Curfewed Night - Basharat Peer

My  friend bought this book through Flipkart .I never read any book about Kashmir before. My idea of Kashmir - beautiful place, Apples,Dal Lake, Farooq Abdullah and some bomb blasts. Thats it. The news paper i read during childhood days always said how many people died , never explained the real reason behind it. So one part of me told "Kashmir is a beautiful place where i should go once" and in another part told me "Kashmir is a dangerous place with lots of militants" . What a shame !

This book had completely changed my understanding of Kashmir. Still in shock about the way Indian military treating Kashmiri people and the unspeakable atrocities done by them. I have read some world war books and how the prisoners were treated, the torture techniques of Indian Para Military were more or less equal or more. Unbelievable.

"Lovers leave debris like civilizations do. Civilizations leave debris like lovers do"

The author traces his life along with the life in 1980's Kashmiri village through the development of separatist movement. A very peaceful village life was disturbed by the Indian - Pakistan war and gradually deteriorated as separatist movements started to grow. Once a green and beautiful valleys are now with 'armoured cars and soldiers patrolling roads or manning check points had become part of the Kashmiri landscape' . Peer's own family lost many of their children(cousins) and some were joined militant movement.Peer's own father and mother went through mine blast by the militant. But they moved on and they never talks about it.

"People seemed to need faith; people seemed to need miracles."

The author meets various people from his village as well as his classmates and teachers throughout Kashmir and ask them about their life . Almost all of the stories are sad and profoundly affected by the conflict. The stories of tortured were unimaginable. The story of Mubeena who was raped by number of BSF soldiers was terrible and unpardonable. Her life changed completely , villagers called her "Crossfire Bride and 'Crossfire Groom' . But the courageous woman lives on .What the government did , it just  paid just 3000/- rupees as a relief. Like another incident told in this book about a bride raped by BSF. Very sad to know all the these horrific things happening.

The author also explains  how the various rulers ruled Kashmir, most of them for not good to Kashmiri people, and how they changed the history of Kashmir.The history part is very interesting . Its must for people to know bit of history to understand the life of Kashimir people.

I love this book because it was written by an insider , an Kashmiri. The author was more interested in the human emotions than the conflict, which is a highlight of this book. This book breaks many belief the mainland Indians have on Kashmir issues and Indian army.

Must read!