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Kashmir: Rage And Reason
Blending analyses with anecdotes, Kashmir: Rage and Reason is the Valley’s new-age writing, which traces, in lucid language, the region’s tortured history, the many facets of Kashmiri nationalism, and the betrayals. The author has woven together his anecdotes and people’s narratives from ground zero to give us the real picture in all its starkness, minus any journalistic dressing.
- GenresNonfictionHistory
395 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2019
40 people are currently reading
181 people want to read
About the author
Gowhar Geelani
1 book8 followersGOWHAR GEELANI did his Bachelor’s in the field of science and his Master’s in journalism and mass communication. He started his professional career in journalism in November 2003 while working for Eenadu Television (ETV) as a sub-editor and reporter, at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad for a year. He served Germany’s public international broadcaster Deutsche Welle as editor for several years in Bonn, beginning 2006.
Currently, he is based in Srinagar as an independent broadcast journalist, political analyst and television commentator.
He is also a South Asia Journalism Programme Chevening Fellow (2015), Munich Young Leader (2014), and regularly appears as a Kashmir expert and political commentator on television channels including the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) World, NDTV 24×7, CNN News 18, India Today, Wion, and India Ahead News, among others.
He has also written for the BBC, Race & Class, The Telegraph, Dawn, India Today magazine, DailyO, CNN-IBN, Daily News and Analysis, Globe Post, The Defense Post, Economic and Political Weekly, and several other international and Indian regional media outlets.
Currently, he is based in Srinagar as an independent broadcast journalist, political analyst and television commentator.
He is also a South Asia Journalism Programme Chevening Fellow (2015), Munich Young Leader (2014), and regularly appears as a Kashmir expert and political commentator on television channels including the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) World, NDTV 24×7, CNN News 18, India Today, Wion, and India Ahead News, among others.
He has also written for the BBC, Race & Class, The Telegraph, Dawn, India Today magazine, DailyO, CNN-IBN, Daily News and Analysis, Globe Post, The Defense Post, Economic and Political Weekly, and several other international and Indian regional media outlets.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 13, 2019
Kashmir: Rage and Reason by Gowhar Geelani is one of the must-reads to know about the exact ground-level situation in the valley during contemporary times. The fortunate thing about this book is the time of its release; it happened just before the abrogation of Article 370. The book attempts to explain the mindset of new-age militants in the valley, which, according to him, is not necessarily a product of fundamentalism. The book substantiates those arguments with the conversations he had with family members and relatives of the militants. It reveals how the sentiment of "Aazadi" dates back to 1947, and the paradigm shift in the resistance didn't happen just after rigging the elections in 1987. Also, the book talks at length about new methods of resistance in Kashmir such as poetry, music, and art. An entire chapter describes the role of Kashmiri journalists and how they have suffered at the hands of Indian forces, and militants.
Furthermore, the book proposes several plausible and pragmatic solutions to the Kashmiri conflict, keeping in view the sentiments of each school of thought in Kashmir. Moreover, the book discusses the critical issue i.e., the lack of leadership, mistakes in the past, and a need for new statesmanship. Gowhar explains about the religious diversity that existed in the valley when he was growing as a kid, his experience as a child of conflict; and narrates some anecdotal incidents from 90's. The book discusses the issue of migration/exodus, and who should be held responsible for that. The interesting feature of this book is the constant references to some exciting literature, written by indigenous and foreign authors. One will get introduced to the autobiographies of politicians such as Sheikh Abdullah, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, etc. Overall the book is engaging and is well-researched. So I give it a 4/5.
Furthermore, the book proposes several plausible and pragmatic solutions to the Kashmiri conflict, keeping in view the sentiments of each school of thought in Kashmir. Moreover, the book discusses the critical issue i.e., the lack of leadership, mistakes in the past, and a need for new statesmanship. Gowhar explains about the religious diversity that existed in the valley when he was growing as a kid, his experience as a child of conflict; and narrates some anecdotal incidents from 90's. The book discusses the issue of migration/exodus, and who should be held responsible for that. The interesting feature of this book is the constant references to some exciting literature, written by indigenous and foreign authors. One will get introduced to the autobiographies of politicians such as Sheikh Abdullah, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, etc. Overall the book is engaging and is well-researched. So I give it a 4/5.
May 17, 2020
Very well-written and well researched book on Kashmir conflicts. Its an honest account of the sufferings of Kashmiri people and what all they have experienced in last 29 years.
May 25, 2020
This book gives an excellent insight to what is the ground reality in Kashmir, which is often fabricated by the so called patriotic indian media. I won't criticize all the media, because I got to know about this book from The Hindu literary review. This book clearly chronicles about the inhuman activities a state can do in the name of Pride of the nation.
April 22, 2021
Short Verdict : It's a must read. Go get it if you want to understand Kashmir.
Longer review :
This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the overall Kashmir situation. The title of the book is an apt one 'Kashmir : Rage and Reason' as the author tries to explain the situation and reasons for the anger and the struggle of Kashmiris.
It talks about Kashmir - past, present and possibilities and hope for the future - as well as Kashmiri culture, religion, diversity, history, politics, art, resistance and so much more. It outlines every aspect of the complexity of the Kashmir situation clearly... from multiple perspectives.
The narrative is from the perspective of a Kashmiri who has seen Kashmir before 1989 and has lived in a very different one thereafter - someone who sees with anguish what is being done to the youth of Kashmir and decides to write about it. It is no wonder that the first two chapters are dedicated to stories of these youth... stories and experiences of real people and what leads them to the choices they make and what the consequences of those choices are - for Kashmir as well as for the future of all the stakeholders.
The book is very informative, well-structured, easy to read, thought-provoking and written in a journalistic tone - with references - trying to maintain objectivity and facts. And yet, despite the journalistic tone, it left me filled with anguish and despair.
The book starts with the 'Preface' where the author describes his childhood prior to 1989 - a fun, playful childhood which was about plotting apple and almond thefts along with cousins from under the noses of grandparents or aunts and uncles.... or of concocting ice-cream from icicles in winter. "The only tense moments in our life were to avoid being seen by our elders plucking apples or stealing powdered milk or cookies from the kitchen.." ... or his memories of playing cricket and being fascinated by commentary.. and trying to wriggle out of going to the mosque for prayer in unpleasant weather... A normal childhood...
And how this normal world turned into a world of bullets and armed resistance and where the vocabulary now included words and phrases like curfew, crackdown, cordon, custody killing, interrogation, detention, disappearance....
This preface sets the tone for the rest of the book which is a well-structured account of the complex Kashmir situation; its history, politics, culture, diversity, accounts of resistance - whether armed or through art, music, poetry - of the leadership or lack thereof - of trust and betrayal, of hope and horror, of human rights abuses and Kashmiri aspirations. And at every point my mind kept going back to the stark contrast with Kashmir before 1989.
The first chapter of the book starts with the flashpoint of Burhan Wani's killing, and moves on to stories of other youth who followed the same path. It then addresses the reasons for these choices and outlines the political and other ideologies that play a role. The fourth chapter describes the history of the Kashmiri struggle starting from 1931 which is the reason for the struggle and the political aspirations. I read these first four chapters in one go because I simply could not put the book down. From there the author talks about the efforts to bring peace to the valley where even Kashmiris gave peace a chance (but that didn't materialise) and then moves on to stories of resistance and how people have used different ways to resist the atrocities and human rights abuses. The next two chapters focus on these rights abuses that people in Kashmir have endured (including Pandits and their migration) and what the media and journalists have faced over the last 3 decades in Kashmir. The last two chapters are about the various formulae that have been proposed to bring peace to the valley over the years and how Kashmiri leadership has failed its people. It finally ends on the question of whether all stakeholders will finally step up and bring peace to the valley.
More details on each chapter below:
Chapter 1 - 'Teenager to Rebel Icon' - is about Burhan Wani and it establishes the support that any form of resistance still enjoys in Kashmir even decades into the conflict. (The charisma of a young, good-looking, militant in contrast to the jaded, tired rhetoric of other leaders also possibly had something to do with it).
"Lakhs of people attended the (Burhan) funeral and formed human chains to protect militant leaders."
