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A Dismantled State: The Untold Story of Kashmir After Article 370
On 5 August 2019, the status of Jammu and Kashmir was altered by revoking Articles 370 and 35A, constitutional clauses that gave the region a sliver of autonomy since its accession to India in 1947. On the ground in the erstwhile state, the destiny of 1.4 crore Indian citizens had been decided while they were cocooned in their homes, trapped between concertina wires and barricades. Petitions challenging the abrogation are yet to be heard by the Supreme Court.
The home minister announced, 'Not a drop of blood was shed', even as officials defined Kashmir's deafening silence as 'willing acceptance'. The silence was accompanied by increased military presence in what was already one of the most militarized zones of the world. Roads were sealed, the internet suspended and communication brought to a halt. Kashmir became a war zone in the dead of night.
A Dismantled State is a brave chronicle by Anuradha Bhasin, one of Kashmir's foremost journalists, and is crucial to understanding what happened in the Kashmir Valley after August 2019. Traversing history and geographies, and based on eyewitness accounts from a range of people, it tells the story of a land India desperately wants to make its own. Urgent, fearless and revealing, this book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand Indian democracy's turn towards authoritarianism.
The home minister announced, 'Not a drop of blood was shed', even as officials defined Kashmir's deafening silence as 'willing acceptance'. The silence was accompanied by increased military presence in what was already one of the most militarized zones of the world. Roads were sealed, the internet suspended and communication brought to a halt. Kashmir became a war zone in the dead of night.
A Dismantled State is a brave chronicle by Anuradha Bhasin, one of Kashmir's foremost journalists, and is crucial to understanding what happened in the Kashmir Valley after August 2019. Traversing history and geographies, and based on eyewitness accounts from a range of people, it tells the story of a land India desperately wants to make its own. Urgent, fearless and revealing, this book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand Indian democracy's turn towards authoritarianism.
- GenresPoliticsNonfictionIndia
565 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 28, 2022
24 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 6, 2023
Kashmir has always been on the headlines often not in admiration of the its grandeur but because of the unresolved burning political issues. Different governments during their reign got the opportunity to understand Kashmir and work for the upliftment yet sadly little did anyone did anything for it. Anuradha Bhasin in her book ‘A Dismantled State’ covers different issues concerning Kashmir and how politicians have moulded the situation accordingly in different time period. Her book not only covers Kashmir after the revocation of Article 370 but, she also lays down the background by giving contexts of different time frame.
This book deals with a very sensitive topic that concerns the Indian government. As a reader it helped me get an idea on what kept on happening in Kashmir during , before and after the Article 370. Insurgency, political instability and now rising environments issues are engulfing Kashmir. Being from North-East India certainly there are few emotions that we can relate to. Whether it’s about being misjudged with our identity or having concerns with too much military presence. None of these issues can be solved instantly but delaying talks and not mitigating the issues will also deepen them further.
Reading about Kashmir from a Kashmiri's point of view is different. I felt book was heavy and poignant. The rage and dissatisfaction of the author is very well reflected in her book in a mild yet impactful way.
I love the writing style of the author. It was lucid and the book was well structured. The only thing I didn’t like was that at times the book felt repetitive. Other than it was quite an interesting and memorable read for me.
Whatever a person’s political identity might be but I would urge you to read this book. Agreeing or disagreeing with the author’s point of view is at the reader’s discretion but, books that tell the stories from the eyes of the local inhabitants should definitely be given space to echo.
This book deals with a very sensitive topic that concerns the Indian government. As a reader it helped me get an idea on what kept on happening in Kashmir during , before and after the Article 370. Insurgency, political instability and now rising environments issues are engulfing Kashmir. Being from North-East India certainly there are few emotions that we can relate to. Whether it’s about being misjudged with our identity or having concerns with too much military presence. None of these issues can be solved instantly but delaying talks and not mitigating the issues will also deepen them further.
