plan similar editions in other districts of Kashmir.
For the students, many of whom had never travelled outside the Valley, the week-long programme was an uncommon exposure. “I had heard about Rajasthan’s puppetry and Gujarat’s garba, but seeing it here, performed by our own friends, made it more real,” said Ayesha, a Class 11 student from Sopore.
As the event concluded, the message was clear: that the Army’s role in Kashmir, officials said, is not limited to security, but extends to creating spaces where young Kashmiris can imagine their future as part of a larger, united India.
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