INTERVIEW Mehak Jamal

Love and Longing in a Torn Land

- Lōal Kashmir

Kashmir has long been a region of paradoxes—beauty and turmoil, love and loss, resilience and silence. In Lõal Kashmir, the author takes readers on an intimate journey through the deeply personal and often untold stories of love, connection, and survival in the valley. From the abrogation of Article 370 to the everyday realities of curfews and internet blackouts, the book sheds light on how Kashmiris navigate relationships amidst conflict.

In this conversation, the author reflects on the challenges of gathering these stories, the weight of being a storyteller in a place where silence is often enforced, and how love—whether romantic, familial, or ideological—emerges as an act of quiet defiance.

What inspired you to write "Loal Kashmir", and how did spending time with your interviewees deepen your connection to your Kashmiri roots, especially given your mixed heritage?

I was inspired to write Lõal Kashmir after the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A in 2019. The long and jarring communication blockade after the event brought a lot of stories of human connection to the fore. What intrigued me most were the stories of love—how people were finding innovative ways to reach out and communicate with each other through the imposed silence. I spoke to over seventy people during the course of my interviews. In many ways I felt like their secret keeper as quite a lot of them wanted to remain anonymous. That they trusted me with their life stories certainly made me feel closer to them and to Kashmir.

Gathering and curating deeply personal narratives is no easy task. What was your experience like during this process, and what were the biggest challenges you faced in bringing these stories to life? Additionally, did these stories influence or change you in any way?