3 Review(s)

Why “Holy Sinners”? The “Holy Sinners” is the eye witness account from a soldier who carried out/participated in hundreds of military operations in Kashmir. The problem of Kashmir is not purely political, as it is projected. It is multidimensional: including but not limited to religion, Islamic Jihad, international funding, sponsored terrorism from the neighbours and more. The terrorists/Jihadis are looked upon as ‘Holy’ by the separatists, Islamic fundamentalist and their mentors: the state of Pakistan. They consider them ‘Mujahids: the holy warriors. Whereas patriots and nationalists in India (including UT of J & K) look upon them as the enemies of the nations: the traitors, the worst ‘sinners’, tearing the secular fabrics and territorial integrity of India. On the other hand Indian Army (and security forces) is looked upon by the nation (minus separatist/terrorists) as saviours of national integrity; the holiest men. Whereas, the separatists/bigots see them as perpetrators, human rights’ abusers and the worst ‘sinners’. It is dichotomy of perception. The truth is it is not dichotomous: the shades of ‘grey are wider than shades of black and white’. The book “Holy Sinner: Search of Kashmir” is result of author’s conviction that Kashmir is not a dichotomy. ‘This’ perception and ‘that’ perception are half-truths. The book is an account from “horse’s mouth”. It is an expression of the writer’s belief that in conflicts it is women and children who suffer the most and it is poor and lower middle class who take the brunt. This book has a few lessons for the whole world that are eager to understand the character of Islamic terrorism. It has a few lesson for the USA and European nations that have begun to see the strands of Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism in the garb of “rights” and “humanitarian refuge”. This book has proved to be an authentic primary source for researchers on terrorism, Jihad, impact of terrorism on psyche of men, women and children. It has also proved to be good source to understand the impact of internal conflicts on the military that is primarily meant for defending the nation from external aggression. It is an effort to take the reader closest to “the truth” of the issue of Kashmir.