BOOK REVIEW
Kashmir is not only Sheba’s place of birth but also her recluse in times of crises. The lake and the chinar trees along its banks, the white veil of winter over the valley, the humble and hospitable people of the mountains and the warmth of her home have shaped her personality and thoughts. Away from home, Sheba’s memories of the paradise become her strength.
In Tarannum Riyaz’s Birds of The Snows, translated from her Urdu novel Barf Aashna Parindey, the author narrates the story of Sheba and her family and simultaneously describes the transition of Kashmir over three decades.
Sheba, a strongheaded Kashmiri girl who grew up on the values of an educated and liberal father and a dedicated mother, is different from her other sisters. She loves to read and she questions the convention; she is kind-hearted and a forgiving person. Her integrity and determination make her stand out among the siblings and her friends.
As Riyaz narrates the story of Sheba’s childhood, she also describes Kashmir’s pristine beauty that changes as she grows up. The Kashmir of Sheba’s childhood was peaceful. Militancy was yet to devastate the valley and end young lives.
Riyaz’s novel explores the hues of relationships, a mother’s relationship with her daughter and a woman’s conviction to defy social norms. Unlike her sisters, Sheba is an independent woman. Her strength lies in her patience. She endures her elder sibling’s bullying calmly and does not lose focus when life brings her at a crossroads. So, when her professor falls sick, it becomes a natural choice for her to take care of the helpless man even when her other friends move on.
She remains a dedicated “caretaker” of the ailing professor despite her sisters’ accusations of crossing social boundaries. “Her relationship with Professor Daanish was only that of a caretaker, Sheba thought keenly for a moment and shook her head. What other relationship could she have with him? All the same, it was such a deep one.”
When militancy strikes the valley, Sheba becomes worried about her Kashmir’s peace. The political upheaval in the state worries her as much as the security of her family, especially the young ones. Inside the hostel room, Sheba remembers the Kashmir of her childhood and her father’s village. She remembers the chinar trees and the birds of the snows that visit the garden at home every year.
Sheba’s story is that of freedom and deep-rooted love for her family, friends and Kashmir. Riyaz’s description of her journey and of Kashmir flows like poetry and is as mellifluous as the songs of the birds in the grapevine in Sheba’s garden.
Riyaz, who was a noted Urdu poet, critic, writer and translator, died of Covid-19 during the second wave last year. The translated novel was released posthumously and is a tribute to the writer.
Book: Birds of the Snows; Author: Tarannum Riyaz; Publisher: Niyogi Books; Pages: 498; Price: Rs 695
~Team Sunday Monitor
