M.K. Raina Memoir Review: Theatre, Politics, and Kashmir’s Divided History

Published : Sep 02, 2024 15:32 IST - 7 MINS READ M.K. In particular, Raina narrates how the Pandits organised marches in solidarity with the Muslims, demanding the return of the moi-muqadas, and how he himself led one such march: “We were shouting slogans like Marenge ek saath, jiyenge ek saath, Moi-muqadas pak ko wapas karo aye zalimon ; and Hindu Muslim ittehad, zindabad, zindabad!” The lines evoke a bygone camaraderie among the Kashmiri people that made communal attitudes irrelevant. The book also documents Raina’s meetings with the family of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale who led the Khalistan movement, as well as the survivors of state- SAHMAT and cultural resistance Safdar Hashmi, the founder of the Jana Natya Manch who was murdered in 1989 while performing the street play, Halla Bol, was a close associate of Raina’s. In the later chapters, Raina discusses Bhand Pather, the traditional people’s theatre of the Kashmir valley and how he worked closely with local artists such as Mohammad Ameen Bhagat and Ghulam Rasool Bhagat to reintroduce this folk art formin Kashmir, digging into whatever material was available. Lost opportunity While one must respect Raina’s emotions as he writes about the insurgency in Kashmir, Before I forget fails dismally at portraying the political events of Kashmir as would have been expected of someone who calls himself “a child of India’s socialism”.