"In the cycle of protest that followed, at least ninety civilians were killed and over 15,000 injured, including women and children as young as between one to fourteen years."
It tells the story of why the young rebel picked up arms and describes the revival of a waning militancy in Kashmir.
Chapter 2 - 'Why Tral 'Bleeds Green' '
The story moves from one Burhan to many others in the next chapter. The second chapter talks about Tral and the political awareness of the people from that region and their unapologetic stance for self-determination for Kashmir and their support for armed resistance because Delhi disregards protests (perhaps peaceful forms of protest). The chapter narrates stories of the militants and why they chose the path, while also clarifying that the 'number of people to have joined the ranks of rebels remains small and largely symbolic' and backing it with official figures. The fact that these boys or young men enjoyed local support was due to the fact that they were mostly locals and the other local Kashmiris respected their individual choices. Most of the stories are of boys and young men who were well-educated. "There are enough people in Kashmir who feel that India treats Kashmir as enemy territory to be grabbed for its land even if it means oppressing its people." (And boy, haven't we proved them right)
Chapter 3 - Homeland or Caliphate? - moves from individual stories of the resistance to why this is happening.. what is the conflict all about. Is it political or Islamist.. or a struggle for political, human and economic rights.. or something else.. and it further goes on to describe and discuss the complex web of the political history as well the ideologies and writings of leaders and of the various players including religious, political and militant outfits - as well as the social and cultural aspects of the Kashmir issue.
Chapter 4 - 'A Nationalism of Multiple Identities' - starts with a personal account by the author at Delhi airport where he is asked if he is related to 'firebrand Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani who is seeking freedom from India'.
"This is what a Kashmiri faces on a daily basis. You are a suspect, your credentials are questioned and you are judged. It doesn't matter how many times you stand up and say, 'I'm Kashmiri, I'm also a Muslim and I'm not a terrorist. But I do have legitimate political aspirations!'"
The author then goes on to explain the historical context of these political aspirations starting from 1931 when the first political mobilisation of Kashmiri Muslims against Dogra rule is supposed to have happened. The chapter details the political history of Kashmir from then to now - from the first resistance to the formation of Kashmir's first political party AJKMC and the emergence of Sheikh Abdullah as a leader.. from communist and socialist ideas to the Quit Kashmir movement to Indo-Pak partition and Kashmir's (conditional and provisional) accession to India all the way till 2008 with all the twists and turns and political manoeuvres one can expect from a place as complex as Kashmir. It's a fascinating chapter and a very well-researched one.
Chapter 5 - 'Violence to Non-violence : A Lost Opportunity' - starts with the author talking about growing up in the shadow of a gun, soldiers marching on streets, stopping, frisking, asking for identity proofs, being made to do push-ups on a whim - basically a daily humiliation which made fear a staple.
There is a childhood anecdote of bravado and attempts at defiance and a couple of other anecdotes - a rare personal inclusion by the author in this book - and they show what daily life for Kashmiris was (is) like under occupation by armed forces.. and on the other hand the fear of rebel outfits who would retaliate against those deemed 'informers', targeting both Muslims and Kashmiri Pandits. Fear, mourning, suppression of dissent, crushing any middle ground, Pandit migration, armed resistance, periods of ceasefire, brief rays of hope during 2003 and Vajpayee-Musharraf attempts at peace, opening of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road and the bus service, the hope and the loss of that hope and continued oppression - are all covered in this chapter.
Chapter 6 - 'A New Language of Resistance' - is perhaps the most heartbreaking one in the book. I have to confess that I had to put down the book for a bit midway through this chapter because it was just too overwhelming.
Kashmiris are generally well-read and politically aware but "... the onset of militancy and counter-insurgency negatively impacted this rich tradition of perceptive and passionate conversations on world affairs in the once vibrant social settings... (but) Kashmiris are finding new and innovative ways to talk... to tell their stories.."
Poetry, books, authors, cartoonists, chroniclers, prison diaries, art, cricket are all discussed here and some gut-wrenching poems are also included as well as accounts of protests by relatives of 'disappeared' persons.
Chapter 7 - 'Hell in Paradise'
As the title suggests, the chapter is dedicated to the violence, oppression and human rights abuses of the last 3 decades - firing on peaceful protests, suppressing dissent in every way.... It also outlines the Pandit migration / exodus from the valley with figures of the killings and numbers of families who migrated.
(I recall reading somewhere else, an essay that outlined how sudden the migration was and how sudden announcements were made asking Pandits to leave overnight as the government told them that they could not ensure their safety. Missed that aspect in this chapter but it could perhaps be that there wasn't adequate evidence available for the same - for the author has taken a lot of trouble to give valid references for all claims and accounts in the book).
Chapter 8 - 'Media Wars' - describes the difficult situations in which the media in Kashmir has been operating for 3 decades. Like the people, but much more so, the media has been stuck between the two guns - of the state and of the militants. "At times in the early stages of the conflict, threats of violence and kidnappings made news of journalists themselves. At other times, journalists had to agonise over what to write : highlighting militants' remarks made them guilty of 'glorifying' or 'romanticising' them, while carrying official statements meant they would be branded 'government agents'.".
Besides this, the chapter also talks about state coercion, lack of women journalists, the struggle to maintain objectivity in a conflict zone, targeting of journalists and violence against them and much more - along with a couple of personal stories. It really puts into perspective the struggle of true journalists and also makes one think about how easy it is for us to sit at home and demand fair, free and independent journalism while actual journalists are out there literally putting their lives at risk every day - especially in conflict areas like Kashmir. There is also a section on Delhi-based parachute journalists who fly in to frame the narrative into one that suits the government.
Chapter 9 - 'The Path Ahead'
"In 2012, there was one government armed person for every seventeen Kashmiris" (after Aug 5, 2019, the ratio became 1:10, I read somewhere at the time)This chapter outlines the stated positions of India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir and then goes on to also inform about the positions of various political parties in Kashmir and the various formulae that have been proposed to resolve the situation, among other interesting perspectives and anecdotes.
Chapter 10 - 'A Leadership Crisis'
As the name suggests, this chapter talks about how the political and other leadership has let down Kashmir and Kashmiris with their changing stances based on political expediency with the objective of holding on to power. In fact, when the going got tough, many of these leaders have spoken against their own people. It also comes back to the issue of youngsters picking up arms - mostly after some form of betrayal or abuse at the hands of someone in power.
(The lack of space for dissent, the constant fear and surveillance, the excesses by armed forces - all have played a role in bringing Kashmir to the misery and the youth to the fate that they choose. The book doesn't say so explicitly but to my mind the biggest failure of the leadership has been in not being able to protect their people from these atrocities for even a fraction of the decades that they have endured this. How do you not fight to protect your own people?)
The book, thus, deals with almost all social, cultural and political aspects of the Kashmir struggle.
One final observation - I really respect that the language of the book reflects the dignity of the Kashmiri people - they remain dignified and humane despite what they face on a daily basis. The book outlines the Kashmir situation and their political position clearly and unapologetically and manages to frame the narrative for Kashmir from a Kashmiri perspective - which is what the author says he set out to do.
The author returned to Kashmir from Europe to write about his homeland and that itself speaks of the love and courage involved in writing it. I hope you will read it.
Longer review :
This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the overall Kashmir situation. The title of the book is an apt one 'Kashmir : Rage and Reason' as the author tries to explain the situation and reasons for the anger and the struggle of Kashmiris.
It talks about Kashmir - past, present and possibilities and hope for the future - as well as Kashmiri culture, religion, diversity, history, politics, art, resistance and so much more. It outlines every aspect of the complexity of the Kashmir situation clearly... from multiple perspectives.
The narrative is from the perspective of a Kashmiri who has seen Kashmir before 1989 and has lived in a very different one thereafter - someone who sees with anguish what is being done to the youth of Kashmir and decides to write about it. It is no wonder that the first two chapters are dedicated to stories of these youth... stories and experiences of real people and what leads them to the choices they make and what the consequences of those choices are - for Kashmir as well as for the future of all the stakeholders.
The book is very informative, well-structured, easy to read, thought-provoking and written in a journalistic tone - with references - trying to maintain objectivity and facts. And yet, despite the journalistic tone, it left me filled with anguish and despair.
