The Infidel Next Door

by Rajat Mitra

The Infidel Next Door is a saga of the undying spirit of a man while facing loss and betrayal in the name of religious persecution. It is set in the period before the seventh and last exodus of Hindus from Kashmir in 1989.

When Aditya, a Hindu priest, is asked to go back to a temple in Kashmir where his ancestor was killed for refusing to convert to Islam, he decides he must go. Though the attacks - both on his family and on the temple - occurred three centuries ago, the wounds are yet to heal.

When he arrives, he discovers a mosque has been built next door where Anwar, the imam's son, is becoming a fanatic to escape memories of a humiliation.

As seen through their eyes, the novel describes the anguish and terror when Anwar slowly begins to see his relationship to God as the only true one and gives in to the demand of his mentor to throw out hundreds of thousands of Hindus to create a Kashmir without infidels.

A story so steeped in haunting imagery of a once beautiful land and its forgotten people, it brings to fore one of the deepest fear of our times that when a man gets caught up in a struggle over religious fundamentalism, does his conscience still remain a force to decide his ultimate choice?

Book Reviews

"The infidel next door weaves through Indian culture and perspectives as if in a delicate dance, each step precisely described and compellingly intriguing ......... One needn't be familiar with Indian society, Hindu or Muslim religions or even with regional Indian social and political forces in order to appreciate this compelling story which draws together disparate lives and cross purposes in an engrossing saga that is hard to put down and especially recommended for any westerner who would better understand the subtler nuances of the Indian society." Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review.

.."..Effectively argues against radicalism in all religions ...... Readers will likely agree ....that memory is our only tool against the falsification of history ..... A moving, ... story about history, hatred and the never ending battle between tolerance and bigotry." Kirkus Book Review.

"A deeply moving story about Human Rights and Human Condition." Professor James Lavelle, co-founder, Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma.

376 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[Santaraksita · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good novel on the ground situation in Kashmir. It is one of the few books available that talks about the systemic brainwashing, indoctrinated religious hatred and fanaticism without using politically correct phraseology such as "There is a radical militant fringe and the silent majority which supports India/liberalism/religious harmony." or "Indian people don't understand the problem of Kashmir and talks must be held (of course with Pakistan to transfer the territory to it)". The media has hyped up this political correctness so much so that even Indian people, let alone foreigners don't understand a thing about what happened and is happening in Kashmir. The history of the Hindu genocide in Kashmir has been wiped under the carpet and no Indian media ever covers this cruel instance of mass murder, rape, mutilation of bodies. With this being the case, one can hardly expect the Western media to cover the truth and propoganda systematically paints the Indian state as an oppressor and the people of Kashmir as silent victims along with provocative communal titles such as 'Muslim Kashmir', and 'Muslim majority Kashmir'.
However, several problems are present in this book, too:
1. The Gandhian trend of blaming Hindus for something or the other to look 'balanced' and 'secularism criticizing all religions'. When no substantial negative remains and only the Hindu is the oppressed, just conjure someone from some distant state (West Bengal in this case) and make him suffer discrimination(untouchability) at the hand of a Kashmiri Hindu and then cry out 'We are against radicalism in all religions'.
2. The Freudian critique of Hinduism that it is 'backward' because it seeks to 'repress sexual desires'. The mindset of the author is exposed when he makes one of the characters think that because someone practices celibacy(called as brahmacharya), he will become impotent. In fact, it is well known that the opposite is indeed the case and people who do not restraint themselves and indulge in excessive sexual activities or fantasies are often left both impotent as well as mentally stupid (Nero as an example is pretty good). Further moving on in this direction, they lose interest in women and may lead to homosexuality or impotency.
3. Continuing in this direction, lust is characterized as something positive and evoking wonder. In the story, the protagonist (a brahman) thinks about a woman in his dream and in the words of the author "something dirty comes out of his body". Then, the author proceeds to glamorize it in typical Freudian style as "he finally felt like he owned his body" and "progressed from being a child to a man". In my opinion, it is the body that owned him now (he lost control) and the direction of progression is backward (a child becomes a man when he learns self-control not the other way round). It is this society that leads young people in our society astray and when the society is busy indulging in silly fantasies, you can do anything under their nose and they won't notice it. For example provoke riots, distort facts and paint the oppressors as oppressed minorities and no one cares. Such an underconfident young society is trying to become 'hip' and 'cool' by trying to copy whatever pop culture and media throws at him as 'cool' and 'progressive'.
4. Discipline in the life of brahmins is criticized as excessive and snatching away the life of children. However, it is to be remembered that the same were respected in society not because of "ritual authority" or "oppression" as alleged by vested political interests (read western scholars often associated with the church or funded by it) but because they were a model to society in their strict discipline, control of the sense organs and presence of wisdom which arises in the cultivation of such strict discipline and intense devotion to god. On another note, if it is happiness one desires in this life, a life of excessive indulgence of any kind hardly helps. Any parent of a spoilt kid will tell you that. If you even happen to chance upon the Greek philosophy of Stoicism, now widely popular in the west, it also prescribes a life of discipline and humility (perhaps influenced by ancient Hindus). Moreover, modern psychology is seen as a failure even by people in the west. By analysing this complex and that complex (psychoanalysis), you can hardly help the individual suffering mental stress and agony. (Maybe you can derive some intellectual pleasure by analysis, but that is utterly useless) Compare that to a holistic system like yoga or mindfulness meditation, which is much more effective. Both of these appropriated systems have originated in Hindu India, and both the systems prescribe a rigorous lifestyle when taken in whole (still practiced by Hindu Sanyasis and Buddhist Bhikshus/monks). However, the colonized Indians continue to demean their ancestors' way of life while standing in awe of 'western intellectuals'.
5. This novel was very Premchand - ish. If you have read any of his popular books you will notice the same farce going on in each of the novels : The lead character promotes Hindu-Muslim unity or stops violence (often against the British in Prem Chand's novels) by setting himself as an example, by self-sacrifice and everyone has a change of heart and the story ends happily. The same pattern is observed in this book too. This strict adherence to non-violence and self sacrifice is very surprising because Hindu ideals were that a seperate military class was created especially for war and that its goal was to uphold welfare of the people and prevent injustice. Indeed, the most famous Hindu book, the Bhagavad Gita sees God Krishna encouraging Arjuna to fight the war in face of the hypocrisy of non-violence and love espoused by Arjuna. But strangely Premchand and Gandhi are sold as more Hindu than the Hindus, Gandhi more divine than Lord Krishna and Lord Rama.
Overall, a pretty good book inspite of its minor anti-Hindu biases (non-violence is anti-Hindu not non-Hindu as it seeks to undermine it philosophically and culturally), because atleast it presents the situation in Kashmir valley truthfully.
If you already know a bit about the Hindu genocide in Kashmir, the book is still recommended as it shows the operating mechanism which fuels terrorism in the valley which might shock you. For instance, politico-bureaucratic nexus arrests random kids on flimsy grounds, tortures them and then releases them to cause resentment among the people. Then, the political seperatists (eg: Hurriyat) step in to radicalize them to kill 'Kafirs', work in the way of 'Jihad' and demand 'Azaadi' from India and build a well managed team of stone throwers. Some additional mechanisms are: local Muslims/Pakistanis dressing up in fake army clothes and raping Muslim women causing further resentment and propoganda such as 'rapist Army'. In short, Pakistani money has worked a lot in the valley, and you won't find it surprising that despite receiving huge aid from the west, why Pakistan remains impoverished, illiterate, radicalized. The money is spent in Kashmir.

[Khyati Gautam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The infidel next door by Rajat Mitra is a tragic account of the Kashmir valley, the most controversial place of India. As the story kickstarts, you do get an impression that it would be about the atrocities borne by Kashmiri pandits but as you go ahead, you realise that the author has described the prevalence of hatred over love, without taking any side. Sheer brilliance.

