From last 7 decades many books, fiction as well as non-fiction, have been written on Kashmir and whatever has been written is always heart wrenching and heart breaking. Being a Kashmiri, one always feels pain and sorrow while reading on Kashmir issue or things related to it. In his debut novel ”The half mother”, Shahnaz Bashir, a valley based novelist has attempted to address the issue of forced disappearances in Kashmir. It is a story of a daughter, a courageous mother, who loses her father and a teenage son in the turmoil. During the late 1980’s militancy erupted in Kashmir and Ghulam Rasool Joo, father of Haleema, becomes the first victim in his locality [Natipora]. His body is pumped with bullets by Indian army in front of his daughter Haleema, the protagonist of the novel. And on another day, Imran, Haleema’s teenage son, is picked up by the army on a flimsy excuse, and he just disappears forever, beginning a nightmare, a life of ‘Half-Mother’ for Haleema. She searches her son everywhere; from infamous torture camp PaPa-2 to local army camps, but in vain. Her wait never ends and Ultimately Haleema dies with unfulfilled desire to meet her son again. Truly speaking, the book is not a piece of fiction, but countless such stories are found in Kashmir, where mothers, in endless pain and agony wait for their disappeared sons to return. I feel it necessary to quote few lines from the book so that readers can feel the pain of such mothers; ” I have to keep hoping, she (Haleema) murmured to herself minutes later. I cannot be defeated like this .I cannot lose him (Imran) like this. She wiped her tears, corrected her dupatta and pulled herself together. I have to go home and keep waiting. Yes, that is the only thing I have to do.” At one point, I stopped reading as it was difficult to read. My eyes were filled with tears. I do not remember the last time I cried like this after reading any book .There seemed to be continuous pain in my chest while reading the book, which I couldn’t express except by shedding tears. I can still feel the breathless breathing of Haleema. The author has done justice with the topic of forced disappearances in Kashmir which deserves praise and appreciation. The author has also tried to attract the attention of world community towards the issue. More such work is expected from Shahnaz Bashir. I would suggest everyone grab a copy of the book, read it and feel the pulse of Kashmiri society.
ABOUT THE REVIEWER
The author is a political scientist and member of Kashmir Book Club, an initiative to revive reading culture in Kashmir.
