Hindustan Times (Lucknow) - Hindustan Times (Lucknow) - Live
‘Refugee Camp’ exhorts youth to stand up against militancy
Abhimanyu inspires a civil uprising that beckons the silent majority to take a stand against terror and help him come back home. Abhimanyu of Mahabharat sacrificed his life to bust the Chakrayuvh and end the great war. Refugee Camp is a similar story of Mahabharat in today’s India.
ASHISH KAUL, AUTHOR
Author Ashish Kaul’s maiden book ‘Refugee Camp’ gives an intricate insight into the Kashmir that is hitherto unknown to many, its history, long-running problem of militancy, its solution and the expected role of the youth in it.
Born in Jammu and lived in various parts of the valley, he along with his family was amongst lakhs of Kashmiri Pandits forced to abandon the ‘heaven on earth’ during the series of events that happened in 1988-89.
“In a way it’s not just mine, rather every Kashmiris story, who was uprooted from their houses and forced to become refugees in their own country! The protagonist is a 20-yearold boy Abhimanyu — his transformation into a leader, who leads 5,000 men, women and children to the greatest suicide mission,” says Kaul on his recent visit to Lucknow.
On what prompted him to write the book he says, “My daughter’s (Shereen) inquisitiveness about the land of their forefathers and the reason for not living in this part of the country was one of the main reasons to pen the memoir.”
The book, published by Prabhat Prakashan, was recently launched by minister of information and broadcasting, sports and youth affairs Col Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore in New Delhi. Here are the excerpts from the tête-à-tête with the author:
Is it an autobiography and what’s the significance of Abhimanyu of Mahabharat?
Yes, it is an autobiographical account of my life. The last part is a creative rendition of my vision of peace in Kashmir. Abhimanyu inspires a civil uprising that beckons the silent majority to take a stand against terror and help him come back home. Abhimanyu of Mahabharat sacrificed his life to bust the Chakrayuvh and end the great war. Refugee Camp is a similar story of Mahabharat in today’s India. Youth have forgotten the lesson of Abhimanyu. In the book, Abhimanyu inspires the youths to awaken the Abhimanyu that lies within us and crush the fear of terrorism.
The book is categorised as fiction and you talk about history of Kashmir. How do you justify that!
Refugee Camp is the first ever incisive recital of 1,000 years history of undivided Kashmir. More importantly this is my own story. Considering the solution part being a vision categorizes this in fiction segment, otherwise Refugee Camp will be regarded as the most authentic document that aligns historical facts with a human story. Various critics and reviewers have also said Refugee Camp is the first book to break this barrier.
You say people still don’t know about Kashmir region and its problems?
Kashmir is the most complex and unique in its terror narrative. The new generation of Kashmiris and politicians have insignificant knowledge of the real Kashmir. This is why they have failed to deliver a peaceful resolution of Kashimir issue since 1947. Sadly, the administration also does not have anyone who really knows the sociopolitical issues of Kashmir. This book bridges the knowledge deficit.
So what’s the solution?
Kashmir is the most complex geo-political and social structure in the world. For centuries native Kashmiris have been abused by power hungry rulers and politicians. The only solution can come through the people of Kashmir by the way of a civil uprising against terror. Our Abhimanyu shows the way how Kashmiris across various faiths can come together and usher in peace.
You call Lucknow your second home?
I consider myself lucky to have been born twice. Once in the valley and then in Lucknow that gave me a new lease of life. Lucknow not only gave me means to survive — my course at IIM-Lucknow, my first job, first new friends from various faiths that have stood by me for over 25 years now. Above everything else Lucknow gave me a home away from home that is quite similar to multicultural fabric of Kashmir.
What’s next from your pen?
My next project is ‘Streedesh’ that is a step towards eradicating gender bias and reintroducing Indian female role models that have been forgotten by the world. The book will have a story of the longest serving queen in the history of medieval world titled the ‘Warrior Queen of Kashmir’.