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Snakes in the Meadows
Jammu and Kashmir, 1987. In the hilly village of pathri Aali, where legends appear true, Aslam and ashwar, two young lovers, dream of marriage and of good things of life. But that is not to be. Unable to cope, Aslam leaves pathri Aali forever. Years later, as men migrate to Saudi Arabia for employment, pathri Aali is populated mostly by women and children. Soon they realize the mujahedeen, who guise themselves as their liberators, are the worst perpetrators, and misery seems inescapable. Ashwar refuses to be cowed down by this reign of terror and is determined not to let it devastate the once-peaceful village. The only one she can Bank on is aslam—and she calls out to him across the distance of time and space, to return and live up to the legends of their village. Snakes in the meadows is a saga of the onset of militancy, and the suffering and the resilience of pir panjal—the ‘and’ of Jammu and Kashmir.
- GenresContemporaryFiction
288 pages, Paperback
Published April 20, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 184 reviews
May 5, 2019
In his debut book Snakes in the Meadows the author Ayaz Kohli narrates the tale of terror in a village of Pathri Aali, situated in Jammu and Kashmir. The cover page painting is beautiful and full of emotions.
The main characters of the story are Ashwar and Aslam. They fall in love at the tender age of sixteen, but they were separated because of their family ego. Ashwar forced to marry a widow Hanif, father of two children, Manzoor and Shamma. Aslam ran away from his marriage, leaves his family to suffer the consequences of his cowardliness. The time flies and once again their path cross, but this time the situation is far worse. Their village, their beautiful Eden is now filled with snakes. It is captured by militants (Mujahidin).
The people live in utter misery, but no one cares. The army and police deny helping. In this difficult situation, Ashwar takes charge, and with the help of villagers, they formed a committee to protect themselves. The story revolves around different folk tales of the village, family rivalry, politics. It is a perfect blend of facts and fiction. The women were raped, children were molested, men beaten by militants. They all were shattered from inside, but still, they don't lose hope. They stand against all the demons.
This story gives me a lot to think about. We live in our nest without giving any thought about the people who live near borders, and we are unaware of their sufferings. Ayaz Kohli is a master storyteller. He penned every word carefully, and it touches the reader's heart. With a pinch of optimism, anything is possible; this proves the people of Pathri Aali. The characters are placed very well, and they grow with time. The narration is smooth as silk. I highly recommend this mesmerizing book.
Read more about this book here - https://www.bookscharming.com/2019/05...
The main characters of the story are Ashwar and Aslam. They fall in love at the tender age of sixteen, but they were separated because of their family ego. Ashwar forced to marry a widow Hanif, father of two children, Manzoor and Shamma. Aslam ran away from his marriage, leaves his family to suffer the consequences of his cowardliness. The time flies and once again their path cross, but this time the situation is far worse. Their village, their beautiful Eden is now filled with snakes. It is captured by militants (Mujahidin).
The people live in utter misery, but no one cares. The army and police deny helping. In this difficult situation, Ashwar takes charge, and with the help of villagers, they formed a committee to protect themselves. The story revolves around different folk tales of the village, family rivalry, politics. It is a perfect blend of facts and fiction. The women were raped, children were molested, men beaten by militants. They all were shattered from inside, but still, they don't lose hope. They stand against all the demons.
This story gives me a lot to think about. We live in our nest without giving any thought about the people who live near borders, and we are unaware of their sufferings. Ayaz Kohli is a master storyteller. He penned every word carefully, and it touches the reader's heart. With a pinch of optimism, anything is possible; this proves the people of Pathri Aali. The characters are placed very well, and they grow with time. The narration is smooth as silk. I highly recommend this mesmerizing book.
Read more about this book here - https://www.bookscharming.com/2019/05...
May 18, 2019
Book- Snakes in the Meadows
Author- Ayaz Kohli
One word- different
Do I recommend- yes
Short summary-
In the hilly village of Pathri Aali, where legends appear true, Aslam and Ashwar, two young lovers, dreaming of good things in life. But that is not to be. Unable to cope, Aslam leaves Pathri Aali forever. When the once liberators turn into the real villains, Ashwar calls out to Aslam to save their once peaceful village. It's a saga of the onset of militancy, and the suffering and the resilience of Pir Panjal—the ‘And’ of Jammu And Kashmir.
.
.
My Review-
I have been seeing mixed reviews for this one and I kind of agree with all of them. But this book is definitely different. It talks about a lot of topics like misogyny, terrorism, young love, religious fanaticism, inequality, military, hypocrisy, and some other typical rural hierarchy and sports that you might not see nowadays, such as bullfights, panchayat system, etc. If you have ever been in rural areas then it might be very relatable to you.
The narration and language is a bit like the folktales you hear in your childhood, it's described in a storytelling manner which I loved a lot. Like there's a children's story called "Bann Budhi" in the beginning, it's a tale I grew up listening to in my childhood. So I would be lying if I say it didn't make me nostalgic.
The characters and their development was quite great. But honestly, I found the names quite confusing. While reading the blurb, I could not even detect which one was male or female. I don't know if it was just me or others found it that way too. So you should see for yourself. I liked Ashwar a lot. She was very mature and strong for her age. But I thought Aslam was a bit too immature and carefree in the beginning and hence I didn't like him that much. Towards the end, he did change my perspective of him though.
The cover is very basic but accurate enough. It is a combination of politics, reality and fiction. It shows the reality of the "Heaven on Earth in India", that is Kashmir.
The detailing and portrayal of the place and characters was great. The book is packed with so many elements and talks about so many issues. And yet the author managed to make it interesting instead of long and monotonous.
Author- Ayaz Kohli
One word- different
Do I recommend- yes
Short summary-
In the hilly village of Pathri Aali, where legends appear true, Aslam and Ashwar, two young lovers, dreaming of good things in life. But that is not to be. Unable to cope, Aslam leaves Pathri Aali forever. When the once liberators turn into the real villains, Ashwar calls out to Aslam to save their once peaceful village. It's a saga of the onset of militancy, and the suffering and the resilience of Pir Panjal—the ‘And’ of Jammu And Kashmir.
.
.
My Review-
I have been seeing mixed reviews for this one and I kind of agree with all of them. But this book is definitely different. It talks about a lot of topics like misogyny, terrorism, young love, religious fanaticism, inequality, military, hypocrisy, and some other typical rural hierarchy and sports that you might not see nowadays, such as bullfights, panchayat system, etc. If you have ever been in rural areas then it might be very relatable to you.
The narration and language is a bit like the folktales you hear in your childhood, it's described in a storytelling manner which I loved a lot. Like there's a children's story called "Bann Budhi" in the beginning, it's a tale I grew up listening to in my childhood. So I would be lying if I say it didn't make me nostalgic.
The characters and their development was quite great. But honestly, I found the names quite confusing. While reading the blurb, I could not even detect which one was male or female. I don't know if it was just me or others found it that way too. So you should see for yourself. I liked Ashwar a lot. She was very mature and strong for her age. But I thought Aslam was a bit too immature and carefree in the beginning and hence I didn't like him that much. Towards the end, he did change my perspective of him though.
The cover is very basic but accurate enough. It is a combination of politics, reality and fiction. It shows the reality of the "Heaven on Earth in India", that is Kashmir.
The detailing and portrayal of the place and characters was great. The book is packed with so many elements and talks about so many issues. And yet the author managed to make it interesting instead of long and monotonous.
December 10, 2019
Ashwar and Aslam are two young lovers, after their affair is discovered, all their dreams and ambitions are crushed. Ashwar is married to a widower, Hanif, who has two children. Aslam flees from his own marraige, and is disowned by his father for going against his word. The village of Pathri Aali witnesses its worse case scenario when the militants unleash their cruelty on the people. They are also opressed by the Army.
After thoroughly thinking about all the books I've read this year, I can say it's this book that has touched my heart the most. This stands as an autobiography of a whole community, and that makes all the parts and peices of the story, the characters so important because one becomes a representative of the others. This knowledge really sensitizes you.
I noticed that the author doesn't vividly decribes some traumatizing scenes, but they'll affect you deeply nonetheless. Salute to a good writing style. Every line, symbol, motif is well thought of, and you'll see that nothing is insignificant. This book is very carefully written, the author gives you the very first raw and honest thoughts of the characters, which makes them very real. Snakes in the meadows shows what power, and greed does to a person. It shows how people exploit others in the name of religion, without ever being faithful or genuine to their beliefs, and how in the name of authority, those who are supposed to protect the people, become the ones who are annihilating them.
You'll see children of Pathri Aali who grew up listening to folk tales later become heroes of tales of valour that will be passed on to their descendants. I love the representation of women in this novel. The author gives them their deserved space to express their desire to protect their children, their men, their dignity. Their unity, love, invincible spirits, their capability of fighting back is beautifully painted. The suffering, sacrifice, culture, inner bonds of people, the pastoral beauty, people's love for the shrine of the Pathri Pir moved my soul.
I loved this book very much, and I highly recommend it.
After thoroughly thinking about all the books I've read this year, I can say it's this book that has touched my heart the most. This stands as an autobiography of a whole community, and that makes all the parts and peices of the story, the characters so important because one becomes a representative of the others. This knowledge really sensitizes you.
I noticed that the author doesn't vividly decribes some traumatizing scenes, but they'll affect you deeply nonetheless. Salute to a good writing style. Every line, symbol, motif is well thought of, and you'll see that nothing is insignificant. This book is very carefully written, the author gives you the very first raw and honest thoughts of the characters, which makes them very real. Snakes in the meadows shows what power, and greed does to a person. It shows how people exploit others in the name of religion, without ever being faithful or genuine to their beliefs, and how in the name of authority, those who are supposed to protect the people, become the ones who are annihilating them.
You'll see children of Pathri Aali who grew up listening to folk tales later become heroes of tales of valour that will be passed on to their descendants. I love the representation of women in this novel. The author gives them their deserved space to express their desire to protect their children, their men, their dignity. Their unity, love, invincible spirits, their capability of fighting back is beautifully painted. The suffering, sacrifice, culture, inner bonds of people, the pastoral beauty, people's love for the shrine of the Pathri Pir moved my soul.
I loved this book very much, and I highly recommend it.
June 23, 2019
It is 1987 in the hilly village of Pathri Aali, Jammu, and Kashmir, two young lovers, Aslam and Ashwar dream of marriage and good things in life. But things never work out the way you think. Amidst unrest in the valley, Aslam leaves the village and Ashwar is bound to marry another man.
🌺
How their lives take different turns and how the people of Pathri Aali are in a constant state of misery, both by the Army and the mujahideen, "Snakes in the meadows is a saga of the onset of militancy and the resilience of pir panjal.
🌺
The author has penned each word beautifully describing the allure of Jammu and Kashmir and the way story proceeds, the atrocities that the villagers are subjected to and how each characters life advances, makes the book unputdownable.
The various subplots and shift in narratives do make the plot a bit confusing and I felt some of the subplots could be avoided for the sake of making the narrative more cohesive.
🌺
All in all, a riveting and engaging read, filled with a lot of emotions and heart-rending stories of the perseverance of the people of Pir Panjal.
Rating :⭐⭐⭐.5/5
Genre: fiction, indian-literature
🌺
How their lives take different turns and how the people of Pathri Aali are in a constant state of misery, both by the Army and the mujahideen, "Snakes in the meadows is a saga of the onset of militancy and the resilience of pir panjal.
🌺
The author has penned each word beautifully describing the allure of Jammu and Kashmir and the way story proceeds, the atrocities that the villagers are subjected to and how each characters life advances, makes the book unputdownable.
The various subplots and shift in narratives do make the plot a bit confusing and I felt some of the subplots could be avoided for the sake of making the narrative more cohesive.
🌺
All in all, a riveting and engaging read, filled with a lot of emotions and heart-rending stories of the perseverance of the people of Pir Panjal.
Rating :⭐⭐⭐.5/5
Genre: fiction, indian-literature
May 20, 2019
The book lives upto its reputation by not only satiating my taste, but also provides a better perspective & understanding of the importance of love, life, freedom, patriotism, selfless love, true love, family & bond cherished between people.
Hardly we find any books that have so much power & potential in them to leave a mark in our hearts. This book was so devastatingly powerful. It weaves a symphony which strikes chord in every reader's hearts. Story is so realistic, the way it etches deeply in our souls - impersonates an unrelenting bond we share with humans. What an amazing read, a painful poignant journey which lingers for a lifetime!
Blurb depicts most of the story.
Snakes In The Meadows is set in the Jammu And Kashmir, 1987. In the hilly village of Pathri Aali, where legends appear true, Aslam and Ashwar, two young lovers, dream of marriage and of good things of life. But that is not to be. Unable to cope, Aslam leaves Pathri Aali forever. Years later, as men migrate to Saudi Arabia for employment, Pathri Aali is populated mostly by women and children. Soon they realize the Mujahideen, who guise themselves as their liberators, are the worst perpetrators, and misery seems inescapable. Ashwar refuses to be cowed down by this reign of terror and is determined not to let it devastate the once-peaceful village. The only one she can bank on is Aslam—and she calls out to him across the distance of time and space, to return and live up to the legends of their village. Snakes in the Meadows is a saga of the onset of militancy, and the suffering and the resilience of Pir Panjal—the ‘And’ of Jammu And Kashmir.
The world can be seen truly only if it's felt from inside. True beauty can be felt only when a person is alive. If you wish to seek a true difference to this indifferent world, then understand & feel from the depths of your soul. Only by moving freely & setting themselves free, one can derive a true insight. One who feels the pain of others can express it into light. To inhale all negativity inside with each breath & exhale positivity for everything we've ever felt. Whatever we do in live, irrespective of good or bad deeds, it's for our children & for the future generations yet to come.
Life is all about choices & the choices we make shape our destiny, future & the path that lies ahead of us. For some it's blissful, for others it's cruel. Some may think it's fair, some unfair. However, this is the law of nature, game of life. No matter what you do, no matter what you seek, this is the way of life, one has to accept it, respect it & cherish it for as long as they can.
"Noone lives long in a war."
Language is good. Narration is good.
The only thing that I didn't like about the book was the minor errors at some places, the grammatical mistakes irked me sometimes. Also, the plot has been imbalanced sometimes, it either felt too fast or too slow which caused confusion at times & monotonous. Too much of explanation at irrelevant places also made it boring & a bit difficult to finish.
Hardly we find any books that have so much power & potential in them to leave a mark in our hearts. This book was so devastatingly powerful. It weaves a symphony which strikes chord in every reader's hearts. Story is so realistic, the way it etches deeply in our souls - impersonates an unrelenting bond we share with humans. What an amazing read, a painful poignant journey which lingers for a lifetime!
Blurb depicts most of the story.
Snakes In The Meadows is set in the Jammu And Kashmir, 1987. In the hilly village of Pathri Aali, where legends appear true, Aslam and Ashwar, two young lovers, dream of marriage and of good things of life. But that is not to be. Unable to cope, Aslam leaves Pathri Aali forever. Years later, as men migrate to Saudi Arabia for employment, Pathri Aali is populated mostly by women and children. Soon they realize the Mujahideen, who guise themselves as their liberators, are the worst perpetrators, and misery seems inescapable. Ashwar refuses to be cowed down by this reign of terror and is determined not to let it devastate the once-peaceful village. The only one she can bank on is Aslam—and she calls out to him across the distance of time and space, to return and live up to the legends of their village. Snakes in the Meadows is a saga of the onset of militancy, and the suffering and the resilience of Pir Panjal—the ‘And’ of Jammu And Kashmir.
The world can be seen truly only if it's felt from inside. True beauty can be felt only when a person is alive. If you wish to seek a true difference to this indifferent world, then understand & feel from the depths of your soul. Only by moving freely & setting themselves free, one can derive a true insight. One who feels the pain of others can express it into light. To inhale all negativity inside with each breath & exhale positivity for everything we've ever felt. Whatever we do in live, irrespective of good or bad deeds, it's for our children & for the future generations yet to come.
Life is all about choices & the choices we make shape our destiny, future & the path that lies ahead of us. For some it's blissful, for others it's cruel. Some may think it's fair, some unfair. However, this is the law of nature, game of life. No matter what you do, no matter what you seek, this is the way of life, one has to accept it, respect it & cherish it for as long as they can.
"Noone lives long in a war."
Language is good. Narration is good.
The only thing that I didn't like about the book was the minor errors at some places, the grammatical mistakes irked me sometimes. Also, the plot has been imbalanced sometimes, it either felt too fast or too slow which caused confusion at times & monotonous. Too much of explanation at irrelevant places also made it boring & a bit difficult to finish.
June 18, 2019
🔖Book - Snakes In The Meadows
🔖Author - Ayaz Kohli
🔖Publishers - @rupa_publications.
🔖Blurb - J&K in 1987, In the hilly village of Pathri Aali, Aslam and Ashwar, two young lovers dream of marriage and all the good things of life. But that is not to be.Unable to cope Aslam leaves Pathri Aali forever.
Years later as militancy and terrorism engulfs the village and misery seems inescapable. Ashwar who refuses to be cowed down calls out Aslam across the distance to return and live up the legends of their village.
🔖Review - 🔰Plot - The plot of the story is masterfully crafted and very well narrated.
- The amalgamation of fiction and facts makes it an interesting and engaging read that keep the readers glued till the end.
- Narrated in fast pace the story throws light upon the situation in which people had to live in 1987 in the Pir Panjal region of J&K.
-Some parts of it are sure to give the readers goosebumps.
- The plot explores a myriad of human emotions such as love, sorrow, horror, hatred, misery, resistance etc.
🔰Character Potrayl - All the characters are very well developed and seem to very realistic and relatable.
- The courage, love and loyalty of people towards their motherland arise our deepest admiration for them.
🔰Language- The story is told in a simple and easily understandable language.
- Apt and potent words throughout the story.
🔰Cover & Title - The cover of the book is meticulously designed keeping in view the essence of the story.
- The title of the book has been well thought of and goes well with the plot.
🔰Special Points - The book is an endeavour of the author to make the common man understand the situation that is persistent even today in different districts of J&K.
- Through his work he criticises the militancy and terrorism that in the name of liberation devastate the lives of 1000's of people.
-I personally loved the last part 'Sarp Vinash' of the story.
-The writting style of the author is highly commendable and i would love to read more from him.
🔖Author - Ayaz Kohli
🔖Publishers - @rupa_publications.
🔖Blurb - J&K in 1987, In the hilly village of Pathri Aali, Aslam and Ashwar, two young lovers dream of marriage and all the good things of life. But that is not to be.Unable to cope Aslam leaves Pathri Aali forever.
Years later as militancy and terrorism engulfs the village and misery seems inescapable. Ashwar who refuses to be cowed down calls out Aslam across the distance to return and live up the legends of their village.
🔖Review - 🔰Plot - The plot of the story is masterfully crafted and very well narrated.
- The amalgamation of fiction and facts makes it an interesting and engaging read that keep the readers glued till the end.
- Narrated in fast pace the story throws light upon the situation in which people had to live in 1987 in the Pir Panjal region of J&K.
-Some parts of it are sure to give the readers goosebumps.
- The plot explores a myriad of human emotions such as love, sorrow, horror, hatred, misery, resistance etc.
🔰Character Potrayl - All the characters are very well developed and seem to very realistic and relatable.
- The courage, love and loyalty of people towards their motherland arise our deepest admiration for them.
🔰Language- The story is told in a simple and easily understandable language.
- Apt and potent words throughout the story.
🔰Cover & Title - The cover of the book is meticulously designed keeping in view the essence of the story.
- The title of the book has been well thought of and goes well with the plot.
🔰Special Points - The book is an endeavour of the author to make the common man understand the situation that is persistent even today in different districts of J&K.
- Through his work he criticises the militancy and terrorism that in the name of liberation devastate the lives of 1000's of people.
-I personally loved the last part 'Sarp Vinash' of the story.
-The writting style of the author is highly commendable and i would love to read more from him.
May 6, 2019
Story is based in 1987 in the hilly village of Pathri Ali in Jammu and Kashmir. Initial few chapters are of different tales of the people of the village. I found those quite attractive. I loved the plot as it’s unique. There are number of characters I liked such as Haji Mir, Aslam, Aswar. I liked the chapter when Aslam and Aswar are lovers and due to circumstances and mentality, circumstances tore them apart. When Aswar got married to a guy with quite age difference and kids, that was a really heart touching moment for me as till today, I can see those things in society. I loved when the plot took turn towards the Mujahideen and Pakistani terrorism activities. The perfect and clear picture has been described by the author. It was really impactful description how they brainwash young lads and how they take advantage of poor people. I won’t discuss further plot as it will be spoilers for the readers. If we talk in general about the book, the plot is amazing. The author has good writing style that grips the attention of the readers. Unpredictable twists and turns take place during whole story line. Overall good one. A must read and definitely recommended. I would love to see a movie based on this one because whole time I had the same feeling while reading.
May 9, 2019
Snakes in the Meadows
.
Everyone fall in love at younger age. Hopefully you Also did and we at that time we think that is everything we want but, somehow after years we realize that life is much more than old situation. We get into better or bitter relationship depends on our surrounding. Well this story revolves around same things.
.
Let's talk about first cover well personal just looking at cover probably I won't pick up. But, that face and duo made me curious to read her thoughts and understand situation behind it.
.
