THE BEAUTIFUL HAS BEEN MADE UGLY SINCE 1947, THE YEAR OF OUR INDEPENDENCE. VERY STRANGE! BUT IT`S A FACT! THE WRITER BLAMES THE TERRORISTS, THE FANATICS THERE, THE CENTRAL AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT, THEIR DIRTY, SELFISH POLITICS AND ALL THE POLITICAL LEADERS, IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR PARTIES. DURING THE PERIOD OF TERRORISM WOMEN IN KASHMIR WERE RAPED NOT ONLY BY THE MILITANTS BUT ALSO BY THE SOLDIERS OF INDIAN ARMY, WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT THEM. THERE WAS NO EXCEPTION FOR THIS UGLY AND INHUMAN BEHAVIOUR. THE ONLY CRITERION WAS THAT IT SHOULD BE A HUMAN FEMALE IRRESPECTIVE OF RELIGION, RACE, CASTE, CREED AND EVEN AGE - ALL FEMALE REANGING FROM 10 YEARS TO LADIES OF 50 YEARS! THE HIDEOUS TAKES OF THEIR AGONY GIVES GOOSE BUMPS. BECAUSE OF THE TERRORISM THE PARADISE IS ALMOST BURNT OUT AND IS STILL BURNING! THE WRITER HAD THE UTMOST COURAGE TO GO INTO THE `JAWS OF DEATH` AND TALK TO SOME MILITANTS! THEIR MEETING WAS A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE. IT SHOULD BE READ IN HER OWN LANGUAGE. STAYING WITH AN EDUCATED MUSLIM FAMILY FOR ABOUT 25 DAYS, SHOWED THIS EXEMPLARY COURAGE. THE EXCHANGE OF HER EXPERIENCES AND THOUGHTS WITH RASHID AND HIS WIFE AS WELL AS WITH SOME OF HIS FRIENDS ARE INSCRIBED IN A VIVID LANGUAGE. IN SHORT, THOSE WHO WANT TO VISIT KASHMIR EVEN AS TOURISTS SHOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ALL THIS BACKGROUND AND THINK SERIOUSLY ABOUT THE BURNING QUESTIONS OF KASHMIR FOR ABOUT SIXTY YEARS. ALL OTHERS WHO ARE UNABLE TO VISIT KASHMIR SHOULD AT LEAST READ THIS BOOK AND OTHER BOOKS RELATED TO IT. THERE ARE REFERENCES OF SAME OTHER BOOKS AND DOCUMENTS WHICH SHOULD BE READ AND THOUGHT OVER! THAT WOULD SERVE THE PURPOSE OF WRITING THIS BOOK. HATS OFF TO YOU, SUDHA TAI!!
निसर्गरम्य काश्मिरचा सुंदर मानवी चेहरा ओरबाडून विद्रूप करण्यात तिथले दहशतवादी, त्यांचा बीमोड करण्यासाठी तैनात केलेले लष्कर, स्थानिक धर्मांध लोक, केंद्र आणि राज्यसरकारचे राजकीय नेते, त्यांचे स्वार्थाने बरबटलेले राजकारण या सर्वांचा मोठाच हात आहे. दहशतवादाच्या काळात तिथल्या स्त्रियांचे सर्वांकडून होणारे लैंगिक शोषण तर इतके भयावह आहे की त्या अत्याचाराच्या कहाण्या नुसत्या ऐकल्या, तरी अंगावर भीतीने काटा उभा राहतो. बाई हिंदू असो की मुसलमान, बलात्कार करताना ती फक्त बळी गेलेली स्त्री असते. जात, धर्म, वंश, देश, वय या सगळ्या गोष्टी तिथे गौण असतात. दहशतवाद्यांमुळे भारताचे नंदनवन पेटलेले आहे, धगधगत आहे. ही आग कशी आणि कोणी का लावली हे विचारायला त्यांना भेटले. केशराच्या मळ्यांमधे पेटलेले निखारे मला पाहवले नाहीत. अत्याचार पीडित स्त्रियांचे अनुभव ऐकवले नाहीत. काश्मिरी मुस्लीम मंडळींचे आयुष्य थोडेसे जवळून पाहता आले. त्यातून त्यांचे जीवन, विचारसरणी, राहणी याचा माझ्या कुवतीनुसार केलेला विचार आहे. १९५८ सालचे काश्मिर, १९९७ सालचे जम्मू, २००५ चे श्रीनगर आणि आता २००७ साली कुटुंबातच राहून पाहिलेले काश्मिर वेगवेगळ्या दृष्टिकोनातून दिसले.
तेच हे लिखाण मोहतरम्मा ते अम्मा!