The Book of Gold Leaves

My search for a book that tells me a more accurate story about the conflict continues. Not that this book claims to be anything more than fiction, but having read Basharat Peer's 'curfewed nights' seems to have set the bar high for anything that comes out of Kashmir, I guess. Also as someone whose parents are from shamdalein, a small hamlet in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, it's hard for me to see militants as 'freedom fighters' (wasn't LETs goal to have Kashmir be an Islamic state and once sharia was in place, they would look towards India for perpetuation of the same?). Also you get inadvertently get a peek into why the indian army reacts the way it does in Kashmir, -t looks like everyone is either a Mujaheed or a Jehadi bride over there. Doesn't matter if the Mujahids are terrorizing the Hindus out, erasing any semblance of plurality from the society, killing innocent people who had different beliefs to them etc..Not condoning the state violence, but it's complicated there, and it's sad to see 13-14 yo being killed neverthelessAnyhow, coming back , it's sad to see Gentle faiz being eaten up and spit out by the conflict and Mir Zafar Ali, loose his hand and not being able to work anymore! it just broke my heart :( Also sad is the intrigue the state plays with Roohis father who is a man of integrity and this is made abundantly clear. Another scene which totally broke me was Seytha in the basement of the school hoping he would be left out because he was innocent. Dear lord! The slaughter of innocents is the worst thing, but the thing that comes close is the betrayal of a system you trusted( I'm going I believe that Kashmiris at the beginning trusted the system)Apart from those few scenes, everything is so unlayered- Princess Roohi who can't do any wrong, Madan Kaul whose funeral reminds us of how bigoted he was ( hence, it's ok to have been killed), All white Shanta Ma'am, Mouj and Roohis mom going thro the motions of worshipping their family and freedom fighters, The Major who wants to punish Kashmiris because ' they haven't done anything' and so onThis book makes me want to kick myself for giving Basharat Peers non- fiction a rating of 2.5

This is the first book that I have ever read written by an author from Indian Kashmir. Those having this view that revolt against Indian rule means that Kashmiris want to join Pakistan are wrong. The author gives the impression that there's a strong Kashmiri identity separate from Indian and Paksistan.This book doesn't explain the origins of revolt or violence in Kashmir, however, it does a very good job of showing what was happening in 80s in Kashmir. The interesting thing in this novel is the relationship between Hindus and Muslims during this time of trouble. Although most Hindus had to leave Kashmir valley but the assumption that most Mualims turned against them after the violence started is wrong.It's a good read for anyone interested in the human cost of violence in Kashmir.

Excellent book! An evocatively and sensitively written novel that provides unusual insights into the horrific violence that plagued the inhabitants of Kashmir in recent years. Highly recommended for anyone trying to understand the conflict between Muslim factions and Hindus in South Asia.

Mirza Waheed is an intelligent fresh voice on the ever-entangling Kashmir issue. With glimpses of brilliance Waheed has to uncover the lives of Kashmiri people from up close: an insider's perspective.

The Book of Gold Leaves is set in Downtown Srinigar of Indian Kashmir in the 1990s. Faiz lives in a house of 18 rooms with his three sisters, three brothers, his eldest brother’s wife and three children, and his mother. The Mir family of Khanqah are Shia Muslims.Faiz, a semi-literate papier-mache artist, was named after Faiz Ahmed Faiz, one of Pakistan’s great poets. The novel commences with Faiz painting deer, lions, and Mughal princes on a hunting trip with elephants on the pencil boxes for a buyer in Delhi who ships them to Canada. His order is for 500 boxes in 30 days.Roohi dreams of romantic love and, at 20 years of age, has already rejected six marriage proposals. She wants to undertake a PhD at the local university. She lives with her brother Rumi, her mother, and her father, Kabir Ahmed Khan, who conducts a city census in the streets of Downtown Srinigar for the government. Rumi practices rifle shooting at night, near the city’s shrine. The Khan family are Shia Muslims.On a walk Faiz sees a girl in the window of a narrow house in front of the shrine’s gates, with her long hair uncovered. Roohi sees him too. She secretly follows him home and learns that he is from the Mir family. To get to him Roohi befriends his sister, Farhat. Roohi writes a letter for Farhat to give to her brother. He keeps the love letter inside the book of gold leaves. The gold leaves are gilt foils that he uses in his paintings. They arrange to meet.To get into his house, Roohi and Farhat have an idea. Roohi will pose as Farhat’s tutor in trigonometry. Roohi and Faiz see each other furtively, in his home, but usually in the dark by the shrine, despite Faiz’s oldest brother’s suspicions and Roohi’s younger brother’s incomprehension.It is the 1990s and the time of the Indo-Pakistan crisis in which the two countries are at the brink of war in Kashmir. The Line of Control divides Kashmir into two parts: Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Indian Kashmir. India moves troops into the region, and into Srinigar, to prevent cross-border infiltration from Pakistan. The troops conduct raids and training camps. Major Summit Kumar is in charge of the Indian troops in Srinigar. He carries out the duties of his government. Although the chapters relating to him are minimal, he is critical to the story.Faiz’s oldest brother, Mir Zafar Ali, was almost kidnapped during a raid in which soldiers snatched six young men, and his friend, Faate Baaje, is killed. The city is under curfew, making it difficult for Faiz and Roohi to see each other. Faiz paints, cries, and prays. Young men take matters in their own hands, going into the bush for shooting practice, maintaining that “it is better to vanish in a struggle against the enemy than to disappear in some shady rumour-like interrogation cell.” This means a prolonged separation from his home, family, and Roohi. He does not tell Roohi before he disappears and crosses the Line of Control into Pakistan-administered Kashmir, to learn the skills required to defend his city against Indian troops. The first few days are exciting, “the introductions to the arms and the equipment, the making of a bomb.” Farhat “senses that not all of what her brother reports may be true; it seems inconceivable to her that while Faiz is able to send news of his safety he would choose not to get in touch with Roohi.Events conspire to test allegiances, duty, trust, friendship, and love. It is a story of revenge and betrayal, and of extreme tragedy. It’s a region where I lived and worked and therefore I have an interest in literature from Kashmir. Waheed expresses the intricacies of this region through descriptive and evocative settings. This is a well-written, enthralling, epic fictional tale of family relationships, community and communal relationships, romantic trysts, and love in a complicated regional conflict.Martina Nicolls is the author of Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2011)

The book that ignited a fire in my heart whilst making me perpetually restless. This is one book that I will remember for a very long time and one that has changed the way I think forever. Thank you Mr Mirza Waheed for this gem.

Mirza has told the history lucid and honest . Nothing said here is fiction but actual lives of those suffering then and now

good book

Mirza is the kind of writer who delves into the depth of your souls, makes you connect with each character so closely as if you are living their lives yourselves. The story of Roohi and Faiz is a story of love, spiritual oneness amidst the chaos of death, distrustion, rebellion and ghor. Mirza makes you feel the intricacies of Kashmir conflict intimately with his skills of weaving stories.

Although I like the part where the couple is concerned, I vehemently disliked the book.It deframes Indian Army like hell.And somewhere this book also says "being a militant is more respectable than being a soldier is."I really wanted to like this book. But the hate is so strong, so strong, it sort of kills the love story.If you respect the Indian Army or consider Kashmir a part of India, you'll probably know what I mean.More than a love story, it's a hate story.