The story of book is situated in jammu and Kashmir in a village of pathri ali. Our protagonist ashwar and aslam fall in love at very amateur age. But, as always our family wants different so they got separated. Ashwar forced to marry hanif. And on other side aslam ran away from family. But, the destiny wants something different.
.
Aslam and ashwar crossed there path in future. Where in pathri ali the terrorism is gradually increasing.( Obvious reason it's part of J&K). Abusing child, torture to next level. Raping women. After all this ashwar take decision to protect themselves. Does ashwar will succeed? What Happened to love story? Who will stay till end ?
.
Well, I personally love this type of narration which is based on facts plus fiction. Talking about character well developed and described. The language easy going and lucid. The thing only I didn't liked when we reach to halfway through book it becomes little slow. And I believe some part can be cut down.
.
In a nutshell an emotional narration with Beautiful tale.
.
Everyone fall in love at younger age. Hopefully you Also did and we at that time we think that is everything we want but, somehow after years we realize that life is much more than old situation. We get into better or bitter relationship depends on our surrounding. Well this story revolves around same things.
.
Let's talk about first cover well personal just looking at cover probably I won't pick up. But, that face and duo made me curious to read her thoughts and understand situation behind it.
.
The story of book is situated in jammu and Kashmir in a village of pathri ali. Our protagonist ashwar and aslam fall in love at very amateur age. But, as always our family wants different so they got separated. Ashwar forced to marry hanif. And on other side aslam ran away from family. But, the destiny wants something different.
.
Aslam and ashwar crossed there path in future. Where in pathri ali the terrorism is gradually increasing.( Obvious reason it's part of J&K). Abusing child, torture to next level. Raping women. After all this ashwar take decision to protect themselves. Does ashwar will succeed? What Happened to love story? Who will stay till end ?
.
Well, I personally love this type of narration which is based on facts plus fiction. Talking about character well developed and described. The language easy going and lucid. The thing only I didn't liked when we reach to halfway through book it becomes little slow. And I believe some part can be cut down.
.
In a nutshell an emotional narration with Beautiful tale.
May 8, 2019
I received a review copy of Snakes in the Meadows from @BooksCharming (Instagram) in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the copy. :)
'Snakes in the Meadows' begins with a letter that I felt, for some insane reason, was accusing me of being ignorant and unwilling to take action. It was a personal jibe when I first read it. And I didn’t understand why such a letter was addressed to me. Here’s a couple of lines from the letter:
“I can’t believe that you’re unaware of our misery, oblivious of our suffering. And if you indeed don’t know anything, well, you don’t deserve to.”
“What have I done wrong?” I asked myself. “Why is the letter being so rude? What in heaven’s name have I done?”
But it was well into the book before I realized that that letter wasn’t for me and I felt like a complete idiot. Because of course it wasn’t for me. It was part of this heartbreaking story and the fury I felt at the beginning and the fury I felt at the actual point in the story that this letter appeared had the same intensity, but different reasons.
'Snakes in the Meadows' is the story of a community of people in the village of Pathri Aali in Jammu and Kashmir where peace prevails and life goes on with tales of the past doing the rounds. It seems like there is absolutely no reason why anyone should hate anyone else. Love even blooms between Aslam and Ashwar. But when the extremely religious community gets wind of this affair, Ashwar is married off to a widower with two children.
Aslam leaves the village and Haji Mir (his father) disowns him. As men leave for Saudi Arabia for employment, militancy, in the form of the Mujahideen, takes roots in and around Pathri Aali, and gradually terrorizes everyone – raping women, abusing children, and torturing the men of the village. What happens when the people – Ashwar in particular – decide that they’ve had enough of the torture meted out by these said liberators forms the rest of the story.
The first point that I want to stress upon is the writing style. It is fluid and gets the message across wonderfully from start (after the letter ends) to the very finish. For us women, who have seen so much misogyny in our lives even while living in what is supposedly a modern era, this book shows how far worse it can get for us. Women are seen as conquests of war. We are seen as the lesser people, bound by rules and tradition. We are berated or punished if we do anything that is against what is expected of us. Misogyny appears even in the smallest of ways and we’ve a long way to go before we start living in a world without this hatred. I veered off topic for a moment there, but read Snakes in the Meadows and you’ll see why I say so.
'Snakes in the Meadows' is set in Jammu and Kashmir, the meadows being Pathri Aali and the snakes being the militants. In such a Paradise-like existence, the arrival of even the smallest of conflicts is huge. But the mujahids turn up out of nowhere, preaching their Islamic tenets and declaring anything that doesn’t sit well with them as un-Islamic and meting out horrible punishments including death qualifies them as the venomous snakes that they are.
To be honest, it isn’t even the bigger issues that are a problem. It is the tiny ones too. Misogyny, forcing decisions upon one’s offspring and blackmailing them otherwise, the blatant gender inequality when it comes to treating one’s children in many parts of the world, hypocrisy – how do we battle these issues? How can we make sure we live without them?
'Snakes in the Meadows' talks about religion and how people in Jammu and Kashmir live through the everyday problems and dilemmas that they face. But most glaring in this book is the way the community decides on the fate and character of a girl. If such a sentence or a paragraph or a phrase invokes such anger within you, then it has been well-written and has done its intended job – getting the message across.
There are many times when you feel the flames of fury lick your heart as you read certain pages, but you have to remind yourself to be objective. Because without objectivity, we have no experience and no learning. And when optimism and resilience rules the roost of emotions running high among the people of Pathri Aali, despite severe losses, it is all you can do stop yourself from smiling with pride at those people.
Gripping and unputdownable, this book has that special something that is a product of so many emotions that many books try and fail to imbibe! Recommended!
'Snakes in the Meadows' begins with a letter that I felt, for some insane reason, was accusing me of being ignorant and unwilling to take action. It was a personal jibe when I first read it. And I didn’t understand why such a letter was addressed to me. Here’s a couple of lines from the letter:
“I can’t believe that you’re unaware of our misery, oblivious of our suffering. And if you indeed don’t know anything, well, you don’t deserve to.”
“What have I done wrong?” I asked myself. “Why is the letter being so rude? What in heaven’s name have I done?”
But it was well into the book before I realized that that letter wasn’t for me and I felt like a complete idiot. Because of course it wasn’t for me. It was part of this heartbreaking story and the fury I felt at the beginning and the fury I felt at the actual point in the story that this letter appeared had the same intensity, but different reasons.
'Snakes in the Meadows' is the story of a community of people in the village of Pathri Aali in Jammu and Kashmir where peace prevails and life goes on with tales of the past doing the rounds. It seems like there is absolutely no reason why anyone should hate anyone else. Love even blooms between Aslam and Ashwar. But when the extremely religious community gets wind of this affair, Ashwar is married off to a widower with two children.
Aslam leaves the village and Haji Mir (his father) disowns him. As men leave for Saudi Arabia for employment, militancy, in the form of the Mujahideen, takes roots in and around Pathri Aali, and gradually terrorizes everyone – raping women, abusing children, and torturing the men of the village. What happens when the people – Ashwar in particular – decide that they’ve had enough of the torture meted out by these said liberators forms the rest of the story.
The first point that I want to stress upon is the writing style. It is fluid and gets the message across wonderfully from start (after the letter ends) to the very finish. For us women, who have seen so much misogyny in our lives even while living in what is supposedly a modern era, this book shows how far worse it can get for us. Women are seen as conquests of war. We are seen as the lesser people, bound by rules and tradition. We are berated or punished if we do anything that is against what is expected of us. Misogyny appears even in the smallest of ways and we’ve a long way to go before we start living in a world without this hatred. I veered off topic for a moment there, but read Snakes in the Meadows and you’ll see why I say so.
'Snakes in the Meadows' is set in Jammu and Kashmir, the meadows being Pathri Aali and the snakes being the militants. In such a Paradise-like existence, the arrival of even the smallest of conflicts is huge. But the mujahids turn up out of nowhere, preaching their Islamic tenets and declaring anything that doesn’t sit well with them as un-Islamic and meting out horrible punishments including death qualifies them as the venomous snakes that they are.
To be honest, it isn’t even the bigger issues that are a problem. It is the tiny ones too. Misogyny, forcing decisions upon one’s offspring and blackmailing them otherwise, the blatant gender inequality when it comes to treating one’s children in many parts of the world, hypocrisy – how do we battle these issues? How can we make sure we live without them?
'Snakes in the Meadows' talks about religion and how people in Jammu and Kashmir live through the everyday problems and dilemmas that they face. But most glaring in this book is the way the community decides on the fate and character of a girl. If such a sentence or a paragraph or a phrase invokes such anger within you, then it has been well-written and has done its intended job – getting the message across.
There are many times when you feel the flames of fury lick your heart as you read certain pages, but you have to remind yourself to be objective. Because without objectivity, we have no experience and no learning. And when optimism and resilience rules the roost of emotions running high among the people of Pathri Aali, despite severe losses, it is all you can do stop yourself from smiling with pride at those people.
Gripping and unputdownable, this book has that special something that is a product of so many emotions that many books try and fail to imbibe! Recommended!
May 19, 2019
Snakes In The Meadows highlights the heart touching conditions and reality that citizens of Kashmir are going through in the name of Jihad. As the author puts it, "Pathri Aali was witness to a deathly tug of war. On one side were the militants who constantly persuaded them to join the Jihad. On the other hand, was the Army that regularly picked them up for the questioning." The book is set in the amazingly beautiful valley of Pir Panjal, the place is home to more than just the natural beauty. Ashwar and Aslam fall in love but fate has something else in store for them. Ashwar is forced to marry a widow while Aslam runs away from his marriage. They meet again but now the circumstances are totally different. Their village, Pir Panjal, is now ruled by snakes (militants). The author has weaved several stories togather to paint the reality of Kashmir. The author has done an excellent job with the storyline, the emotions and the characters. You feel, you cry, you feel like screaming while reading the book. He gives you a lot to think about via this book and somewhere makes you feel helpless.
The author has surely won my heart and he has done a flawless job with this book!
The author has surely won my heart and he has done a flawless job with this book!
May 17, 2019
The grass is always greener on the other side until we get closer to it... Goes apt with this book.
In the conquest of claiming Kashmir the government's of both the countries fail to understand the grievances of the innocent people living in the so called paradise on earth.
What I liked?
🌷The description of the place is so nice that one feels the urge to visit it once.
🌷The detailed explanation of the miseries of the common man caught between the militants and the military has been depicted well.
🌷The atrocious acts of the militants on women and children is heart-rending.
What I didn't like?
The names of the characters are almost similar that I found it confusing to understand. It sort of made me turn back the pages to find out who the character actually was.
My verdict
A nice breezy one time read that gives the reader the insights of the pathetic lives of the civilians residing there.
In the conquest of claiming Kashmir the government's of both the countries fail to understand the grievances of the innocent people living in the so called paradise on earth.
What I liked?
🌷The description of the place is so nice that one feels the urge to visit it once.
🌷The detailed explanation of the miseries of the common man caught between the militants and the military has been depicted well.
🌷The atrocious acts of the militants on women and children is heart-rending.
What I didn't like?
The names of the characters are almost similar that I found it confusing to understand. It sort of made me turn back the pages to find out who the character actually was.
My verdict
A nice breezy one time read that gives the reader the insights of the pathetic lives of the civilians residing there.
June 12, 2019
In this commendable debut novel, author Ayaz Kohli takes us on a journey to the valleyes of Kashmir to tell us how the heaven on earth is populated with horrors beyond our imagination.
As we sit back and read, we learn about the lives of people who reside in the middle of a battlefield and just how utterly devastating their lives are, caught in the tangle of a war that they never asked for, never wanted to be a part of truly is.
We live on lands far away, safe from the constant fear that lingers in the air, brutal attacks of those who wreak havoc, watching on our TV screens, passing judgments, clicking our tongues, frowning as we see the gunfires, the attacks, unfolding in front of our eyes, never to stop and think about the people who are constantly in danger, living a life in the midst of chaos, hoping for peace as they're ripped off of the comfort of their homes, as they experience loss and grief everyday in one way or another, as they see their children's eyes turning vacant. This book will make you see what you've not been able to look at until now.
The main protagonist Aslam, heartbroken runs away from his home, leaving his family to pay for the consequences of his cowardice after the love of his life, Ashwar is married off to someone else. As the time goes on, the situation worsens but Aslam still hasn't gathered enough courage to go back. As fate would have it, he comes back only to find that the home he once left now reeks of blood. The families he left behind are torn, the screams of agony can be heard in the wailing wind, determined to bring peace and harmony, The protagonists along with other villagers form a community to protect themselves.
The book is so beautifully written that you can't help but visualize everything in your mind. The horror that fell upon the innocents feels like a punch to the gut everytime, even now when I think about it. The backdrop of every character makes them realistic and makes you connect to them on a deep level.
The story is inspiring and thought provoking with characters who never gave up even in the face of despair. As I think about all the suffering they go through it makes my problems look so small and mundane which I admit they're. As nothing is more horrifying than living in a war zone, watching as the women of your families get molested, the men slaughtered and the children ripped off of their childhood.
Blending facts with fiction, the author has given a story that is raw, brutal but most importantly real.
I don't think I'll be able to stop thinking about it anytime soon.
I totally recommend this.
As we sit back and read, we learn about the lives of people who reside in the middle of a battlefield and just how utterly devastating their lives are, caught in the tangle of a war that they never asked for, never wanted to be a part of truly is.
We live on lands far away, safe from the constant fear that lingers in the air, brutal attacks of those who wreak havoc, watching on our TV screens, passing judgments, clicking our tongues, frowning as we see the gunfires, the attacks, unfolding in front of our eyes, never to stop and think about the people who are constantly in danger, living a life in the midst of chaos, hoping for peace as they're ripped off of the comfort of their homes, as they experience loss and grief everyday in one way or another, as they see their children's eyes turning vacant. This book will make you see what you've not been able to look at until now.
The main protagonist Aslam, heartbroken runs away from his home, leaving his family to pay for the consequences of his cowardice after the love of his life, Ashwar is married off to someone else. As the time goes on, the situation worsens but Aslam still hasn't gathered enough courage to go back. As fate would have it, he comes back only to find that the home he once left now reeks of blood. The families he left behind are torn, the screams of agony can be heard in the wailing wind, determined to bring peace and harmony, The protagonists along with other villagers form a community to protect themselves.
The book is so beautifully written that you can't help but visualize everything in your mind. The horror that fell upon the innocents feels like a punch to the gut everytime, even now when I think about it. The backdrop of every character makes them realistic and makes you connect to them on a deep level.
The story is inspiring and thought provoking with characters who never gave up even in the face of despair. As I think about all the suffering they go through it makes my problems look so small and mundane which I admit they're. As nothing is more horrifying than living in a war zone, watching as the women of your families get molested, the men slaughtered and the children ripped off of their childhood.
Blending facts with fiction, the author has given a story that is raw, brutal but most importantly real.
I don't think I'll be able to stop thinking about it anytime soon.
I totally recommend this.
July 3, 2019
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I received a copy of this book as part of The Book Genie PR Review Program.
When I started reading Snakes in the Meadows, I did so with a rather heavy heart. I had heard a lot about this book and almost all of that was nothing but praise. I was scared, to be honest. What if I don't like it? What if I'm disappointed? And if you know the kind of reader I am, then you'll agree these points were actually very valid. So keeping that in mind, when I decided to finally read the book, I didn't know what to expect. Something tragic, perhaps.
And I got that.
The book begins with the tales of valour of various people but I wasn't sure how that was very important except to maybe provide a background for the story. I guess the book would have worked without those tales as well; so I won't say much on that.
Apart from that, the book seemed a rather nice one. I really liked the way the plot developed and the characters interested me quite a lot. Ashwar was one of my favourites throughout. I appreciated the way she reacted and rather liked her refusal to bowing down, even if that was a little differently than I would have expected.
There was this certain issue with names, however. I mean, I couldn't very well distinguish between some of them. I'll be honest. Until I read the last few lines of the blurb, I had assumed it was an lgbt story because both the names sounded so male. Getting what I'm saying? Is this even making sense?
Lastly, I have something else to say. I wasn't sure whether I should say this or not but this book really reminded me of Shalimar The Clown a lot, what with the similar themes they had and all. There is fanaticism, misogyny, terrorism, young love, military role and our favourite—hypocrisy! And it happened in Jammu and Kashmir. How could it not? Plus, when a story is a part of that region, most of these topics do come into the story. I'm just not sure whether I'm more bothered by it or more fascinated by it.
I received a copy of this book as part of The Book Genie PR Review Program.
When I started reading Snakes in the Meadows, I did so with a rather heavy heart. I had heard a lot about this book and almost all of that was nothing but praise. I was scared, to be honest. What if I don't like it? What if I'm disappointed? And if you know the kind of reader I am, then you'll agree these points were actually very valid. So keeping that in mind, when I decided to finally read the book, I didn't know what to expect. Something tragic, perhaps.
And I got that.
The book begins with the tales of valour of various people but I wasn't sure how that was very important except to maybe provide a background for the story. I guess the book would have worked without those tales as well; so I won't say much on that.
Apart from that, the book seemed a rather nice one. I really liked the way the plot developed and the characters interested me quite a lot. Ashwar was one of my favourites throughout. I appreciated the way she reacted and rather liked her refusal to bowing down, even if that was a little differently than I would have expected.
There was this certain issue with names, however. I mean, I couldn't very well distinguish between some of them. I'll be honest. Until I read the last few lines of the blurb, I had assumed it was an lgbt story because both the names sounded so male. Getting what I'm saying? Is this even making sense?
Lastly, I have something else to say. I wasn't sure whether I should say this or not but this book really reminded me of Shalimar The Clown a lot, what with the similar themes they had and all. There is fanaticism, misogyny, terrorism, young love, military role and our favourite—hypocrisy! And it happened in Jammu and Kashmir. How could it not? Plus, when a story is a part of that region, most of these topics do come into the story. I'm just not sure whether I'm more bothered by it or more fascinated by it.
May 21, 2019
Snakes in the meadows by Ayaz Kohli
When we think of Kashmir we think "heaven on earth". Everyone knows about the famous Kashmiri handloom, cusine and saffron production. When we read about the constant militant attacks in Kashmir we pause for a bit and move on. We never reallythink about the kind of hell our fellow countrymen live in everyday.
Through the story of Aslam and Ashwar the author has done a commendable job of shedding light on the struggles of the people in Jammu and Kashmir .The locals live in constant fear . The politicians play politics and the law enforcement agencies are of hardly any help. Ashwar is forced to take charge of the situation and he encourages the villagers to protect themselves. Through all the hardships, the only thing keeping them alive is hope. Hope of a better future, full of peace and prosperity.
The plot is engaging and fast paced. The characters are well developed and relatable. The language is good and conveys the characters emotions beautifully. I now have a lot more respect for the people of J and K now, because of this book.
When we think of Kashmir we think "heaven on earth". Everyone knows about the famous Kashmiri handloom, cusine and saffron production. When we read about the constant militant attacks in Kashmir we pause for a bit and move on. We never reallythink about the kind of hell our fellow countrymen live in everyday.
Through the story of Aslam and Ashwar the author has done a commendable job of shedding light on the struggles of the people in Jammu and Kashmir .The locals live in constant fear . The politicians play politics and the law enforcement agencies are of hardly any help. Ashwar is forced to take charge of the situation and he encourages the villagers to protect themselves. Through all the hardships, the only thing keeping them alive is hope. Hope of a better future, full of peace and prosperity.
The plot is engaging and fast paced. The characters are well developed and relatable. The language is good and conveys the characters emotions beautifully. I now have a lot more respect for the people of J and K now, because of this book.
May 14, 2019
In a really long time, I came across a book which shook my insides and left me contemplating, fuming, crying, all at once. It filled me with so many emotions drawing out my humanity and heart to the ones who were meted out extreme suffering. I felt for them, for all those innocent humans who were subjected to brutality and horrendous inhumanity.
Snakes In The Meadows is set in the beautiful valley of Pir Panjal. This place which is home to mountains and adorable flora & fauna has to face the wrath of monstrosity when some mujahids (militants) encroach upon their heaven. These devils who call themselves true Muslims wreak havoc on the men and women alike. Even the kids have not been spared to satiate their lustful desires. They are symbols of hypocrisy and cruelty. How would the simple denizens of Pathri Aali free themselves from the shackles of this Jackals? Or would they ever be able to?
In the author’s words, “Pathri Aali was witness to a deathly tug of war. On one side were the militants who constantly persuaded them to join the Jihad. On the other hand, was the Army that regularly picked them up for questioning.” Such was the misery of the people of Pir Panjal. They were undergoing the grisly treatment meted out to them by those militants and there was the Army who showed more of indifference if not a concern.
Jihad is described as serving the higher good of the Muslims but in reality, it gives way to perpetual inhumanity. Kashmir has been the spectator of all wars and battles culminating into loss of lives and aspirations. The beautiful valley has been treated badly and its resounding pain reaches its readers’ hearts. The author attempts to paint the true picture with all the shades of love, fraternity, fear, cruelty, valor, patriotism, and humanity. Through Pir Panjal and its misery, he hints at the challenges and consternation the people live in in the remote areas. The book also lashes out the government for being ‘too occupied’ with important affairs that Kashmir is overlooked. The people have to wage a battle on their own for defending and protecting themselves but support is hard to get from our esteemed higher officials.
I loved the whole book. Each page had the ability to keep moving on to next. I didn’t find any reason to put it down. It simply pulled me out of my position and transported me to the Pathri Aali. I cried, I literally shed tears at the heroes being killed, at the women being raped, and at the kids being traumatized. The writing style is undoubtedly flawless here as it captures the true spirit of the book effectively. I couldn’t find any loophole and I am glad that I got an opportunity to read the book for it was an eye-opener and insightful. There are many stories hinged together, each having an independent storyline, yet bound together well to present the true message of the book. The title compliments the narrative perfectly pointing at the snakes (the militants) crawling in the meadows (Pir Panjal). All the individual plotlines have been treated really well, all the characters found space on the stage, all the sequences have been pieced together smoothly. There is no dead end, no cliffhanger. But there’s an end which satisfied me.
For a powerful story with multiple emotions in the backdrop along with a chance to traverse through Kashmir, DO READ THIS BOOK!
MY RATING: 4.5/ 5
Snakes In The Meadows is set in the beautiful valley of Pir Panjal. This place which is home to mountains and adorable flora & fauna has to face the wrath of monstrosity when some mujahids (militants) encroach upon their heaven. These devils who call themselves true Muslims wreak havoc on the men and women alike. Even the kids have not been spared to satiate their lustful desires. They are symbols of hypocrisy and cruelty. How would the simple denizens of Pathri Aali free themselves from the shackles of this Jackals? Or would they ever be able to?
In the author’s words, “Pathri Aali was witness to a deathly tug of war. On one side were the militants who constantly persuaded them to join the Jihad. On the other hand, was the Army that regularly picked them up for questioning.” Such was the misery of the people of Pir Panjal. They were undergoing the grisly treatment meted out to them by those militants and there was the Army who showed more of indifference if not a concern.
Jihad is described as serving the higher good of the Muslims but in reality, it gives way to perpetual inhumanity. Kashmir has been the spectator of all wars and battles culminating into loss of lives and aspirations. The beautiful valley has been treated badly and its resounding pain reaches its readers’ hearts. The author attempts to paint the true picture with all the shades of love, fraternity, fear, cruelty, valor, patriotism, and humanity. Through Pir Panjal and its misery, he hints at the challenges and consternation the people live in in the remote areas. The book also lashes out the government for being ‘too occupied’ with important affairs that Kashmir is overlooked. The people have to wage a battle on their own for defending and protecting themselves but support is hard to get from our esteemed higher officials.
I loved the whole book. Each page had the ability to keep moving on to next. I didn’t find any reason to put it down. It simply pulled me out of my position and transported me to the Pathri Aali. I cried, I literally shed tears at the heroes being killed, at the women being raped, and at the kids being traumatized. The writing style is undoubtedly flawless here as it captures the true spirit of the book effectively. I couldn’t find any loophole and I am glad that I got an opportunity to read the book for it was an eye-opener and insightful. There are many stories hinged together, each having an independent storyline, yet bound together well to present the true message of the book. The title compliments the narrative perfectly pointing at the snakes (the militants) crawling in the meadows (Pir Panjal). All the individual plotlines have been treated really well, all the characters found space on the stage, all the sequences have been pieced together smoothly. There is no dead end, no cliffhanger. But there’s an end which satisfied me.
For a powerful story with multiple emotions in the backdrop along with a chance to traverse through Kashmir, DO READ THIS BOOK!
MY RATING: 4.5/ 5
August 3, 2019
Snakes In The Meadows by Ayaz Kohli
🚨TRIGGER WARNINGS for Rape, physical abuse and Violence. 🚨
The book is set in Pathri Aali, Jammu and Kashmir. The book narrates the story of two young lovers Aslam and Ashwar and also the natives of Pathri Aali, navigating through the difficulties of life and the tension created by the onset of militancy.
My thoughts 🤔💭
📌 As I read through the book, I confronted many emotions and therefore it is kinda hard to convey my feelings through this review.
I have never been to Jammu and Kashmir and I don't have any first hand knowledge on the trauma they are going through except through movies.
📌 I knew going into this book that this was a hard one to read and it definitely is! This is an own voice book that portrays the pain and agony people in Jammu and Kashmir, have been going through for decades and I still don't know how to express it through words.
📌 We get to see a lot of storylines and how they are woven together is really great! We get to see raw humans in their helpless state and wonder what will we do if we were ever to be in such a situation.
📌 The writing is crisp and short but packs so many emotions within its such short length. I was able to picture the whole scene and I sometimes hated it for making me feel like I was watching it in front of my own eyes.
📌 There was a storyline about a young Mujahid, Hamsa, which touched me and shattered my heart. It felt so eye opening to me. And there are many more times when you just pray that these were not inspired from real events!
📌 Years of terrorism and militancy has its effects on all and nothing is black and white. It's grey and that's something awesome to see in books.
📌 I think everyone should read this book. But I remind you, this one is not for the faint hearted!
🚨TRIGGER WARNINGS for Rape, physical abuse and Violence. 🚨
The book is set in Pathri Aali, Jammu and Kashmir. The book narrates the story of two young lovers Aslam and Ashwar and also the natives of Pathri Aali, navigating through the difficulties of life and the tension created by the onset of militancy.
My thoughts 🤔💭
📌 As I read through the book, I confronted many emotions and therefore it is kinda hard to convey my feelings through this review.
I have never been to Jammu and Kashmir and I don't have any first hand knowledge on the trauma they are going through except through movies.
📌 I knew going into this book that this was a hard one to read and it definitely is! This is an own voice book that portrays the pain and agony people in Jammu and Kashmir, have been going through for decades and I still don't know how to express it through words.
📌 We get to see a lot of storylines and how they are woven together is really great! We get to see raw humans in their helpless state and wonder what will we do if we were ever to be in such a situation.
📌 The writing is crisp and short but packs so many emotions within its such short length. I was able to picture the whole scene and I sometimes hated it for making me feel like I was watching it in front of my own eyes.
📌 There was a storyline about a young Mujahid, Hamsa, which touched me and shattered my heart. It felt so eye opening to me. And there are many more times when you just pray that these were not inspired from real events!
📌 Years of terrorism and militancy has its effects on all and nothing is black and white. It's grey and that's something awesome to see in books.
📌 I think everyone should read this book. But I remind you, this one is not for the faint hearted!
June 21, 2019
You can read all my review on Blog - Books Teacup and Reviews
Snakes in the Meadows told about the horrific time of Pathri Aali village in Jammu and Kashmir when militants took over their holy shrine and turned it into graveyard. It was the horrific tale of the region that lacked recognition, faced ignorance of authorities, was crippled by militants and endured cruelty and tortures that turned their heaven like meadows into prison of hell. It was about true monstrosity in people, misery and suffering of innocents, legends and valour, limits of hope and endurance and power of belief and faith. It was about preserving dignity, protecting people, fighting the evil and reclaiming the peace and honor.
TW– Rape, brutal beating, murders, and child abuse
Book was set in Pathri Aali village, Pir Panjal mountain range of Himalaya in time period of 1987 to 2003 when people were still debating 1947’s kargil war and Pakistan was seething with revenge and to get hold of Indian occupied Kashmir. The village and its tradition, legends and their struggle was mesmerizing to read. I was impressed by writing. It was engaging and felt realistic. There were many characters in the story. Each character told their story which had one common thing, their direct or indirect connection Pathri Aali and what happened there from 1997 to 2003.
Book started with introductory chapter of Aslam’s family and villagers. It was engrossing to read stories of Aslam’s father and his grandfather, Khalifa and his son Akram, Ashwar and beginning of Aslam’s love story. But it ended as soon as it started. It was heart breaking when seeds of Aslam and Ashwar’s love story shoveled out of ground before it could germinate that lead both characters’ life in different direction. Ashwar married a widow Hanif who represented his own life of misery, poverty, and misfortunes in Saudi while Aslam climbed the stairs of career as a security officer that was close to his dream of being cop. First I thought story might revolve around just Ashwar and Aslam, but I was so wrong. Lot was going on that affected their life tremendously even though they were miles apart.
There were plans of ISI recruiting people for jihad, for independence of Indian occupied Kashmir. This part had many characters that intermittently introduced militants’ life, their plan, sins they committed, and how some were brainwashed while some were victim of poverty and deceit who were not allowed to go back to their normal life and family, for whom the death or doing what they were told was only option. There were chapters that not only showed monstrous acts of militants but also horrendous crimes of military officers that appalled and disgusted me more than anything in the book.
Title was most relevant. It based on the legend of Serpent in the Garden of Eden, who represented evil. Here the serpent was militants and the garden of Eden was meadows of Pathri Aali village. This book made readers to think who are the real monsters, militant or militarily, those who keep their door shut to people who really needs help or those who shelters culprits, those who does the devil’s work in name of God or those who believes their words without a second thought.
Emotions of villagers were raw. It was hard not to empathize with them. They had to go through terrible time and face rape, beating to death, murders, and child abuse. But it all didn’t shock me as much as response of both army and police authorities when villagers went to ask for their help. That’s the thing here, you don’t get anything unless you come with high rankings referral or proof. I mean what officials were thinking villagers were just making up stories! And only when one of the villager came with proof to one of the officer who push the matters to higher commands, they acted! Until then they were just going to ignore the matter! Ahem, not really impressive. It strained the situation in story but it felt typical Bollywood style.
What was most impressive was Aslam, Ashwar, Lal Jaan and some other villages. I loved the way Lal Jaan and Aslam fought the prejudice of villagers and provided strength to fight the monsters, the way Ashwar united whole village and protected women with her brilliant plan. They were true hero of the story. They all fought their battles in their own way, showed courage, had faith and tried everything in their power to preserve their dignity, village and speck of hope.
Climax was good. I loved the way things started changing for villagers, when they saw the ray of light and hope. The strategy, battle and valour of Aslam was impressive. The end was good. All characters got what they deserved at the end.
Why 4 Stars-
Some characters felt like page fillers - Lucy, Adalat shah, Altaf Dastarkhan’s brother, Dharm Pal Singh’s wife, Pinky Sharma. They surely represented inhumanity or their troubles but story could do without them. I didn’t care about them. Too many characters also made it little hard to follow all of their lives and connect the dots.
Overall, it was really impressive debut novel. Interesting, engaging, and heart-wrenching literary fiction with lots of characters, good writing and raw emotions that I recommend to readers of this genre.
*** Note : I received this complementary copy from the author, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. ***
Snakes in the Meadows told about the horrific time of Pathri Aali village in Jammu and Kashmir when militants took over their holy shrine and turned it into graveyard. It was the horrific tale of the region that lacked recognition, faced ignorance of authorities, was crippled by militants and endured cruelty and tortures that turned their heaven like meadows into prison of hell. It was about true monstrosity in people, misery and suffering of innocents, legends and valour, limits of hope and endurance and power of belief and faith. It was about preserving dignity, protecting people, fighting the evil and reclaiming the peace and honor.
TW– Rape, brutal beating, murders, and child abuse
Book was set in Pathri Aali village, Pir Panjal mountain range of Himalaya in time period of 1987 to 2003 when people were still debating 1947’s kargil war and Pakistan was seething with revenge and to get hold of Indian occupied Kashmir. The village and its tradition, legends and their struggle was mesmerizing to read. I was impressed by writing. It was engaging and felt realistic. There were many characters in the story. Each character told their story which had one common thing, their direct or indirect connection Pathri Aali and what happened there from 1997 to 2003.
Book started with introductory chapter of Aslam’s family and villagers. It was engrossing to read stories of Aslam’s father and his grandfather, Khalifa and his son Akram, Ashwar and beginning of Aslam’s love story. But it ended as soon as it started. It was heart breaking when seeds of Aslam and Ashwar’s love story shoveled out of ground before it could germinate that lead both characters’ life in different direction. Ashwar married a widow Hanif who represented his own life of misery, poverty, and misfortunes in Saudi while Aslam climbed the stairs of career as a security officer that was close to his dream of being cop. First I thought story might revolve around just Ashwar and Aslam, but I was so wrong. Lot was going on that affected their life tremendously even though they were miles apart.
There were plans of ISI recruiting people for jihad, for independence of Indian occupied Kashmir. This part had many characters that intermittently introduced militants’ life, their plan, sins they committed, and how some were brainwashed while some were victim of poverty and deceit who were not allowed to go back to their normal life and family, for whom the death or doing what they were told was only option. There were chapters that not only showed monstrous acts of militants but also horrendous crimes of military officers that appalled and disgusted me more than anything in the book.
Title was most relevant. It based on the legend of Serpent in the Garden of Eden, who represented evil. Here the serpent was militants and the garden of Eden was meadows of Pathri Aali village. This book made readers to think who are the real monsters, militant or militarily, those who keep their door shut to people who really needs help or those who shelters culprits, those who does the devil’s work in name of God or those who believes their words without a second thought.
Emotions of villagers were raw. It was hard not to empathize with them. They had to go through terrible time and face rape, beating to death, murders, and child abuse. But it all didn’t shock me as much as response of both army and police authorities when villagers went to ask for their help. That’s the thing here, you don’t get anything unless you come with high rankings referral or proof. I mean what officials were thinking villagers were just making up stories! And only when one of the villager came with proof to one of the officer who push the matters to higher commands, they acted! Until then they were just going to ignore the matter! Ahem, not really impressive. It strained the situation in story but it felt typical Bollywood style.
What was most impressive was Aslam, Ashwar, Lal Jaan and some other villages. I loved the way Lal Jaan and Aslam fought the prejudice of villagers and provided strength to fight the monsters, the way Ashwar united whole village and protected women with her brilliant plan. They were true hero of the story. They all fought their battles in their own way, showed courage, had faith and tried everything in their power to preserve their dignity, village and speck of hope.
Climax was good. I loved the way things started changing for villagers, when they saw the ray of light and hope. The strategy, battle and valour of Aslam was impressive. The end was good. All characters got what they deserved at the end.
Why 4 Stars-
Some characters felt like page fillers - Lucy, Adalat shah, Altaf Dastarkhan’s brother, Dharm Pal Singh’s wife, Pinky Sharma. They surely represented inhumanity or their troubles but story could do without them. I didn’t care about them. Too many characters also made it little hard to follow all of their lives and connect the dots.
Overall, it was really impressive debut novel. Interesting, engaging, and heart-wrenching literary fiction with lots of characters, good writing and raw emotions that I recommend to readers of this genre.
*** Note : I received this complementary copy from the author, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. ***
May 19, 2019
The biggest question any student of Indian writing in English might want to avoid is Kashmiri literature. There is a vast collection of folk tales and oral literature in Kashmir. There is poetry, songs, and novels too. However, A thoughtfully crafted serious fiction on Kashmir is rare. Snakes in the Meadows by Ayaz Kohli is a serious novel about the life in Kashmir valley. The story is settled in the background of the Pir Panjal region. A small village in the region named Pathri Aali is one of the characters of the story.
The novel opens with the life of Haji Mir, the patriarch in the village. Through Haji Mir we meet a world of characters with their own individual voices, ambitions, life, and preferences. It is a wonderful feat to assemble all these characters within the purview of a single novel. The story moves and turns like a river through the lives of these characters. One of the characters that impressed me was Aslam who ran away just before his marriage. His actions are not heroic. However, there is a hero in him.
Ayaz Kohli's writing is full of empathy and directness. He displays in front of us these many faces of characters, their lives, and their dreams. The reader can take sides if he or she wants. It is great fiction in action in Snakes in the Meadows.
Snakes in the Meadows is published by Rupa Publications, one of the finest publishers in India. The cover design is attractive. I liked it. I liked the fact that it is custom created. The cover looks like it designed with a few drawings. I have a special affinity for book covers that are either created from a drawing or are custom made designs or patterns.
It's available at affordable price. The typesetting is apt for a library space. The reading would be comfortable if you sit down in a suitable position with enough light on the pages.
The arch of the story in Snakes in the Meadows is a large one. However, the large story arch is broken into smaller units of micro tales that cover every small and big aspect of each character adds more depth to the novel. It's a commendable achievement to gracefully piece together these tales as part of a larger tale of sacrifice and betrayal. Militancy is one of the themes of the novel. However, Snakes in the Meadows is much more than a novel on terrorism. It tells the tale of human existence in its varying seriousness and depth.
For more: visit-THE INDIAN COMMENTATOR [ https://anu-lal.blogspot.com/ ]
The novel opens with the life of Haji Mir, the patriarch in the village. Through Haji Mir we meet a world of characters with their own individual voices, ambitions, life, and preferences. It is a wonderful feat to assemble all these characters within the purview of a single novel. The story moves and turns like a river through the lives of these characters. One of the characters that impressed me was Aslam who ran away just before his marriage. His actions are not heroic. However, there is a hero in him.
Ayaz Kohli's writing is full of empathy and directness. He displays in front of us these many faces of characters, their lives, and their dreams. The reader can take sides if he or she wants. It is great fiction in action in Snakes in the Meadows.
Snakes in the Meadows is published by Rupa Publications, one of the finest publishers in India. The cover design is attractive. I liked it. I liked the fact that it is custom created. The cover looks like it designed with a few drawings. I have a special affinity for book covers that are either created from a drawing or are custom made designs or patterns.
It's available at affordable price. The typesetting is apt for a library space. The reading would be comfortable if you sit down in a suitable position with enough light on the pages.
The arch of the story in Snakes in the Meadows is a large one. However, the large story arch is broken into smaller units of micro tales that cover every small and big aspect of each character adds more depth to the novel. It's a commendable achievement to gracefully piece together these tales as part of a larger tale of sacrifice and betrayal. Militancy is one of the themes of the novel. However, Snakes in the Meadows is much more than a novel on terrorism. It tells the tale of human existence in its varying seriousness and depth.
For more: visit-THE INDIAN COMMENTATOR [ https://anu-lal.blogspot.com/ ]
May 20, 2019
Snakes in the meadows is written by Ayaz Kohli and it has been one smooth read and I absolutely loved this book. I have always loved books written about how people have lived their life in Jammu and Kashmir after the war has been ragged between India and Pakistan for acquiring this heaven.
.
In the midst of hell, there is one true love story alive and a story that transforms the hell into a heaven. Pathri ali is home and also an 'and' to Jammu and Kashmir. The book tells us the ballads of bravery of Haji Mir Baksh and his son Aslam who falls irrevocably in love with Ashwar. But life is not always fair to some people, Ashwar gets married to Hanif, who is already married and has two children whereas Aslam flees away to Mumbai because his home was becoming unbearable to him. After Aslam leaves and Haji Mir Baksh grows old and the Jihadis enter the village, the real trouble and horror starts. Everyday woman's are being raped, children's are tortured and men are being killed while they protect their woman and child. Ashwar who is the heroic character in this story takes the lead to protect the village from this animals and since even the Indian armies have taken up their hands in protecting them.
This is a real battle where Aslam and Ashwar fight for freedom of their people, the freedom of their land, the freedom of their home.
A battle fought by common people when terrorists are at their highest nonchalance and police have been invisible in helping the commons.
Many emotions have raced through me as I have read this book. Emotions of Love, courage, bravery, disgust, hatred and most importantly emotion of Humanity.
.
In the midst of hell, there is one true love story alive and a story that transforms the hell into a heaven. Pathri ali is home and also an 'and' to Jammu and Kashmir. The book tells us the ballads of bravery of Haji Mir Baksh and his son Aslam who falls irrevocably in love with Ashwar. But life is not always fair to some people, Ashwar gets married to Hanif, who is already married and has two children whereas Aslam flees away to Mumbai because his home was becoming unbearable to him. After Aslam leaves and Haji Mir Baksh grows old and the Jihadis enter the village, the real trouble and horror starts. Everyday woman's are being raped, children's are tortured and men are being killed while they protect their woman and child. Ashwar who is the heroic character in this story takes the lead to protect the village from this animals and since even the Indian armies have taken up their hands in protecting them.
This is a real battle where Aslam and Ashwar fight for freedom of their people, the freedom of their land, the freedom of their home.
A battle fought by common people when terrorists are at their highest nonchalance and police have been invisible in helping the commons.
Many emotions have raced through me as I have read this book. Emotions of Love, courage, bravery, disgust, hatred and most importantly emotion of Humanity.
May 16, 2019
Okay, so i have no idea why i am coming across deep and darkly terrifying novels so often lately. But this really melted my heart and I had my part of shedding tears.
Snakes in the Meadows has really been a tormenting read because the things discussed pertain to the current situation. And more overly, the way they have been presented by the author, really leaves you in tears. All that sufferings, inhumanity and cruelty really shooks you up!
Though the cover is not very attractive, but the title, omg! It has been so aptly chosen and deeply thought for, that only after reading the story, one gets the real essence of it.
The story has been set in Pathri Ali , an abode for diversified flora and fauna, for which the fate has written something very disturbing. The peace of this place is dimantled by the militants who are so cruel that nobody is spared of their wrath let alone, women and children. A love story which basically has no 'happily ever afters' also comes into play through the progression.
Who were the 'Snakes' and what was the 'Meadows' for ? Very welk answered by the end.
The powerful storyline is really new and relatable. The plot uplifting the family and militant tensions is really tense. Every page keeps you glued to the story. And the strong emotions, they were just overflowing. Writing style is commendable as it really gives an insight into the dreadful situation the people had to face. The end is not a cliffhanger, most importantly.
Recommended to all!
Snakes in the Meadows has really been a tormenting read because the things discussed pertain to the current situation. And more overly, the way they have been presented by the author, really leaves you in tears. All that sufferings, inhumanity and cruelty really shooks you up!
Though the cover is not very attractive, but the title, omg! It has been so aptly chosen and deeply thought for, that only after reading the story, one gets the real essence of it.
The story has been set in Pathri Ali , an abode for diversified flora and fauna, for which the fate has written something very disturbing. The peace of this place is dimantled by the militants who are so cruel that nobody is spared of their wrath let alone, women and children. A love story which basically has no 'happily ever afters' also comes into play through the progression.
Who were the 'Snakes' and what was the 'Meadows' for ? Very welk answered by the end.
The powerful storyline is really new and relatable. The plot uplifting the family and militant tensions is really tense. Every page keeps you glued to the story. And the strong emotions, they were just overflowing. Writing style is commendable as it really gives an insight into the dreadful situation the people had to face. The end is not a cliffhanger, most importantly.
Recommended to all!
May 12, 2019
Snakes in the Meadows - By Ayaz Kohli.
🖋About author🖊
The author of the book is Ayaz Kohli, a 2007 batch IRS officer, presently serving as Joint Commissioner-GST Mumbai. This book is his first debut novel and he did a brilliant job.
📓The cover📓
The cover of the book is very eye capturing, simple, beautiful and attractive and i loved to read .
The length is about 278 pages and divided into 9 chapters.
Story
complete saga of love, misery, sufferings, and militancy.
The story revolves around a village of Pathri Aali in Jammu and Kashmir, 1987. The protagonists of the story are Aslam and Ashwar who fell in love and wanted to marry.
But, as always our family wants different so they got separated. Ashwar was forced to marry hanif.
Unable to cope, Aslam leaves pathri Aali forever. Years later, as men migrate to Saudi Arabia for employment, pathri Aali is populated all by women and children.
Chapters are Brilliantly plotted and appealing, the story took a twist when their village,led with snakes, which are being referred to the Mujahideen (militants).
A cliff-hanger story, that will keep you up all night to read till the end.
It clearly shows that how people are living in hardships and distress, while police and army refusing any help. Despite having tough conditions, Ashwar took responsibility and made a committee with the help of villagers to secure themselves.
Would they be successful?
The narration of the book is very amazingly written and the character making is very unique with a wonderful plot with lucid language.
Author touched many topics such as Torture, misery, molestation militants, immoderation, gender inequality, humility, subjugation and chauvinism.
" Humey toh apno ne loota, ghairon mein Kahan dum tha.
Meri kishti bhi wahin doobi, Jahan Paani Kam tha"
My rating 4.5/5
🖋About author🖊
The author of the book is Ayaz Kohli, a 2007 batch IRS officer, presently serving as Joint Commissioner-GST Mumbai. This book is his first debut novel and he did a brilliant job.
📓The cover📓
The cover of the book is very eye capturing, simple, beautiful and attractive and i loved to read .
The length is about 278 pages and divided into 9 chapters.
Story
complete saga of love, misery, sufferings, and militancy.
The story revolves around a village of Pathri Aali in Jammu and Kashmir, 1987. The protagonists of the story are Aslam and Ashwar who fell in love and wanted to marry.
But, as always our family wants different so they got separated. Ashwar was forced to marry hanif.
Unable to cope, Aslam leaves pathri Aali forever. Years later, as men migrate to Saudi Arabia for employment, pathri Aali is populated all by women and children.
Chapters are Brilliantly plotted and appealing, the story took a twist when their village,led with snakes, which are being referred to the Mujahideen (militants).
A cliff-hanger story, that will keep you up all night to read till the end.
It clearly shows that how people are living in hardships and distress, while police and army refusing any help. Despite having tough conditions, Ashwar took responsibility and made a committee with the help of villagers to secure themselves.
Would they be successful?
The narration of the book is very amazingly written and the character making is very unique with a wonderful plot with lucid language.
Author touched many topics such as Torture, misery, molestation militants, immoderation, gender inequality, humility, subjugation and chauvinism.
" Humey toh apno ne loota, ghairon mein Kahan dum tha.
Meri kishti bhi wahin doobi, Jahan Paani Kam tha"
My rating 4.5/5
May 13, 2019
Mr. Ayaz Kohli's fiction @ayazkohli puts light on the lives of people living in magnificient valleys of pir panjal himalayan range in Jammu Kashmir whose scenic beauty brings peace to the eyes but the chaotic stories bring the real scene tormenting our mind .
Story starts with a village boy planning for a village bull fighting competition , illustrating ordinary village life , grandparents telling stories to their grandkids , a beautiful peaceful community life which gets hindered by Pakistanis trying to put wrong informations in these innocent minds and turning them against ones own country. The venom of religious fanatism , rise of militancy , inhuman torture , stressful family situations where there is no surity if you will see your loved ones once more next time or not , the distrust arising in mind , turning one against other , the disruption of daily human life where love is forgetten and is replaced by greed of land. Still how kashmiris are so resilient fighting the perpetrators - Mujahideen, the imposters who veil themselves with blankets of friendship , promising false image of peace and liberty to locals but how the locals mirror their inner patriotism, not leaving their home of their grandfathers keeping hope is portrayed nicely in beautiful words that will form beautiful images in your mind.
Story starts with a village boy planning for a village bull fighting competition , illustrating ordinary village life , grandparents telling stories to their grandkids , a beautiful peaceful community life which gets hindered by Pakistanis trying to put wrong informations in these innocent minds and turning them against ones own country. The venom of religious fanatism , rise of militancy , inhuman torture , stressful family situations where there is no surity if you will see your loved ones once more next time or not , the distrust arising in mind , turning one against other , the disruption of daily human life where love is forgetten and is replaced by greed of land. Still how kashmiris are so resilient fighting the perpetrators - Mujahideen, the imposters who veil themselves with blankets of friendship , promising false image of peace and liberty to locals but how the locals mirror their inner patriotism, not leaving their home of their grandfathers keeping hope is portrayed nicely in beautiful words that will form beautiful images in your mind.
June 23, 2019
🗣️Author: Ayaz Kohli @ayazkohli
🗣️Publishers: @rupa_publications
🗣️Pages: 287
🗣️My Rating- 4/5
🗣️Recommended- YES
.
MY REVIEW:
🗣️‘Snakes in the Meadows’ shows the bitter reality and lives of the people living on the famous and disputed border of India and Pakistan.
.
🗣️Author has excellently shown how the lives of those living on the border line has been crushed by police, ARMY and militant. This very feeling tormented me and made me think how could one living being can spend his life in such a situation.
.
🗣️The time has been shown before Kargil war and afterwards. Everyone knows about the loss of Kargir war. But no one knew how the Pathri Aali fought its war with militants and came as winner. This book had shown that in crystal manner.
.
🗣️The book has been awesomely written with switching between different scenes of different places like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Jammu and Bombay. This switching and framing of scenes made this book more realistic to me.
.
🗣️ I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Sometimes I had issue with the pace of the book. But after few pages, that was maintained.
.
🗣️Language is clear, lucid and easy to understand. Character build up is awesome. Title and Cover is near to perfect.
.
🗣️ So why wait for more, dig into this refreshing read and let’s throw those snakes from the beautiful meadow.
🗣️Publishers: @rupa_publications
🗣️Pages: 287
🗣️My Rating- 4/5
🗣️Recommended- YES
.
MY REVIEW:
🗣️‘Snakes in the Meadows’ shows the bitter reality and lives of the people living on the famous and disputed border of India and Pakistan.
.
🗣️Author has excellently shown how the lives of those living on the border line has been crushed by police, ARMY and militant. This very feeling tormented me and made me think how could one living being can spend his life in such a situation.
.
🗣️The time has been shown before Kargil war and afterwards. Everyone knows about the loss of Kargir war. But no one knew how the Pathri Aali fought its war with militants and came as winner. This book had shown that in crystal manner.
.
🗣️The book has been awesomely written with switching between different scenes of different places like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Jammu and Bombay. This switching and framing of scenes made this book more realistic to me.
.
🗣️ I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Sometimes I had issue with the pace of the book. But after few pages, that was maintained.
.
🗣️Language is clear, lucid and easy to understand. Character build up is awesome. Title and Cover is near to perfect.
.
🗣️ So why wait for more, dig into this refreshing read and let’s throw those snakes from the beautiful meadow.
June 21, 2019
In 1987, two teenager ,Aslam and Ashwar two love birds dreamt to live their lives togather in the village Pather Ali. This village is in Kashmir. But soon their lives changed . Ashwar had to marry a widower, Hanif with two children . Although Hanif was poor he took care of his family. Due to poverty he had to fly to Saudi Arabia ,where most of the others people went to earn some money . But his passport was fake.
And on the other side , Aslam left the village and took a train to Mumbai.
My views
This book is not only about two lovers and their separation. But it is more than that. The livelihood of Kashmir people and their daily struggles have been written here amazingly . The author has draged the veil of The Heaven on earth and through his writing we can see the real scenario. Not just natural beauty but the cruelty lives within had come to day light.
How the poor and unaware falls in the trap of the brutal people ,how they are provoked , how they are mislead in the name of Serving God.
This is the first novel by this author but I literally love his writing .
But if you are someone who is just starting your hands on English literature , may be you will find the words little hard .
I love the cover. The cover is appropriate with the story.
The title is apt .
It's definitely an amazing read
And on the other side , Aslam left the village and took a train to Mumbai.
My views
This book is not only about two lovers and their separation. But it is more than that. The livelihood of Kashmir people and their daily struggles have been written here amazingly . The author has draged the veil of The Heaven on earth and through his writing we can see the real scenario. Not just natural beauty but the cruelty lives within had come to day light.
How the poor and unaware falls in the trap of the brutal people ,how they are provoked , how they are mislead in the name of Serving God.
This is the first novel by this author but I literally love his writing .
But if you are someone who is just starting your hands on English literature , may be you will find the words little hard .
I love the cover. The cover is appropriate with the story.
The title is apt .
It's definitely an amazing read
May 10, 2019
The book’s title is very gripping and will make you pick the book up amongst others and so is the cover – gloomy but attractive. It starts with a letter in italics which is the prologue. The prologue is written so well that from the first word you become attached to the book that is the book is very gripping. The pain and flight of the people of the valley Pathri Aali ,becomes evident giving the reader Goosebumps and chills now and then. The love blossom between the two lovers and again told them apart due to unforeseen circumstances is depicted in a beautiful way by the author. The topics of misogyny ,hypocrisy and marriage with a lot of age difference is is upheld well in the book. How terrorists take advantage of poor people leading them into atrocious
crimes. Overall the plot is craftily written with a lot of twists and turns good characterization and amiable vocab. Only thing about the book is that I wouldn’t recommend it to beginners if someone has read about five to six books in one go then the person can very well read this book.
crimes. Overall the plot is craftily written with a lot of twists and turns good characterization and amiable vocab. Only thing about the book is that I wouldn’t recommend it to beginners if someone has read about five to six books in one go then the person can very well read this book.
May 20, 2019
This is the story of a small village in Kashmir, of it's inhabitants, of Aslam and Ashwar, of the rise of militancy in Kashmir and the things that followed.
This was a gripping read for me, with bold plotline, palpable emotions, in- depth research, great character development and packed with emotions, this book was one hell of a roller coaster ride.
A highly satisfying read and highly recommended.
Read my full review on my blog intothedepthsofbooks.blogspot.com
This was a gripping read for me, with bold plotline, palpable emotions, in- depth research, great character development and packed with emotions, this book was one hell of a roller coaster ride.
A highly satisfying read and highly recommended.
Read my full review on my blog intothedepthsofbooks.blogspot.com
May 17, 2019
I have always been in love with books that truly captures the heart and soul of the places that they are set in and "Snakes in the Meadows" by Ayaz Kohli has been my absolute favourite in this matter.
Set in a hilly village called Pathri Aali, a small village in the foothills of Jammu and Kashmir, the story takes place in the decade of 90's when the tension between India and Pakistan was at its peak. The introductory chapters of the book shares a brief backdrop of our main characters and a brief insight on the living conditions of the population of the village.
Aslam, the son of one of the prominent members of the village council falls in love with Ashwar but due to inevitable circumstances they are torn apart and Aslam despite his deep-rooted connection to his village and his family is forced to flee to Mumbai. Ashwar,on the other hand stays back and starts a new life marrying a widower.
As time flees, the already pitiful state of village is worsened due to the constant clashes between the militants and the Indian Army and villagers are forced to side with one or the other. The militants with their false promises of Azad Kashmir continues their mass murders , attrocities upon women and man alike, rapes and abuses at an alarming rate. The notorious militant groups lure the teenagers into their traps with money and when they decline they are murdered brutally. This circus of notroiety continues and as the population of the male sex dwindles the women are left to fend for themselves.
It is then when Ashwar and some other women decide to fight back these demons in human form. Will they be able to succeed? What role does Aslam play in the process?
Ayaz Kohli with sheer brilliance and expert writing has covered all forms of human emotions in his book. The charcaters are absolutely a treat to read about and basically everytginng is put into its perfect place. There are various story lines like Aslam in Mumbai, the role of Khan in Saudi Arabia, Haji Mir in the village etc that take place at the same time and it keeps the reader entertained.
Among these we also get to see various minor plots like that of Dharam Pal,who was a part of the Indian Army but was no less than a monster in every sense and the love story of Doctor Himanshu and how they tie up to the story makes it even more of an enjoyable read.
Although there are a lot of characters in the book, none of them felt as if they are fillers and I think that is the quality of great writing.
Set in a hilly village called Pathri Aali, a small village in the foothills of Jammu and Kashmir, the story takes place in the decade of 90's when the tension between India and Pakistan was at its peak. The introductory chapters of the book shares a brief backdrop of our main characters and a brief insight on the living conditions of the population of the village.
Aslam, the son of one of the prominent members of the village council falls in love with Ashwar but due to inevitable circumstances they are torn apart and Aslam despite his deep-rooted connection to his village and his family is forced to flee to Mumbai. Ashwar,on the other hand stays back and starts a new life marrying a widower.
As time flees, the already pitiful state of village is worsened due to the constant clashes between the militants and the Indian Army and villagers are forced to side with one or the other. The militants with their false promises of Azad Kashmir continues their mass murders , attrocities upon women and man alike, rapes and abuses at an alarming rate. The notorious militant groups lure the teenagers into their traps with money and when they decline they are murdered brutally. This circus of notroiety continues and as the population of the male sex dwindles the women are left to fend for themselves.
It is then when Ashwar and some other women decide to fight back these demons in human form. Will they be able to succeed? What role does Aslam play in the process?
Ayaz Kohli with sheer brilliance and expert writing has covered all forms of human emotions in his book. The charcaters are absolutely a treat to read about and basically everytginng is put into its perfect place. There are various story lines like Aslam in Mumbai, the role of Khan in Saudi Arabia, Haji Mir in the village etc that take place at the same time and it keeps the reader entertained.
Among these we also get to see various minor plots like that of Dharam Pal,who was a part of the Indian Army but was no less than a monster in every sense and the love story of Doctor Himanshu and how they tie up to the story makes it even more of an enjoyable read.
Although there are a lot of characters in the book, none of them felt as if they are fillers and I think that is the quality of great writing.
June 1, 2019
Mujahideen is a very serious issue in today's world. Mujahideen, who guise themselves as their liberators, are the worst perpetrators. This book "Snakes in the Meadows" is a very factually fictional book portraying the onset of militancy in Pir Panjal range.
Falling in love is a natural phenomenon just like floods or tsunamis. If it is meant to happen, it will happen. You can't control it. Similar thing happened with our protagonists Aslam and Ashwar. They fell in love at a very tender age of 16. But their life has a very different fate. They were separated because of family issues. Ashwar was forced to marry a widow named Hanif, having two children and Aslam ran out of his marriage to suffer the aftermath and to recieve a title of a coward. Someone has said that "If the situation is getting bad, later it will get worst" So, similar thing has happened. Their village was captured by militants. People were living in extremely brutal situations. Police and army denied helping. What will happen to the people? How torturous those Militants can be? What will be the fate of Ashwar and Aslam?
This book started on such a good note. I started loving the writing style from the very beginning. This book is a very thoughtful book yet a fast paced read. It is written in such a poetic manner that you just start flying through it. The lucidity of the language is maintained throughout. The book is very picturesque at times and also those added nuances were acting as a cherry on the cake. Character development of the book is extremely beautiful. I loved the characters of both the protagonists. The book has many side characters which are an absolute treat to read.
This book is a true picture of Jihad. How these "Allah ke bande" trap these young and innocent boys and influence them and at last wash their brains in the name of Allah.
"It takes courage to pick up a gun for Allah's cause, and I can see that you lack it terribly"
"I can see you'll do nothing when the Indian army pulls down the salwars of your women, just like they did in 1947"
These lines are no doubt enough to infuriate anyone. These people are very well aware of the chords which are needed to be striken.
We people know that most of these Mujahideens are from Kashmir or Pakistan and this develops hatred in our heart for the whole country. But what we don't know is these Mujahideens is a group of people, not the whole country/state. They target the people of their own communities. Treat them like animals. Females are raped, children are molested, males are brutally beaten to death. And all these in the name of God. Common people are shattered from inside. They daily live in a fear of getting attacked. Their lives aren't secure. They don't know when will they die or their families will be no longer with them.
This book gives you a picture of the exact scenario happening these days. Nothing is filtered and that is the best part of the book.
I'll highly recommend this book to each and everyone of you..
Falling in love is a natural phenomenon just like floods or tsunamis. If it is meant to happen, it will happen. You can't control it. Similar thing happened with our protagonists Aslam and Ashwar. They fell in love at a very tender age of 16. But their life has a very different fate. They were separated because of family issues. Ashwar was forced to marry a widow named Hanif, having two children and Aslam ran out of his marriage to suffer the aftermath and to recieve a title of a coward. Someone has said that "If the situation is getting bad, later it will get worst" So, similar thing has happened. Their village was captured by militants. People were living in extremely brutal situations. Police and army denied helping. What will happen to the people? How torturous those Militants can be? What will be the fate of Ashwar and Aslam?
This book started on such a good note. I started loving the writing style from the very beginning. This book is a very thoughtful book yet a fast paced read. It is written in such a poetic manner that you just start flying through it. The lucidity of the language is maintained throughout. The book is very picturesque at times and also those added nuances were acting as a cherry on the cake. Character development of the book is extremely beautiful. I loved the characters of both the protagonists. The book has many side characters which are an absolute treat to read.
This book is a true picture of Jihad. How these "Allah ke bande" trap these young and innocent boys and influence them and at last wash their brains in the name of Allah.
"It takes courage to pick up a gun for Allah's cause, and I can see that you lack it terribly"
"I can see you'll do nothing when the Indian army pulls down the salwars of your women, just like they did in 1947"
These lines are no doubt enough to infuriate anyone. These people are very well aware of the chords which are needed to be striken.
We people know that most of these Mujahideens are from Kashmir or Pakistan and this develops hatred in our heart for the whole country. But what we don't know is these Mujahideens is a group of people, not the whole country/state. They target the people of their own communities. Treat them like animals. Females are raped, children are molested, males are brutally beaten to death. And all these in the name of God. Common people are shattered from inside. They daily live in a fear of getting attacked. Their lives aren't secure. They don't know when will they die or their families will be no longer with them.
This book gives you a picture of the exact scenario happening these days. Nothing is filtered and that is the best part of the book.
I'll highly recommend this book to each and everyone of you..
June 24, 2019
Like always, let me start with the cover of the book. It is a plain and simple cover, not very flashy and exciting. Never judge a book by its cover, they say. And this saying holds true for this book.
Personally, I am a fan of books that make you picturise the places in which the story is set-up. The story of the Snakes in meadows is setup in the foothills of Jammu and Kashmir. There is a village named Pathri Aali, in the 90’s and there is a tension going on between India and Pakistan. The first few chapters talk about the background story of the main characters of the story.
Aslam and Ashwar fall in love with each other and their love story is described beautifully. Slowly, their story takes a turn and they get separated. The constant clashes between the Indian Army and the militants are described in such a way that you can almost visualise the scenes right in front of you. This can be possible only by someone who has lived and seen things actually happening. The author has done a very good job in describing these events.
The book expresses human emotions beautifully. The characters are described well. There are many characters but you will not feel that any of them are unnecessary for the story to progress. Brownie points for this.
I would not like to give out more details of the story or spoilers. Read and know for yourself. I would say pick this book if you like a good storyline and military plus political affairs interest you. My rating for the book is 4*.
Personally, I am a fan of books that make you picturise the places in which the story is set-up. The story of the Snakes in meadows is setup in the foothills of Jammu and Kashmir. There is a village named Pathri Aali, in the 90’s and there is a tension going on between India and Pakistan. The first few chapters talk about the background story of the main characters of the story.
Aslam and Ashwar fall in love with each other and their love story is described beautifully. Slowly, their story takes a turn and they get separated. The constant clashes between the Indian Army and the militants are described in such a way that you can almost visualise the scenes right in front of you. This can be possible only by someone who has lived and seen things actually happening. The author has done a very good job in describing these events.
The book expresses human emotions beautifully. The characters are described well. There are many characters but you will not feel that any of them are unnecessary for the story to progress. Brownie points for this.
I would not like to give out more details of the story or spoilers. Read and know for yourself. I would say pick this book if you like a good storyline and military plus political affairs interest you. My rating for the book is 4*.
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