City As Memory by Sadaf Wani in Hardcover

Srinagar, the capital of the "Paradise on Earth" as pronounced in Kashmiri, is renowned for its lush green valley and picturesque lakes. However, the city's troubled past and unsettled present are just as well-known. Founded in 250 BCE by the Buddhist king Ashoka, Srinagar's history is marked by conquest and centuries of foreign rule, characterized by both indulgence and neglect. In modern India, the state's troubled geopolitics, the growth of armed insurgency since 1989, and the ongoing struggle for azaadi have transformed Srinagar into one of the most heavily militarized regions in the world. In "City as Memory," Sadaf Wani draws from her own experiences growing up in Srinagar in the mid-90s amidst a waning insurgency movement and increasing military presence, as well as her adolescence in the early 2000s during periods of deadly violence following civilian protests. Through personal stories and scholarship, Wani del