"Our Moon Has Blood Clots- A Memoir of a Lost Home in Kashmir" by Rahul Pandita

This is my second read from Rahul Pandita, which in fact should have been my first one. My previous review (kind of) of Rahul Pandita's "Lover boy of Bahawalpur" was also centered on Kashmir and its issue. This one though, is more detailed account of what has been the situation of Kashmir since ancient times. This book can be handy to interpret the situation in valley and its umbilical connections with Pakistan. For a keen curios reader, this book should be preceded by "Lover boy...". That will enable one to understand and comprehend the situation in Kashmir valley in a much better way.

The plot encircles the 'FORCED' MASS EXODUS of Kashmiri pandits from THE VALLEY after 90s. The atrocities met out to minorities were most heinous, brutal and inhumane. The scars of which can still be seen on Kashmiri pandits' lives, even after two decades. 

Kashmir is said to be Heaven on Earth, and indeed it can be known from graphic visualization as the writer narrates. Kashmir has remained a platform for geopolitical conflicts since ages. Having been placed along a transitioning route that enables one to penetrate Indian mainland, the region has remained a complex issue since ages. Every ruler around it tried to claim and leverage its geographical advantages. Unfortunately, one of the most beautiful places on earth had become one of the most disturbed region of the world, and remains so even today. Peaceful periods for Kashmiris has remained brief along intervals of history.

Being a memoir, the reader can empathize the feelings of Kashmiri Pandits. Rahul Pandita's depiction of events unfolding like peeling an onion, ironically waters your eyes. Few events even send shivers and chills down your spine, goosebumps are often while reading events in this work. The author portrays incidents and events that matches and synchronizes with actual events in political background like visit of Indira Gandhi and her insult by uncouth civilians, later Rajiv Gandhi's visit and issues with Governor and his role during Exodus, etc. This enables one to conclude a decent authenticity of memoirs. Being a journalist his work also encapsulates interview with fellow kashmiris, one such being with Vinodkumar Dhar, lone survivor of Wandhama massacre, which made to top headlines during the period. 

I personally believe without reading this book, I wouldn't have ever known the exodus and its impact upon the Kashmiri Pandits and other minorities. I came across the ACTUAL grievances of Kashmiri Pandits only after the abrogation of Article 370, which was welcomed warm heartedly by Kashmiris from across the world. Although my perspective remained much narrow than, until now. After reading this book you can understand the actual situation in the valley. I am still feeling the vibes emanating from the book especially relating to trauma faced by the minorities.

To understand the Geo-political issues of Kashmir, this book is a must read as none other than a Kashmiri itself can satisfy your curiosity relating to the subject, and what better way can one find other than reading this Memoir?