Mirza Waheed Bücher

Four teenagers disappear from their calm lives of playing cricket and singing Bollywood songs by the riverside and find themselves on the opposite side of the border, in Pakistan. There, they become a part of the movement against the Indian army, disillusioned with the Indian Army s attempts to secure peace. The harsh reality of war and the toll it takes on the people drive them to join the separatist movement, to find a better peace for the valley. Truly evocative and artistic in its ability to stir readers emotions, this is a coming-of-age story rooted in the stark insensitivity of humanity s desire for war and conflict.

Mirza Waheed's extraordinary new novel is a heartbreaking love story set in war-torn Kashmir. In an ancient house in Srinagar, Faiz crafts exquisite Papier Mache pencil boxes for tourists. As evening falls, he heads to a shrine where he encounters Roohi, a woman with long black hair, who is fervently praying for the boy of her dreams to come and take her away. Roohi yearns for a love story amidst the chaos of conflict. This tale intertwines love, war, temptation, duty, and choice, exploring what might have been if circumstances were different. Critics have praised Waheed's lyrical voice, which captures the beauty of Kashmir while conveying a deep sense of melancholy and grief. His prose is noted for its intensity, reflecting the anger and despair of life in the valley, portraying a haunting reality for its people. Born and raised in Kashmir, Waheed's debut novel was shortlisted for prestigious awards and recognized as a book of the year by several notable publications. He has contributed to major outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, and the New York Times, and currently resides in London.