The book discusses several issues surrounding Kashmir and also talks about how the 'heaven' has been turned into hell. It's not just Hindus who were ousted a long time ago but it's also the Muslims who are suffering. The Muslim boys are brought with hatred infused into their hands thus prompting them to pelt stones at others. They are pushed into becoming terrorists and work for the betterment of their religion. This was truly moving and heartbreaking. I was appalled at the description of how an entire community was exterminated. I've never read about this topic but this book gave me enough motivation to delve more into history.

Written in a compelling style, the author puts together different culture and ideas and weaves a story that is engrossing and intriguing. The author bravely and emphatically talked about the condition of Hindus in Kashmir, how the residents of the valley still live in perpetual fear. The book has a racy narrative which delivers a message of hope towards the end. The well fleshed out characters and their contribution to the plotline were really good. I loved how the story takes history into account and sends out a message that for the hatred of a handful, peace is disturbed in the entire nation. 

This is definitely not a light read, it just couldn't be. You should be reading when you gave can give it your undivided attention and strong reception. 

[Ajay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book on Kashmir. Book like this need to be read.
I have read Our Moon Has Blood Clots: The Exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits by Rahul Pandita. It was a great book. Everyone should read it.

[Vijaya K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished reading Rajat Mitra’s “The Infidel Next Door,” an intensely passionate novel about the current conflict in the valley of Kashmir. Rajat is a psychologist by training, and he has used his knowledge of the subject to try and understand the underlying mental processes of the characters, without making the narrative tedious and scholarly. The novel has a couple of thinly disguised characters that resemble real people. The character of Haji Chacha is closely drawn on Syed Ali Shah Geelani, while the politician Aman ul-Haq strongly resembles Farooq Abdullah. A hundred or so pages into the novel, I thought the untouchable boy Nitai was developing into the character of our Chaiwala, but after reading the entire book, I realized that my inference was incorrect. I think Nitai and Tara are drawn from the Puranic story of Harishchandra, but unlike Harishchandra and Tara their ends are most horrific.

Zeba, I believe was so named by the author because he had meant a sacrificial end for her. Zabah in Urdu means ritual slaughter, and that is exactly how the gentle Zeba meets her end. She has to be sacrificed for the imagined ignominy she has brought to her husband, family, and faith.

In Anwar, Rajat has tried to create a character who progresses from a militant stone thrower propelled not only by his faith but also a lust for violence (a kind of machismo so commonly seen in modern cinema) to a complete pacifist, standing all alone, waiting for his former antagonist to return and reclaim the ruined temple from which he had been so brutally expelled. Rajat has understood well the sham Islamic fervor of the Kashmiri youth, whose passion is driven more by lust for feminine flesh than by the idea of a vaguely understood “azadi.” Bollywood posters provide titillation instead of the movies that are banned by the Mullahs in their overzealousness. The projection of Bollywood machismo, complete with Ray Ban sunglasses and a military uniform in terrorists like Burhan Wani, with the imagined additional easy access to nubile young girls, is an attraction many of the Kashmiri youngsters find too hard to resist. Their masterminds have exploited this failing with slogans like, “we want Kashmir without Pandits, but with their women.”

Rajat has a fairly good knowledge of life in Kashmir. I don’t know if he has actually lived in the valley, or has acquired it second hand from his in-laws. He also seems to know a bit of the language. Despite that I think he has not fully understood Kashmir’s history and its march to the current times. It is true that there have been six former exoduses of the Pandits from the valley before the recent one in 1991. But in all the previous instances the Pandits were forced to leave by an administration that brought down a pogrom upon the hapless community. Afghans and Mughals were conquerors for whom genocide was a way to extract submission, and their governors followed the precepts of their masters. All six of them happened before the Partition of 1947 and before an Islamic nation called Pakistan had come into existence just across the border. The pogrom let loose in the late 1980’s was masterminded by Pakistan and its well-planned strategy of sowing disaffection in the minds of the Kashmiri youth. The seventh exodus was essentially an internally driven program aided and abetted by the hostile neighbor. The “unfinished business of Partition” after the unwise 1948-ceasefire agreement became a convenient tool in the hands of the Pakistani establishment. The seventh exodus, in my opinion therefore, has achieved one Pakistani objective. It is irrevocable in the foreseeable future, and perhaps forever. The world has shrunk unimaginably. The speed with which humans can travel today is only marginally slower than the speed at which information can travel. Geographical barriers have been made redundant by jet travel and the worldwide web. One can live in a forsaken nook of this planet and still control a vast commercial-industrial empire employing tens of thousands of people and spread over several continents. For one’s livelihood one does not have to necessarily dwell in his place of birth. The world is the modern man’s oyster and, possessing sufficient skills, one can make a life anywhere.

In today’s Kashmir there is no Aditya and no Anwar. The Pandits have scattered all over the globe and those born in the mid-eighties are already in their thirties now. They have no individual memory of their homeland, and because they are scattered and so few, no collective memory. The young Pandit is no longer interested in becoming a priest of a temple or even a pujari performing ceremonies for his jajmans. This profession has no takers from within the community. In Mumbai and Delhi, and perhaps all over India, it is practically impossible to find a Kashmiri Pandit pujari to perform marriage or death ceremonies. Even in Kashmir, that I last visited in 2011 I found that the Khir Bhawani Pandit was not a Kashmiri. The temple of Rup Bhawani at Vaskur was locked with the keys in the custody of a local Muslim man. Similarly, there are no Anwars in the valley. Most of the children born in the mid-eighties have no contact with Pandits, and have no idea of how the two communities lived together for centuries. Today’s young Kashmiri Muslim is completely disconnected from the neighbors his parents had grown up with. Their traces have been so totally obliterated that they don’t even exist in their collective memories. A change of heart that Anwar symbolizes is yet to manifest itself in the youth of the valley. Unfortunately, it is full of people like his father, who dissemble to hide their cowardice, or like his mother and fiancé. Haji Chacha is still drawing hordes that follow him blindly. There was a time when you could actually have come across a Prof. Baig, but as in “The Infidel Next Door” he would have met an exact fate. Those militants who have abjured the path of violence have done so for more lucrative ways of making a livelihood.

Kashmir will heal only when not just a real Anwar, but thousands of Anwars emerge on the scene; but perhaps, as Rajat hints at the close of the book, it is going to be an endless wait.

Rajat’s narrative style is racy and he doesn’t dwell too long in one place or occurrence. The book is divided into 100 chapters, making it a very easy and quick read. The story moves smoothly like the river at Varanasi from where it starts, and rarely reaches the rapids. An immensely engaging read, I recommend it to those who would like to read a good story, well narrated, and with a purpose to boot.

[Mehreen Ahmed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hubristic and self-righteous utterances from the imam of the mosque that no religion has ever fared better than Islam, struck a chord. Rajat Mitra's book The Infidel, is a moving story of pious but misled clergymen from both the Hindu and the Muslim faith. This book is a depiction of how closely, Rajat has studied the psychology of such demigods or priests and their misplaced ideologies and religious views. In the heart of it, the conflict of faith and conscience has never been put to the test as it has been, perhaps in this book. In the end, what prevails is the resultant effect of the test of course, but what comes of it by far is most interesting; whether or not it be triumph of conscience over faith or the other way around, borne in the heart of the sufferers is the ultimate question.

Kashmir has been a bone of contention for India for many years now. Its history is both daunting and uplifting for that nation. Rajat's book, not unlike others, such as Arundhati Roy's' Ministry of Utmost Happiness, describes Kashmir in great details and how it has played out in human lives time and time again. Attention to details is one of many facets of his mastery which has come to play in this book.

I highly recommend it to enlightened readers.

