The Book That Is Gold!

The Book of Gold Leaves by Mirza Waheed is a quintessential Kashmiri love story and the romance between Faiz and Roohi is poignant as well as uplifting. In the backdrop of their love affair, the centuries old archetypal culture of Kashmir gleams on every page of the book and the unpleasant, cruel blemishes of the conflict appear as never-ending eclipse, line after line. The abundance of culture brings a smile on the reader's face and the stains of cruelty fill his heart with endless ache.

        Culture, so rich that even the conflict of almost two decades could not rob it of its sheen.
        Conflict, so painful that it will remain engraved in the crevices of our bruised culture, forever.

The book is however, a pure delight for a non-Kashmiri reader, because the beauty of reading fiction lies in imagination. The reader, while reading about an unfamiliar place, culture and the experiences he has never had, adapts the whole drama as per his artistic aptitude. The reader's mind becomes his personal theatre and the characters and the events unfold as per his desire.

Conversely it is hard for a Kashmiri to visit the theatre of his mind while reading The Book of Gold Leaves, especially for my generation. I grew up in 90s and all I needed to do is, remember, for I have literally lived the conflict and have watched it discolour my culture too.

I have seen heroes return from Pakistan as trained freedom fighters. I have seen them lead as the hysterical crowds would chant ‘Azadi’. I have seen the olive green trucks halt from dusk to dawn, outside my house. I have seen Pandits abandon their houses. And, I have seen many a love stories bloom under the shadow of gun.
Curfew, crack-down, firing, shoot- out from the second floor of our ancestral house, a gun positioned on my Father’s chest …..Phew! Yeah, I have seen it all and while reading the book, I just needed to remember.

Nonetheless, Kashmiri or Non-Kashmiri, if you are a book lover, grab a copy, because, The Book of Gold Leaves is the one you must read. It is beautiful! You will fall in love with the love story of Faiz and Roohi and you will fall in love with Kashmir. Do read :)
"Hume chahiye tha milna
kissi ahd-e-mehrbaan mein
kissi khwab ke yaqeen main
kissi aur aasman par
kissi aur sarzameen main
hame chahiye the milna"



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