The book starts with the 'Preface' where the author describes his childhood prior to 1989 - a fun, playful childhood which was about plotting apple and almond thefts along with cousins from under the noses of grandparents or aunts and uncles.... or of concocting ice-cream from icicles in winter. "The only tense moments in our life were to avoid being seen by our elders plucking apples or stealing powdered milk or cookies from the kitchen.." ... or his memories of playing cricket and being fascinated by commentary.. and trying to wriggle out of going to the mosque for prayer in unpleasant weather... A normal childhood...
And how this normal world turned into a world of bullets and armed resistance and where the vocabulary now included words and phrases like curfew, crackdown, cordon, custody killing, interrogation, detention, disappearance....
This preface sets the tone for the rest of the book which is a well-structured account of the complex Kashmir situation; its history, politics, culture, diversity, accounts of resistance - whether armed or through art, music, poetry - of the leadership or lack thereof - of trust and betrayal, of hope and horror, of human rights abuses and Kashmiri aspirations. And at every point my mind kept going back to the stark contrast with Kashmir before 1989.
The first chapter of the book starts with the flashpoint of Burhan Wani's killing, and moves on to stories of other youth who followed the same path. It then addresses the reasons for these choices and outlines the political and other ideologies that play a role. The fourth chapter describes the history of the Kashmiri struggle starting from 1931 which is the reason for the struggle and the political aspirations. I read these first four chapters in one go because I simply could not put the book down. From there the author talks about the efforts to bring peace to the valley where even Kashmiris gave peace a chance (but that didn't materialise) and then moves on to stories of resistance and how people have used different ways to resist the atrocities and human rights abuses. The next two chapters focus on these rights abuses that people in Kashmir have endured (including Pandits and their migration) and what the media and journalists have faced over the last 3 decades in Kashmir. The last two chapters are about the various formulae that have been proposed to bring peace to the valley over the years and how Kashmiri leadership has failed its people. It finally ends on the question of whether all stakeholders will finally step up and bring peace to the valley.
More details on each chapter below:
Chapter 1 - 'Teenager to Rebel Icon' - is about Burhan Wani and it establishes the support that any form of resistance still enjoys in Kashmir even decades into the conflict. (The charisma of a young, good-looking, militant in contrast to the jaded, tired rhetoric of other leaders also possibly had something to do with it).
"Lakhs of people attended the (Burhan) funeral and formed human chains to protect militant leaders."
"In the cycle of protest that followed, at least ninety civilians were killed and over 15,000 injured, including women and children as young as between one to fourteen years."
It tells the story of why the young rebel picked up arms and describes the revival of a waning militancy in Kashmir.
Chapter 2 - 'Why Tral 'Bleeds Green' '
The story moves from one Burhan to many others in the next chapter. The second chapter talks about Tral and the political awareness of the people from that region and their unapologetic stance for self-determination for Kashmir and their support for armed resistance because Delhi disregards protests (perhaps peaceful forms of protest). The chapter narrates stories of the militants and why they chose the path, while also clarifying that the 'number of people to have joined the ranks of rebels remains small and largely symbolic' and backing it with official figures. The fact that these boys or young men enjoyed local support was due to the fact that they were mostly locals and the other local Kashmiris respected their individual choices. Most of the stories are of boys and young men who were well-educated. "There are enough people in Kashmir who feel that India treats Kashmir as enemy territory to be grabbed for its land even if it means oppressing its people." (And boy, haven't we proved them right)
Chapter 3 - Homeland or Caliphate? - moves from individual stories of the resistance to why this is happening.. what is the conflict all about. Is it political or Islamist.. or a struggle for political, human and economic rights.. or something else.. and it further goes on to describe and discuss the complex web of the political history as well the ideologies and writings of leaders and of the various players including religious, political and militant outfits - as well as the social and cultural aspects of the Kashmir issue.
Chapter 4 - 'A Nationalism of Multiple Identities' - starts with a personal account by the author at Delhi airport where he is asked if he is related to 'firebrand Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani who is seeking freedom from India'.
"This is what a Kashmiri faces on a daily basis. You are a suspect, your credentials are questioned and you are judged. It doesn't matter how many times you stand up and say, 'I'm Kashmiri, I'm also a Muslim and I'm not a terrorist. But I do have legitimate political aspirations!'"
The author then goes on to explain the historical context of these political aspirations starting from 1931 when the first political mobilisation of Kashmiri Muslims against Dogra rule is supposed to have happened. The chapter details the political history of Kashmir from then to now - from the first resistance to the formation of Kashmir's first political party AJKMC and the emergence of Sheikh Abdullah as a leader.. from communist and socialist ideas to the Quit Kashmir movement to Indo-Pak partition and Kashmir's (conditional and provisional) accession to India all the way till 2008 with all the twists and turns and political manoeuvres one can expect from a place as complex as Kashmir. It's a fascinating chapter and a very well-researched one.
Chapter 5 - 'Violence to Non-violence : A Lost Opportunity' - starts with the author talking about growing up in the shadow of a gun, soldiers marching on streets, stopping, frisking, asking for identity proofs, being made to do push-ups on a whim - basically a daily humiliation which made fear a staple.
There is a childhood anecdote of bravado and attempts at defiance and a couple of other anecdotes - a rare personal inclusion by the author in this book - and they show what daily life for Kashmiris was (is) like under occupation by armed forces.. and on the other hand the fear of rebel outfits who would retaliate against those deemed 'informers', targeting both Muslims and Kashmiri Pandits. Fear, mourning, suppression of dissent, crushing any middle ground, Pandit migration, armed resistance, periods of ceasefire, brief rays of hope during 2003 and Vajpayee-Musharraf attempts at peace, opening of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road and the bus service, the hope and the loss of that hope and continued oppression - are all covered in this chapter.
Chapter 6 - 'A New Language of Resistance' - is perhaps the most heartbreaking one in the book. I have to confess that I had to put down the book for a bit midway through this chapter because it was just too overwhelming.
Kashmiris are generally well-read and politically aware but "... the onset of militancy and counter-insurgency negatively impacted this rich tradition of perceptive and passionate conversations on world affairs in the once vibrant social settings... (but) Kashmiris are finding new and innovative ways to talk... to tell their stories.."
Poetry, books, authors, cartoonists, chroniclers, prison diaries, art, cricket are all discussed here and some gut-wrenching poems are also included as well as accounts of protests by relatives of 'disappeared' persons.
Chapter 7 - 'Hell in Paradise'
As the title suggests, the chapter is dedicated to the violence, oppression and human rights abuses of the last 3 decades - firing on peaceful protests, suppressing dissent in every way.... It also outlines the Pandit migration / exodus from the valley with figures of the killings and numbers of families who migrated.
(I recall reading somewhere else, an essay that outlined how sudden the migration was and how sudden announcements were made asking Pandits to leave overnight as the government told them that they could not ensure their safety. Missed that aspect in this chapter but it could perhaps be that there wasn't adequate evidence available for the same - for the author has taken a lot of trouble to give valid references for all claims and accounts in the book).
Chapter 8 - 'Media Wars' - describes the difficult situations in which the media in Kashmir has been operating for 3 decades. Like the people, but much more so, the media has been stuck between the two guns - of the state and of the militants. "At times in the early stages of the conflict, threats of violence and kidnappings made news of journalists themselves. At other times, journalists had to agonise over what to write : highlighting militants' remarks made them guilty of 'glorifying' or 'romanticising' them, while carrying official statements meant they would be branded 'government agents'.".
Besides this, the chapter also talks about state coercion, lack of women journalists, the struggle to maintain objectivity in a conflict zone, targeting of journalists and violence against them and much more - along with a couple of personal stories. It really puts into perspective the struggle of true journalists and also makes one think about how easy it is for us to sit at home and demand fair, free and independent journalism while actual journalists are out there literally putting their lives at risk every day - especially in conflict areas like Kashmir. There is also a section on Delhi-based parachute journalists who fly in to frame the narrative into one that suits the government.
