Book Review: A Fistful of Earth and Other Stories

Book:  A Fistful of Earth and Other Stories
Author: Siddhartha Gigoo
Publisher: Rupa Publications India
Price: Rs 195

A Fistful of Earth and Other Stories by Siddhartha Gigoo is a collection of short stories which takes you to the world of turbulence and banishment. The short stories are about the loss of human lives, longing for home, the resurrection of exiled people, old friendships, memories, desolation and suffering.The stories will move your heart, make you shudder and think about the happenings described in them.

The book begins with The Search which describes the life of a researcher interested in histories and biographies of banished people. His study in the museum library leads him to discover the Kashmiri Hindus. The author hints at the loss of culture, language and desecration of ancient Hindu heritage in Kashmir. The author also refers to the time in Kashmir, centuries ago, when only 11 Hindu families survived in valley during foreign Islamic rule.

Another story titled The Last Haircut is the depiction of time in Kashmir when the Pandits were facing persecution. Two young boys are given the task of killing their teacher who is a Kashmiri Pandit. The story highlights the period in Kashmir in 1989-1990 when Hindu families were leaving their homes after selective killings of their community members.   

In Poison, Nectar, the author poignantly narrates the story of a family of Kashmiri Hindu refugees living in squalid camp in exile away from their home. Around two years ago, the author had also made a short-film called The Last Day based on this story. 

There are, in total, 16 stories in the book which portray the different aspects of the life of human beings. The book ends with A Secret Life which is about a monk, who upon having a chance encounter with a young man at a railway station, doubts his own knowledge and understanding of human nature and life.

Siddhartha’s stories are very allegorical. Even without mentioning Kashmir explicitly, he narrates the varied narratives of people who faced turmoil without taking any sides. Through fiction, the author has tried to paint the cataclysm of the land he belongs to. The stories talk about living in a society caught in conflict and how this takes a toll on the people and changes their lives. His stories unravel the predicament that people face in conflict regions. 

The book is a beautiful addition to literature on Kashmir. Read it for its metaphorical writing and stunning imagination and of course, for Kashmir.

Varad Sharma is a writer. You can follow him on twitter @VaradSharma