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Postbox Kashmir: Two Lives in Letters
Do only Muslims live in Kashmir?
Why do girls in Kashmir do stone pelting?
Whom do they want freedom from?
Can you imagine being confined to the four walls of your home with no internet, no social media?
Are Kashmiris really invisible to the rest of the country?
These are some of the questions two teenagers--Saumya in Delhi and Duaa in Kashmir--asked through letters they exchanged over almost three years.
Framing these letters is the detailed history and commentary provided by Divya Arya, a BBC journalist who asked them to be pen pals, which places their conversations against the backdrop of the political history and turbulent present of Kashmir and India. Postbox Kashmir takes on the challenging task of attempting to portray life in Kashmir from the perspective of the young minds growing inside it and providing a context of understanding for the young generation watching it from the outside.
Why do girls in Kashmir do stone pelting?
Whom do they want freedom from?
Can you imagine being confined to the four walls of your home with no internet, no social media?
Are Kashmiris really invisible to the rest of the country?
These are some of the questions two teenagers--Saumya in Delhi and Duaa in Kashmir--asked through letters they exchanged over almost three years.
Framing these letters is the detailed history and commentary provided by Divya Arya, a BBC journalist who asked them to be pen pals, which places their conversations against the backdrop of the political history and turbulent present of Kashmir and India. Postbox Kashmir takes on the challenging task of attempting to portray life in Kashmir from the perspective of the young minds growing inside it and providing a context of understanding for the young generation watching it from the outside.
- GenresNonfiction
208 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 2, 2023
Very beautiful book. Filled with warmth and love which you seldom come across when we talk about Kashmir and rest of India. The author did an did an amazing work of bringing all the facts and weaving them as a story along with the letters.
July 17, 2025
#348 " You wanted to know about Kashmiri women . Well, Kashmiri women are a force to be reckoned with. If it wasn't for them and their courage back in the 1990s, today kashmir would have been another prison for us. Today the only thing holding us down is our love for our families. Here, if we people speak out, our families are troubled , which is the reason why most of us do not speak out anymore. But it doesn't mean that we can't and it for sure doesn't mean that we won't it the need arises."
BOOK: PostBox Kashmir : Two lives in letters
AUTHOR: #divyaarya ( An award-winning journalist currently with the BBC)
GENRE: #youngadultnonfiction
RATING:5.0
#suggested , this book is an eye opener for the troubles Kashmiri people face. Their right to information and freedom is hindered , and their life is more confined than ours even though they come from a beautiful place. Why can't muslims and Hindus coexist? Why can't all the religious people coexist and share brotherhood? Why is there war and hurt ? Why are people killed in terrorism? This book is so much more interesting because of the letters between Saumya from Delhi and Dua from Kashmir , sharing their views and curiosity through letters, a penpalship, a friendship created to show the world how people are no matter from which part of the world they belong . To show who are kashmiris and what do they want ? From reading this book what I understood is that , Kashmiris want peace and their rights to education , freedom and information. They don't want to fear about lives lost in terrorism and changing rules. They want to flourish in tourism, as its one of thier main source of income. They want people to visit them and appreciate kashmir and its beauty . They want to share their world with others and be treated fair. We have to acknowledge that the children and adolescents are affected more in war , lockdown and uncertainties , their childhood is precious.
