In The Valley of Mist

Justine Hardy’s third book on Kashmir focuses on post-1989 Kashmir through the story of Mohammed Dar and his family

This novel is Justine Hardy’s third book on Kashmir. It focuses on post-1989 Kashmir through the story of Mohammed Dar and his family, who earn their living running a houseboat. With the onset of militancy, Dar and his family find it hard to cope with the violence that engulfs them. They are left with no choice but to adapt to their changed world.

Hardy’s latest work would appeal to those who struggle to understand the complexities of the Kashmir issue. Though it does not offer any explanations, the book definitely gives an insight into the lives of ordinary Kashmiris. It is also welcome that Hardy has written about the plight of Kashmiri Pandits without falling into the ‘conspiracy theory trap’ about the circumstances that led to the community’s forced migration from the Valley.
 However, it disheartens one to notice that even after so much research on Kashmir, Hardy wrongly states, in her introduction, that Jammu is the summer capital of J&K. I would like to believe it to be the editor’s oversight.

About The Author

Rahul Pandita

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