The government has declared the books banned as “This literature would deeply impact the psyche of the youth by promoting a culture of grievance, victimhood and terrorism heroism.” It also blamed the books for “misguiding the youth” in Kashmir and instigated their “participation in violence and terrorism”. https://thewire.in/rights/the-attempt-is-to-erase-everything-three-women-jk-authors-on-the-ban-on-their-books 

The Wire spoke to three women authors whose books were banned to find out what it means for them to be silenced, and how the erasure of the Kashmiri narrative would impact the people of J&K. Excerpts from the interviews follow.

Ather Zia’s Resisting Disappearance: Military Occupation and Women’s Activism in Kashmir

Anuradha Bhasin’s A Dismantled State: The Untold Story of Kashmir After Article 370 

Hafsa Kanjwal’s Colonising Kashmir

by Vrinda Gopinath

11/08/2025

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What Does the Book Ban in Kashmir Seek to Repress? https://thewire.in/books/what-does-the-book-ban-in-kashmir-seek-to-repress 

Excerpted from the essay ‘The Militarized Zone’ by Angana P. Chatterji, from Kashmir: The Case for Freedom by Tariq Ali, Hilal Bhat, Angana P. Chatterji, Habbah Khatun, Pankaj Mishra and Arundhati Roy (Verso Books, 2011). This is one of the 25 books recently banned in the union territory by the Jammu and Kashmir home department.

by Angana P. Chatterji 12/08/2025

Government of Jammu and Kashmir Home Department
Civil Secretariat, J&K NOTIFICATION
Srinagar, the 5th August, 2025
 S.O.203-Whereas; it has come to the notice of the Government, that certain literature propagates false narrative and secessionism in the Jammu and Kashmir. Available evidence based on investigations and credible intelligence unflinchingly indicate that a significant driver behind youth participation in violence and terrorism has been the systematic dissemination of false narratives and secessionist literature by its persistent internal circulation, often disguised as historical or political commentary, while playing a critical role in misguiding the youth, glorifying terrorism and inciting violence against Indian State. This literature would deeply impact the psyche of youth by promoting culture of grievance, victim hood and terrorist heroism. Some of the means by which this literature has contributed to the radicalization of youth in J&K include dist01tion of historical facts, glorification of terrorists, vilification of security forces, religious radicalization, promotion of alienation, pathway to violence and terrorism etc; and

 Whereas; in the above context, 25 books have been identified that propagate false narrative and secessionism in J&K and need to be declared as 1forfeited1 in te1ms of Section 98 of Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023; and

 Whereas; the identified 25 books have been found to excite secessionism and endangering sovereignty and integrity of India, thereby, attracting the provisions of sections 152, 196 & 197 of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023.

 Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 98 of the Bhrutiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir hereby declares publication of 25 books, forming Annexure 11A11 to this Notification, and their copies or other documents to be forfeited to the Government.
By order of the Lieutenant Governor.
 Sd/ (Chandraker Bharti),IAS
Principal Secretary to the Government,

