The parliament attack case has generated many controversies but in this book Nandita Haksar throws light on the range of political, legal and historical issues that have arisen in the campaign to save two Kashmiri men from the gallows. She does this through a series of open letters written to public figures, personal friends and comrades, in which she links the immediate issues of the campaign with the larger problems of secularism, nationalism and democracy. Through her letters the reader will discover the horrifying world that Kashmiris inhabit: the terrifying reality of illegal arrests, dark, damp prison cells and the barbarity of the torture and pain of a child waiting for his father to be hanged. Nandita Haksar’s central concern is that the war against terrorism is systematically weakening the democratic foundations of our country, widening the chasm between Hindu and Muslim citizens, and allying India with the most hated states in the world — the USA and Israel. Her letters express the anguish of a citizen who is helplessly watching her country become authoritarian and fascist without any effective political resistance. Nandita has not cringed from either naming the problems or those responsible for creating them. This book is written neither in anger nor in frustration but with a deep sense of solidarity with her fellow citizens. Her letters are those of an Indian patriot who rejects official definitions of nationalism. The book’s dedication "in celebration of friendships" reflects the emotions imbued in each letter. She asserts her belief in the magic of love, friendship and solidarity. This book is a must read for all those interested in building bridges between Hindus and Muslims; Kashmiris, Indians and Pakistanis; and feminists and fundamentalists. And for those who are too young to read the letters, Nandita has a heart-warming fable.
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