Book Review: Short Stories from Kashmir - Catching The Fading Ray

Book: Short Stories from Kashmir: Catching The Fading Ray
Author: Avanti Sopory
Publisher: Utpal Publications
Pages: 184 
Price: Rs 250

Since militancy took over the Kashmir Valley some 29 years ago, reams have been written on the political situation, along with suggestions on how to solve the issue – some practical, but mostly unrealistic. Unfortunately, while most of the works have focused on politics and geography of the region, there has been no endeavour to translate folk tales.

Folk tales not just reinforce cultural values and provide an insight into the imagination of children of this region, but also highlight important traditions and celebrate diversity. Thus, Avanti Sopory, a banker and teacher at a management school, was amazed when she was turned back at an upscale book store in Delhi when she asked about books on Kashmiri folk tales.

So Sopory took up the job herself, collected anecdotes and folk tales that grandparents used to narrate to children. On harsh winter evenings, grandmothers would light the fireplace or a firepot, wrap children in woollen blankets and narrate stories till they fell asleep. Sopory has collected and translated 24 of these fascinating tales that take readers to the magical realm of kings and queens.

As folk tales are a means to understand people and learn local lifestyles, all Kashmir-watchers and even strategic and policy thinkers should read Sopory's book to understand the region better and appreciate its geo-cultural matrix beyond the narrow world of politics. That will help them understand the consciousness of the people and find a better way to address the bloodshed in Kashmir.