~ This book is a poetry of grief, in a prose of “militarized wilderness.”
Set in 90’s of Indian side of LOC, this book weaves the past of occupation for you, yet reconnects you to the reality (the occupation that has stayed), through the unnamed or possibly vaguely named (Raja) 19 year old protagonist whose decisions reveal a history of Kashmir as it was, & has been since 90’s or so.

~ Right from the first page, I was drawn in the book, into the era, the times I knew so little of. Through the story of protagonist, his life lined with warm memories of childhood with his friends, to him working for Indian Army, as a counter of the dead, collecting the possessions they created, of lives they lived, I felt the ache of moments & bonds lost to time.
Through his re-collections, I felt the impact & burden of being too “tied” to decide.

~ As for landed nomads (protagonist being one too) , this book opened an area for me to read further about. There was constant mention of them, their faith, their reactions to the Independence struggle. Some views they hold I have heard about but this book is all the nudge I needed to read properly. “Make up for last blessings”, as is added in the book, I could only consider their struggle of settling just after partition.

~ What I liked about this book is that Mirza Waheed has done the detailing without forcing it upon the reader in one go. The story builds neither slowly nor abruptly – but just at the pace I could take my time with without feeling underwhelmed or overwhelmed.

~ Mirza Waheed has given space to many sides, many views, in forms of conversations, dialogues. And he hasn’t emphasized each as THE truth. You either  feel them or feel uncomfortable because your truth, your ideas of occupations are different. Aren’t books either meant to strengthen your ideas or challenge you?

~ All in all, this book, is an important one, as far as I can conclude. It opens rooms unclosed, words unheeded, perceptions that demand space, & ache for lost lives, shredded memories, the imprints of a former life one can never get back in “occupation.”