Chapter 9 - 'The Path Ahead'
"In 2012, there was one government armed person for every seventeen Kashmiris" (after Aug 5, 2019, the ratio became 1:10, I read somewhere at the time)This chapter outlines the stated positions of India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir and then goes on to also inform about the positions of various political parties in Kashmir and the various formulae that have been proposed to resolve the situation, among other interesting perspectives and anecdotes.
Chapter 10 - 'A Leadership Crisis'
As the name suggests, this chapter talks about how the political and other leadership has let down Kashmir and Kashmiris with their changing stances based on political expediency with the objective of holding on to power. In fact, when the going got tough, many of these leaders have spoken against their own people. It also comes back to the issue of youngsters picking up arms - mostly after some form of betrayal or abuse at the hands of someone in power.
(The lack of space for dissent, the constant fear and surveillance, the excesses by armed forces - all have played a role in bringing Kashmir to the misery and the youth to the fate that they choose. The book doesn't say so explicitly but to my mind the biggest failure of the leadership has been in not being able to protect their people from these atrocities for even a fraction of the decades that they have endured this. How do you not fight to protect your own people?)
The book, thus, deals with almost all social, cultural and political aspects of the Kashmir struggle.
One final observation - I really respect that the language of the book reflects the dignity of the Kashmiri people - they remain dignified and humane despite what they face on a daily basis. The book outlines the Kashmir situation and their political position clearly and unapologetically and manages to frame the narrative for Kashmir from a Kashmiri perspective - which is what the author says he set out to do.
The author returned to Kashmir from Europe to write about his homeland and that itself speaks of the love and courage involved in writing it. I hope you will read it.
April 22, 2021
Kashmir: Rage And Reason
Short Verdict : It's a must read. Go get it if you want to understand Kashmir. (I've already read it twice)
Longer review :
This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the overall Kashmir situation. The title of the book is an apt one 'Kashmir : Rage and Reason' as the author tries to explain the situation and reasons for the anger and the struggle of Kashmiris.
It talks about Kashmir - past, present and possibilities and hope for the future - as well as Kashmiri culture, religion, diversity, history, politics, art, resistance and so much more. It outlines every aspect of the complexity of the Kashmir situation clearly... from multiple perspectives.
The narrative is from the perspective of a Kashmiri who has seen Kashmir before 1989 and has lived in a very different one thereafter - someone who sees with anguish what is being done to the youth of Kashmir and decides to write about it. It is no wonder that the first two chapters are dedicated to stories of these youth... stories and experiences of real people and what leads them to the choices they make and what the consequences of those choices are - for Kashmir as well as for the future of all the stakeholders.
The book is very informative, well-structured, easy to read, thought-provoking and written in a journalistic tone - with references - trying to maintain objectivity and facts. And yet, despite the journalistic tone, it left me filled with anguish and despair.
The book starts with the 'Preface' where the author describes his childhood prior to 1989 - a fun, playful childhood which was about plotting apple and almond thefts along with cousins from under the noses of grandparents or aunts and uncles.... or of concocting ice-cream from icicles in winter. "The only tense moments in our life were to avoid being seen by our elders plucking apples or stealing powdered milk or cookies from the kitchen.." ... or his memories of playing cricket and being fascinated by commentary.. and trying to wriggle out of going to the mosque for prayer in unpleasant weather... A normal childhood...
And how this normal world turned into a world of bullets and armed resistance and where the vocabulary now included words and phrases like curfew, crackdown, cordon, custody killing, interrogation, detention, disappearance....
This preface sets the tone for the rest of the book which is a well-structured account of the complex Kashmir situation; its history, politics, culture, diversity, accounts of resistance - whether armed or through art, music, poetry - of the leadership or lack thereof - of trust and betrayal, of hope and horror, of human rights abuses and Kashmiri aspirations. And at every point my mind kept going back to the stark contrast with Kashmir before 1989.
The first chapter of the book starts with the flashpoint of Burhan Wani's killing, and moves on to stories of other youth who followed the same path. It then addresses the reasons for these choices and outlines the political and other ideologies that play a role. The fourth chapter describes the history of the Kashmiri struggle starting from 1931 which is the reason for the struggle and the political aspirations. I read these first four chapters in one go because I simply could not put the book down. From there the author talks about the efforts to bring peace to the valley where even Kashmiris gave peace a chance (but that didn't materialise) and then moves on to stories of resistance and how people have used different ways to resist the atrocities and human rights abuses. The next two chapters focus on these rights abuses that people in Kashmir have endured (including Pandits and their migration) and what the media and journalists have faced over the last 3 decades in Kashmir. The last two chapters are about the various formulae that have been proposed to bring peace to the valley over the years and how Kashmiri leadership has failed its people. It finally ends on the question of whether all stakeholders will finally step up and bring peace to the valley.
More details on each chapter below:
Chapter 1 - 'Teenager to Rebel Icon' - is about Burhan Wani and it establishes the support that any form of resistance still enjoys in Kashmir even decades into the conflict. (The charisma of a young, good-looking, militant in contrast to the jaded, tired rhetoric of other leaders also possibly had something to do with it).
"Lakhs of people attended the (Burhan) funeral and formed human chains to protect militant leaders."
"In the cycle of protest that followed, at least ninety civilians were killed and over 15,000 injured, including women and children as young as between one to fourteen years."
It tells the story of why the young rebel picked up arms and describes the revival of a waning militancy in Kashmir.
Chapter 2 - 'Why Tral 'Bleeds Green' '
The story moves from one Burhan to many others in the next chapter. The second chapter talks about Tral and the political awareness of the people from that region and their unapologetic stance for self-determination for Kashmir and their support for armed resistance because Delhi disregards protests (perhaps peaceful forms of protest). The chapter narrates stories of the militants and why they chose the path, while also clarifying that the 'number of people to have joined the ranks of rebels remains small and largely symbolic' and backing it with official figures. The fact that these boys or young men enjoyed local support was due to the fact that they were mostly locals and the other local Kashmiris respected their individual choices. Most of the stories are of boys and young men who were well-educated. "There are enough people in Kashmir who feel that India treats Kashmir as enemy territory to be grabbed for its land even if it means oppressing its people." (And boy, haven't we proved them right)
Chapter 3 - Homeland or Caliphate? - moves from individual stories of the resistance to why this is happening.. what is the conflict all about. Is it political or Islamist.. or a struggle for political, human and economic rights.. or something else.. and it further goes on to describe and discuss the complex web of the political history as well the ideologies and writings of leaders and of the various players including religious, political and militant outfits - as well as the social and cultural aspects of the Kashmir issue.
Chapter 4 - 'A Nationalism of Multiple Identities' - starts with a personal account by the author at Delhi airport where he is asked if he is related to 'firebrand Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani who is seeking freedom from India'.
"This is what a Kashmiri faces on a daily basis. You are a suspect, your credentials are questioned and you are judged. It doesn't matter how many times you stand up and say, 'I'm Kashmiri, I'm also a Muslim and I'm not a terrorist. But I do have legitimate political aspirations!'"
The author then goes on to explain the historical context of these political aspirations starting from 1931 when the first political mobilisation of Kashmiri Muslims against Dogra rule is supposed to have happened. The chapter details the political history of Kashmir from then to now - from the first resistance to the formation of Kashmir's first political party AJKMC and the emergence of Sheikh Abdullah as a leader.. from communist and socialist ideas to the Quit Kashmir movement to Indo-Pak partition and Kashmir's (conditional and provisional) accession to India all the way till 2008 with all the twists and turns and political manoeuvres one can expect from a place as complex as Kashmir. It's a fascinating chapter and a very well-researched one.
Chapter 5 - 'Violence to Non-violence : A Lost Opportunity' - starts with the author talking about growing up in the shadow of a gun, soldiers marching on streets, stopping, frisking, asking for identity proofs, being made to do push-ups on a whim - basically a daily humiliation which made fear a staple.
There is a childhood anecdote of bravado and attempts at defiance and a couple of other anecdotes - a rare personal inclusion by the author in this book - and they show what daily life for Kashmiris was (is) like under occupation by armed forces.. and on the other hand the fear of rebel outfits who would retaliate against those deemed 'informers', targeting both Muslims and Kashmiri Pandits. Fear, mourning, suppression of dissent, crushing any middle ground, Pandit migration, armed resistance, periods of ceasefire, brief rays of hope during 2003 and Vajpayee-Musharraf attempts at peace, opening of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road and the bus service, the hope and the loss of that hope and continued oppression - are all covered in this chapter.
