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A Kashmiri Century
A Magnificent Account of Kashmir’s Social History
Perhaps the most enigmatic region in the world, Kashmir has a special place in the Indian subcontinent’s history. Over the several centuries of being ruled by kings from diverse faiths and cultures Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Afghans, Sikhs and Dogras, the region has undergone various cycles of social, cultural and religious changes. Since India’s independence, the Kashmir valley has received more media and government attention than any other state. The reasons have been mostly political than for its natural beauty, its contribution to Indian literature or its exuberant flora and fauna.
A Kashmiri Century is a one-of-a-kind book that delves deep into the human side of living in the Valley, an aspect often missing in the cold political treatises on Kashmir. It offers a rare glimpse into the lives of Kashmiris Hindus and Muslims alike and how their existence revolved around the simple pleasures of life, even as they dealt with the many changes of the past one hundred years.
As a native Kashmiri, writer and social worker who has spent the last five decades serving people, Khem Lata Wakhlu has seen the socio-political landscape change like few others. The stories in the book provide a glimpse of the Kashmir that her generation and her grandparents and parents grew up in. The all-encompassing view of Kashmiri ethos and culture brings a fresh outlook that is much needed in our times.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Khem Lata Wakhlu is a writer, a political leader and a social worker who has devoted the past forty-fi¬ve years to improving the lives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. She has held important political positions in the National Conference, the Awami National Conference and the Indian National Congress, and has served as a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly for twelve years and as the minister of tourism in the state from 1984 to 1986. She was the chairperson of the state’s social welfare board, with the status of a minister of cabinet rank, from 2010 to 2014. She continues to serve as senior adviser to the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee.
Perhaps the most enigmatic region in the world, Kashmir has a special place in the Indian subcontinent’s history. Over the several centuries of being ruled by kings from diverse faiths and cultures Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Afghans, Sikhs and Dogras, the region has undergone various cycles of social, cultural and religious changes. Since India’s independence, the Kashmir valley has received more media and government attention than any other state. The reasons have been mostly political than for its natural beauty, its contribution to Indian literature or its exuberant flora and fauna.
A Kashmiri Century is a one-of-a-kind book that delves deep into the human side of living in the Valley, an aspect often missing in the cold political treatises on Kashmir. It offers a rare glimpse into the lives of Kashmiris Hindus and Muslims alike and how their existence revolved around the simple pleasures of life, even as they dealt with the many changes of the past one hundred years.
As a native Kashmiri, writer and social worker who has spent the last five decades serving people, Khem Lata Wakhlu has seen the socio-political landscape change like few others. The stories in the book provide a glimpse of the Kashmir that her generation and her grandparents and parents grew up in. The all-encompassing view of Kashmiri ethos and culture brings a fresh outlook that is much needed in our times.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Khem Lata Wakhlu is a writer, a political leader and a social worker who has devoted the past forty-fi¬ve years to improving the lives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. She has held important political positions in the National Conference, the Awami National Conference and the Indian National Congress, and has served as a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly for twelve years and as the minister of tourism in the state from 1984 to 1986. She was the chairperson of the state’s social welfare board, with the status of a minister of cabinet rank, from 2010 to 2014. She continues to serve as senior adviser to the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee.
356 pages, Hardcover
Published June 28, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 12, 2021
When life had little luxuries but hearts were large,
When there was no internet but people were still connected whether near or far,
When there was no Google but knowledge was still in abundance,
When there was no television but news still used to break like fire,
When religion used to matter but relationships mattered more…
It's the story of that bygone era when life was full of sweet little pleasures and fond memories.
Covering almost a century, starting from the late 19th century to the late 20th century, this book takes us on a pleasant ride in the memory lane towards those nostalgic days which existed in every village and every family of India. Be it Kashmir in the north or Kanyakumari in the far south, there is something common across the length and width which forms an Indian society. This book gives a glimpse of the culture and life in Kashmir which is after all not much different from the rest of India. The people are the same, their life is the same!
This book is a collection of several short stories from the author's family, her neighborhood, and the valley. Not falling under the category of an autobiography but more of anthropology, where we get to know the lives of people and their culture which has transformed significantly during the last century. Several stories have a nostalgic feeling, where we are bound to recall some or the other similar incidents from our childhood. Through this book, we also get to understand how terrorism and faux jihad has turned a peaceful valley into the center of terror.
Written with gripping narration, the author has described each incident in so much detail that it feels like living the moment in reality. It's a page-turner that forces the reader to read chapter after chapter in one go. Language is simple but the author has also used several Kashmiri words and ensured to share its meaning for non-Kashmiri readers.
If you have interest in anthropology and you love to learn about people, their culture and society, this book is for you.
When there was no internet but people were still connected whether near or far,
When there was no Google but knowledge was still in abundance,
When there was no television but news still used to break like fire,
When religion used to matter but relationships mattered more…
It's the story of that bygone era when life was full of sweet little pleasures and fond memories.
Covering almost a century, starting from the late 19th century to the late 20th century, this book takes us on a pleasant ride in the memory lane towards those nostalgic days which existed in every village and every family of India. Be it Kashmir in the north or Kanyakumari in the far south, there is something common across the length and width which forms an Indian society. This book gives a glimpse of the culture and life in Kashmir which is after all not much different from the rest of India. The people are the same, their life is the same!
This book is a collection of several short stories from the author's family, her neighborhood, and the valley. Not falling under the category of an autobiography but more of anthropology, where we get to know the lives of people and their culture which has transformed significantly during the last century. Several stories have a nostalgic feeling, where we are bound to recall some or the other similar incidents from our childhood. Through this book, we also get to understand how terrorism and faux jihad has turned a peaceful valley into the center of terror.
Written with gripping narration, the author has described each incident in so much detail that it feels like living the moment in reality. It's a page-turner that forces the reader to read chapter after chapter in one go. Language is simple but the author has also used several Kashmiri words and ensured to share its meaning for non-Kashmiri readers.
If you have interest in anthropology and you love to learn about people, their culture and society, this book is for you.
August 5, 2021
I believe there’s so much to think and negotiate with when we, outsiders, read of Kashmiri people and their story. This is the second non-fiction book on Kashmir I am reading this year. This time, though, it is written by a Kashmiri Pandit women instead of a Muslim woman. The first chapter of the book won me over. Perhaps, it was the main highlight of the book. Wakhlu recounts the story of her family back when Kashmir was anything but what it is today. She recounts the peace, the frolics its people experienced when concerns of marriage, child birth, feasts and Nav-sheen were more important than politics or internet. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the portions of the little incidents of her family from education to celebrations to elaborate meals and trips. At the same time, I was constantly reminded of the sadness I had felt while reading Bashir’s (@feyreyhai ) story, the two sides of the Kashmir story truly presented how much happiness and privilege is experienced by one and grief and suffering by another. Wakhlu’s story-telling was impressive but I wished at times she stuck to recounting the stories rather than stating historical facts, like Bashir had done. Somewhere between her accounting of the general history of Kashmir, I felt she missed the voice of the Other and highlighted matters from one particular perspective only. I may not agree with her political views, especially on the current abrogation of Article 370, but I would still encourage you to give this book a go for its rich, beautiful reminiscence of the Kashmir which has now turned into a war-land where both Hindus and Muslims have suffered, terribly.
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Thank you @harpercollinsin for the review copy.
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Thank you @harpercollinsin for the review copy.
November 4, 2021
The book 'A Kashmiri Century' by Khem Lata Wakhlu is an account of the history, culture and ethos of the beautiful Kashmir.
The author, who is a writer, political leader and a social worker, has narrated some wonderful stories in this book which beautifully portrays a century of Kashmiri history as well as the social, cultural and religious changes the Kashmir valley has undergone over the years. The cover is indeed beautiful and the whole book has been divided into 6 parts. The author belongs to a Kashmiri Pandit family called Dhar family and in this book the author has narrated some interesting real life stories based on the different generations of Dhar family and the stories of several people somehow related to the Dhar family. These various stories give the reader an idea about the lives and history of the people in the Kashmir valley. The narration style is pretty interesting. All the stories portrayed in this book are different from each other and that makes this book an interesting read.
Overall it was a good read. I would recommend this book to those who would like to know more about ethos and culture of Kashmir.
The author, who is a writer, political leader and a social worker, has narrated some wonderful stories in this book which beautifully portrays a century of Kashmiri history as well as the social, cultural and religious changes the Kashmir valley has undergone over the years. The cover is indeed beautiful and the whole book has been divided into 6 parts. The author belongs to a Kashmiri Pandit family called Dhar family and in this book the author has narrated some interesting real life stories based on the different generations of Dhar family and the stories of several people somehow related to the Dhar family. These various stories give the reader an idea about the lives and history of the people in the Kashmir valley. The narration style is pretty interesting. All the stories portrayed in this book are different from each other and that makes this book an interesting read.
Overall it was a good read. I would recommend this book to those who would like to know more about ethos and culture of Kashmir.
April 28, 2022
The editing on this book was a major letdown. The book could have been a masterpiece. The conundrum between keeping this book an essay by essay style piece or a smoothly flowing story is visible throughout its pages.
Repetition while introducing characters irked me the most. I would have love to know what become of Rishi Vihar and its people post 1990.
The book ends abruptly leaving the readers ill-informed about what truly happened with the Dhar clan.
Repetition while introducing characters irked me the most. I would have love to know what become of Rishi Vihar and its people post 1990.
The book ends abruptly leaving the readers ill-informed about what truly happened with the Dhar clan.
April 17, 2022
The book majorly talks about the author's family, their lifestyle and their lineage. Interesting aspect was that it gave a first hand view of a Kashmiri Pandit's household before the 1990 genocide.
Gives only a little or soft detailing of the 1990 incident and life after.
Gives only a little or soft detailing of the 1990 incident and life after.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews