From the moment I came across Postbox Kashmir by Divya Arya, I knew I wanted to read it. The title, the cover and the subtitle – ‘Two Lives in Letters’ – everything appealed to me. I knew little about the book, and the little I did know was gleaned from random social media posts. Soon after I started reading it, I knew that it was a book for keeps.
We’re inundated with information. Sometimes, with a mild sense of panic, I realise that details of events I’ve quickly researched have become hazy again.
For instance, I knew about the exodus of Kashmiri pundits, but vaguely. When I read Paro Anand’s Nomad’s Land, I read up about the history of Kashmir once more, but my research was cursory at best. Dates and details slip by, especially when we don’t contextualise facts. What was happening in Kashmir when the Babri Masjid was demolished? Did the protests at Shaheen Bagh have any effect on Kashmir? What about the CAA, the NPR and the NRC?
Postbox Kashmir is an incredible piece of unbiased writing, thoroughly researched and presented in a way that is accessible to all those who are daunted by the way historical events colour our present-day understanding of Kashmir and India. What began as a BBC project involving two girls who agreed to write to each other and have their letters published eventually became this handbook of information, meticulously annotated for those who want to delve deeper. Duaa and Saumya, the two letter-writers in the book, ask each other all kinds of questions, and these questions lead us to Divya Arya’s insight into the larger political context of Kashmir. What made stone-pelting a form of protest? Are the women of Kashmir as strong as the women of Shaheen Bagh? What does ‘free Kashmir’ or the term azadi mean?
The conversational, easy tone and the clear presentation of facts made me keep reading a book that is fact-heavy and intense. When I read it again, I know I will find more, learn more, and remember more. For now, I’m left with a sense of open understanding and willingness to listen, read and absorb.
| Title | Postbox Kashmir |
| Author | Divya Arya |
| Tags | Young Adult, Nonfiction, Kashmir |
| Rating (out of 5) | 5 |
| Age-group | 13+ |
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