Chapter 6 - 'A New Language of Resistance' - is perhaps the most heartbreaking one in the book. I have to confess that I had to put down the book for a bit midway through this chapter because it was just too overwhelming.
Kashmiris are generally well-read and politically aware but "... the onset of militancy and counter-insurgency negatively impacted this rich tradition of perceptive and passionate conversations on world affairs in the once vibrant social settings... (but) Kashmiris are finding new and innovative ways to talk... to tell their stories.."
Poetry, books, authors, cartoonists, chroniclers, prison diaries, art, cricket are all discussed here and some gut-wrenching poems are also included as well as accounts of protests by relatives of 'disappeared' persons.
Chapter 7 - 'Hell in Paradise'
As the title suggests, the chapter is dedicated to the violence, oppression and human rights abuses of the last 3 decades - firing on peaceful protests, suppressing dissent in every way.... It also outlines the Pandit migration / exodus from the valley with figures of the killings and numbers of families who migrated.
(I recall reading somewhere else, an essay that outlined how sudden the migration was and how sudden announcements were made asking Pandits to leave overnight as the government told them that they could not ensure their safety. Missed that aspect in this chapter but it could perhaps be that there wasn't adequate evidence available for the same - for the author has taken a lot of trouble to give valid references for all claims and accounts in the book).
Chapter 8 - 'Media Wars' - describes the difficult situations in which the media in Kashmir has been operating for 3 decades. Like the people, but much more so, the media has been stuck between the two guns - of the state and of the militants. "At times in the early stages of the conflict, threats of violence and kidnappings made news of journalists themselves. At other times, journalists had to agonise over what to write : highlighting militants' remarks made them guilty of 'glorifying' or 'romanticising' them, while carrying official statements meant they would be branded 'government agents'.".
Besides this, the chapter also talks about state coercion, lack of women journalists, the struggle to maintain objectivity in a conflict zone, targeting of journalists and violence against them and much more - along with a couple of personal stories. It really puts into perspective the struggle of true journalists and also makes one think about how easy it is for us to sit at home and demand fair, free and independent journalism while actual journalists are out there literally putting their lives at risk every day - especially in conflict areas like Kashmir. There is also a section on Delhi-based parachute journalists who fly in to frame the narrative into one that suits the government.
Chapter 9 - 'The Path Ahead'
"In 2012, there was one government armed person for every seventeen Kashmiris" (after Aug 5, 2019, the ratio became 1:10, I read somewhere at the time)This chapter outlines the stated positions of India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir and then goes on to also inform about the positions of various political parties in Kashmir and the various formulae that have been proposed to resolve the situation, among other interesting perspectives and anecdotes.
Chapter 10 - 'A Leadership Crisis'
As the name suggests, this chapter talks about how the political and other leadership has let down Kashmir and Kashmiris with their changing stances based on political expediency with the objective of holding on to power. In fact, when the going got tough, many of these leaders have spoken against their own people. It also comes back to the issue of youngsters picking up arms - mostly after some form of betrayal or abuse at the hands of someone in power.
(The lack of space for dissent, the constant fear and surveillance, the excesses by armed forces - all have played a role in bringing Kashmir to the misery and the youth to the fate that they choose. The book doesn't say so explicitly but to my mind the biggest failure of the leadership has been in not being able to protect their people from these atrocities for even a fraction of the decades that they have endured this. How do you not fight to protect your own people?)
The book, thus, deals with almost all social, cultural and political aspects of the Kashmir struggle.
One final observation - I really respect that the language of the book reflects the dignity of the Kashmiri people - they remain dignified and humane despite what they face on a daily basis. The book outlines the Kashmir situation and their political position clearly and unapologetically and manages to frame the narrative for Kashmir from a Kashmiri perspective - which is what the author says he set out to do.
The author returned to Kashmir from Europe to write about his homeland and that itself speaks of the love and courage involved in writing it. I hope you will read it.
Short Verdict : It's a must read. Go get it if you want to understand Kashmir. (I've already read it twice)
Longer review :
This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the overall Kashmir situation. The title of the book is an apt one 'Kashmir : Rage and Reason' as the author tries to explain the situation and reasons for the anger and the struggle of Kashmiris.
It talks about Kashmir - past, present and possibilities and hope for the future - as well as Kashmiri culture, religion, diversity, history, politics, art, resistance and so much more. It outlines every aspect of the complexity of the Kashmir situation clearly... from multiple perspectives.
The narrative is from the perspective of a Kashmiri who has seen Kashmir before 1989 and has lived in a very different one thereafter - someone who sees with anguish what is being done to the youth of Kashmir and decides to write about it. It is no wonder that the first two chapters are dedicated to stories of these youth... stories and experiences of real people and what leads them to the choices they make and what the consequences of those choices are - for Kashmir as well as for the future of all the stakeholders.
The book is very informative, well-structured, easy to read, thought-provoking and written in a journalistic tone - with references - trying to maintain objectivity and facts. And yet, despite the journalistic tone, it left me filled with anguish and despair.
The book starts with the 'Preface' where the author describes his childhood prior to 1989 - a fun, playful childhood which was about plotting apple and almond thefts along with cousins from under the noses of grandparents or aunts and uncles.... or of concocting ice-cream from icicles in winter. "The only tense moments in our life were to avoid being seen by our elders plucking apples or stealing powdered milk or cookies from the kitchen.." ... or his memories of playing cricket and being fascinated by commentary.. and trying to wriggle out of going to the mosque for prayer in unpleasant weather... A normal childhood...
And how this normal world turned into a world of bullets and armed resistance and where the vocabulary now included words and phrases like curfew, crackdown, cordon, custody killing, interrogation, detention, disappearance....
This preface sets the tone for the rest of the book which is a well-structured account of the complex Kashmir situation; its history, politics, culture, diversity, accounts of resistance - whether armed or through art, music, poetry - of the leadership or lack thereof - of trust and betrayal, of hope and horror, of human rights abuses and Kashmiri aspirations. And at every point my mind kept going back to the stark contrast with Kashmir before 1989.
The first chapter of the book starts with the flashpoint of Burhan Wani's killing, and moves on to stories of other youth who followed the same path. It then addresses the reasons for these choices and outlines the political and other ideologies that play a role. The fourth chapter describes the history of the Kashmiri struggle starting from 1931 which is the reason for the struggle and the political aspirations. I read these first four chapters in one go because I simply could not put the book down. From there the author talks about the efforts to bring peace to the valley where even Kashmiris gave peace a chance (but that didn't materialise) and then moves on to stories of resistance and how people have used different ways to resist the atrocities and human rights abuses. The next two chapters focus on these rights abuses that people in Kashmir have endured (including Pandits and their migration) and what the media and journalists have faced over the last 3 decades in Kashmir. The last two chapters are about the various formulae that have been proposed to bring peace to the valley over the years and how Kashmiri leadership has failed its people. It finally ends on the question of whether all stakeholders will finally step up and bring peace to the valley.
More details on each chapter below:
Chapter 1 - 'Teenager to Rebel Icon' - is about Burhan Wani and it establishes the support that any form of resistance still enjoys in Kashmir even decades into the conflict. (The charisma of a young, good-looking, militant in contrast to the jaded, tired rhetoric of other leaders also possibly had something to do with it).
"Lakhs of people attended the (Burhan) funeral and formed human chains to protect militant leaders."
"In the cycle of protest that followed, at least ninety civilians were killed and over 15,000 injured, including women and children as young as between one to fourteen years."
It tells the story of why the young rebel picked up arms and describes the revival of a waning militancy in Kashmir.