[Shourie Bannai · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Infidel Next Door
- Dr. Rajat Mitra

Only on reading this book twice does one realize as to how much pain every single character in this book has been through. The book itself, though fictional, reads like a documentation of pain for the frighteningly real characters. Pain, unbearable at times, which every page of the book drips of, pain with which some characters have to live with, while some lucky enough to escape it. The Infidel Next Door might not be the first and also not the last, but it certainly is one of the finest portrayals of human misery brought upon humans by an attribute fundamental to them, the belief in a higher being.
The characters of this book are all unassuming. Even in this unassuming existence, they hold rock solid convictions. As their world views collide, suck them into the black holes of existence, they search for their humanity, finally leaving them with not a lot other than pain and hope. What leaves us pondering is the characters, most of whom start out young and their coming of age in times of political turmoil and ethnic cleansing, is if this book is fictional, what it must have been in real .
Not one human character is central to the story (the central character is someone/something else). The Hindu priest, the amicable Imam Sahab and his children (son and daughter) , their rebellions, and the social circle around them which helps them navigate their little world make wonderful and identifiable parts of this story. The dimensions of the story and the portrayal of the dilemma with such simplicity, forces the reader to be promiscuous in sympathy.
The best part about this book is the multiple layers which the author has masterfully invented for each of the characters. Grief is personal, grief is political and sometimes it is just grief of helplessness. The first time you read the book, you are left with so many lingering questions.
The story is about Muslim siblings, both of them with diametrically opposite views of the world and making their journey through adolescence into adulthood with those views. The moral dilemmas they countenance when they make their choices and how they live with the consequences of their choices. The little joys and heartbreaks of teenage, exposure to ideas which are totally alien to their way of orthodox Islamic life is a large part of the picture. Their disciplinarian father who in his own way is caught between the oncoming tsunami of Islamic fundamentalism and his own moderate view to life and religion. He is trying his best to hold his own in such an onslaught and moreover trying the fiercest to protect his children from forgetting their humanity.
The story is also about a Hindu Pandit whose ancestors, centuries ago had fled from Kashmir to Banaras to escape the brutal persecution by the Muslim rulers of Kashmir, is sent back to Kashmir. Unfortunately, for him, the situation isn’t a lot better when he gets to Kashmir. Though he is sent there as a teenager, the responsibilities he is asked to shoulder are as heavy as those entrusted to grown old men. Life and the minimum human dignity haven’t been easy to come by for a Hindu in Kashmir in the last 500 or so years. The life of this young Pandit offers a small window of opportunity to the reader to understand why that is so.
Bit by bit, dealing with one blow after another the characters in the story move forward. One of the most poignant moments of the book is when, in the middle of the story ,the Pandit father and son speak for the first time as a father and son. Before that moment, their relation is dictated by expectations of each other. The father expecting the son to grow up and be his gurudev (apparently the head Pujari of a temple in Banaras) and the son expecting his father’s approval in return by obliging to his wishes. They both have lost the only woman who they loved, and perhaps the only one who truly loved them and are trying to make peace with their loss in their own ways. But in this act of reconciliation, it is perhaps the deeper realization of themselves which drives them apart. The tender moment, when each one of them seeks the other out but fail to respond.
In between all the human conflict, the story in the book is about a sacred Hindu temple. The temple is the central character in the book. How the fate of the Hindus in Kashmir rises and falls along with the temple is the best essence of the book. How the fortunes of Hindus took a nosedive for hundreds of years after cruel Aurangzeb had the temple destroyed and how the fortunes rose back with the defiant stand taken by the young Kashmir Pandit from Banaras (who is aided by his Dom / dalit helpers), only to fall again as the political and religious persecution gain momentum.
There are other minor characters in the book, who act as catalysts in taking the narrative forward. The astute university professor (whose utterances are the ones through which the author speaks) who is the moral conscience keeper of the Kashmiri Muslims. The Muslim friend who lost his love first and then like many of other youths from Kashmir, ultimately lost his life.
The narrative of the book provides ample insight of the fury and consistent rage with which radical Islamists operate against any unconquered minority. That Muslims have refused to share a nation with a minority in their midst doesn’t need a lot of explaining. History is replete with such examples. From the western shores of North Africa to the Indonesian peninsula, not one country was Islamic, merely a millennia and half ago. The North Africans included glorious civilizations like the Egyptian, later Roman and the Asians included the Turkish, Persian, Buddhist civilizations. It is hard to believe that all these were wiped out only through benign conversions. Kashmir has met with same fate. After 1990, when perhaps the last of the Pandit families left the valley, Islamization was complete.
It is hard to understand, against this backdrop as to how a rabid Islamist who pelts stones believing it to be religiously ordained duty is remorseful later. The focus on the pain of such Islamists perhaps takes away from the fact that the ones whom these Islamists brought harm upon, were forced into exile and have been out through much more severe pain. Humans are prone to error, but they are also prone to empathy, and in this case, as a reader I am not completely sure, the empathy is wholly deserved for the bigot-turned-redemption seeker.
While one can wholly empathize with the young Kashmiri Pandit, something which he richly deserves, owing to his strong moral character, his reformist attitude and his unflinching conviction and belief in his Gods. One can’t help but cringe about the arrogance of self-righteousness when he places his personal conviction above his religious duty, even in the face of most vicious provocation and finds satisfaction in his impotent rage. This has been the quintessential shortcoming of the Hindu psyche for the last 1400 years. The over-confidence in one’s own morality and unstained character in a war, even when the need of the hour is to secure a win to keep the same morality and virtues of character alive.
The stand-out of the story by all means though is the young girl. The layers of her existence and the dynamics of social life which she navigates, making sacrifices leave a lasting impression. It doesn’t come easy to imagine a life more vulnerable, fragile and in need of love than the girl. But alas, not all is a happy ending and some stories elicit deep sympathy with questions. That is when, one picks up the book to read it a second time, for the answers.
All in all for the people who like to read works of fiction bordering on the non-fiction, this book is a satisfactory read. I haven't dwelt much on the historic events described in the book as that would give the plot away easily.

[Subramanyam K.V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very nice book

A gripping read that makes the reader understand the importance of unity and to some extent mutual respect.

The underlying theme of the book was very good.

[Shilpa Dhobale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book.

The book mirrors the atrocities of the real life. It was heart touching as well as an eye-opener. Set in the backdrop of religion and man-made controversies makes you feel wasn’t religion supposed to bring peace and harmony than violence and chaos.

A MUST READ.

Read the full review at
https://hearthereaders.wordpress.com/...

Read dialogue between the author and me
https://hearthereaders.wordpress.com/...

[Aditya Bhatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book revolves around life of a Kashmiri pandit living in Banaras. Through his story Rajat mitra talks about exodus of Kashmiri pandits from Kashmir and their struggle to keep hinduism alive. It also gives an idea to the reader about monotheism in Islam and pluralism of Hindu religion.
The book is a page turner and also an unforgettable read.

[Raj Mallaparaju · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not close this book without reading it completely. Rajat Mitra details through the characters, how hate is propogated and indoctrinated. The book also reveals the ethnic cleansing which the world overlooked when it was happening. Yet, this is book that delves into human emotions and brings out a ray of hope for a peaceful coexistence of all Kashmiris. A must read!

[Tarun mangla · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fictional but gripping account that is set around the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the valley.