#postboxkashmir
#bbcreporter
#paraghonour2022
#paraghonour
#nonfiction
#kashmir
#delhi
#penpal
#letters
#terrorism
#friendship
#nonfictionread
#book
#bookreview
#review
#reviewer
#reader
#goodreads
#indianauthor
#adolescents
#innocence
#girls
BOOK: PostBox Kashmir : Two lives in letters
AUTHOR: #divyaarya ( An award-winning journalist currently with the BBC)
GENRE: #youngadultnonfiction
RATING:5.0
#suggested , this book is an eye opener for the troubles Kashmiri people face. Their right to information and freedom is hindered , and their life is more confined than ours even though they come from a beautiful place. Why can't muslims and Hindus coexist? Why can't all the religious people coexist and share brotherhood? Why is there war and hurt ? Why are people killed in terrorism? This book is so much more interesting because of the letters between Saumya from Delhi and Dua from Kashmir , sharing their views and curiosity through letters, a penpalship, a friendship created to show the world how people are no matter from which part of the world they belong . To show who are kashmiris and what do they want ? From reading this book what I understood is that , Kashmiris want peace and their rights to education , freedom and information. They don't want to fear about lives lost in terrorism and changing rules. They want to flourish in tourism, as its one of thier main source of income. They want people to visit them and appreciate kashmir and its beauty . They want to share their world with others and be treated fair. We have to acknowledge that the children and adolescents are affected more in war , lockdown and uncertainties , their childhood is precious.
#postboxkashmir
#bbcreporter
#paraghonour2022
#paraghonour
#nonfiction
#kashmir
#delhi
#penpal
#letters
#terrorism
#friendship
#nonfictionread
#book
#bookreview
#review
#reviewer
#reader
#goodreads
#indianauthor
#adolescents
#innocence
#girls
January 7, 2022
This book started as a BBC project to make 2 girls penpals, Saumya from Delhi and Duaa from Kashmir. An experiment of sorts for the girls to share their experiences of the events occuring in their respective states.
What follows is a series of innocent letters dealing with the most sensitive of topics in such a simple and straightforward manner.
The letters are intertwined with detailed write-ups by the author, Journalist Divya Arya about the history or the background surrounding the prevalent issues. From the militancy of the 1990s and the exodus to the Uri and Pulwama attacks to the abrogation of Articles 370 & 35A to the consequent shutdown in Kashmir and then the CAA-NRC protests in Delhi.
A beautiful book that gives much-needed insight into the lives of the Kashmiris and their relationship with the rest of the country.
My understanding of the situation in Kashmir, the politics of our country and the events that shaped us is so much more better now. And despite being super informative, it's a really easy read. (since I'm new to non fiction that helps a fair bit).
What follows is a series of innocent letters dealing with the most sensitive of topics in such a simple and straightforward manner.
The letters are intertwined with detailed write-ups by the author, Journalist Divya Arya about the history or the background surrounding the prevalent issues. From the militancy of the 1990s and the exodus to the Uri and Pulwama attacks to the abrogation of Articles 370 & 35A to the consequent shutdown in Kashmir and then the CAA-NRC protests in Delhi.
A beautiful book that gives much-needed insight into the lives of the Kashmiris and their relationship with the rest of the country.
My understanding of the situation in Kashmir, the politics of our country and the events that shaped us is so much more better now. And despite being super informative, it's a really easy read. (since I'm new to non fiction that helps a fair bit).
October 31, 2021
BBC initiated a project to rope in a girl from Kashmir and Delhi respectively, to write each other letters and forge a friendship between the two.
Understanding the sensitivities of these two states and more in particular of Kashmir, the girls write and ask some very delicate questions, and in the process, try and bust the myths that are usually propagated by the Central and the State leadership.
The book also helps in recognising the complicated state of Kashmir by giving a detailed write up on its history. Divya Arya’s writing is absorbing and on point.
किसके रोके रुका है सवेरा,
रात भर का मेहमान है अँधेरा
(Who has been able to stop the dawn, darkness is only an overnight guest) 📚
Understanding the sensitivities of these two states and more in particular of Kashmir, the girls write and ask some very delicate questions, and in the process, try and bust the myths that are usually propagated by the Central and the State leadership.
The book also helps in recognising the complicated state of Kashmir by giving a detailed write up on its history. Divya Arya’s writing is absorbing and on point.
किसके रोके रुका है सवेरा,
रात भर का मेहमान है अँधेरा
(Who has been able to stop the dawn, darkness is only an overnight guest) 📚
October 26, 2021
What started as a BBC project involving two girls writing to each other led to this insightful, thoroughly researched book. Postbox Kashmir is excellently written, the perfect read for anyone who wants to know about Kashmir but has no idea where to begin. Meticulously annotated for those who want to delve deeper, the book isn't daunting because of the easy, conversational tone Divya Arya employs right through.
I would go as far as to say everyone should read it.
https://www.varshaseshan.com/postbox-...
I would go as far as to say everyone should read it.
https://www.varshaseshan.com/postbox-...
September 5, 2026
A good read about letters between two pen pals initiated by BBC, one in Kashmir and one in New Delhi. The two girls in their mid teens exchange letters. It kind of brings out how each one knows so little about the environment in which the other lives. Slowly after a few letters they get a feel for the other's environment and the problems that beset the other side.
The book has steered clear of controversial observations and has let the reader make their own conclusions, which is a good strategy.
A good read.
The book has steered clear of controversial observations and has let the reader make their own conclusions, which is a good strategy.
A good read.
January 3, 2024
An epistolary compilation. A unique view of Kashmir from the lens of two pen pals. What this book gains in its uniqueness, it loses in brevity. It's more like journalistic work, so don't expect deep dives but broad views from a very new angle.
Read
October 24, 2021A must read for everyone
January 1, 2023
If you want to know about the Kashmir Dispute through the locals , this is one the highly recommended book
August 21, 2021
A very lovely book!
September 23, 2021
Initiated as a “pen pal” project by the author, it became a testimony of friendship for two teenage girls living in Delhi and Kashmir respectively. This is a book which brings back the concept and anticipation of “letter writing”; owning to the political condition of one of the state it was more of a necessity but worked in the favor of the book.
The book is a collection of letters exchanged between Saumya and Duaa discussing their individual routines, likes-dislikes, popular bands, movies, education, aspirations and then moving on to subjects which required a perspective of a “non-rigid mind”. In between, the author provides a background and context of the ever-changing landscape of Kashmir and how she convinced the two girls and their families to come on board with the project (it has a library connection too).
I loved the way Saumya and Duaa transitioned from initial friendly and well-being questions to discussing stigmas and stereotypes such as stone pelting, Article 370, concept of “azaadi” and Delhi being a rape capital. I could understand Duua’s irritation for being late to the classes, sudden cancellation of exams, delayed semesters because of some riot, suspected activities or a military truck passing carrying ammunition/ration. She narrates how the education is being hampered and delayed with no fault of theirs. Saumya is equally inquisitive and discusses her understanding of CAA-NRC and JNU situation.
The perspective and approach these girls have towards life is worth reading. Their patience in getting to know each other and gradually understanding the situation is smooth and without filters.
The author is the backbone of the bond developed between the two families and provided an authentic and strong platform to the project.
Recommended as an honest exchange of thoughts between two teenage girls on complicated and uncomplicated matters of life in cities-Kashmir and Delhi.
The book is a collection of letters exchanged between Saumya and Duaa discussing their individual routines, likes-dislikes, popular bands, movies, education, aspirations and then moving on to subjects which required a perspective of a “non-rigid mind”. In between, the author provides a background and context of the ever-changing landscape of Kashmir and how she convinced the two girls and their families to come on board with the project (it has a library connection too).
I loved the way Saumya and Duaa transitioned from initial friendly and well-being questions to discussing stigmas and stereotypes such as stone pelting, Article 370, concept of “azaadi” and Delhi being a rape capital. I could understand Duua’s irritation for being late to the classes, sudden cancellation of exams, delayed semesters because of some riot, suspected activities or a military truck passing carrying ammunition/ration. She narrates how the education is being hampered and delayed with no fault of theirs. Saumya is equally inquisitive and discusses her understanding of CAA-NRC and JNU situation.
The perspective and approach these girls have towards life is worth reading. Their patience in getting to know each other and gradually understanding the situation is smooth and without filters.
The author is the backbone of the bond developed between the two families and provided an authentic and strong platform to the project.
Recommended as an honest exchange of thoughts between two teenage girls on complicated and uncomplicated matters of life in cities-Kashmir and Delhi.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews