Dapaan : Tales From Kashmir’s Conflict | Hardcover

Dapaan: Tales from Kashmir’s Conflict by Ipsita Chakravarty examines how ordinary Kashmiris remember and narrate decades of conflict through personal stories, folklore and shared memory. Drawing on interviews conducted across the region, this hardcover explores the ways communities preserve their experiences of war, loss and change, offering perspectives that are often absent from public discussions about Kashmir.

Taking its title from the Kashmiri expression dapaan, meaning "it is said", the book traces the relationship between storytelling and history. It highlights how oral traditions, local narratives and collective memory continue to shape people's understanding of events spanning Partition to the 2019 developments in Kashmir.

About This Book

Rather than presenting the conflict solely through political events, Dapaan: Tales from Kashmir’s Conflict focuses on the stories that circulate within homes and communities. Ipsita Chakravarty documents how mythology, folklore, hearsay and historical memory intersect, reflecting longstanding traditions of storytelling that have helped preserve local experiences across generations.

Based on conversations with people from towns and villages across Kashmir, the book explores how memories of conflict are expressed through songs, humour, rumours and everyday narratives. Covering the period from Partition to the 2019 Indian crackdown, it presents a distinctly Kashmiri perspective on events that have frequently been interpreted from outside the region.

What You'll Discover

• Interviews with ordinary Kashmiris about their experiences of conflict.
• The role of storytelling, folklore and oral traditions in preserving history.
• Perspectives spanning Partition to the 2019 Indian crackdown.
• How songs, rumours and shared memories shape community narratives.
• The intersection of mythology, hearsay and historical memory in Kashmir.
• Insights into local traditions of remembering and recounting the past.

Perfect For

• Readers interested in Kashmir and its history.
• Those exploring oral history and storytelling traditions.
• Readers of contemporary non-fiction and reportage.
• Students and enthusiasts of politics, history and conflict studies.

Why You'll Love This Book

Dapaan: Tales from Kashmir’s Conflict offers a thoughtful account of how communities remember and communicate their past through stories passed from one generation to the next. By centring the voices of ordinary Kashmiris, the book provides a distinctive perspective on the region's history, culture and lived experience.