08-25-2009, 09:18 PM
Jaswant's 'Jinnah' popular in Kashmir
ISHFAQ AHMAD SHAH
Srinagar, Aug 24: Like elsewhere, in Kashmir too the expelled BJP leader Jashwant Singh's book Jinnah - India,
Partition, Independence is selling like proverbial hot cakes as since it has questioned the populist notions of Indian nationalist historiography.
So high is the demand for the book that questions the demonization of book Pakistan's Qaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, all long being blamed for the partition by India, that book-sellers are using currier services to ferry fresh stocks of the book here.
The book, which became the reason for the expulsion of BJP stalwart and India�¿½�¬�¢s former External Affairs minister Jashwant Singh from the party, is also critical of India�¿½�¬�¢s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru as well as Gandhi.
Gulshan Publishers, one of the premier bookshops at Srinagar's Residency Road ran out of stocks on the very first day it started sale of the book.
I have never ordered so many copies of any other book before. I got 125 in the first lot and have ordered 200 more now, but suppliers are saying that they too have run out of stock, says Aijaz Ahmed of Gulshan Publishers.
He said he had even used currier services for getting the books here to meet the demand, but supplies are not able to match the demand.
Another book seller, Sonaullah of Best Seller Book Shop too is amazed with the way the book is being sought. I have customers waiting even before I open my shop. Although I had not ordered the book so far but every now and then people are coming for the book, he said. Experts believe that the interest among the people here is because of the publicity and the disputed nature of Kashmir problem.
The book deals with the partition, and given that the Kashmir dispute also has its origin in partition the demand for the book is easily understood, said Arif Bashir, editor of a local daily.
He said that people of Kashmir have a great interest in the life of Jinnah. Jinnah besides being the founding father of Pakistan is also revered by people of Kashmir. There are still many people around who would talk about Jinnah's visit to Kashmir and his address to the people here, Arif said.
However Ashiq Ahmad, a businessman of Old city, said that he bought the book as it rubbishes the blame about Jinnah's beinmg communal. The book negates the Indian historians and leaders accusations including those of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah that Jinnah divided India on communal lines. Jinnah believed in religious tolerance, Ashiq says, adding that Jaswant Singh's book only buttresses his belief.
ISHFAQ AHMAD SHAH
Srinagar, Aug 24: Like elsewhere, in Kashmir too the expelled BJP leader Jashwant Singh's book Jinnah - India,
Partition, Independence is selling like proverbial hot cakes as since it has questioned the populist notions of Indian nationalist historiography.
So high is the demand for the book that questions the demonization of book Pakistan's Qaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, all long being blamed for the partition by India, that book-sellers are using currier services to ferry fresh stocks of the book here.
The book, which became the reason for the expulsion of BJP stalwart and India�¿½�¬�¢s former External Affairs minister Jashwant Singh from the party, is also critical of India�¿½�¬�¢s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru as well as Gandhi.
Gulshan Publishers, one of the premier bookshops at Srinagar's Residency Road ran out of stocks on the very first day it started sale of the book.
I have never ordered so many copies of any other book before. I got 125 in the first lot and have ordered 200 more now, but suppliers are saying that they too have run out of stock, says Aijaz Ahmed of Gulshan Publishers.
He said he had even used currier services for getting the books here to meet the demand, but supplies are not able to match the demand.
Another book seller, Sonaullah of Best Seller Book Shop too is amazed with the way the book is being sought. I have customers waiting even before I open my shop. Although I had not ordered the book so far but every now and then people are coming for the book, he said. Experts believe that the interest among the people here is because of the publicity and the disputed nature of Kashmir problem.
The book deals with the partition, and given that the Kashmir dispute also has its origin in partition the demand for the book is easily understood, said Arif Bashir, editor of a local daily.
He said that people of Kashmir have a great interest in the life of Jinnah. Jinnah besides being the founding father of Pakistan is also revered by people of Kashmir. There are still many people around who would talk about Jinnah's visit to Kashmir and his address to the people here, Arif said.
However Ashiq Ahmad, a businessman of Old city, said that he bought the book as it rubbishes the blame about Jinnah's beinmg communal. The book negates the Indian historians and leaders accusations including those of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah that Jinnah divided India on communal lines. Jinnah believed in religious tolerance, Ashiq says, adding that Jaswant Singh's book only buttresses his belief.