The Story of Kashmir by David Devadas is a detailed book about Kashmir’s history, geopolitics, politics, society, culture, and changing aspirations. The book traces Kashmir from the time of Maharaja Hari Singh to the rise of Sheikh Abdullah, accession to India, the 1987 elections, militancy, the Kashmiri Pandit exodus, Pakistan’s role, militarisation, and the changing mood of Kashmiri youth. This review looks at how the book helps readers understand Kashmir through its people, politics, and historical turning points.
Book: The Story of Kashmir: Geopolitics, Politics, Society, Culture and Changing Aspirations
Author: David Devadas
Form: Political history / non-fiction
Subject: Kashmir’s history, politics, society, culture, conflict, and changing aspirations
Main themes: Kashmir history, Hari Singh, Sheikh Abdullah, accession, 1987 elections, militancy, Kashmiri Pandit exodus, Pakistan, militarisation, youth anger, and political aspirations
Best for: Readers interested in Kashmir history, Kashmir politics, books on Kashmir conflict, India-Pakistan relations, and the social and political life of Kashmiris
Why I Picked The Story of Kashmir
Kashmir is one region about which there are many myths, rumours, lies, and propaganda floating around. Based on our ideology or support for a particular ideology, we form our opinions and views about Kashmir and the people of Kashmir. And since they are based on preconceived notions that we hold, most of the time our understanding of Kashmir is flawed and biased.
The only way to know more and to know the truth about Kashmir is to read about it as much as possible from credible sources.
There are some books that I have already read about Kashmir and the lives of Kashmiri people, be it Pandits or Muslims. Most of these are memoirs or reportage about Kashmir by Kashmiri people, and these books carry their lived experience and their perspective of how things are in Kashmir, which may tilt towards one narrative or the other.
This book is written by an outsider, someone who is not a resident of Kashmir, with around thirty years of journalistic experience. So I picked it up to understand the story of Kashmir from an outsider’s perspective.
About -The Story of Kashmir
The Story of Kashmir: Geopolitics, Politics, Society, Culture and Changing Aspirations, as the name suggests, is about the various aspects of Kashmir mentioned in the title.
At the centre of all this are the people of Kashmir, because it is their lives that are impacted by the politics leaders choose. Sometimes, it is also the people who force politics to change.
The book tells the story of Kashmir starting from 1925, when Hari Singh was coronated as the king, to events as recent as 2016.
Kashmir’s Long Historical Background
David Devadas provides a brief chronology of the rulers of Kashmir, telling readers how various rulers from different religions and ethnicities ruled Kashmir over the years.
The book moves from the last Kashmiri king Suheldev, who fled in 1320, to the Mongol Dulchu Khan, to Rinchin from Ladakh, to the Mughals, then Afghan and Sikh rulers, and finally the Dogra rulers, who got Kashmir from the British in 1846.
The book also gives us an overview of how the demography of Jammu and Kashmir changed over a period of time. Kashmir became Muslim-dominated, while Jammu became Hindu-dominated, with Dogras in majority there.
Hari Singh, Sheikh Abdullah, and Accession
Hari Singh took charge in 1925, and though he made some significant changes in general administration, an agitation of Kashmiri Muslims erupted in July 1931, which resulted in the killing of 21 Muslim protesters.
The book explains how this agitation shaped things in the near future: the rise of Sheikh Abdullah, the formation of the Muslim Conference, its later split, and Sheikh Abdullah changing the name to National Conference.
From here, like a fast-paced thriller, the book takes you through various historical milestones in the history and making of Kashmir as we know it today. The interesting part is the background details surrounding those events, which are interesting, amusing, informative, and so much more.
The relationship between Sheikh Abdullah and Nehru, the formation of new countries in the subcontinent in 1947, Hari Singh choosing to remain an independent state or country, and later acceding to India on certain conditions when Kashmir was invaded by Pathan tribesmen with the help of the Pakistani Army — all these events are discussed in detail.
Political Milestones and the 1987 Elections
If you are a history buff and have an interest in Kashmir, every page of the book will be a treat to read. What you get to know are the main events that left an impact on the political and social life of Kashmiris.
The book talks about the communal riots of 1967, the entry of Jan Sangh, and its efforts to inflame religious animosity among Kashmiris.
There is also detailed discussion about the rigged elections of 1987 and their immediate and long-term impact on the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The book shows how such political events deepened distrust and changed the political mood in the valley.
Militancy, Pandit Exodus, and Pakistan’s Role
There is a lot of detail about various terrorist organisations and how they came into being, as well as the brutalities they unleashed on the people of Kashmir.
The book also talks about the growing unrest among the people of Kashmir towards the government and how it turned into religious hatred towards the minority community.
It discusses the killings and exodus of Pandits from the valley, along with the role of Pakistan, its Army, and the ISI in the conflict.
The Story of Kashmir captures in detail the impact of terrorists and terrorism in Kashmir Valley, while also looking at the politics of control from Delhi.
Militarisation and Changing Aspirations in Kashmir
The book also talks about the frustration among the youth of the valley due to the lack of jobs and opportunities.
It discusses the militarization of Kashmir and the methods used by the Army and paramilitary forces to rein in terrorism. These methods further alienated the people of Kashmir and changed the feelings from anti-government to anti-India.
This is one of the important aspects of the book because it shows how political decisions, violence, unemployment, militarization, and broken trust shaped the changing aspirations of Kashmiri people.
Writing Style
David Devadas writes in a detailed and fast-moving style. The book covers a large span of history, but it does not feel dry because the author connects events with people, politics, and the changing mood of Kashmir.
What makes the book interesting is the background detail around major historical and political events. Many of these details are informative and eye-opening, especially for readers who want to understand Kashmir beyond simple narratives.
The book is dense with information, but if you are interested in history and politics, especially Kashmir, it keeps you engaged.
Who Should Read - The Story of Kashmir
The Story of Kashmir is useful for readers who want to understand Kashmir, its politics, and its people in a detailed way.
It is especially useful for those interested in Kashmir’s history, accession, Sheikh Abdullah, Maharaja Hari Singh, the 1987 elections, militancy, the Kashmiri Pandit exodus, Pakistan’s role, militarisation, and the changing aspirations of Kashmiri youth.
Readers who want to understand Kashmir beyond myths, rumours, propaganda, and preconceived notions will find this book informative and useful.
Our Verdict
The Story of Kashmir: Geopolitics, Politics, Society, Culture and Changing Aspirations is a must-read for everyone who wants to know about Kashmir, its politics, and its people.
This book provides insight into various events, topics, and people connected with Kashmir. It is not only informative but eye-opening as well.
For readers who want to understand the story of Kashmir through history, politics, society, and changing aspirations, this is a valuable book.
About The Author
David Devadas is Distinguished Fellow at the Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi. He was formerly political editor at Business Standard.
An expert on politics and geopolitics, his analysis and predictions about Kashmir since 1988 have been consistently accurate. He has researched Kashmir as Senior Fellow at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi, as Visiting Professor at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, and as an Erasmus Mundus scholar at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany.
Related Reading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
About the reviewer
Manoj Payal
Manoj is an avid reader and a writer in progress, with interests spanning literature, history, politics, and the social sciences. His writing across book reviews, essays, articles, and poetry—explores ideas, society, and the human experience.He has spent over two decades working in the IT industry, a background that informs his analytical approach to reading and writing.