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.
