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Of Occupation and Resistance: Writings from Kashmir
Kashmir, once eulogised by emperors and poets as a land of unparalleled beauty, has today mutated into a deeply troubled space. The post-Partition territorial disputes between India and Pakistan, and the armed freedom movements of 1989 and after, have exposed the Valley to widespread insurgency, and one of the bloodiest, most repressive military occupations in the world; there are more men in uniform and guns in Kashmir than in all of Kabul or Benghazi.
However, beyond the facts of political breakdown, there is a landscape that is deeply personal. Of Occupation and Resistance recognises this, by collating the stories of Kashmiris living under the state oppression – of a schoolgirl coping with the threat of daily ‘crackdowns’; of a gravedigger burying the bodies of maimed youth; of a griefstricken boy protesting with his music; of a
distressed photojournalist joining stone throwers; or a mother waiting for her son to return from his enforced disappearance.
Through these accounts of mislaid childhoods and continuous oppression, what emerges most powerfully is the primacy of memory – its capacity to record, enrich, suppress or erase; to gift a fierce world with meaning; to build new lives. Most of all, the narratives remind us that the acts of telling and re-telling, of recalling and forgetting – these are the most potent forms of protest. Against the rallying cries of azadi, and the calls for freedom and justice, Of Occupation and Resistance has a significant place. For, it acts as a map – a guide for those analysing Kashmir, a fraught terrain of desire.
However, beyond the facts of political breakdown, there is a landscape that is deeply personal. Of Occupation and Resistance recognises this, by collating the stories of Kashmiris living under the state oppression – of a schoolgirl coping with the threat of daily ‘crackdowns’; of a gravedigger burying the bodies of maimed youth; of a griefstricken boy protesting with his music; of a
distressed photojournalist joining stone throwers; or a mother waiting for her son to return from his enforced disappearance.
Through these accounts of mislaid childhoods and continuous oppression, what emerges most powerfully is the primacy of memory – its capacity to record, enrich, suppress or erase; to gift a fierce world with meaning; to build new lives. Most of all, the narratives remind us that the acts of telling and re-telling, of recalling and forgetting – these are the most potent forms of protest. Against the rallying cries of azadi, and the calls for freedom and justice, Of Occupation and Resistance has a significant place. For, it acts as a map – a guide for those analysing Kashmir, a fraught terrain of desire.
- GenresNonfictionIndia
264 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2013
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About the author
Fahad Shah
4 books4 followersFahad Shah is a journalist, writer, and filmmaker. He is the founder and editor of The Kashmir Walla magazine and has written extensively on politics, culture, and media in Kashmir for various national and international publications. He was a Felix Scholar at SOAS, University of London and his first book was "Of Occupation and Resistance" - an anthology that focuses on the resistance and politics of Kashmir. In 2020, he was nominated for the RSF Press Freedom Prize for Courage.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 19, 2016
This was a mixed book. A lot because of my prejudice and a patriotism induced denial which is not ready to accept the account of devastation just for the words . But then that should be the credit for the book to have made me feel that disturbed and question the situation, to make you sit up and think that what the mainstream media tells you and what you have believed for years is true or not, to question the trust you have had for years in the system , well thats the credit for the book i guess.
Coming to the book, its no surprise its a biased account and only tells one side of the story. If you have not guessed so before picking the book , may be you were naive! This seems to me a propaganda tool , one that will paint a very negative picture of the situation until unless you make some effort and read different accounts of the situation.
The chapters/incidents/narratives are very very well written. They bring such emotions against the system and generate so much empathy for Kashmir and Kashmiris in general. Even if they are biased the accounts are very disturbing, to think there is a part of your country where , i believe so these are very fringe incidents, if such incidents are happening even if one in a thousand , even then its chilling. To the credit to the writers it made me research more about kashmir and made me believe whatever is in media or official account may not be the actual truth.
To the bias part. The book conveniently ignores/neglects/misrepresents the incidents/actions that doesnt suit the "Azad kashmir" propaganda it wants to promote. When it says Kashmiri Pandit moved out for better living , its laughable. How can you explain exodus of lakhs of Kashmiri Pandit all of a sudden and every one for better living? Did they all get a same dream one night , lets move to the heat of Jammu and live in make shift houses , leaving behind all the comfort of our old homes and everything our generation has built? Its a complete lie and does open up the intentions of the writers. Same goes about other incidents - e.g. no one talks about how Pakistan influenced the late 80s and 90s and introduced Kashmir to a decade and more of militancy ? No one talks about the atrocities done my militants , the massacres? Its a simple propaganda tool with the only intention of spoiling image of India and brainwashing people about the Indian Army. This is not to say there have not been any atrocities - definitely the disappearances, the killings have happened but it doesnt not account for the other side of Kashmir's relation with India. It doesnt talk about the other side of the coin of the Indian Army.
The writing is strong, emotions very real and thought provoking but intentions are not that pure. Read this but always keep in mind this is just one side of a very long story and only some fringe cases have been collected and painted as the true story .
Coming to the book, its no surprise its a biased account and only tells one side of the story. If you have not guessed so before picking the book , may be you were naive! This seems to me a propaganda tool , one that will paint a very negative picture of the situation until unless you make some effort and read different accounts of the situation.
The chapters/incidents/narratives are very very well written. They bring such emotions against the system and generate so much empathy for Kashmir and Kashmiris in general. Even if they are biased the accounts are very disturbing, to think there is a part of your country where , i believe so these are very fringe incidents, if such incidents are happening even if one in a thousand , even then its chilling. To the credit to the writers it made me research more about kashmir and made me believe whatever is in media or official account may not be the actual truth.
To the bias part. The book conveniently ignores/neglects/misrepresents the incidents/actions that doesnt suit the "Azad kashmir" propaganda it wants to promote. When it says Kashmiri Pandit moved out for better living , its laughable. How can you explain exodus of lakhs of Kashmiri Pandit all of a sudden and every one for better living? Did they all get a same dream one night , lets move to the heat of Jammu and live in make shift houses , leaving behind all the comfort of our old homes and everything our generation has built? Its a complete lie and does open up the intentions of the writers. Same goes about other incidents - e.g. no one talks about how Pakistan influenced the late 80s and 90s and introduced Kashmir to a decade and more of militancy ? No one talks about the atrocities done my militants , the massacres? Its a simple propaganda tool with the only intention of spoiling image of India and brainwashing people about the Indian Army. This is not to say there have not been any atrocities - definitely the disappearances, the killings have happened but it doesnt not account for the other side of Kashmir's relation with India. It doesnt talk about the other side of the coin of the Indian Army.
The writing is strong, emotions very real and thought provoking but intentions are not that pure. Read this but always keep in mind this is just one side of a very long story and only some fringe cases have been collected and painted as the true story .
April 23, 2021
I had a chance to get a signed copy of this title from Fahad. The essays are arresting and perspicuous which lay bare important things about the conflict. I couldn't put the book down.
August 26, 2016
Makes you turn towards the most underreported issue despite being the most militiarised area in the world. The memoirs are completely haunting and made me weak in the stomach just reading about them.
May 15, 2022
reveals about what actually kashmir is.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews