BOOKS OF THE WEEK

Loal Kashmir: Love and Longing in a

 Torn Land by Mehak Jamal

ABOUT THE BOOK

A rare collection of stories of love, longing and loss from a region that has witnessed decades of conflict, Loal Kashmir seeks to answer the question: what happens when you cannot communicate your longing to your beloved?

Loal, the Kashmiri word for love and affection, is the common thread running through all sixteen of these true-life narratives: Javed, on his way to show off his love letter to a friend, gets caught in a crackdown; newlywed Zara waits to be reunited with her husband in America, her visa application flagged indefinitely; Sagar and Aalmeen plan moments of stolen time during the uncertainty of militancy; Nadiya looks for Shahid from her window, coughing as caustic fumes of tear gas seep in; Khawar and Iqra struggle to reach each other when the abrogation of Article 370 leads to a shutdown across Kashmir.

While the waves of discord in the Valley have been cemented in history, what has been rendered invisible are the lived experiences of its inhabitants. Loal Kashmir, by gathering the tenderest of Kashmir's tales--its accounts of love--attempts correcting this lapse.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mehak Jamal is a filmmaker and writer. She was born and raised in Srinagar, Kashmir and has always wanted to tell stories from her homeland.

Mehak is a 2022 South Asia Speaks Fellow, awarded to outstanding emerging writers from the region. Her film Bad Egg premiered at the 19th Indian Film Festival Stuttgart and won the Audience Award. It went on to screen at multiple film festivals all over the world.

Mehak is a film alumnus of Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Bangalore. She lives in Mumbai with her cat Ellie. Loal Kashmir is her first book.

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Rebuilding Self-worth and Appreciation for Art & Literature

Brewing Knowledge Friday

Discuss self-worth, healing, and the author’s new book, Never Been Single, by Priyannsha.

Key Takeaways

• Self-worth is foundational: It dictates action. High self-worth (100%) enables goal pursuit, whereas low self-worth leads to hesitation and inaction.

• Define personal success: Reject external metrics (e.g., career, marriage) to build self-worth independent of social validation.

• Use creativity for healing: Find a personal healing medium (e.g., writing, art, running) to process emotions and build joy.

• Literature enables change: Books allow readers to process new ideas at their own pace, unlike direct conversation, which can trigger immediate, defensive reactions.

Topics

The Book: Never Been Single

• Origin: Written by a 10–12-year relationship coach to scale self-worth healing beyond one-on-one sessions.

• Core Idea: A strong relationship with oneself creates a “domino effect” of positive change across all life areas.

• Title Rationale: The title is a metaphor for emotional independence, not a literal call for solitude.

  • Concept: “It’s easy to be miserable with someone; it’s difficult to be miserable alone.”

  • Goal: Encourage introspection by removing the “cover” of a relationship that can mask personal issues.

Self-Worth & Life Outcomes

• Impact of Low Self-Worth: Negative experiences (e.g., career failure) trigger inner comparison, which hinders goal pursuit.

• Success & Failure: Self-worth must be defined internally, not by societal standards.

  • Example: Success could be a flexible schedule (e.g., 10 AM gym) or service work (NGO), not just high corporate pay.

• Social Media & Validation: Social media triggers pre-existing inner comparison, not creates it.

  • Defence: A strong sense of identity, tied to life purpose, provides detachment from external validation.

Healing & Creativity

• Finding a Healing Medium: Healing is personal; the method must fit the individual.

  • Examples: Writing, art, or active pursuits like running.

• Literature as a Tool: Books are a powerful healing tool.

  • Example: Anne Frank’s diary as a survival mechanism.

  • Author’s Experience: Priyannsha created a YouTube series on “books that changed my life.”

Writing Process & Vulnerability

• Challenge: Writing Never Been Single required extreme vulnerability.

  • Example: Admitting a past need for external validation from a partner.

• Philosophy: Impactful writing requires honesty and rawness, not writing for likability.

  • Rationale: Fear of perception compromises the message’s power.

Q&A: Rebuilding Self-Worth

• Question (Harshita Dalawat): How to rebuild self-worth after a catastrophic event?

• Answer (Priyannsha):

1. Be kind to yourself: Healing takes time.

2. Engage in self-loving activities: Focus on personal well-being.

3. Read the book: It’s designed to be equivalent to “five solid healing sessions.”

FATHOM-AI-generated content, read with care.

Every Last Girl, and we started chapter 1, “Antimbala,” and the Right to Education.

 

Brewing Knowledge Thursday 

To read and discuss the first chapter of Safeena’s book, “Antimbala.”

Key Takeaways

• Illiteracy enables exploitation: The chapter’s core message is that illiteracy creates systemic vulnerability, enabling financial theft (e.g., Vidya’s ₹12,000 savings) and property fraud (e.g., Poonam’s land), thereby undermining a person’s agency and rights.

• Education is a non-negotiable right: Nagina Banu’s powerful statement—“My education is the only thing that is truly mine”—frames education as an inherent, inalienable right and a critical tool for self-determination and escaping poverty.

• National security requires foundational literacy: The author’s 2010 visit to Afghanistan revealed that widespread illiteracy (82% among women) was a major national security risk, hindering the recruitment of a police force capable of performing basic tasks, such as noting license plates.

• Partnership to promote reading: Learning Forward India Foundation proposed to partner with Educate Girls to read the book to their staff, using live sessions to connect with the field team and reinforce the organisation’s mission.

Topics

The Problem: Illiteracy Enables Systemic Exploitation

• The chapter highlights how illiteracy creates systemic vulnerability, even with legal protections like India’s 2009 Right to Education (RTE) Act.

• Financial Exploitation:

  • Bhavri Devi (MNREGA worker): Paid “fixers” to access her wages, losing part of her income due to inability to read bank forms.

  • Vidya (keen saver): Lost ₹3,000 of her ₹12,000 savings to fraudulent bank “charges” because she could not read the withdrawal forms.

• Property Fraud:

  • Poonam (widow): Signed over her property rights to her nephew, believing she was signing for a widow’s pension.

• National Security Risk:

  • Afghanistan (2010): Widespread illiteracy (82% of women, 64% of men) prevented the recruitment of a police force capable of basic tasks, such as noting license plates, undermining national security.

  • Current Situation: The Taliban’s ban on girls’ education beyond grade 6 is seen as a deliberate act of “gender apartheid” that fuels instability.

The Solution: Education as an Inalienable Right

• The author’s personal story and the founding of Educate Girls are rooted in a lived experience of interrupted education and the struggle for self-determination.

• Nagina Banu’s Impact:

  • A child bride who was abused and abandoned after giving birth to a daughter.

  • Her “little bit of education” enabled her to get a job and support herself and her child.

  • Her statement (“My education is the only thing that is truly mine”) was a turning point for the author, solidifying the belief that education is an inherent human right, not a gift.

• Generational Impact:

  • The Singh family’s story shows how free, quality public education in the UK enabled their daughters to become a finance professional and a journalist, transforming the family’s trajectory in one generation.

Partnership: Learning Forward India Foundation & Educate Girls

• Learning Forward India Foundation: A non-profit promoting reading through live, interactive sessions.

  • Rationale: Live reading creates a powerful, personal connection that supplements audiobooks and print, making stories accessible to a wider audience.

  • Reach: Over 600 videos on the “My Good School” YouTube channel.

• Partnership Proposal:

  • Goal: Read Safina’s book to Educate Girls’ staff, including the field team.

  • Format: Multiple weekly sessions (Thursdays, Saturdays) to accommodate schedules.

  • Language: Sessions will be in English and Hindi to ensure accessibility.