Chapter 2 - 'Why Tral 'Bleeds Green' '
The story moves from one Burhan to many others in the next chapter. The second chapter talks about Tral and the political awareness of the people from that region and their unapologetic stance for self-determination for Kashmir and their support for armed resistance because Delhi disregards protests (perhaps peaceful forms of protest). The chapter narrates stories of the militants and why they chose the path, while also clarifying that the 'number of people to have joined the ranks of rebels remains small and largely symbolic' and backing it with official figures. The fact that these boys or young men enjoyed local support was due to the fact that they were mostly locals and the other local Kashmiris respected their individual choices. Most of the stories are of boys and young men who were well-educated. "There are enough people in Kashmir who feel that India treats Kashmir as enemy territory to be grabbed for its land even if it means oppressing its people." (And boy, haven't we proved them right)
Chapter 3 - Homeland or Caliphate? - moves from individual stories of the resistance to why this is happening.. what is the conflict all about. Is it political or Islamist.. or a struggle for political, human and economic rights.. or something else.. and it further goes on to describe and discuss the complex web of the political history as well the ideologies and writings of leaders and of the various players including religious, political and militant outfits - as well as the social and cultural aspects of the Kashmir issue.
Chapter 4 - 'A Nationalism of Multiple Identities' - starts with a personal account by the author at Delhi airport where he is asked if he is related to 'firebrand Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani who is seeking freedom from India'.
"This is what a Kashmiri faces on a daily basis. You are a suspect, your credentials are questioned and you are judged. It doesn't matter how many times you stand up and say, 'I'm Kashmiri, I'm also a Muslim and I'm not a terrorist. But I do have legitimate political aspirations!'"
The author then goes on to explain the historical context of these political aspirations starting from 1931 when the first political mobilisation of Kashmiri Muslims against Dogra rule is supposed to have happened. The chapter details the political history of Kashmir from then to now - from the first resistance to the formation of Kashmir's first political party AJKMC and the emergence of Sheikh Abdullah as a leader.. from communist and socialist ideas to the Quit Kashmir movement to Indo-Pak partition and Kashmir's (conditional and provisional) accession to India all the way till 2008 with all the twists and turns and political manoeuvres one can expect from a place as complex as Kashmir. It's a fascinating chapter and a very well-researched one.
Chapter 5 - 'Violence to Non-violence : A Lost Opportunity' - starts with the author talking about growing up in the shadow of a gun, soldiers marching on streets, stopping, frisking, asking for identity proofs, being made to do push-ups on a whim - basically a daily humiliation which made fear a staple.
There is a childhood anecdote of bravado and attempts at defiance and a couple of other anecdotes - a rare personal inclusion by the author in this book - and they show what daily life for Kashmiris was (is) like under occupation by armed forces.. and on the other hand the fear of rebel outfits who would retaliate against those deemed 'informers', targeting both Muslims and Kashmiri Pandits. Fear, mourning, suppression of dissent, crushing any middle ground, Pandit migration, armed resistance, periods of ceasefire, brief rays of hope during 2003 and Vajpayee-Musharraf attempts at peace, opening of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road and the bus service, the hope and the loss of that hope and continued oppression - are all covered in this chapter.
Chapter 6 - 'A New Language of Resistance' - is perhaps the most heartbreaking one in the book. I have to confess that I had to put down the book for a bit midway through this chapter because it was just too overwhelming.
Kashmiris are generally well-read and politically aware but "... the onset of militancy and counter-insurgency negatively impacted this rich tradition of perceptive and passionate conversations on world affairs in the once vibrant social settings... (but) Kashmiris are finding new and innovative ways to talk... to tell their stories.."
Poetry, books, authors, cartoonists, chroniclers, prison diaries, art, cricket are all discussed here and some gut-wrenching poems are also included as well as accounts of protests by relatives of 'disappeared' persons.
Chapter 7 - 'Hell in Paradise'
As the title suggests, the chapter is dedicated to the violence, oppression and human rights abuses of the last 3 decades - firing on peaceful protests, suppressing dissent in every way.... It also outlines the Pandit migration / exodus from the valley with figures of the killings and numbers of families who migrated.
(I recall reading somewhere else, an essay that outlined how sudden the migration was and how sudden announcements were made asking Pandits to leave overnight as the government told them that they could not ensure their safety. Missed that aspect in this chapter but it could perhaps be that there wasn't adequate evidence available for the same - for the author has taken a lot of trouble to give valid references for all claims and accounts in the book).
Chapter 8 - 'Media Wars' - describes the difficult situations in which the media in Kashmir has been operating for 3 decades. Like the people, but much more so, the media has been stuck between the two guns - of the state and of the militants. "At times in the early stages of the conflict, threats of violence and kidnappings made news of journalists themselves. At other times, journalists had to agonise over what to write : highlighting militants' remarks made them guilty of 'glorifying' or 'romanticising' them, while carrying official statements meant they would be branded 'government agents'.".
Besides this, the chapter also talks about state coercion, lack of women journalists, the struggle to maintain objectivity in a conflict zone, targeting of journalists and violence against them and much more - along with a couple of personal stories. It really puts into perspective the struggle of true journalists and also makes one think about how easy it is for us to sit at home and demand fair, free and independent journalism while actual journalists are out there literally putting their lives at risk every day - especially in conflict areas like Kashmir. There is also a section on Delhi-based parachute journalists who fly in to frame the narrative into one that suits the government.
Chapter 9 - 'The Path Ahead'
"In 2012, there was one government armed person for every seventeen Kashmiris" (after Aug 5, 2019, the ratio became 1:10, I read somewhere at the time)This chapter outlines the stated positions of India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir and then goes on to also inform about the positions of various political parties in Kashmir and the various formulae that have been proposed to resolve the situation, among other interesting perspectives and anecdotes.
Chapter 10 - 'A Leadership Crisis'
As the name suggests, this chapter talks about how the political and other leadership has let down Kashmir and Kashmiris with their changing stances based on political expediency with the objective of holding on to power. In fact, when the going got tough, many of these leaders have spoken against their own people. It also comes back to the issue of youngsters picking up arms - mostly after some form of betrayal or abuse at the hands of someone in power.
(The lack of space for dissent, the constant fear and surveillance, the excesses by armed forces - all have played a role in bringing Kashmir to the misery and the youth to the fate that they choose. The book doesn't say so explicitly but to my mind the biggest failure of the leadership has been in not being able to protect their people from these atrocities for even a fraction of the decades that they have endured this. How do you not fight to protect your own people?)
The book, thus, deals with almost all social, cultural and political aspects of the Kashmir struggle.
One final observation - I really respect that the language of the book reflects the dignity of the Kashmiri people - they remain dignified and humane despite what they face on a daily basis. The book outlines the Kashmir situation and their political position clearly and unapologetically and manages to frame the narrative for Kashmir from a Kashmiri perspective - which is what the author says he set out to do.
The author returned to Kashmir from Europe to write about his homeland and that itself speaks of the love and courage involved in writing it. I hope you will read it.
July 6, 2020
Kashmir: Rage And Reason by Gowhar Geelani
Noted historian and author, Christopher Snedden notes: “this is one of the most informative and stimulating books that I have ever read about Kashmir.”
Blending analyses with anecdotes, Kashmir: Rage and Reason is the Valley’s new-age writing, which traces, in lucid language, the region’s tortured history, the many facets of Kashmiri nationalism, and the betrayals. Divided into 10 chapters, the author has woven together his anecdotes and people’s narratives from ground zero to give us the real picture in all its starkness, minus any journalistic dressing.
The journalist and author, Gowhar Geelani has referred many scholarly works in his book. Each story is backed by a strong and authentic references and sources. The book is highly praised by many well-established scholars like the BBC World Service author and historian, Andrew Whitehead, biographer and historian, Victoria Schofield and by the noted historian and author, Christopher Snedden.
I read half of the book before 5th August, 2019 and the rest half after it. I found it interesting because I could relate with most of the events that are articulated in the book. I had promised the author, that I would write a review of the book, when he first announced it at his social media platforms. However, I didn’t write, because I found many people globally have reviewed it more thoroughly and beautifully than I could have.
Gowhar, as a Kashmiri author is not telling his personal stories in the book, as he rightly notes “I was telling the story as I saw it.” Alleging that India and Pakistan deny Kashmir’s dispute in the first place, the author notes, “There should be no denial that the dispute exists. “By accepting, respecting and acknowledging the aspirations of the local population who faces the brunt, we can work towards the better future.” Talking about media and censorship over Kashmir issue Saba Naqvi an author said, “You are not allowed to tell the truth about Kashmir.” She added that media has just reduced itself to the state’s propaganda machine. He further notes “Perhaps Delhi needs to discredit Kashmir’s indigenous mass uprising and make an argument at international forums that it is a victim of “Pakistan-sponsored terrorism” in Kashmir. However, facts on the ground in 2016 tell a different story.”
