Book review: 22 YEARS a Kashmir story by Bill K Koul

Blurb

This book is on Kashmir and Kashmir alone.
As the title implies, one lakh Pandit families may have one lakh stories to tell. This book, 22 Years, is the story of one such émigré Kashmiri, Billu, who returns to the beautiful valley of Srinagar after twenty-two years of self-imposed exile. He not only breaks a vow, he falls in love once again with the land of his birth as all his childhood and growing up memories rush back to hug him and tie him to his roots. Much like Rushdie’s Shalimar, ‘There were narcissi from the banks of rushing rivers and peonies from the high meadows growing on his chest…’ At the same time, with memories return all his fears that made him flee Srinagar in 1989, ahead of his community, before the secessionist fury of communalism had engulfed the valley. In Kashmiri poet Ayaz Rasool Nazki’s words: ‘I am the Nostradamus of your age. I saw it happen. Before my time. And so was blinded…. They made a mistake. They forgot about me. I wasn’t awake. I wasn’t asleep either.’ Bill Koul was writing his story. This story.

About the Author

Bill K Koul is a global citizen. As an engineering consultant, he has more than three decades of international work experience across the globe—in Australia, New-Zealand, South Asia, South America, Africa, Mongolia and China. His interests include philosophy, spirituality, nature and music. His hobbies include cricket, badminton, photography and long distance running. This Kashmiri Australian writer, editor from Perth has also written two other books—My Life Does Not Have to Be Unhappy and Issues White-anting India.

Review

I’m amazed this to me mislaid me spellbound. This tome is amazing i loved story as it is suitable story and is been narrated from the prospective of one prime guts Billu, to me starts with who am I
This the first part of barely is awesome. As I stimulated on The brood operate comes home, The day of Exile, The day before exit, excel in Kashmir, A colonizer in India – Jammu & Delhi, discrimination Transition & Challenges, Conversations in wasteland every conception is with supplementary or take away bend or poems of pronounced personalities and off likelihood of mastermind moreover every one arrival (2 liners and 4 liners) of personality behind are mesmerising. Title defendable and coat exceedingly its most suited. This is author’s 4th gesticulate up and is affect be given equipped a gigantic job. Advocate every sole one to leverage this taste you won’t be contrite it expenses transform on this. All and every one the dominant author.

My rating 5 star to this masterpiece.