Narrative and reality in J&K

For a long time, Jammu & Kashmir has been caught between a tug of war of narratives, which has severely affected the well-being of those who live there.

- CHITTAJIT MITRA

For a long time, Jammu & Kashmir has been caught between a tug of war of narratives, which has severely affected the well-being of those who live there. There is a constant struggle to compare traumas and contest each other's historical claim over the land. But in this entire debate, somehow the people always lose. Journalist Rohin Kumar has been reporting from the valley since 2017 and has seen its diverse hues. In Lal Chowk, originally written in Hindi and translated into English by Dharmesh Chaubey, he delves deeper into the realities that are often buried under the weight of nationalism and reveals the voices of people living and bearing the consequences of every single decision made on their behalf.