Book Review
Reviewer: Waseem RajaBook Name: Curfewed Night
Author: Basharat Peer
Publisher: Random House, India
Pages: n/a
Price: 299/- INR
The book, Cuefewed Night is basically written about the eruption of militancy in 1990s in Kashmir. Author has nicely tried to depict the gun culture of 90s. The book is divided into 15 chapters, with smooth coherence. Each chapter highlights the sufferings of every section of the society, whether they were Kashmiri Muslims or Pandits, whether they were men or women.
Starting from the very beginning, the author writes about his native place Sheer, a small village in Anantnag district. Both the sections of the society: the Pandits and the Kashmiri Muslims lived in harmony. But in 1990s winter, militancy erupted in Kashmir, post rigging of state elections, arresting opposition candidates and terrorizing their supporters. Followed by the migration of thousands of Pandits—because, militants had killed hundreds of Pandits on pretext of being the spies of Indian intelligence agencies or, without a reason. The author, as stated in the book, himself was inclined toward militancy, and thus wanted to join JKLF. But being a small boy of mere 13 years of age, he wasn’t allowed to follow the suit. The author has beautifully tried to present the picture of crackdowns, tortures, particularly the atrocities inflicted in torture centers like: PAPA2.
How the women folk suffered during the militancy, is more painful to read. How mothers wailed on their dead sons and how married as well as unmarried women lost their chastity. But the author has failed in depicting the true picture of militancy. Because the way he portrays, the image of militants, seems to me that, militants were unaware about the cause, for which they had taken up the arms. The author says that they liked bollywood actors and actresses, and they watched movies at their hideouts.
The author negatively presents the role of Jamaat-e-Islami. The author has discussed, in detail about the Sufis and their shrines, which was not required to be discussed in detail. At the conclusion, I would like to say that, this book presents a beautiful picture of 90s of Kashmir. And for young readers, it is a must read.
Each chapter highlights the sufferings of every section of the society, whether they were Kashmiri Muslims or Pandits, whether they were men or women.
Starting from the very beginning, the author writes about his native place Sheer, a small village in Anantnag district. Both the sections of the society: the Pandits and the Kashmiri Muslims lived in harmony. But in 1990s winter, militancy erupted in Kashmir, post rigging of state elections, arresting opposition candidates and terrorizing their supporters. Followed by the migration of thousands of Pandits—because, militants had killed hundreds of Pandits on pretext of being the spies of Indian intelligence agencies or, without a reason. The author, as stated in the book, himself was inclined toward militancy, and thus wanted to join JKLF. But being a small boy of mere 13 years of age, he wasn’t allowed to follow the suit. The author has beautifully tried to present the picture of crackdowns, tortures, particularly the atrocities inflicted in torture centers like: PAPA2.
But the author has failed in depicting the true picture of militancy. Because the way he portrays, the image of militants, seems to me that, militants were unaware about the cause, for which they had taken up the arms.
How the women folk suffered during the militancy, is more painful to read. How mothers wailed on their dead sons and how married as well as unmarried women lost their chastity. But the author has failed in depicting the true picture of militancy. Because the way he portrays, the image of militants, seems to me that, militants were unaware about the cause, for which they had taken up the arms. The author says that they liked bollywood actors and actresses, and they watched movies at their hideouts.
The author negatively presents the role of Jamaat-e-Islami. The author has discussed, in detail about the Sufis and their shrines, which was not required to be discussed in detail. At the conclusion, I would like to say that, this book presents a beautiful picture of 90s of Kashmir. And for young readers, it is a must read.
About The Reviewer:
Waseem Raja is a Political Scientist, a voracious reader with inclinations towards International Politics.
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