The Portrayal of Human Predicament in Contemporary Kashmiri Literature

Abstract

The research aims at studying how the literature written on Kashmir in the period of historical crises and conflict portrays the human predicament of the affected populace. This study has been based on the premise that literature, because of its inalienable representational nature, directly or indirectly deals with human problems specific to the particular milieu and moment. Literature produced on Kashmir in modern times provides us with a good example of the nature of form and content of creative expression in extreme conditions of violence caused by communal schisms, cultural dissolution, and combative politics. newlineThe literature of Kashmir is a faithful reflection of the human agony and suffering caused by the turbulent political crisis that has torn asunder the millennia-old cultural and social fabric of the people. Because of the political upheaval, Kashmiri society, known for its exemplary communal harmony and peaceful coexistence has undergone a sea-change. newlineThe basic guiding motive of this study has been to study some of the representative stories, poems and novels available in the Kashmiri language as well as in English in relation to various social, cultural, and psychological factors responsible for the turmoil that engulfed a whole valley and shook its very foundation. As far as the contemporary literature on Kashmir is concerned, many writers have addressed diverse themes but there isn t substantial work done by any one writer, so it becomes pertinent for the scope of my research to encompass several writers. However the writers whose writings have been discussed in detail are Poetry: Dinanath Nadim, Rahman Rahi, Agha Shahid Ali, Arjan Dev Majboor, Bal Krishan Sayasi, Naseem Shafai and Shafi Shauq; Short Story: Hari Krishan Koul, Rattan Lal Shant, Makhan Lal Pandita, Roop Krishan Bhat, and Shafi Shauq; Novel: Akhtar Mohiuddin, Pran Kishore, Basharat Peer, Siddhartha Gigoo and Mirza Waheed. These writers are of pivotal importance so far as the portrayal of the human predicament, pain, suffering and ...