[PRASHANT PANDEY]

Book review: THE INFIDEL NEXT DOOR – By Rajat Mitra
UTPAL PUBLISHING


By Prashant Pandey

A book having 100 chapters might give an impression of being a long, tedious one, which could well challenge the attention span of the millennial. But, “The Infidel Next Door” by Rajat Mitra provides a crisp narrative with small chapters. In fact, a curious film script writer would be able to find his scenes depicted in each of the chapters. To this reviewer, the book clearly holds the promise of a motion picture script.
The book is about the exodus of Kashmiri Pundits from the Valley in 1989-90 with Islamic fundamentalist elements making it clear in their slogans that the Hindus would have to leave, or convert; and, when they leave, they should leave their women behind.
But first, a brief outline of the story: Aditya Narayan is son of a Kashmiri pundit, a temple priest. His ancestors were priest of Adi Shankara temple in Kashmir and had refused to convert before the Islamic forces. The main priest was beheaded and so were several other Hindus and the remaining fled to various parts of India. Aditya's ancestors landed up in Varanasi and his family got shelter in a temple. Gurudev, the wise old sage, who gave his family shelter, asks Aditya to go back to Kashmir and rebuild the Adi Shankara temple, which stands next to a mosque that came up after the temple was destroyed many centuries ago. Anwar, a stone-thrower and son of an imam, hates the sight of Aditya and his attempt to rebuild the temple. For him, Aditya is “The Infidel Next Door”, who needs to be banished, indeed killed, and his temple destroyed.
But does it happen? Or what happens when he moves in that direction?
The book gives ample idea of what happened -- the tortures, the humiliation, the murders, the rapes, and, of course, the exodus -- when it happened. But the exodus of Kashmiri pundits was only the denouement of something that was probably waiting to happen. And this is what the book tries to trace. And, one must add, it succeeds to great extent.
It paints a picture of colossal human tragedy that unfolds because of politico-religious ambitions on one side to the extent that it engulfs the well-meaning people from their side, and, of course, the other side. All of them -- Prof Baig, Javed, Zeba, Nitai Dom, Aditya himself, his father and many others -- end up being victims.
For a nation that has, often, refused to comprehend partition and the gore surrounding it, there is no prizes for guessing that exodus of Kashmiri pundits has never been understood completely. But then, in the case of Kashmir, we can’t even say that the issue has been “brushed under the carpet”. Rather, the “dirt” has been "thrown away along with the carpet"; as if the Kashmiri pundits never existed in the Valley in the first place.
Not exactly a thriller, but Mitra has done well to build up things before making the reader aware, at a very late stage in the book, that all of it is leading to that shameful period of modern Indian history – the early 1990 -- when an entire community was banished by the other before the open eyes of everybody and, yet, none seem to have witnessed it.
Till then, the reader might be lured into thinking that this is a book about “how love conquers all” and “how two communities can forget their past and begin living good neighbours” -- the usual homilies generally given under the aegis of "Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb". It is only when one gets to know that everything is leading to that momentous episode that this book becomes powerful. The reader knows that the tragedy will unfold -- and it does. The author does not bring in "angels" at the last moment to create that "only example in the Valley", where a temple was protected by a Muslim, when there was destruction elsewhere.
So, is the book only about a picture of gloom, gore and a sense of foreboding that no good can come out of it? Well, the author leaves us with a ray of hope.
A hope not typified by the “happily ever after” scenario – that Hindus and Muslims would, respectively, forget their wounds and stubborn insistence on everything being Islamic and live together like good neighbours. The hope for humanity in this book is like, say, survival of a cockroach on the volcanic rim.
The book shows how and why adversaries begin rooting for each other when they come to know the truth; why and how people end up "getting used" by their own; how and why women are the biggest losers in this “Holy war”. The book shows how pure love, pure sacrifice, pure hate; coupled with politics, cross-border support and armies coming in to salvage the situation create a deadly amalgam that can only lead to a sense of siege.
The readers would do well to remember that Mitra is a trained psychologist with nearly three decades of professional experience. He looks into the minds of the characters entangled in the violence all around and offers several nuggets on how these minds work, which forces drive them and why.
“May be I am wrong, but both of them represent the best of what religion stands for. Through their conflict, they have discovered a profound humanity in themselves. This humanity will not let them rest in peace till they stand in front of each other again,” says one of the characters, about the two leads, Aditya and Anwar.
In another chapter, a character says: “The conversion is the scar that doesn’t let you heal. When after centuries of following your faith, you give it up on being forced, your soul never accepts it. It remains a trauma and lies embedded deep inside. It is passed on to the future generations making them violent.” Does it then, at least in part, explain the selective bouts of silence and vociferousness suffered by the Muslims today in India?
On the other hand, the ridicule faced by Aditya's family in Varanasi – holding his ancestors responsible for killing of many Hindus and taunting their fleeing from the place – comes to repeat itself when the devotees of Aditya's temple asks them why he came to Kashmir -- as if to say that a hope for their own revival had become their biggest enemy.
In another chapter, the author, through the eyes of a once-feisty Muslim woman, explains how her entire existence is challenged when she is forced to wear a burqa; or, when she sacrifices her love for a Hindu boy to save the latter’s mission, ends up becoming a “militant’s wife” and, yet, is not able to prevent the impending doom.
But to try to slot this book into Hindu-Muslim binary would be doing injustice to it.
Yes, the stubborn determination to make everything Islamic is primarily responsible for this banishment of Hindus – which, as the characters tell you, is the seventh in the history.
Yes, with the mix of politics and cross-border support, it forms a deadly combination making Kashmir a powder keg.
Yes, it also talks about the dilemma being faced by the security forces – where the battle to fight an undefined enemy often becomes a battle of moral-vs-immoral, where the choices are always difficult; provocations being grave.
But, there is something more.
In the relationship of Nitai Dom -- an untouchable youngster, who would work tirelessly at Manikarnika ghat (where the pyres keep on burning 24x7) in Varanasi disposing of bodies – and Aditya, who takes him as an able assistant in running the temple, the author touches on subjects which Hindus have, sort of, made taboo for themselves. In fact, Aditya goes on to start teaching Nitai the Vedas and stands by his conviction; refusing to pay heed to his father, who warns him that such ways are not allowed in the Shastras.
Nitai, on the other hand, knows the ways of the world and comes across like a shield to the pious Brahman, Aditya, who knows little apart from mantras and prayers (not that it is not worth the effort). Nitai is the one, who, for the first time, is ready to answer the stone-throwers in their own language, when they try to hurt Aditya.
In other words, for those feeling that Muslim bashing alone would revive Hinduism, the author provides enough indications that there is a dire need to look within too – something Hinduism or Sanatan has always stood for. There are several other nuggets which the book earnestly points out without taking a judgemental stand-point. For instance, the reader should try finding a place mentioned in the book -- called Battmazar -- in Dal Lake of Srinagar. A lot on how and why history is being erased would become clear.
As mentioned earlier, Dr Mitra is a trained psychologist having dealt with trauma victims of different kinds, including those involved in stone throwing and the ones who became victims of Islamic terrorism. And the manner in which he operates can safely be called clinical.
The characters bare their minds and hearts, as pages unfold, and, yet, at the end of it, there is no taking side.
Nobody gets "misguided" here.
Most importantly, there is no attempt at “false equivalence” – the crowning glory of the secular brigade. Just this one thing is enough to call it a "brave book", which, indeed, it is.

(The reviewer is a former journalist with nearly 20 years of experience in mainstream journalism. He now writes on Indic topics. His interests include Indic history, society, politics, films and cricket.)

