Kashmir Stray Thoughts (Restructuring the Story of Kashmir in a Collection of Essays)

Kashmir-Stray Thoughts, a collection of essays is author's first book compilation. In essence, the book is a collection of newspaper columns, wherein an effort has been made to place these columns-stray thoughts on Kashmir, in as much a chronological order as possible. This may help the reader to get an idea, what the tale of Kashmir is all about, are construction of the tale.

The tale starts with spiritual tunings--of Kashmir's abiding faith in the saintly order-the Reshis' of the vale. The note of loss of independence follows-bringing into focus the geo-political concepts, which led to 1586, the year Kashmir, lost her independence.

The Amritsar agreement of 1846, when the vale was sold for 75 lacs is followed by Kashmir recovering her soul in 1931, as the struggle for 'Azadi' ensued. 1947 is covered in many articles-the year 'K' issue of international concern took shape, 1953 follows the year of breach of trust, there are series of articles on Indo/Pak Kashmir centric foreign policy, yet again in chronological order, and then other landmarks down to political narratives of the present epoch. Constitutional aspects of Indian and Pakistani administered Kashmir stay covered in the book.

1946 born, Dr. Javid Iqbal is a medico by profession, 1969 GMC Srinagar graduate. Widely travelled, he has served the profession in Middle East for over three decades.

Presently he is 'Academic controller & Coordinator' in Tahira Khanam's Paramedical Sciences Institute, Srinagar, a position he has been holding for over a decade. A social activist associated with civil society groups, he is 'Secretary of Care Kashmir International' a health and environment advocacy group.

Multilingual, due to decades abroad, long stay in Iran provided him with an opportunity to dwell deep in Persian literature, the famed poetry of the language Persian poetry admitted to be the best in poetic realm by literary experts, reflects in his writing. On his return home at the turn of the century, Dr. Iqbal took to column writing. In the process, he became a regular contributor to English and vernacular print media, namely.... Greater Kashmir, Kashmir Uzma [Urdu publication of 'GK' group] Kashmir Times, Rising Kashmir, Kashmir Reader, Aftab and Srinagar Times.

**Contents and Sample Pages**