This sordid tale also has some romantic overtones. 

Surely love can blossom even under the most trying times.

The story is all too familiar. Unrest, uprising, protests and violence. That’s what comes to mind when one thinks of Kashmir, the theatre of unresolved conflict. But these uneasy and often heart-wrenching developments can become stuff of a gripping tale in the hands of an expert writer.

Asim Mukhopadhyay weaves an interesting story piecing together the turbulent happenings and the plight of the locals caught in the crosshairs of the armed conflict between the militants and the security forces.

The just released novel, Dance On The Graves, set against the backdrop of the Kashmir imbroglio makes for an interesting read. It has all the drama, twists and turns of a thriller to hold the attention of readers. Those who have read the author’s debut novel, Half Man, a book on Naxal movement, will find his latest work of literary fiction even more engrossing. Mukhopadhyay has a wide experience as a teacher, journalist and social scientist. He bagged the Media India award in 1982 for the best human interest story of the year for the article “Evils of dowry”. He has also been a long time contributor to Economic and Political Weekly and has to his credit many non-fiction books.

Though a novel, The Dance On The Graves is based on the life of Atta Muhammed Khan, an honest farmer of Chahal Bimbyal in Barmulla district. The author happened to read a brief report on the miserable life of the farmer who ends up as a grave digger. “I just borrowed Atta’s flute but the tunes are mine”, says Mukhopadhyay.

As the title suggests, Dance On The Graves, revolves around the life of Hasanath Wani Ahmed, an old farmer from Malali village in Kupwara district. As ill luck would have it he is forced to bury young men killed by cops in undocumented encounters. His story depicts the dilemma and helplessness of farmers who become victims of circumstances and turn grave diggers in the valley and also on the other side of the LoC. Ultimately Hasanath becomes a schizophrenic case, throws up tantrums during nights, sings strange songs and dances on graves.

Mukhopadhyay, who is known for his versatility, turns the otherwise horrible happenings of Kashmir, into a gripping tale of anguish and pain of the locals. For most of them survival is up for grabs. Any day they may end up with a bullet from the militants or the security forces. There is no peace for being young in Kashmir as the insurgents are out to trap them. The book edited by Mosiur Rehman of Woven Words, explores the sinister designs of the separatists who supply drugs to youth to lure them on the path of militancy. It also throws light on the machinations of people who sell politics and drugs from the same basket. Mukhopadhyay lays bare over ambitious fence-sitters in the ruling party who love to fish in trouble waters for being denied a share in the power cake.

This sordid tale also has some romantic overtones. Surely love can blossom even under the most trying times. Cupid strikes Kismat-Namrata and Iqbal-Suhana, sons of the grave digger and the daughters of the high profile State Home Secretary and the cricket coach. Sadly the book doesn’t offer any solution to the Kashmiri tangle. But if you are looking for a nerve wracking novel, Dance On The Graves, is the book for you. It’s simply un-put-downable.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in Telangana Today 

Dated September 20,2020

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It is under shutdown for the last six months and yet it sports a spick-and-span look. Step inside and you find everything in order - sporting a neat and clean appearance. That's the Salar Jung Museum for you. Though it still remains out of bounds for visitors, but for the 100-odd staff members it is work as usual. They are working tirelessly to ensure that the sprawling museum premises and also its world class objets d'arts retain their spotless shine.

Each day every object in each gallery is dusted and cleaned. The SJM has 39 galleries spread over two floors. The museum workers open every showcase, take out the objects, wipe and clean them before putting them back in position. The galleries are also regularly sprayed with disinfectants. The normally crowded museum now wears a deserted look save for the staff members. The prolong shut down has no doubt cut into the museum revenue but it has also given it the breathing time to carry out much needed repair and renovation work. The museum has seized the free time to speed up the documentation and conservation work.

The SJM draws visitors from across the globe. On an average about 3000 persons visit it and the footfalls see a massive rise during weekends and holidays - giving it a monthly revenue of Rs. 2 lakh. But right from March 15 the museum is shutdown following the lockdown - causing a revenue loss of Rs. 1.5 crore till day. In fact the other five major national museums in the country - National Museum, National Gallery of Modern Art, Delhi, Allahabad Museum, Indian Museum and Victoria Memorial Museum, Kolkata are also shutdown these last few months.

"We are expecting the museum to be thrown open to visitors from October. The Government of India has also issued the SOP. We are awaiting further instructions", says A. Nagender Reddy, Director, SJM. On its part the SJM authorities have marked out circles on the floor in all the galleries for visitors to stand maintaining social distancing while viewing the art objects. Thermal screening and hand santizers are also being installed for benefit of visitors as and when the museum opens.

A virtual treasure house, the SJM has a collection of over 42,000 fascinating art objects, 8,300 manuscripts and 58,000 printed books. It is also a repository of precious sculptures, paintings, carvings, textiles, ceramics, metal ware and carpets covering diverse subjects, themes and mediums. Among its legendary collections are the veiled Rebecca, the melody in marble, the double statue of Mephistopheles and Margaretta carved out of a single block of wood. And of course the famous musical clock remains the biggest attraction

During the lockdown period, the museum has been busy organising online exhibitions. So far it has held four exhibitions to mark the International Museum Day, Buddha Poornima festival apart from exhibition of Bidri ware and display of paintings of the celebrated artist, Raja Ravi Verma. "It is now planned to showcase the works of Abdul Rahman Chughtai, renowned painter artist and intellectual from Pakistan", Mr. Reddy said.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in NewsMeter

Dated September 10,2020

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