[Neeta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, the infidel has caught his voice to tell his story. No ‘complete truth’ can be pursued from a single perspective. Giving freedom of expression to multiple perspectives is our chance to peer into the eyes of truth. Kashmir is burning! There are stories constantly repeated and some which have been long suppressed. Maybe, the fire can be doused by giving a voice to the suppressed versions.
It is a formidable task to perch in one place, the narrators of conflicting versions of the same story. It needed an exceptional mind to initiate a conversation between the two warring sides – each innocent as well as the co-accused. Appropriately, Dr Rajat Mitra’s is that exceptional mind which has sheltered and engaged opponents in his first novel ‘The Infidel Next Door’. He hears everyone by compassionately stroking their better sides and documents the different versions of truth spanning experiences over many generations. Indeed, his professional experience as a psychologist who has heard the stories of traumatized Kashmiri Pandits in refugee camps on one side and terrorists and radicalized Kashmiri youth in prison cells on the other, has conferred upon him with the mastery to accomplish it. Putting a creative step forward, Dr Rajat has weaved a tale about Kashmiris - a tale about Hindus and Muslims losing their homeland, sanity and humanity over a land shared by their common ancestors and a homeland that rightly belongs to both of them.
The theme of the novel is the pursuit of peace and harmony which can only come about when the truth of the history of Kashmir, suppressed over centuries is told to the current generation as it happened. For history is not written only on the landscape ; history also etches its experiences as memory on the human DNA as trans-generational trauma, impacting the biological profile of successive generations. This fresh perspective on history is woven into the novel as insights into the various characters of the story.
The story is about Aditya Narayan, a young priest, whose ancestors witnessed and endured the genocide and ethnic cleansing of their Kashmiri Pandit community from their homeland centuries ago. Aditya’s ancestors could not defend their temple in Kashmir, and settled on the banks of the Ganges. Aditya takes a vow to rebuild the temple and his journey is fraught with dangers and encounters with various Kashmiri Muslims. The story reads like part story with plot and characters and part a documentary revealing the inside story about the ongoing conflict in Kashmir.
To a reader who may be unaware of the conflict in the state, Aditya’s task does not sound a big deal. But, as the story unfolds, it becomes apparent why it is such a daunting task. Anwar, a Muslim youth living next door sees a life’s opportunity in foiling Aditya’s attempts to restore his temple. For him Aditya is an infidel who should be either converted to Islam or banished or eliminated at any cost. Zeba- Anwar’s beautiful and innocent sister on the other hand is full of curiosity for Aditya’s Hindu rituals and traditions. Both Anwar and Zeba are continually being indoctrinated by their Haji Chacha, the imam of the mosque along with the other young Muslims to lead a life as enjoined by their faith. Zeba gets fascinated by Aditya and it becomes her secret. The love angle is poignant and the reader knows she is treading a precarious path.
The story hovers and fits the lens into the minds and homes of Muslim youth in Kashmir. The reader makes a connect with them as they seem to have the same obsessions, idiosyncracies, and frailties as those shared by youth around the globe. However, their aspirations are tampered by the politicians and clergy pushing them towards death, destruction and corruption of the essence of humanity we are born with. We sympathise with Anwar and hope he would break the spell of Haji Chacha’s indoctrination. But its Zeba who captures the reader’s heart. Her beauty synonymous with the beauty of Kashmir dazzles and her pristine innocence and humanity that cannot be corrupted touches the heart. She becomes the reader’s child, who lives her joys and sorrows and feels helpless when she is in danger.
While the world is bombarded with one-sided stories from the Kashmiri Separatists told with truth mixed with propaganda in media and many other forums around the globe, this novel neatly opens the tangled threads of the truths and lies. It exposes the religious fanatics and power hungry politicians who have turned the valley into a chess board, manipulating the media, and Kashmiri youth as pawns. The men of the security forces have their own roles and stories. Theirs is the most difficult and thankless job of bringing order in an atmosphere of mistrust. The story keeps the reader glued about the destiny of its various Kashmiris – some demoniacally evil, some touchingly human and many who are just lost as they are manipulated around by separatists or caught by security forces.

Can there be peace and harmony in Kashmir? This book is an honest attempt by a wise man, inspired to help by boldly telling the complete truth. Must read!

[Vijay Nair · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Whole world knows about Palestinian Muslims, Rohingya Muslims, Syrian Muslims etc & their plight. Whether a common person wants to know or not, the international Media Conglomerates, Intelligentsia & every possible medium of significant reach forces their perceived victimhood (which to an extent Is true but in almost all cases brought about by their own religious fanaticism) down the throats of every common person who is a consumer of their news & Views. This was and is still being done on an industrial scale. The same is now true for Kashmiri Muslims. Especially in 2019 after Article 370 and 35A as a democratic act (internal affair of the country) by the Parliament of India were abrogated/amended rendering them useless from August 5, 2019 (as was also done by Pakistan in mid 20th Century with Pak occupied Kashmir to no objection from India or any other country). This act integrated Kashmir with the rest of India bringing about Equality of non-muslims & even Kashmiri women & Kashmiri muslims who were not Sunni Muslim, giving all citizens of India equal rights as should have been the case from 1947 itself.

On the other hand, there is still no mention or even acknowledgement by these same Media platforms & Intelligentsia both In India & Internationally of the Kashmiri Hindu Genocide & Exodus perpetrated by these same Kashmiri Muslims with the help of the Pakistani Deep State. This was the 7th massacre & exodus by Kashmiri Muslims that occurred between late 1989 & early 1990 rendering the Kashmir Valley almost completely free of any Hindus - the same Hindus who have lived here for over 7,000 years or more from where they pioneered several Works of Literature, Architecture, Universities, Yoga & Shaivite philosophy & established a rich civilization which was the crown of the indian civilization & history.

While these Messiahs of Freedom preach to the world about Human rights & equality they ignored the Religious Apartheid being enforced by Sunni & Sufi Muslims in Kashmir from the 14th Century preventing minority Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Christians from equality in Education, Jobs, Property rights, Marital rights & Citizenship. For some reason, any atrocities perpetrated by Muslims anywhere in the world are censored in news media. However, even the slightest transgression by non-Muslim individuals or institutions are broadcasted with distortion, exaggeration and persistence, with enough frequency to indoctrinate the masses in a cultivated false narrative of persecution of Muslims while ignoring actual Muslim victims in China (Uyghurs in Xinjiang, Baloch, Pashtun, Sindhis, Shias & Ahmedias in Pakistan, Muslim victims of ISIS & Al Quaeda in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq etc.)

Dr Mitra's Book brings to light the above mentioned tragic plight of Kashmiri Hindus who have for centuries been deprived of Justice & peace. Their women raped, men butchered, several forcefully converted to Islam - all this leading to their ultimate forced & Complete expulsion from Kashmir which was their homeland for millennia.
Dr Mitra, in a scholarly, no nonsense manner depicts the indoctrination of Kashmiri Muslim men & women from a young age as is always the case of children born into the religion and especially more strongly where they are in a numerical majority.

I read this book in 8 hours flat - thanks to the fluidity of the story coupled with Simple language used along with the Factual horrors depicted in the book along with the hope for some redemption by some of the main characters in the book who were on the side of Power & Influence- hoping that they would vindicate themselves with acts of repentance or at least acknowledgement of their evil acts - in this aspect, the book does not disappoint as the real actors in Kashmir did (Separatists, Terrorists & their Sympathizers along with the common Kashmiris who took part in the genocide & Forced exodus of their hindu brethren whom they had persecuted for centuries before finally expelling them who still roam free in Kashmir with no remorse for their evil crimes nor any prosecution by the government)

This book should be made compulsory reading for courses that teach the history of the region. A must read for anyone who wants to know the truth about Kashmir & to get a glimpse of what will become of other regions that are seeing a demographic change where indigenous faiths & People are outnumbered by converts to the Religion from the Arabian Desert.

[Jiten Upadhyay (Team ThinkerViews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Detailed Book Review is available at: https://thinkerviews.com/books/englis...]

Kashmir is the place with the ethereal beauty. But it is not known for that these days. Since a few decades, the environment there is not friendly. The exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits is an issue one can not ignore. And, at the same time, the way, the innocent citizens of the valley are brainwashed in a way that they grew into stone pelters and eventually turn into terrorist; is also a big problem. Keep apart your political view, and you see that common people are the ones who are really affected with this worst situation.

Author Rajat Mitra has done his Ph.D. in Psychology, and worked with the people who are at the receiving end of the terrorism. He came up with his first novel which you can call a historical fiction named "The Infidel Next Door" where he tries to cover the problems, the root cause of the same, how it is growing bigger, and what possibly could be its solution.

I will not discuss much about the plot, as you can get the hint about the same in book synopsis as well.

The book is a courageous attempt to talk about the problem the common people in the "once heaven on the earth" without taking sides and yet, not shying away from talking the realities. The author must be appreciated for the same.

The characters of the book are very strong and we see the layers of their persona are explored as the story progress. Though, the major part of the book talks about the wrongdoings and tragic circumstance, it actually explores the story of a Hope.

The book is not a light read. If you are looking for reading something light, to pass time or get entertained, the book is not for you. Also, it requires open mind and positive approach to read the book, otherwise you may feel getting offended at various places. Realities are hard to accept, and this book tries to elaborate the realities, so it may be found hard to digest by many.