Reading about Kashmir from a Kashmiri's point of view is different. I felt book was heavy and poignant. The rage and dissatisfaction of the author is very well reflected in her book in a mild yet impactful way.
I love the writing style of the author. It was lucid and the book was well structured. The only thing I didn’t like was that at times the book felt repetitive. Other than it was quite an interesting and memorable read for me.
Whatever a person’s political identity might be but I would urge you to read this book. Agreeing or disagreeing with the author’s point of view is at the reader’s discretion but, books that tell the stories from the eyes of the local inhabitants should definitely be given space to echo.
March 23, 2023
An average read. Bias in the book is evident right from the first leaf. Though issues raised are valid, thrust of arguments mostly sound irrational and appear unconvincing. Gives the other perspective of Abrogation of Article 370.
July 15, 2023
Anuradha Bhasin, daughter of Ved Bhasin (Founder and Editor or Kashmir Times)- A good Journalist, a bad writer.
However, I am not here to judge her writing skills. This review is purely about the content of the book that considering the present scenario, isn’t really shocking but definitely an eye-opener.
“Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive…"
The book goes deep into the Human rights violations, illegal land acquisitions, selective harassment practices, laws with more holes than cheese, perils of PSA, selective abrogation of laws, all the work done by political mainstream in last seventy decades coming to naught, lies propelled by the mainstream media and the government as well, and the loss our army had to deal with as well. The book delves deep into the “how” of the whole operation and presents a picture which has been unseen hitherto. It also presents a brief picture of the struggles that people of Kashmir have faced to pass laws that ensured land and equality to all in the erstwhile state.
The one criticism of the book that I see on various platforms is of being one-sided and not presenting the complete picture while presenting the facts. I also felt that cherry picking of some data was apparent, however, it has to be borne in mind that this book was not written to appease the masses on both side of the argument, nor was it written to explain the struggle of the two sides.
It was written to bring forward the rest of the picture that was being hidden. News anchors have shouted, hoarsening their throats, propelling the normalcy story of Kashmir after the abrogation. This book just lifts the veil off this blatant lie.
A revealing book, and a must read for all of us Indians.
However, I am not here to judge her writing skills. This review is purely about the content of the book that considering the present scenario, isn’t really shocking but definitely an eye-opener.
“Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive…"
The book goes deep into the Human rights violations, illegal land acquisitions, selective harassment practices, laws with more holes than cheese, perils of PSA, selective abrogation of laws, all the work done by political mainstream in last seventy decades coming to naught, lies propelled by the mainstream media and the government as well, and the loss our army had to deal with as well. The book delves deep into the “how” of the whole operation and presents a picture which has been unseen hitherto. It also presents a brief picture of the struggles that people of Kashmir have faced to pass laws that ensured land and equality to all in the erstwhile state.
The one criticism of the book that I see on various platforms is of being one-sided and not presenting the complete picture while presenting the facts. I also felt that cherry picking of some data was apparent, however, it has to be borne in mind that this book was not written to appease the masses on both side of the argument, nor was it written to explain the struggle of the two sides.
It was written to bring forward the rest of the picture that was being hidden. News anchors have shouted, hoarsening their throats, propelling the normalcy story of Kashmir after the abrogation. This book just lifts the veil off this blatant lie.
A revealing book, and a must read for all of us Indians.
July 5, 2023
We all know how Jammu and Kashmir had it's political issues since time immemorial. Yet, when you read about Jammu and Kashmir through various lenses, you expect the situation to get better, now that it has been more than a decade. But, things have worsened. This book is an eye opener for all the people out there who think Jammu and Kashmir is a war torn area because of a selected group. Is it really so? Or is it a creation of our own wrong doings. A brilliant book which portrays the plight of the affected population. No caste, gender or creed discrimination just plain sufferings of people who have endured this wrongdoing done by a select powerful legions.
Highly recommended to read at least once.
Highly recommended to read at least once.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews