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"Kashmir was never just a place. It was a presence."
In this deeply personal and powerfully evocative work, author Ajay Dhar Bhardwaj, a Kashmiri Pandit in exile, returns through memory, emotion, and unflinching truth to the valley that shaped him-and the silence that followed his departure.
The Paradise (Kashmir) - Then, After, Now is more than a chronicle. It is an honest and human narrative woven through 15 deeply reflective chapters, each accompanied by original poetry and heartfelt storytelling. From the nostalgic snowfall of a Srinagar childhood to the pain of displacement, from the forgotten lanes of downtown to the sharp ruptures of 1990s exile, Ajay speaks as one who has lived the wound-and now dares to write beyond it.
This book is not about victimhood. It is about bearing witness.
Through stories of longing, separation, culture, conflict, and slow healing, Bhardwaj paints a textured portrait of what was lost-and what might still be recovered. With clarity and compassion, he addresses the trauma of the Kashmiri Pandit community, acknowledges the pain of those who remained, and reflects on what it means to belong when your home becomes history.
Among the book's standout chapters are:
"The First Snowfall" - capturing the innocence of a childhood untouched by politics
"Through the Fire" - a raw retelling of exile, identity, and emotional survival
"The Great Silence - 2019" - offering insight into the abrogation of Article 370 and what it meant for Kashmiris on both sides of ideology
"The 2024 Elections - A New Chapter?" - an honest exploration of political shifts, aspirations, and realities
"PoK - The Forgotten Side" - raising difficult but necessary questions
"Kashmiriyat Reimagined" - a hopeful redefinition of what unites the people of the Valley, across faith and time
What sets this book apart is its refusal to shout. It speaks softly, but it cuts deep. It neither blames nor absolves-but remembers, records, and reaches.
Ajay Dhar Bhardwaj writes not only as a survivor of one of modern India's greatest internal displacements, but also as a keeper of memory, language, and faith. His words echo with the voices of those silenced too long and offer space for those who wish to listen, grieve, and imagine again.
"This is not a political book. It is a human one."
"It is for those who left. For those who stayed. And for those who still carry Kashmir in their heart."
Whether you are connected to Kashmir by blood, belief, or curiosity, The Paradise (Kashmir) - Then, After, Now offers something rare: an invitation not just to read, but to feel, reflect, and perhaps begin the quiet work of reconciliation.