Perhaps for telling the truth so candidly in his book, the author usually faces harassment from the different security agencies. Last year, on August 31, just a month after his books was released, Gowhar, was supposed to re-join the German news agency Deutsche Welle as an editor, but he was stopped from travelling to Bonn at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. Gowhar said that an immigration official kept repeating, “Aaj kal Kashmir ko lekar kafi diqqat hai (These days, there is a lot of trouble because of Kashmir).”
More recently, on 21 April, 2020, an FIR was filled against the journalist by the Cyber Police Station Kashmir Zone for his social media posts. More recently, the author, expresses his views on social media less frequently, though shares few couplets occasionally, and probably would keep sharing unless and until the agencies wouldn’t find his poetry seditious.
Noted historian and author, Christopher Snedden notes: “this is one of the most informative and stimulating books that I have ever read about Kashmir.”
Blending analyses with anecdotes, Kashmir: Rage and Reason is the Valley’s new-age writing, which traces, in lucid language, the region’s tortured history, the many facets of Kashmiri nationalism, and the betrayals. Divided into 10 chapters, the author has woven together his anecdotes and people’s narratives from ground zero to give us the real picture in all its starkness, minus any journalistic dressing.
The journalist and author, Gowhar Geelani has referred many scholarly works in his book. Each story is backed by a strong and authentic references and sources. The book is highly praised by many well-established scholars like the BBC World Service author and historian, Andrew Whitehead, biographer and historian, Victoria Schofield and by the noted historian and author, Christopher Snedden.
I read half of the book before 5th August, 2019 and the rest half after it. I found it interesting because I could relate with most of the events that are articulated in the book. I had promised the author, that I would write a review of the book, when he first announced it at his social media platforms. However, I didn’t write, because I found many people globally have reviewed it more thoroughly and beautifully than I could have.
Gowhar, as a Kashmiri author is not telling his personal stories in the book, as he rightly notes “I was telling the story as I saw it.” Alleging that India and Pakistan deny Kashmir’s dispute in the first place, the author notes, “There should be no denial that the dispute exists. “By accepting, respecting and acknowledging the aspirations of the local population who faces the brunt, we can work towards the better future.” Talking about media and censorship over Kashmir issue Saba Naqvi an author said, “You are not allowed to tell the truth about Kashmir.” She added that media has just reduced itself to the state’s propaganda machine. He further notes “Perhaps Delhi needs to discredit Kashmir’s indigenous mass uprising and make an argument at international forums that it is a victim of “Pakistan-sponsored terrorism” in Kashmir. However, facts on the ground in 2016 tell a different story.”
Perhaps for telling the truth so candidly in his book, the author usually faces harassment from the different security agencies. Last year, on August 31, just a month after his books was released, Gowhar, was supposed to re-join the German news agency Deutsche Welle as an editor, but he was stopped from travelling to Bonn at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. Gowhar said that an immigration official kept repeating, “Aaj kal Kashmir ko lekar kafi diqqat hai (These days, there is a lot of trouble because of Kashmir).”
More recently, on 21 April, 2020, an FIR was filled against the journalist by the Cyber Police Station Kashmir Zone for his social media posts. More recently, the author, expresses his views on social media less frequently, though shares few couplets occasionally, and probably would keep sharing unless and until the agencies wouldn’t find his poetry seditious.
May 8, 2024
While I definitely believe like most Indians that Kashmir is an 'integral' part of India, I am also someone who acknowledges that there have been times when we failed our own people in the valley. I picked up Gowhar's book with the same intention as I wanted to read more about the conflict, the people, etc. Gowhar writes well and he definitely touches upon important points around human rights violations, making people feel alienated in the valley etc.
However, I would rate the book as 1 star because I was absolutely aghast at how he subtly blamed the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits on Pandits themselves. He also smartly throws government numbers while talking about how many families left, however, while talking about the deaths of Kashmiri Muslims, he contests the same official numbers of government. Similarly, he goes back to 1947 and a little before that to show how evil the Hindu king Hari Singh was but he didn't go back before that when Kashmir was invaded and people were converted. There's a point, where he also says Geelani loves Pandits, Sikhs, etc. and Kashmir 's demand for Azadi has nothing to do with religion (LOL).
So, while it's written well and does touch upon crucial events, the author tries to sell that Kashmir agitation is not about religion which I felt was not being true to oneself while writing a book on Kashmir and its insurgency.
However, I would rate the book as 1 star because I was absolutely aghast at how he subtly blamed the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits on Pandits themselves. He also smartly throws government numbers while talking about how many families left, however, while talking about the deaths of Kashmiri Muslims, he contests the same official numbers of government. Similarly, he goes back to 1947 and a little before that to show how evil the Hindu king Hari Singh was but he didn't go back before that when Kashmir was invaded and people were converted. There's a point, where he also says Geelani loves Pandits, Sikhs, etc. and Kashmir 's demand for Azadi has nothing to do with religion (LOL).
So, while it's written well and does touch upon crucial events, the author tries to sell that Kashmir agitation is not about religion which I felt was not being true to oneself while writing a book on Kashmir and its insurgency.
September 18, 2022
This book is the voice of Kashmir, the voice of its people who have never been listened to, their opinion never considered, and which have always been tossed out in the name of nationalism and security.
This is no history book but it provides brief information about numerous important aspects, groups, and personalities to understand Kashmir and its people. It addresses the people of Kashmir's desires, and aspirations and why we hear what we hear about this region in our news. It provides a much-needed in-depth view of the problems that have engulfed the region.
The author does a good job in delivering his thoughts but the writing could've been better. The first half is slow and goes into too much detail without context at times which is where the reader feels lost. The second half is where the writing improves, it may perhaps be because of the subjects it covers in these sections.
What I like about this book is its uniqueness, it doesn't attempt to convince you of some thought, or ideology. It doesn't strictly provide a solution although it discusses many that open room for dialogue. It does what it aspired to do, make the voice of Kashmir heard.
This is no history book but it provides brief information about numerous important aspects, groups, and personalities to understand Kashmir and its people. It addresses the people of Kashmir's desires, and aspirations and why we hear what we hear about this region in our news. It provides a much-needed in-depth view of the problems that have engulfed the region.
The author does a good job in delivering his thoughts but the writing could've been better. The first half is slow and goes into too much detail without context at times which is where the reader feels lost. The second half is where the writing improves, it may perhaps be because of the subjects it covers in these sections.
What I like about this book is its uniqueness, it doesn't attempt to convince you of some thought, or ideology. It doesn't strictly provide a solution although it discusses many that open room for dialogue. It does what it aspired to do, make the voice of Kashmir heard.
August 20, 2020
Kashmir - Rage & Reason
In the times of uncertainty truth is always the first casualty and neither is there one single truth.
This book is amalgam of a lot of emotions and that set of emotions totally depends on who is reading this book.
I didn't remember when and where I saw this book may be in Goodreads or Amazon, but after reading the reviews I decided to give it a read. Every Single page makes you to think and think.
The book tells a lot of stories which are all real.
The book is a criticism on many many entities and love and acceptance for love, peace, friendship and many many more things.
But as they say there are truths and truths and truths and there are people and people and people.
I am looking forward to read more literature on the subject before forming a rigid stance tho this book gives a truth and a lot of reading material recommendations to start with.
By the way the book is beautifully and professionally written with tits and bits of humour. Tashakhur to the author!! @gowhar.geelani
Give it a read!!
In the times of uncertainty truth is always the first casualty and neither is there one single truth.
This book is amalgam of a lot of emotions and that set of emotions totally depends on who is reading this book.
I didn't remember when and where I saw this book may be in Goodreads or Amazon, but after reading the reviews I decided to give it a read. Every Single page makes you to think and think.
The book tells a lot of stories which are all real.
The book is a criticism on many many entities and love and acceptance for love, peace, friendship and many many more things.
But as they say there are truths and truths and truths and there are people and people and people.
I am looking forward to read more literature on the subject before forming a rigid stance tho this book gives a truth and a lot of reading material recommendations to start with.
By the way the book is beautifully and professionally written with tits and bits of humour. Tashakhur to the author!! @gowhar.geelani
Give it a read!!
July 29, 2020
Brings out the stories and perspectives of the people that our nation doesn't seem to care about. Serves as an important reminder to not cement ourselves in extreme position based on the half-truths constantly fed to us as a people. Knowing the ugly side of the country, no matter how much you support it otherwise, is important.
The first few chapters could maybe have been organised a little better, but otherwise a well-written and organised book.
One thing I am a little doubtful about is the extent to which the author has downplayed the Kashmiri Pandit exodus: while factually, he doesn't seem to have erred too much, I am not entirely convinced by the portrayal he has put forward. This part warrants some further reading.
The first few chapters could maybe have been organised a little better, but otherwise a well-written and organised book.
One thing I am a little doubtful about is the extent to which the author has downplayed the Kashmiri Pandit exodus: while factually, he doesn't seem to have erred too much, I am not entirely convinced by the portrayal he has put forward. This part warrants some further reading.
September 17, 2021
Gowhar Geelani has not let himself down, this book provides you with the ground reality and the true picture about Kashmir, the best thing about this book is it speaks truth in volumes and it profoundly explains the events and the personalities from the scratch. This book is highly recommended for those who want to learn about the Kashmir dispute, where there is always rage but the Indian govt do know the reason behind the rage of Kashmiris but they choose to avoid it like an ostrich does.
June 15, 2020
The author, a broadcast journalist, writes about the past, present and future of his homeland. This should be read by those wishing to understand the complexities of anger, uncertainty, hope and despair among Kashmiris. This provides the perspective of those wishing for independence for Kashmir (which constitutes the majority of the population in the Valley).
October 16, 2020
This book is a finest example of how lies and untruth can be used to create justification for outright atrocities committed by a section of citizens in Kashmir and gloss over them.
I guess the soul of author must have left his body while he was scribbling this script of this book.
I guess the soul of author must have left his body while he was scribbling this script of this book.
September 13, 2019
Kashmir: Rage and Reason by Gowhar Geelani is one of the must-reads to know about the exact ground-level situation in the valley during contemporary times. The fortunate thing about this book is the time of its release; it happened just before the abrogation of Article 370. The book attempts to explain the mindset of new-age militants in the valley, which, according to him, is not necessarily a product of fundamentalism. The book substantiates those arguments with the conversations he had with family members and relatives of the militants. It reveals how the sentiment of "Aazadi" dates back to 1947, and the paradigm shift in the resistance didn't happen just after rigging the elections in 1987. Also, the book talks at length about new methods of resistance in Kashmir such as poetry, music, and art. An entire chapter describes the role of Kashmiri journalists and how they have suffered at the hands of Indian forces, and militants.
Furthermore, the book proposes several plausible and pragmatic solutions to the Kashmiri conflict, keeping in view the sentiments of each school of thought in Kashmir. Moreover, the book discusses the critical issue i.e., the lack of leadership, mistakes in the past, and a need for new statesmanship. Gowhar explains about the religious diversity that existed in the valley when he was growing as a kid, his experience as a child of conflict; and narrates some anecdotal incidents from 90's. The book discusses the issue of migration/exodus, and who should be held responsible for that. The interesting feature of this book is the constant references to some exciting literature, written by indigenous and foreign authors. One will get introduced to the autobiographies of politicians such as Sheikh Abdullah, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, etc. Overall the book is engaging and is well-researched. So I give it a 4/5.
Furthermore, the book proposes several plausible and pragmatic solutions to the Kashmiri conflict, keeping in view the sentiments of each school of thought in Kashmir. Moreover, the book discusses the critical issue i.e., the lack of leadership, mistakes in the past, and a need for new statesmanship. Gowhar explains about the religious diversity that existed in the valley when he was growing as a kid, his experience as a child of conflict; and narrates some anecdotal incidents from 90's. The book discusses the issue of migration/exodus, and who should be held responsible for that. The interesting feature of this book is the constant references to some exciting literature, written by indigenous and foreign authors. One will get introduced to the autobiographies of politicians such as Sheikh Abdullah, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, etc. Overall the book is engaging and is well-researched. So I give it a 4/5.
August 22, 2025
On reading the book, I have been able to understand why Kashmiri muslims have so much rage among themselves. It is quite definite that the youth is able to make impressions from what they see in their childhood and make their strong opinions based on that. Having seen the military around them since they were born, it is imperative that they have picked up arms to fight this level of control on their lives. I also agree that they are not able to live their life freely. On the psychological level, it seems all reasonable. Further, from the book I am able to understand a lot of background of this anger.
However, there are certain areas that author has purposefully ignored. Why so much hatred for Kashmiri pundits even when their fight was just against the centre. He does not specify that religious lynching happening in other parts of the country took place with Hindu priests and not the muslims which a reader with less knowledge may perceive so.
I agree with the author on several points and his justification for rage among the Kashmiri muslims is quite understandable. I also appreciate him clarifying what Kashmiris actually want. However, he states that daily wage labourers from other parts of the country were never touched- that is factually wrong. Many of them have been killed on gun point. Further, he states that there is no issue with Kashmiri pundits and they are considered an integral part of the state, this is again not true. Many have been killed and recently few school teachers were also killed. Intolerance is quite high in the region and in future, tourism may get impacted due to their such actions.
This book is definitely an eye opener in many areas, but is not a holistic approach to the issue due to ignorance of certain areas deliberately. One can definitely understand the Kashmiri muslims quite better through the book.
However, there are certain areas that author has purposefully ignored. Why so much hatred for Kashmiri pundits even when their fight was just against the centre. He does not specify that religious lynching happening in other parts of the country took place with Hindu priests and not the muslims which a reader with less knowledge may perceive so.
I agree with the author on several points and his justification for rage among the Kashmiri muslims is quite understandable. I also appreciate him clarifying what Kashmiris actually want. However, he states that daily wage labourers from other parts of the country were never touched- that is factually wrong. Many of them have been killed on gun point. Further, he states that there is no issue with Kashmiri pundits and they are considered an integral part of the state, this is again not true. Many have been killed and recently few school teachers were also killed. Intolerance is quite high in the region and in future, tourism may get impacted due to their such actions.
This book is definitely an eye opener in many areas, but is not a holistic approach to the issue due to ignorance of certain areas deliberately. One can definitely understand the Kashmiri muslims quite better through the book.
June 21, 2021
The title of the book is apt with the theme of the book and is must read for anyone trying to understand the ground realities of the Kashmir issue. The author has touched various topics in this well researched and thought provoking book like:
- Mindset of new age armed militants in Kashmir
- Violence, oppression and human rights abuse in the Valley
- New methods of non-armed resistance including poetry, drama, etc
- Clashes between militants and armed forces
- Various political parties and political leaders in Kashmir
- The pro-India and anti-India sentiment of Kashmiris
- The pro-Pakistan and anti-Pakistan sentiment of Kashmiris
- The sentiment of “Azadi” in Kashmir
- Pakistan’s role in the Kashmir conflict
- Role of Kashmiri journalist and the struggles that they face
- The interviews with families militants
- Various pragmatic solutions to the Kashmir issue
- Mindset of new age armed militants in Kashmir
- Violence, oppression and human rights abuse in the Valley
- New methods of non-armed resistance including poetry, drama, etc
- Clashes between militants and armed forces
- Various political parties and political leaders in Kashmir
- The pro-India and anti-India sentiment of Kashmiris
- The pro-Pakistan and anti-Pakistan sentiment of Kashmiris
- The sentiment of “Azadi” in Kashmir
- Pakistan’s role in the Kashmir conflict
- Role of Kashmiri journalist and the struggles that they face
- The interviews with families militants
- Various pragmatic solutions to the Kashmir issue
April 25, 2021
Gowhar Geelani has written a lucid book on Kashmir conflict. The events covered are recent, revelatory, and important to your political memory. For any reader on Kashmir, I would suggest to keep this book high on his/her reading list.
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