In terms of literary qualities, the book gives us some fantastic punch lines and messages full of wisdom, here are some of them:

This azaadi of yours is not for getting freedom or justice. That already exists.
—- —- —- —- —- —-
A shelter remains a shelter. It never becomes a home.
—- —- —- —- —- —-
Hatred is never born in a day. It lives for mnay years in the human heart before it develops a face.


Summary:
Overall, a book with a substance which talks about harsh realities and needs to be read with an open mind.

We can give it Around 7.5 to 8 stars out of 10.

[Manish Guha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that will stay with the reader for a long time after they finish reading it.

It is a book for all times and its theme is one that will resonate long after you have turned the last page. I lost the sense of time while reading it and finished it staying up the whole night.

There are very few books like this in India and am sure will become a path breaker in the times to come for other books that will ask the question whether Hindus and Muslims can live together in India. Though this is a work of fiction, it has so many truths hidden in its pages that it goes far beyond the boundaries of fiction. It taught me the history of the Hindu Muslim relationship in India more than any other book I have read so far.

Another characteristic of this book is that it makes you go through many feelings all at once. I have yet to recall a book where I went through so many feelings. It is almost like a roller coaster ride at times. I understood many things I didn’t understand before and had a rudimentary understanding. This book takes you straight into the deep where you see people’s motives and emotions raw and without a shield, naked for you to see. To be honest it disturbed me deeply and that is where I will point it as its key strength. It disturbs you like no other book of recent times. I felt a raw anger rise within me as I read on the injustices done to the people.
The second thing that hit me was its language. The language is poetic, haunting and one almost feels as if in a flow. But it is never unreal or made up. It is raw, visceral and one almost feels as if one is living it while reading the lines. It will make a good movie when it comes out.

The book doesn’t spread hatred despite dealing with such a sensitive theme but a feeling that human beings can find healing and reconciliation in the midst of meaninglessness when they search their conscience.

Lastly, it makes all the books I have read on Kashmir so far as fragmented and this one joins the dots and tells us why half a million people of my country suddenly left their homes in the middle of the night and why our leaders slept. Not an easy book to read but I hope everyone who has ever bothered why Kashmir is in the present state today will find the answers in its pages.

A must read.

[Sheela Nandini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just when I thought I wouldn't read another book on the longstanding Kashmir conflict, I received a message sometime last month from a dear online friend in Kenya recommending The Infidel Next Door by Rajat Mitra ! This has to be the most unbiased account I have read so far and the author's voice is refreshingly sane and balanced! It occurs to me that peace may be an individual pursuit as against a collective enterprise given the transformation of Anwar who was so consumed by hate for Aditya. I read it over a period of days for one who can finish a book in one sitting. There was much to learn, much to reflect and ponder. Zeba's tragic end as well as Javed's was unexpected...and at the end it seemed rather naive of Anwar to wait for Aditya hoping in the midst of all that destruction and hate unleashed on Aditya Nitai and Tara , that things could somehow be like they were before. But Aditya has been changed and he no longer has the will to continue with the tradition he has been brought up to believe in and honour. I heartily recommend this book and I wish more and more Kashmiri Muslims would read it with an open mind given the bias and prejudice majority of them harbour towards the Pandits and their history !

[Monika Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to read a beautiful and touching novel on Kashmir than read 'The Infidel next door'.

It talks about the situation in kashmir, make you visualize love and hatred, devotion and forgery, dedication and jealousy and how a handfull of people, play with the emotions of others to use them.

But what makes the novel different from the rest is the hope of the writer. He believes that in the life of every human being there comes a time, a moment, which changes anything and everything and it makes you realize that whatever you were doing or thinking till date was wrong or maybe worthless. And leads to the begaining of a new inning, start of a new struggle.

I really loved reading the novel and just couldn't stop before coming to the last page and now all I can do is think about it again and again. I think writer has been able to present before us the truth in such a manner that only later we realize that sweetness of the story was only sugar coated and truth of kashmir is too bitter to swallow.

It is time to thank the writer Mr Rajat Mitra for this beautiful creation and I wish he writes more..

[Reema Chhatbar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book on Kashmir and it deeply touched me. It is engaging and I could feel for the characters. The book mirrors the reality in the valley. It successfully brings out the fundamental difference of monotheism in Islam and pluralism in Hinduism. It also touches the concept of untouchability through character Nitai. My heart goes out to the character.
The book brings into perspective the root cause of hatred is futile. The believers are fed false narrative that they are warriors and it is a holy war! These few people with ill intentions of establishing that their faith is superior has brought atrocities on Kashmiri Pandits and itched in the memories of generations. It also points out the vicious cycle of innocents turning militants.
After I have read the book, I am wondering when and how can we bring peace and Harmony in the midst of all the hatred and fanatism?
How can we undo the wrong done for so many years especially in this situation of mistrust and terrorism? How tangled everything is ?
I would highly recommend the book. It is a revelation.

[Ajay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to read more it was not only interesting, it is the kind of book which touch the soul of the reader. It was my first book I have read about Kashmir(except those history books in school) and I felt like I know nothing about Kashmir or I know very little.
As I started reading the story I became a part of it and I found myself connected with it's characters and specially with Aditya, I was expecting that Zeba and Aditya will be together but it was a different kind of love story, book was not only a love story it has covered the different aspects of man and man made religious controversies.
it was the kind of fictional book one wants to read, it left me thinking about the way people think how they are superior from their fellow human beings and how their god is superior than others.

[Samarpan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful rendition of human dynamics. Unfortunately this can only happen in a fictional world. As the book evolved I was reminded of the Arjunas vision of the Virat Swarup of Krishna and could hear Krishna calling out to Arjuna to rise and fight as a medium to what was already done. Till we stop waiting for the rulers to deliberate rightly or someone else to do our work we will continue to suffer as a mankind. This is not between Muslim's and Hindus alone; it is between irresponsible, gullible and callous vs parasites. An order that evolved to bring order among barbarians and marauders can rarely adapt to the society of justice, peace and creativity unless it's comes down on its knees. Hope the book enrapturing as it is makes a change of hearts????

[Ram Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique book on 'Trauma and Hindu Psyche'

This is one of the most powerful works, I have come across, on the deep impact of Islamic invasion, of several centuries, on Hindu society. Though this is not a work of history but historical fiction and conveys the trauma Hindu society had to undergo which has left deep scars on Hindu Psyche; a subject that has been tabooed in academia and hence mostly neglected. Rajat Mitra has done a wonderful job in bringing out this unexplored area (of the wounded Hindu psyche) with such a finesse that it is bound to become one of the most important works of our time. A MUST READ for every curious seeker of history, civilization, psychology and culture.

[Sandeep Koul · Rating 5 out of 5]

after years, i read a book which broke through my hard, blase shell and showed me that there was still a bit of the softness from a lost innocent childhood left inside.. and not just because i could relate to most of this stuff, having been there when it was happening.. the book is so well written that it will make any reader feel he was there when it happened. and Mitra sir has achieved the near impossible - a tightrope where neither side is demonised unduly.. all in all, an excellent, enjoyable read about kashmir, life, faith and much more... STRONGLY RECOMMEND !!!

[Lipsa Dash · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes you on a journey of agonies of Kashmiri Pandits. The story may be fictional but is so apt.

[H · Rating 5 out of 5]

His image floated before me when I read 'The Infidel Next Door' by Rajat Mitra.
The he is Owaisi... he is barrister, and his kids study in England.. but he wants his pille in HYD to come out and pelt stones...

Identical words are echoed by the character Javed, when Hajee saab asks him why he is not protesting...
When will your children join?

This book is the history of Kashmir in the last 70 odd years captured in 300 odd pages.
Every character does justice to its presence, not a loose moment anywhere.
This captures and holds out in stark contrast, what is really happening in Kashmir Valley, against the 'green screen' of secularism... neither Hindus nor Muslims have been benefitted. Only ppl like Hajee chache who bake their rotis on the bonfires of Hindu homes survive.

Hope ppl realise.... before its too late....

[Beloo Mehra · Rating 5 out of 5]

“…if you will not learn from history, you will have to be taught by a harsher teacher the same lesson—and taught perhaps at a much more tremendous price…” (Sri Aurobindo, CWSA, Vol. 7, p. 770)

Dr. Rajat Mitra’s ‘The Infidel Next Door’ is a book divided in 100 chapters. But each of these small chapters is a definitive peek into the multiple layers of the story that is unfolding — the story of pain and hope, faith and fear, revenge and friendship, anger and understanding, retreat and return, rejection and renewal, trauma and transformation, and of hate and love. This is a tale drawn from the pages of the history, but one that also reveals the different possibilities for the future. There is no shying away from the horror that religious extremism and terrorism unleash, and similarly there is no hesitation in highlighting the good that also blossoms even amidst all the hatred and distrust. By weaving together the stories of several individual characters, this becomes a story of two communities and one nation – a story that doesn’t feel like fiction at all, because it is too real to be ignored and because it continues to play itself out in various ways.

On an outer level, the plot is situated in the painful context of the displacement or forced exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley in 1989-90, making them refugees in their own country. But as the characters in the story remind the readers, this was only the most recent exodus; Kashmiri Pandits have been the victims of the horrors unleashed by the Islamic powers several times in the long history of Kashmir.

Each time the only choices given to the Kashmiri Hindus, if they were to survive, were: either leave or convert to Islam. As this book reminds the readers, the slogans blaring from the mosques in 1990 kept repeating these terrible choices for the terrified Hindu minority, and also added that if they were to leave the Kashmir valley to save themselves, they should leave their women behind. This is a matter of history – unfortunately, the history that is not often spoken about because it is inconvenient, but it is the history a whole community continues to live with. It is in such a horrific historical context that we find the two key characters of ‘The Infidel Next Door’ coming to a deeper and greater self-awareness. This is what makes the book much more significant and engaging.

THE STORYLINE

First, a brief account of the main storyline is in order. Aditya Narayan, the young priest, is the son of a Kashmiri Pandit and carries a great burden of his family’s history. His ancestors had been the priests at Adi Shankara temple in Kashmir. During one of the past forced exoduses of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley, one of his ancestors had boldly refused to convert before the Islamic forces. He was beheaded, and so were several other Hindus who were at the temple. Those who could, fled to various other parts of India. Some members from Aditya’s ancestral family landed up in Varanasi and found shelter in a temple, where Aditya’s father is now a priest. The temple was brutally destroyed – a horror that has been repeated countless times across the length and breadth of India at the hands of barbaric Islamic rulers and their armies.

All this happened in 1676, Aditya learns from his teacher, whom we meet as Gurudev, a wise old man. As his gurudakshina, Gurudev asks Aditya to go back to Kashmir and rebuild and renew the temple where his ancestor was killed. The temple which is now in ruins stands next to a mosque which had come up after the temple was destroyed centuries ago. In the recent years, the mosque has become even grander with the help of money flowing in from ‘outside’ sources, thanks to one influential person known as Haji Chacha. It is Haji Chacha who leads the campaign of ‘āzādi’ of Kashmir by recruiting young boys from the valley and facilitating their training – starting from stone-pelting and leading to use of arms and ammunition in terrorist training camps across the border in Pakistan.

Anwar, the son of Imam of the mosque next to Aditya’s temple, is under the influence of Haji Chacha. He carries in himself this great hatred for Aditya and the temple Aditya is slowly trying to rebuild. Anwar is a master stone-thrower, and Aditya as “The Infidel Next Door” is his primary target, because he is the one who needs to be banished, indeed killed, if Kashmir has to become ‘āzād’ as per the guidance given by Haji Chacha. Aditya’s temple must also be destroyed because the very sight of it hurts the religious sentiments of the Muslims in the area, Anwar is told again and again. And if Anwar could do this – kill Aditya and destroy the temple – he would have gained the position of the leader of ‘Azad Kashmir’ movement. This is what he hears frequently – not only from people such as Haji Chacha but also his fiancée, who ends up leaving him once he switches sides and turns out to be the one who actually saved Aditya, whom he had first tried to kill!

How does this turnaround happen? What happens to the temple which Aditya had built with so much devotion and dedication when the few remaining Kashmiri Pandits also flee the valley to save their lives? What happens to Aditya who survives several brutal attacks on his life?

These questions keep the reader engaged as the subtle layers of the minds of the key characters keep opening up with the progression of the story.

FOR FULL REVIEW, VISIT: https://matriwords.com/2020/04/29/boo...

[Vineet Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

यह पुस्तक रजत मित्र द्वारा लिखित ' Infidel Next Door ' का हिंदी अनुवाद है। एक ब्राह्मण पुजारी की कहानी जो इस्लामिक आतताइयों के द्वारा कश्मीर में नष्ट किये गए अपने पूर्वजों के मंदिर को फिर से जीवंत करने का प्रयास करता है। और इस दौरान उसके साथ जो घटित होता है उसकी कहानी। कश्मीर भारत के अतीत के साथ साथ भविष्य का भी एक जीवंत उदहारण है। इस्लाम के धरती पर आने के बाद से अभी तक हिन्दुओं को जिन जिन यातनाओं से गुजरना पड़ा है, कश्मीर के हिन्दुओं ने उसे वर्तमान में झेला है। कैसे हिन्दू लड़कियों एवं महिलाओं का बलात्कार होने के बाद भी पुलिस उनका रिपोर्ट नहीं लिखती थी। किसी भी दोषियों को सजा नहीं मिल पाती थी। कैसे उनको अपने पुरखों की जमीन , अपना घर , अपना व्यवसाय छोड़ कर भागने को विवश किया गया। कश्मीर की समस्या का निदान हम भौगोलिक एवं राजनैतिक रूप से करना चाहते हैं। लेकिन हम भूल जाते हैं कि कश्मीर कि समस्या का मूल धर्म है। रजत मित्र ने अपनी पुस्तक में उन समस्याओं के हर पहलू को जनमानस के पटल तक पहुंचाने का प्रयास किया है। एक ऐसी पुस्तक जो न केवल समस्याओं को दर्शाती है, बल्कि उनके समाधान का रास्ता भी सुझाती है। एक बेहतरीन एवं सभी हिन्दूओं द्वारा अवश्य पढ़ने वाली पुस्तक।

[Ashok Kumar]

A Review of Rajat Mitra's novel - 'The Infidel Next Door'

by Ashok K. Singh

While posting my review of the above novel I would like to share one single dialogue from the novel in advance which appears as the most enigmatic to me . It reads as follows ,
"Our boys (Kashmiri Muslims) don't have the fire in their belly to fight the Indians and in this way we will never get it (azadi). They have to be made to go through fire "
This statement of a militant leader appears to contain two riddles within :-

1. If the local people were not fit to fight, then who gave that midnight loudspeaker calls from masjids to Pandits to quit Kashmir leaving behind all possessions and their women ?

2.How & what measures did they adopt to make locals fit to fight ?

Anticipating readers agreement, my request would be that they could solve these riddles before or after reading the book or the review. Those who wish to do it in advance, they can do it on the basis of newspaper & TV reports. And those who wish to do it after reading , they can simply highlight the hidden relevant sentence from the book itself .

One more point of readers interest, I would like to share in advance. And for this I take courage from a sight from Ambala Cantt main road right hand footpath where I noticed a mazar & a small Shiva temple side by side, both perhaps unauthorized structures, but quite busy & popular with their fauzi & civil worshippers . So my request would be to highlight such sites wherever noticeable but not all unauthorised ones only . I am sure Bihar readers can send many photos other than one described in the novel.

My review follows -

Few novels leave the readers with as many questions as The Infidel Next Door. These are not simple questions but highly mind boggling and puzzling. It also leaves one surprised and wondering at the timing, place and people of the story, that is , Kashmir valley of 1989. Yes, the same place which remains in the news more prominently for terror acts and army operations against that and political reactions to that. The background story of the real people of the place goes back to thousands of years or more in the antiquity while the story relates back to four hundred years. It is the stones of Kashmir, according to one of the characters, that wants this story to be told. The pace of the events like sudden eruption of violence in a peaceful society of two communities living side by side for centuries, appears to have made Rajat Mitra tell the entire story in crisp, short, concise, fast moving one hundred chapters almost in one breath. Very fast and ferocious are some of the happenings while others are highly sensitive, humane and positively empathise with the ethos and pathos of the common people. Imagine, midnight loudspeaker announcement to the minority community there to leave overnight their home, women and everything, if not converting to Islam, or else face murder, arson, rape and what not! The author, an eminent psychologist of international fame and expertise,however, has maintained his professional style, cool, collected, impassionate, impartial and convincing in describing the incidents which have been a taboo item for the media, intellectuals and politicians for the last thirty years. He deserves a special thanks for bringing the truth in the open, at the most opportune time, of the people who have been living in refugee camps in their own ancestral land for the last thirty years. And there is hardly any visible or audible movement for their resettlement in their original homeland on the scale that we have seen for the Rohingya Muslim infiltrators in India.

It was Spanish American philosopher Santayana who said, " that those who do not remember their history are condemned to repeat it ." He was perhaps talking about a history of two thousands only. The pity is, a community, with more than five thousand years of unbroken traditions, is afraid to remember it's past and avoid any talk of the land of their ancestors for the fear that they would be made a subject of ridicule and humiliation for being instrumental once for the massacre of their own people about four hundred years ago because of their determination not to convert to Islam.

In fifteenth century Kashmir the Hindus would rather die than give up their religion and this was not acceptable to the new Pathan rulers. Hence the violent forceful attempts to convert them to Islam and vicious attempts to erase the history of the Hindus by destroying their temples and all other symbols of their culture and religion. And the resultant trauma persists till the day. What happens when a socity goes into denial and suppression of it's trauma is a subject which Santayana perhaps did not take into account. What Santayana seems not to take note of, Rajat Mitra appears to have taken up and built his story in terms of conflicts between history vs memory and memory vs conscience ."Memory carries history forward when human conscience falls silent." Thus writes one of the characters in the novel and asks further, " Will the Kashmiris of future remember the martyrdom of pandits ?" And why the Hindus failed to create martyrdom like the Christians ? Also asks Aditya, the main character, "the truth of massacres in Kashmir now exists only as a memory in the minds of many of the people, People are afraid to speak about them, as others demand evidence from them. And when they can't provide any written evidence, they call them liars. But when memory is the only evidence possible what other evidence can you bring ?"

" People ask why any one didn't write about it. To write about it in olden times mean sure beheading........To me, the broken pillars of my temple stand as evidence. The story that brought me back to my roots is my evidence. And isn't it true that my people left this land six times in great numbers just because their religion was different ?...........making Kashmir totally Islamic. Everyone accepts it as the final truth of our land. Will some one ask where is the evidence ? Bring that first . In the midst of all this hatred and violence when the history of Kashmiri pandit is being erased forever from Kashmir, who will be left to talk or write about evidence ? "

" People forget that memory is the only defense against the strong who suppress them.............my right to pray cannot be taken away from my right to choose to pray where I pray. I will not change my place or prayer because some one says his sensibilities are affected or his memory gets disturbed. Memory is our only tool against the falsification of history."

Rajat mitra is a wizard of words and his pen, the magic wand in his hand, has recorded all the conflicting voices of Kashmir on a much more wider screen than 70 mm .All the voices that never reached the average Indians in the right context and In the right time.

Sample some :-

The voice of discontent :-

"Did Nehru ever understand Kashmir ?
How many of them ( the young men today with AK47) know the history of those days when Hindu and Muslims fought together to protect Kashmir from invaders?

Did Nehru even thought of this when he announced plebiscite?

The voice of militancy :-

On the night of 20th January 1990, a day after Hindus left.......
.."Our boys don't have any fire in their belly to fight the Indians and this way we will never get it (azadi). They have to be made to go through fire."

The voice of victim:-

" The conversion is the scar that does not let you heal.........It remains a trauma......It is passed on to the future generations making them violent."

"The plains are too hot for them . Their bodies won't be able to adjust to the heat. A large number of our people will die in Jammu and Delhi."

The voice of grief :-

"....I did not come across narratives of Kashmiri pandits grieving over their homes while leaving. This grief will only grow as time passes and a day will come when it can't be stopped from erupting. They carry their homeland in their hearts this time. Whenever societies have done that even if it takes twenty,fifty, hundred, even a thousand years, they have returned to their land. It will happen to your people too one day,"

Writing from Patna, I can't resist the temptation to highlight that short but poignant reference to Bihar in the book :
Says the father of an innocent young man who was mistaken as a militant and tortured and consequently he dies, " ....Many years ago , we (father & son) had gone to Bihar, where there was a mosque and a temple side by side. My brother was the caretaker of the mosque. He and the son of the Hindu priest became friends. Javed often asked me why there is so much violence in the name of religion. When Aditya came he felt he would set an example of religious harmony in Kashmir."

And this sounds like the faint voice of sanity in Kashmir. To make this voice louder and authentic , I would like to add that there are many areas here where such scene can be seen. But the reference in the book appears to be that of the main railway station where two tall majestic buildings , under reference , stand side by side and diagonally opposite towards east, there is a magnificent Gurudwara, which is surrounded by tall buildings and opposite that, across the road, is a sprawling green Buddha park with a Stupa inside..

Many other voices of Kashmir one will have to find out oneself while reading this book. Also I highly recommend listening to the talk that Rajat Mitra has given while launching this book to understand this problem in the wider perspective as an universal problem and in the deeper psychological sense.

While wishing the readers a thoughtful reading of this book of Kashmir," the Soul of India" , " the seat of Hinduism and "a teerth","I congratulate Rajat ji for this monumental creation.

Thanks.
..................

[Prashant Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Infidel Next Door by Rajat Mitra is a book that will leave you in a state of grief and deep thoughts when you finish it. It talks about the exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir and the story of a heaven on earth turning into hell.

The story revolves around Aditya Narayan, a Kashmiri Pandit whose ancestor was killed in the AdiShankara temple for refusing to convert. After that many of the Kashmiri Pandits escaped and went to Varanasi. But Aditya's life changes once again when he is sent back to rebuild the AdiShankara temple. It may feel like the wounds are very old but they are still fresh and pains a lot.

The other major character are Anwar and Zeba, the siblings living next door to the place where Aditya was building the temple. Anwar wanted to spoil and fail his plan of building the temple and her sister is at first curious about the Hindu Rituals but as the story unfolds we see her falling for Aditya. What will happen now  is what the story is all about.

The best part of the book is that Rajat Mitra used his psychological view on this incident. Providing different layers to each characters was a good move as it provides more depth to the story and the best thing about the book is in the way it is written down it not only shows how life became hell for Hindus in Kashmir but it also turned out hell for all the other people. It talks about the importance of unity and how it is necessary nowadays.

This is a must read book for every Indian as it is our history an important part of India.

[Bookswithavinish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Initially when i read the description of the book. I thought it will be a story of kashmiri pandits . But when i started reading it . I discover a lot of things .at one end we find kashmiri hindus struggling to win back their status and lands . Story is not only about hindus struggle it also showcases the hatred among the two religions spread by unknown entities . And at the end i received a message from the story that it is not hatred but ' love' that binds humans.

The book is a courageous attempt where the author doesnt shy away inspite of the risk of facing threats. He uses perspectives from history and memory.

It is a book that should be read by all and especially by those who are interested in kashmir. It will appeal to audiences worldwide for its universal themes of separation, loss and forgiveness.

This inspiring story revolves around aditya , a hindu priest , anwar who wants to create an islamic kashmir and zeba torn between her love and religion.

The book is divided into 100 chapters , and moves quickly and makes it easy to read. The narrative style of author is amazing. And cover of the book looks good. But it has no connection with the theme of the book . Overall it is a mind blowing read for me .

And i must recommend this book to all the lovely readers to give it a try for once .

Must read ❤❤