Once known to be a paradise on earth, Kashmir is located on the northern tip of India and is legendarily
known for its mountainous beauty and bountiful natives. In 1947 when India freed itself of the long
imposed colonial rule, the free nation was torn in two halves, the Hindustani India, and Muslim Pakistan.
Kashmir belonged to Indian Territory in the first place, but due to its Islamic majority Pakistan has
considered it its own terrain, resulting in two decades of war that has done irreparable loss to life and
property.
known for its mountainous beauty and bountiful natives. In 1947 when India freed itself of the long
imposed colonial rule, the free nation was torn in two halves, the Hindustani India, and Muslim Pakistan.
Kashmir belonged to Indian Territory in the first place, but due to its Islamic majority Pakistan has
considered it its own terrain, resulting in two decades of war that has done irreparable loss to life and
property.
Things took a lethal turn in 1990, when Militant Islamic forces including elements of Al-Qaeda and
Taliban used terror campaigns to drive India away from the region. Kashmiri Hindus were chosen each
day in local mosques and mercilessly killed, their women raped. Violence and human-rights abuses had
become endemic, routine curfew, and thousands of suspected militants were detained without trial.
Religious differences took over life-long friendships amongst the Muslims and the minority population of
Kashmiri Hindus, as the latter give away their native soil and took refuge in other parts of India.
The present day Kashmir is a distinctive illustration of multiplicity of thought, and how war can tailor
lives of generations. The old Sufi Muslims who’ve seen Kashmir with its friendships and love, longing
for immediate peace, its radical youth covet an independent state belonging to neither India, nor Pakistan
but to Kashmir and its people, the militants demanding integration with Pakistan. Hate Graffitis, guns and
Friday stoning is visible on the streets of present day Kashmir, and within this, grow its children,
absorbing the dissimilar ideas of independence mixed with subjectively interpreted education from
Quranic schools.
Taliban used terror campaigns to drive India away from the region. Kashmiri Hindus were chosen each
day in local mosques and mercilessly killed, their women raped. Violence and human-rights abuses had
become endemic, routine curfew, and thousands of suspected militants were detained without trial.
Religious differences took over life-long friendships amongst the Muslims and the minority population of
Kashmiri Hindus, as the latter give away their native soil and took refuge in other parts of India.
The present day Kashmir is a distinctive illustration of multiplicity of thought, and how war can tailor
lives of generations. The old Sufi Muslims who’ve seen Kashmir with its friendships and love, longing
for immediate peace, its radical youth covet an independent state belonging to neither India, nor Pakistan
but to Kashmir and its people, the militants demanding integration with Pakistan. Hate Graffitis, guns and
Friday stoning is visible on the streets of present day Kashmir, and within this, grow its children,
absorbing the dissimilar ideas of independence mixed with subjectively interpreted education from
Quranic schools.
The anticipated project will not cover scandalous images of war and blood-shed, but would rather be a
historic document that will let the viewer understand how seeds of disorientation sown in the present
moment, will shape the most defining movement in the history of Kashmir in upcoming future. The long
term project covers the attribute of personality amongst various beliefs, religions, age, and classes through
portraits of Kashmiri citizens in their inhabited spaces (which includes homes, schools, orphanages,
places of worship, and streets).
A part of expected book also includes portraits of well researched list of refugees who had to move to
alienated space, living in areas of Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi and Faridabad in India. The images are meant
to be integrated with each other presenting the contrast of lives, amongst each other, and the nostalgia of
past and expectations of future integrating at the common point of present moment.
historic document that will let the viewer understand how seeds of disorientation sown in the present
moment, will shape the most defining movement in the history of Kashmir in upcoming future. The long
term project covers the attribute of personality amongst various beliefs, religions, age, and classes through
portraits of Kashmiri citizens in their inhabited spaces (which includes homes, schools, orphanages,
places of worship, and streets).
A part of expected book also includes portraits of well researched list of refugees who had to move to
alienated space, living in areas of Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi and Faridabad in India. The images are meant
to be integrated with each other presenting the contrast of lives, amongst each other, and the nostalgia of
past and expectations of future integrating at the common point of present moment.
© MUKUL BHATIA, 2013
