Provocative, insightful and passionately argued, Kashmir: Beyond Article 370 brings a unique perspective to an increasingly polarized debate on the dilution of Article 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution and subsequent bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories. On one hand, the book raises some interesting but out of sight issues that moulded public opinion in favour of the scrapping of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. On the other hand, it accurately highlights the anti-India provocations leading to the unprecedented August 5 decision by the Indian Parliament.

The book reveals how the government of India was prompted to do away with the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and how the people in Kashmir responded to the situation that emerged in the wake of the Indian Parliament`s August 5 decision. The book provides a fascinating account of the events that actually added to the ideological commitment of the BJP government in revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

It gives a detailed account of the challenges the Indian state faces in Kashmir post-Article 370 abrogation and explores what could be a possible way out. The book suggests that revulsion against religious extremism is pivotal in dealing with terrorism in all its manifestations.

The author argues that Kashmir has lost its special identity to the extremist ideologies long ago as society let the fanatics get away with their every attack on the unique identity of Kashmir without protesting. The fanatics were allowed to impose their narrow worldview on the people in Kashmir and they readily fell for it. The book argues that mutual respect and affection amongst the people of all faiths in Kashmir for centuries made it possible to create a common culture “Kashmiryat”. Unfortunately, that culture has been butchered and vandalized by the extremists. So, the argument that Article 370 protected Kashmir`s unique identity is vague.

The book highlights how the politics around article 370 pitched the people of the three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh against each other and how this the article was used to create a communal divide by the political elites in Jammu and Kashmir.

It offers a much-needed corrective to the self-serving narratives on both sides of the divisive debate and seeks to help us understand Kashmir post-370 abrogation in a better way. It elaborates on how the juggernaut of extremism emerged from the mosque and the madrasa and crushed whosoever stood against it.