And Jehlum Continued To Flow: Kashmir Witnessed Turmoil, Travesty and Tragedies

By Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander, New Age Islam 15 May 2023 Aur Jehlum Behtaa Raha (And Jehlum continued to Flow) Author: Khaliq Parvez Publisher: Al Qalam Publications, Baramulla, Kashmir, India Year of Publication: 2021 Pages: 192 Price: Rs 200 ISBN: 9788195276707 ------ Kashmir valley has witnessed huge turmoil’s, travesty and tragedies. On the one hand its breath-taking beauty, lush green meadows and snow-capped mountains, enchants any visitor or tourist. However, on the other hand, the violence, gruesome deaths and political corruption has entrapped its inhabitants in a gory vicious cycle of hopelessness and pessimism. The more appealing the Valley looks to outsiders; grave are its contours for the inhabitants who are struggling with a quagmire. The current work under review is not an academic treatment of Kashmir issue and what went wrong, but is a memoir of a victim of Kashmir tragedy and politics. Khaliq Parvez is a writer, poet, journalist and political activist, who had to pay a heavy price for his political activism and later on for his writings too. Earlier too his two-volume memoir titled Jula e Watan (Banished to Exile), was received and appreciated very well by the readers. I had the privilege of reviewing both the volumes, and now in this work Khaliq Parvez in his unique writing style goes beyond 1980s and documents about the turbulence that initiated in 1990s in the Kashmir. He is a personal witness of different upheavals and downfalls of armed struggle, state repression and how the whole society changed. This book is about the experiences and reflections of author about the socio-economic and religious aspects. He keeps himself engaged with writing as he does not believe in wasting time, by remaining idle, despite being a septuagenarian. He takes the reader back to his childhood, how as a naughty kid, he used to steal milk and drink it utilizing a unique style. He also documents the gory details of tribal invasion in 1947, in which his native town Baramulla had to suffer heavily. The tribal targeted Christian missionaries and nurses in Baramulla, but they did spare Muslims, as they too were killed and properties looted. Being an eye witness to those events, what and how things were happening during the attack, while the tribal were looking for special targets i.e., Sikhs. In the midst of this chaos, as an adventurous kid, Parvez stole a sword of a local Maulana. Later, when the things got out of hand, Baramulla was bombarded and due to this aerial bombardment and atrocities of tribal, the family had to migrate. The autobiographical details and family history is mentioned too, while narrating the harrowing scenes of tribal invasion, its aftermath and bombardment through sky. The least talked about massacre of Jammu Muslims, by the right-wing members and Dogra forces is documented too. Jammu massacre is a forgotten massacre of Muslims, during the harrowing partition tragedy. Now academics, journalists are mentioning about it and common people are becoming aware. The tussle between cadres and members of National Conference and Muslim Conference before partition of J&K state between India and Pakistan, reflect an ugly reality that shattered the unity of Muslims. Then, due to influence of subcontinent Deobandi-Barelvi divide too paved its way in Kashmir. The towering leader of Kashmir, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, was betrayed by his friend, the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, and incarcerated and illegally removed from power. So, once he was released, he found out that he was losing popularity among the masses, hence, he initiated a movement for reconstruction of Hazratbal shrine, and during this movement he never spoke against India. Although, even during his incarceration Sheikh was being looked after quite well and shown great compassion by the government in power. Parvez appears to be a voracious reader since his childhood, that reflects in his writings too. He documented his exile to Pakistan administered Kashmir, and then his return in his two volume book earlier. Upon his return to Kashmir, he settled down, started his business and then started to edit a weekly newspaper Kamraz. Later, he had to close down the weekly that was still in its infancy due to insurgency (P-111). He intended to initiate a new era through his weekly in the journalistic history of Kashmir valley, because here most journalism is a reflection of yellow one, whereas in the process real journalism is rendered victim. As the memoir progresses, we can come to know more about his friends, family and acquaintances. He mentions some Jaffar Ali Dehlavi, who is introduced as quite a practicing Muslim, who used to pray for long hours untiringly. But Parvez, as he informs the reader earlier but seems to forget himself, that Jaffar is corrupt to the core and using his influence adjusted his family members, children and others in forest department, thus promoting nepotism. We many times fail to understand the spirit of Islam. We confuse long prayers with piety and religiosity, because we presume Islam, to be compartmentalized between private and public life. Islam is holistic, either one follows and upholds its values or one denigrates them. The half-hearted efforts of believing in something while rejecting the teaching which is not suitable, certainly is enough to denigrate the real teachings of Islam. Parvez, also mentions about his near death experience (P-118-120). By reading this memoir, we are made aware not only about his personal life, but various characters of Baramulla, how the caste system is prevalent in Kashmir and the Hindu right wing organization Panun Kashmir is involved in speaking and spewing venom against Kashmiri Muslims. This memoir is an enjoyable read and adds to many facets of life, but sometimes few mistakes sour the taste. These mistakes could have been rectified by getting the draft read by a scholar, who could fact check about various events and dates mentioned in the book. It is wrong that Sheikh Abdullah after the Indira-Sheikh accord in 1975 was handed over the power by G M Sadiq. It was Mir Qasim who did it (P-88-89). Overall the memoir does not disappoint the readers, it is quite a refreshing read. However, those who have read the earlier works of Parvez, will feel the repetition of some events at few places. This is quite an important memoir that needs to be translated in other languages, for a wider dissemination. Parvez deserves our accolades for writing this book, although the events during 1990s could have been explained in more nuanced and explanatory long form. ------ M.H.A. Sikander is Writer-Activist based in Srinagar, Kashmir URL: https://newageislam.com/books-documents/jhelum-jammu-kashmir-tribal-christians/d/129779 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism