A Street in Srinagar (Chandrakanta)

SriNagar, Capital city of the famed paradise on earth, Kashmir, Ailan Gali, a deep, dark narrow lane that lies at its heart, where houses stand on a finger’s width of space and lea crookedly against each other, so deep, so narrow, so closely connected that even thieves do not dare enter. Yet people live and love here, they cling onto their old ways, they share stories and food, joys and sorrows, sufficient unto themselves.

But the outside world beckons, youngsters begin to leave, and slowly change makes its way into Ailan Gali only to find it’s hitherto hidden mirror image- the change that has insidiously been working its way into the lives of those who are the gali’s permanent residents.

This funny, poignant, evocative story of a Kahmir as yet untouched by violence- but with its shadows looming at the edges- is a classic, of /hindi lliterature, available in English translation for first time.

Chandrakanta Studied in Srinnagar and Rajasthan and published her firat story in 1967 in Kalpana. She has since written and published many novels and short collections as well as a volume of poetry.