No. HOME-ISA/223/2025-11(7655892) Dated: 05.08.2025

Annexure-A

LIST OF BOOKS

1. Human Rights Violations in Kashmir by Piotr Balcerowicz and Agnieszka Kuszewska : Routledge (Manohar Publishers & Distributors)
2. Kashmiri's Fight for Freedom by Mohd Yosuf Saraf : Feroze Sons Pakistan
3. Colonizing Kashmir, State-Building under Indian occupation by Hafsa Kanjwal : Stanford University Press
4. Kashmir Politics and Plebiscite by Dr. Abdul Jabbar Gockhami : Gulshan Books Kashmir
5. Do You Remember Kunan Poshpora? by Essar Batool & others :
Zubaan Books
6. Mujahid ki Azaan by Imam Hasan Al-Sana Shaheed edited by: Maulan Mohammad Enayatullah Subhani : Markazi Maktaba Islami Publishers Delhi
7. Al Jihadul fil Islam by Moulana Moudadi : Darul Musannifeen-Markazi Maktaba Islami Publishers Delhi
8. Independent Kashmir by Christopher Snedden : Manchester University Press and Sanctum Books Delhi.
9. Resisting Occupation in Kashmir by Haley Duschinski, Mona Bhat, Ather Zia and Cynthia Mahmood : University of Pennsylvlia Press
10. Between Democracy and Nation (Gender and Militarization in Kashmir ) by Seema Kazi : Oxford University Press- Women Unlimited New Delhi
11. Contested Lands  by Sumantra Bose Harper Collins Publishers India Gurugram Haryana
 12 .In Search of a Future (The Story  of Kashmir) by David Devadas  : Viking Penguin
13.Kashmir in Conflict  (India, Pakistan and India  the unending War) by Victoria Schofield Bloomsbury Academic India
14.The Kashmir Dispute 1947-2012 by A.G. Noorani  by Tulika Books Chennai Tamil Nadu
15.Kashmir at the Cross Roads (Inside a 21st Century  Conflict) Sumantra Bose  : Pan Macmillian India, New Delhi
16. A Dismantled State by Anuradha Bhasin (The Untold Story of Kashmir after  Article 370) :Harper Collins Publishers India, Gurugram Haryana
17. Resisting Disappearance (Military Occupation  & Women's  Activism in  Kashmir) by Ather Zia :Zubaan Publishers Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi
18.Confronting Terrorism Stephen Pcohen New Delhi. Pengiun India Darya Gunj
19. Freedom in Captivity (Negotiations of  belonging along
 Kashmiri Frontier) Radhika Gupta Edited by: Maroof Raza Cambridge University Press
20.Kashmir (The case for Freedom) by Tariq Ali, Hilal Bhatt, Angana P. Chattelji,  Pankaj Mlshra and  Arundhati Roy Verso Books .
21. Azadi  by Arundhati Roy Pengiun India Darya Gunj, New Delhi.
 22. USA and Kashmir Dr. Shamshad Shan Gulshan Books
23. & Conflict Resolution in Piotr Balcerowicz andAgnieszka Kuszewska Roudedge (Manohar Publishers & Distributors)
24.Tarlkh-i—Siyasat Kashmir  by Dr. Afaq Karwan—e-Tahqiq-o-  Saqafat Kashmir
25. Kashmir and the   future of South Asia by: Sugata Bose & Ayesha Jalal Routledge (Manohar   Publishers & Distributors)

When the marriage scheme first began, each beneficiary got Rs 25,000 in cash and the cost of five grams of gold. Over the years, however, the assistance has increased to Rs 50,000 for women who belong to families with ‘Priority Household’ ration cards and Rs 75,000 for those who are listed in Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) ration cards.

But under a new rule announced by lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha’s administration in 2022 (Government Order No.49-JK(SWD) of 2022) which came into effect in April this year, only those women who are Class 8 graduates are now eligible for the scheme.

However, the official quoted above said that the new clause has removed a crucial social security net from more than half of the prospective beneficiaries who may have dropped out of school before graduating Class 8 “because of economic stagnation or family emergencies”.

Jehangir ali

28/06/2025

At a time when Kashmiris needed to show unity and tell the world that they were the main stakeholders and also the victims of the animosity between India and Pakistan, two main leaders of the union territory were busy sparring on social media.https://thewire.in/politics/the-grand-tamasha-of-jammu-and-kashmir-politics 

After their release from the preventive detention in 2019, they launched Gupkar Alliance. It is now an established fact that they were only bailing out New Delhi by creating false hopes about fighting for the legitimate rights of people of Jammu and Kashmir. Once New Delhi strengthened its narrative and consolidated its position on ground, the constituents’ of Gupkar alliance went back to their original dens. 

However, amid their allegations and counter allegations, Kashmiris lost their voice and New Delhi got a cover to continue its constitutional onslaughts and alleged human rights abuses against Kashmiris post the abrogation of Article 370. 

These mainstream Kashmiri leaders don’t fight for their rights or political ideology on streets, through peaceful protests or hunger strikes, or even through diplomacy – they only protest on social media platforms. 

by Abrar Rashid

01/06/2025