
Since 1947-48, when India and Pakistan fought their first war over Kashmir, it has been reduced to an endlessly disputed territory. As a result, the people of this region and its rich history are often forgotten. This short introduction untangles the complex issue of Kashmir to help readers understand not just its past, present, and future, but also the sources of the existing misconceptions about it.In lucidly written prose, the author presents a range of ways in which Kashmir has been imagined by its inhabitants and outsiders over the centuries-a sacred space, homeland, nation, secular symbol, and a zone of conflict. Kashmir thus emerges in this account as a geographic entity as well as a composite of multiple ideas and shifting boundaries that were produced in specific historical and political contexts.
This book investigates the historical, political, and cultural complexities of Kashmir to challenge the reductionist view of the region as merely a disputed territory. Professor Chitralekha Zutshi, a historian specializing in modern South Asian history, utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to examine how Kashmir has been conceptualized by both its inhabitants and external powers over several centuries. By analyzing shifting boundaries and competing narratives, the author provides a framework for understanding the region beyond the binary of the India-Pakistan conflict.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Experts highlight this work as a foundational text for students and general readers seeking to move beyond mainstream media narratives. Readers frequently note the clarity of the prose, which successfully distills dense historical and political themes into an accessible format.
Page Count:
212
Publication Date:
2020-01-12
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190121416
ISBN-13:
9780190121419
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!