PUBLISHED
April 16, 2023
KARACHI:
Kashmir, the beautiful valley of extremes. On one hand, it brings to mind bloodshed and conflict, and on the other, this endless geographical and cultural romanticisation. Visions of green mountains, rivers, shikaras on Dal Lake, beautiful bejewelled girls, goshtaba and rogan josh come gushing into the mind. The next minute the sweetness turns into a vile bitterness as you think of this land being in territorial dispute between India and Pakistan, sparked by a fateful decision in 1947, resulting in decades of violence, two wars, pain, suffering, struggle and injustice.
Other than Sana Altaf being born to Kashmiri parents in Srinagar City, the capital city of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the year 1985 was relatively uneventful in the history of this conflict. Whereas in the preceding year, the Indian Army seized control of the Siachen Glacier, an area not demarcated by the Line of Control. In 1986, while the Mujahideen war against the Soviets in Afghanistan was at its peak, a coalition government was formed between the Indian National Congress and Farooq Abdullah, the ex-President of Jammu & Kashmir National Conference and Chief Minister of IIOJK.
In these times of turmoil, Altaf gurgled, crawled and then toddled around, but the world around her was fast changing. She was hardly five years old, when she first heard the gunshots as she was playing in the snow. From then on, blasts, killings, protests, and unending strikes were a part of her life. She grew up to realise what was happening around her. Her sensitive soul never at peace, she expressed her feelings through writing, eventually choosing to be a journalist.
In 2013, this ‘Kashmir ki kali’ won an award for reporting woman issues during conflict. Ten years later, the 38-year-old Dubai based author has won a nomination for Popular Choice AutHer Award for her widely acclaimed debut book, Forgotten Tales: Stories from the Kashmir Valley, released last year. The AutHer Awards are a joint venture by JK Paper (India’s leading paper company) and The Times of India to celebrate women authors who have contributed in various fields of writing.
Set in the Kashmir of the conflict-driven 1990s, the book is a collection of short stories of about struggle, pain, and injustice. “Telling stories is the only way one can preserve the present, and it’s the present that creates history one day,” says Altaf, who did her Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir.
Altaf opted for journalism, because she was always a storyteller by heart. She began her career as one of the few female journalists in IIOJK, working for Kashmir Times, the first and leading English newspaper of the territory. “Later, I went on to work with various international publications such as Inter Press Service, Dawn News, Khaleej Times, and The Straits Times,” she says.
The mere mention of IIOJK reminds one of horrible things happening to people, and Altaf’s childhood was no different.
“As a Kashmiri, my childhood was deeply impacted by the ongoing conflict in the region,” she says. “Every aspect of our lives was affected by the insecurity, trauma, and fear that surrounded us. However, despite these difficult circumstances, my childhood was also filled with moments of joy, laughter, and bonding with my family.”
While growing up amidst conflict can undoubtedly have a lasting traumatic impact, says Altaf, but there were also moments of joy and warmth that she treasures from her childhood. “Despite the frequent shutdowns and long evenings, my family and I found ways to make the most of our time together,” she reminisces. “We played games, had conversations with parents and elders, and shared many interactive storytelling sessions. These experiences helped us develop a strong bond that has stayed with me to this day. Although my upbringing was far from normal, it provided me with a unique perspective on the world that I wouldn’t trade for anything.”
Growing up in a conflict zone had a profound impact on her childhood. “It affected not just our physical safety, but also our emotional and psychological well-being,” says Altaf. “As children, we were regularly exposed to violence, trauma, and instability, which often led to feelings of anxiety and fear. We also experienced significant disruptions to our education and social lives, with lockdowns confining us to our homes for extended periods. But despite these challenges, we were able to find moments of joy and warmth in our family and shared experiences. I recall spending long days of curfews playing cricket with my father, cousins, and uncles, our laughter and shouts echoing through the quiet streets. As the sun began to set and the darkness crept in, we would gather around the dim candlelight to play carom and other board games, creating cherished memories that endure to this day. Living in a conflict zone tested our resilience and forced us to adapt to new circumstances. But through it all, we learned the value of family and the power of shared experiences to bring us together and provide comfort in even the most challenging of times.”
As a journalist in IIOJK, Altaf had the opportunity to witness and uncover many untold stories and incidents. “These experiences along with my childhood memories, inspired me to write my first book, Forgotten Tales: Stories from the Kashmir Valley, which is a collection of 11 short stories, all fictional,” says Altaf.
The 11 short stories touch upon different aspects of people’s lives in the valley that holds several untold stories of death, bloodshed, disappearances, rape, sufferings and injustice. But in the midst of all this turmoil are also tales of love, friendship, reminiscence and hope. There is a story of a young girl in search of her missing father and how she dedicates her entire life to tracing him. There is another story of two women whose strong friendship transcends religion, brings us the lesser known, compassionate side of IIOJK. Another is a heart rending story of a young girl who falls in love and weaves a thousand dreams, but a shocking turn of events could cost her this precious love.
Writing her book was not without its challenges. “I wanted to do justice to the characters in the stories and make them as detailed and elaborate as possible,” she says. “It took me over two years to complete the book, and it was an emotional journey on many levels. It has required me to confront difficult and traumatic events, and stories of loss and suffering, and to delve deeply into the complex political, social, and historical contexts that underlie conflicts. Through this process, I have been challenged to confront my own biases, assumptions, and preconceptions about the world, a process that has been both difficult and rewarding.”
Despite the emotional challenges, writing about conflict has been an incredibly rewarding experience for Altaf. “Through bearing witness to the experiences of those affected by conflict, I have found a sense of empathy and compassion for others that has been deeply fulfilling,” she shares. “Furthermore, the act of writing has been a cathartic process that has allowed me to process my own emotions and feelings about the subject matter, and to better understand the impact of conflict on individuals and communities. Ultimately, writing about conflict has allowed me to bear witness to the experiences of those affected by violence and to give voice to their stories. By focussing on the complexities of conflict and the human toll it exacts, I hope to inspire greater empathy and understanding and encourage meaningful action to build a more peaceful and just world.”
Altaf lived in IIOJK till 2014, a time when India cancelled talks with Pakistan after accusing it of interfering in India’s internal affairs when Pakistan’s High Commissioner in Delhi consulted Kashmiri separatist leaders in advance of the talks. Icing on the cake was India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the disputed border state of IIOJK, accusing Pakistan of waging a proxy war against India in IIOJK. Eventually a flare up of violence across their common border left at least 18 people dead.
“After I got married, I moved to Dubai in 2014, but I visit IIOJK twice a year,” says Altaf who admits, it was not easy for her to leave her hometown. “My home, parents, sister, uncles and entire clan is still there. It is not only the place of my birth and childhood, but it has shaped me into the person I am today. The pain and injustice that the people of IIOJK have endured over the last few decades have deeply affected me. I missed not only my family but also the land and its people, who have undergone so much suffering. I do miss Kashmir and its people, even though I am grateful for the opportunities that have come my way.”
She clarifies that her purpose for writing this book was not to win awards but to share the stories of the common people of Kashmir with the world. “I am not interested in playing the blame game between India and Pakistan, but simply wanted to share what happened there from a common person’s perspective.”
Altaf believes that detailed and elaborate characters are the key to tell a story that touches the reader’s heart. The character of Ayesha in the first story of her book holds a special place in her heart. “She embodies the struggles of young children in Kashmir who grow up without memories of their fathers, only to spend their childhood and youth searching for them who were subjected to enforced disappearances,” says Altaf. “As a journalist, I had the privilege of interacting with many such children, and Ayesha reminds me of all of them. Her story is a poignant reflection of the harsh reality faced by families impacted by conflict, and her character represents the resilience and strength exhibited by those who endure such trauma. Through Ayesha’s character, I hope to shine a light on the struggles of these families and pay tribute to their unwavering determination to seek answers and find closure.”
While there isn’t anything in the pipeline yet, Altaf plans on writing more books in the future. Watch this space and as the pattern goes, the lady makes headlines every 10 years, so let’s see what she does in 2033, or maybe even before that!