Kashmir Pending by Naseer Ahmed and Saurabh Singh; Phantomville Press; pp 95; India price Rs. 300; Genre- graphic novel.
At a time when graphic novels have just debuted in India, Kashmir Pending by Naseer Ahmed is definitely going to establish a different class for itself. This is no ordinary graphic novel, for it relates the true story of a Kashmiri mujahideen and the struggles of his life.
Kashmir Pending is the story of Mushtaq, a Kashmiri boy who grows up amidst all the political turmoil that has come to be identified with modern day Kashmir. His transition from boyhood to manhood is marked by increasing hatred towards everything Indian, and a feeling of being persecuted by the government. Indoctrinated by some fanatic student leaders, Mushtaq and his friend Aziz decided to plunge headlong into the “freedom struggle”. They both are packed off to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) for training. Soon, they join the band of armed rebels and make their way back home, with a mission to liberate Kashmir from Indian clutches. But their dreams are soon shattered when factional politics within the rebel outfits leads to internecine strife and bloodshed. Futility of the struggle dawns upon Mushtaq soon, but not before he has lost his friend Aziz to the fratricidal war.
The innate discontent, the angst of the people of the valley has been convincingly projected in this book. The book also relates unequivocally the role played by religion—religious leaders and institutions—in brewing the turmoil in Kashmir, and how the youth are misguided to believe that they are fighting a Holy War (Jihad) against an infidel state. At the same time, the book also tells us why many Kashmiri rebels are continuously coming back to the mainstream, leaving behind their blood-stained past. The author has made a commendable effort to underline the virtues of leading a life of piety.
Naseer Ahmed has related the story in an earthy way, without attempting to do anything extra (by weaving fact with fiction). Saurabh Singh’s illustrations have added flesh and blood to the story. The writer-illustrator synergy is perfect and pronounced in the novel. Bright colours have been used in the illustrations, and that makes it a tad different from the other novels of its genre. The most striking aspect of the illustrations is that there is darkness amidst bright colours. The images look gloomy and go well with the mood of the narrative. The story moves very fast; you can finish the book within half an hour. There are no difficult words either, so you don’t have to sit with a dictionary. The account is so arresting that once you start reading, you cannot leave it mid-way.
Until now, Kashmir has been discussed to a great extent in numerous political works, but mostly by people who are remotely connected to the valley. But Kashmir Pending allows a peep into the life of an ordinary Kashmiri. It is a sizzling saga of our super-charged times. At a time when insurgency is at its lowest ebb in Kashmir, this latest offering by Phantomville Press fits the bill. A must read for every Indian.
At a time when graphic novels have just debuted in India, Kashmir Pending by Naseer Ahmed is definitely going to establish a different class for itself. This is no ordinary graphic novel, for it relates the true story of a Kashmiri mujahideen and the struggles of his life.
Kashmir Pending is the story of Mushtaq, a Kashmiri boy who grows up amidst all the political turmoil that has come to be identified with modern day Kashmir. His transition from boyhood to manhood is marked by increasing hatred towards everything Indian, and a feeling of being persecuted by the government. Indoctrinated by some fanatic student leaders, Mushtaq and his friend Aziz decided to plunge headlong into the “freedom struggle”. They both are packed off to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) for training. Soon, they join the band of armed rebels and make their way back home, with a mission to liberate Kashmir from Indian clutches. But their dreams are soon shattered when factional politics within the rebel outfits leads to internecine strife and bloodshed. Futility of the struggle dawns upon Mushtaq soon, but not before he has lost his friend Aziz to the fratricidal war.
The innate discontent, the angst of the people of the valley has been convincingly projected in this book. The book also relates unequivocally the role played by religion—religious leaders and institutions—in brewing the turmoil in Kashmir, and how the youth are misguided to believe that they are fighting a Holy War (Jihad) against an infidel state. At the same time, the book also tells us why many Kashmiri rebels are continuously coming back to the mainstream, leaving behind their blood-stained past. The author has made a commendable effort to underline the virtues of leading a life of piety.
Naseer Ahmed has related the story in an earthy way, without attempting to do anything extra (by weaving fact with fiction). Saurabh Singh’s illustrations have added flesh and blood to the story. The writer-illustrator synergy is perfect and pronounced in the novel. Bright colours have been used in the illustrations, and that makes it a tad different from the other novels of its genre. The most striking aspect of the illustrations is that there is darkness amidst bright colours. The images look gloomy and go well with the mood of the narrative. The story moves very fast; you can finish the book within half an hour. There are no difficult words either, so you don’t have to sit with a dictionary. The account is so arresting that once you start reading, you cannot leave it mid-way.
Until now, Kashmir has been discussed to a great extent in numerous political works, but mostly by people who are remotely connected to the valley. But Kashmir Pending allows a peep into the life of an ordinary Kashmiri. It is a sizzling saga of our super-charged times. At a time when insurgency is at its lowest ebb in Kashmir, this latest offering by Phantomville Press fits the bill. A must read for every Indian.
7 comments:
hmmmmmm....mama this is an amazing review by you.i am yet to read the book but i have read a review of it in the indian express....your review and that review seems somewhat similar....now i am dying to read that book....there is also a very good book over kashmir and its turmoil written by rakshanda jaleel...that was a nice read indeed....go through that book too though on the personal front jaleel has a bad reputation....
that's interesting...how come i havent read it as yet?? it's an inexpensive book also..and also seems worth spending..thanx for the great review..
Same as Yazir and Rikimiba...yet to read this book and honestly speaking I have not read any single novel of graphic genre. Although I do not expect much from a graphic novel which could be finished in an hour, hope this novel will be an interesting one!! The most important thing is that -if an outsider writes about Kashmir he will most likely give a colonial view about Kashmir issue. The way retired Army Officers write about the terrorist activities in Assam. If this novel has emerged from the soil of Kashmir by Kashmiris then should be a readable one.
Sobei sob kotha itimodhye kolei aaru.. Moi nu ki kom.. Kintu porhi birrat bhaal laagil.. Had I read the book, I would have at least something up my sleeve to write for or against.. Still.. A good review in all sense..
cool review dad! will definitly read this one
but y there wasnt any "moral of the story" thing in this one???
Thank you all for your valuable comments!
@ Yazir baba, I hope you don't mean to say that I have been "inspired" by the Indian Express review!
its well written review....though i m nt go throgh the book till now...but allmost getting a idea abt the book...
nobody born as rebel one....only living society make one rebellian...
every where same picture...
may be the aim,prosppectus,definition is differ...
when a person turn to rebel, he thought to make his society as wht he want....
but when he make him as a part of that sytem ...he realise the truth...
so most of true rebel coming back to the mainstream....
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