Our moon has blood clots by Rahul Pandita

"Our moon has blood clots : The exodus of Kashmiri Pandits" by Rahul Pandita. This book is published by Random House India in 2013 and has 272 pages.

This is the  story of Kashmiri Pandits who were subjected to religious persecution, harassed, abused, raped, killed and made to flee. Thus they became refugees in their own country. They were completely ignored by the political leaders, media and their countrymen making them nobody's people.

The uncertain atmosphere in which they have lived for centuries. The hostility they faced. The way they were singled out. The way they were treated like secondary citizens in their own country. It's shocking.

Authors grand parents had to migrate from Baramulla to Kashmir in 1947 when Pakistani tribesmen attacked. Authors family had to migrate to Jammu in 1990, when Pakistan sponsored terrorism targeted Pandits. Government, local administration, law enforcement and army failed to provide protection to Pandits. Readers who have always lived in efficiently or inefficiently governed states can not imagine complete breakdown of administration, unwillingness of people in power to intervene and inability of the Governor to enforce orders  to protect citizens. Pandits fled from Kashmir to Jammu and settled there. Initially they were welcome but later they were harassed by people from their religion and termed as outsiders. This eventually lead to another migration to Delhi.

It is shocking that in hundreds of cases of Pandit killings, not a single person was convicted. Also what is surprising is that there are no incidents of Pandits resisting, retaliating or fighting back. They simply accepted their fate and submitted meekly.

Although this book is about the plight of Kashmiri Pandits, their religious persecution and unspeakable torture that they were subjected to, the author is fair in stating that during the rule of Dogra dynasty, Muslim subjects were treated roughly. Author also narrates a few incidents of Muslim neighbors helping Pandits, but they are far too less.

Rahul's return to his home in Srinagar, which is not his home anymore, his nostalgia and his emotional attachment to the house are captured concisely but beautifully.

Author could have been provocative in his language and thoughts. But he has narrated the book matter of factly. The emotion that is most prominent is sadness and impotent rage towards administration and rest of the country for not helping the Pandits in their hour of need. Authors longing for HIS Kashmir is the central theme.

It's an eye opener. Recommend reading.