A Long Season of Ashes : A Memoir | Book Review

Review of Siddhartha Gigoo's memoir - A Long Season of Ashes

• Title - A Long Season of Ashes
• Author - Siddhartha Gigoo
• Year published – 25 January 2024
• Pages - 480
• Genre – Memoir
• Format - Hardbound
• Publisher - Viking [India]

In March 1990, sixteen-year-old Siddhartha Gigoo was forced to flee his home in Safa Kadal, Srinagar, Kashmir. The preceding days have been full of fear and horror for the Gigoos— having seen friends and neighbors killed outside their homes. They could be next if they don’t leave. But they want to stay, even when faced with a looming threat to their lives. Siddhartha thinks his leaving is temporary and that he will be back home soon. Little does he know that his fate is sealed.
What follows is a long, dark time— a camp existence and a struggle for survival.
Thirty-four years on, Siddhartha chronicles the story of his flight from Kashmir and an entire youth spent in exile.
A meditation on the nature of memory, A Long Season of Ashes is a book about a boy’s journey of self-discovery.

Book #23 of 2024

Non-fiction #15

Rating 5 stars

This poignant memoir is the heart-wrenching story of the displacement of thousands of Kashmiri Pandits from their homes in the late 90s and the arduous journey they endured thereafter. While the plight of these displaced individuals was a familiar topic, the depth of their suffering truly hit me as I turned each page of this memoir.

The author vividly portrays the grim reality faced by his community, where the fate of so many was sealed on the day they were forced from their homes. The longing of the author's grandfather to return to his homeland, unfulfilled until his last breath, serves as a poignant reminder of the profound loss experienced by countless families.

Reading this book was an emotionally charged experience, with moments that brought tears to my eyes and scenes so vividly depicted that I had to pause to collect myself. The descriptions of the chaos, disorder, food and water shortage, and unsanitary living conditions faced by those living in camps were particularly gut-wrenching, highlighting the unimaginable hurdles and hardships endured by the displaced population.

The atrocities committed against the Kashmiri Pandits, especially the women, were even more heartbreaking. It's unfathomable to comprehend how individuals who once led comfortable lives had their world turned upside down in a matter of minutes.

Amidst the tragedy, the author beautifully captures the bonds formed with family members, friends, and fellow survivors, offering glimpses of hope amidst the despair. Written in the form of a diary interspersed with letters to family members, the memoir encapsulates a range of emotions - from desperation and sadness to fleeting moments of happiness found in simple pleasures like a home-cooked meal.

The stark contrast between life before displacement and the harsh reality of life in camps or on the run is powerfully depicted, serving as a stark reminder of the fragility of security and the resilience of the human spirit.

Furthermore, the inclusion of "The Kashmiri Pandits and Kashmir: A Historical Timeline" at the end of the book provides valuable context, tracing the history of the community from 1500 BCE to 2023. The meticulous notes section offers references for events mentioned throughout the memoir, adding depth and authenticity to the narrative.

In all, this book is not only a heart-rending memoir but also a testament to the suffering endured by the Kashmiri Pandit community and the author's journey to self-discovery. It serves as a crucial record in Indian history, shedding light on the targeted attacks against minorities and the enduring spirit of those who survived.

A 5/5 star read.

Siddhartha Gigoo, winner of the 2015Commonwealth Short Story Prize (Asia) for his short story, ‘The Umbrella Man’, has published two books of poetry―Fall and Other Poems and Reflections, four novels―The Garden of Solitude, Mehr: A Love Story, The Lion of Kashmir, Love in the Time of Quarantine―and a book of short stories―A Fistful of Earth and Other Stories (long listed for the 2015 Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award). He has co-edited two anthologies, A Long Dream of Home: The Persecution, Exodus and Exile of Kashmiri Pandits and Once We Had Everything: Literature in Exile. In 2021, Siddhartha won the New Asian Short Story Prize for his short story, ‘Elephant’s Tusk’. His short stories have been long-listed for the Lorian Hemingway Short Story Prize, the Royal Society of Literature's V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize, and the Seán O'Faoláin Short Story Prize. Siddhartha’s short films, The Last Day and Goodbye, Mayfly, have won several awards at international film festivals. His writings also appear in various literary journals.