Shakoor Rather, a Kashmiri journalist working with one of the biggest news agencies in India, is already in limelight because of his debut novel. The 32-year-old author is getting praises from everywhere for his book that was released last week and it is already selling like hot cakes on e-commerce websites like Flipkart and Amazon.
In an exclusive interview with Precious Kashmir correspondent Zehra Shafi, the journalist-turned-author talked about what it’s like debuting a novel amid so much uncertainty in the world.

1. Tell me something about yourself and your debut novel?

Shakoor: I am currently working as a Deputy News Editor at Press Trust of India (PTI), New Delhi. I have worked as a journalist for 10 years. During my career, I have been deputed to cover assignments from several countries, including the US, Germany, and China. I have reported from many international conferences like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meet in China in 2016, the 70th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Maldives in 2017, and the United Nations climate change conference (COP25) in Madrid, Spain in 2019. I have been a fellow with the Clean Energy Wire (CLEW), Germany, the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) in Sweden, and the Earth Journalism Network (EJN) among many other institutes.
‘Life in the Clock Tower Valley’ is a requiem for our past that we hold closest to our heart and long for. It is about nostalgia, love, and loss. Delicate and sensitive, the novel travels between Kashmir’s pristine past, its grievous present, and always uncertain future, providing an insider’s view of everyday life and emotions in the conflict-ridden valley. The issues are depicted through symbolism, wit, and humor.

2. Many books have been written about Kashmir Conflict and “Life In The Clock Tower Valley” also revolves around the same. Tell your audience how is it going to be a different read for them?

Shakoor: Many past books have put a spotlight on the conflict in Kashmir, ‘Life in the Clock Tower Valley’ takes a different approach by depicting the life that we all live amidst this conflict. It highlights the uncertainty in our lives. The book also underscores the fascinating historical and political information about Kashmir as well as environmental issues that are seldom talked about.

3. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Shakoor: I can’t recall a particular moment when this realization dawned upon me. But since my childhood days, I was surrounded by stories and legends. My grandfather was an avid reader. He would often read out Mirza Ghalib, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, and Alama Iqbal to the children in the house. While growing up, I was also exposed to the works of celebrated writers like Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Orhan Pamuk, and George Orwell early on. Over the years, I developed a flair for writing and by the time I entered the university, I was already writing columns in newspapers, highlighting social and political issues in society. It felt natural to be in a journalism school and aspire to someday write like the best minds in the field. After that, I never looked back.

4.How long did it take you to write a book?

Shakoor: It took me two years to write the first draft and then another year to fix the nuts and bolts of the manuscript. After that, the pandemic happened and it took over two years to get published.

5. You love traveling. Does it help you in becoming a better writer?

Shakoor: Travelling can inspire you to create fascinating characters that readers can relate to, as we meet strangers and visit new places which bring in fresh perspectives on life. Travelling also makes you value the things in your surroundings that you take for granted otherwise. Travelling also helps me unwind and sometimes to clear the mental fog which can easily cloud your thinking while living in a metropolis like Delhi.

6. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Shakoor: When I am not writing, I am mostly reading books – fiction, non-fiction and poetry. I also share my experiences with aspiring writers and journalism students on different platforms.

7. As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

Shakoor: As a child, I was very curious and inquisitive about things. All I wanted was to become someone with the know-how of all things tangent and in tangent, simple and complex.

8. What was the most surprising things you learned while writing this book?

Shakoor: There were a lot of takeaways from my experience of writing this book. Sometimes you are inspired by the courage of your own characters, and when you are faced with a situation in life, you think about how would that character act or behave at that moment. We also get attached to certain characters who are sometimes inspired by real people, and as a writer, you have to learn to detach yourself from them, so that there is no bias towards any single character.

9. Your favourite books and favourite authors?

Shakoor: I love books written by Franz Kafka, George Orwell, Vladimir Nabokov and Dostoevsky. However, while writing this book I was reading Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Museum of Innocence by Orhan Pamuk, who also inspired me a lot.

10. Do you have any suggestions for aspiring writers? If so, what are they?

Shakoor: I would advise aspiring writers to read a wide variety of books by authors both regional and international before they take a plunge into writing. And when they do that, they should not take shortcuts. They must develop their own style of writing to stand out in the crowd, and chose different stories to tell. That freshness is very important to make a mark of your own in the writing business. Another thing that I would suggest is to keep the market viability of your manuscript into consideration.

Srinagar: After remaining a low key affair during harsh winter this year political activities are likely to get revived in spring.
A politician while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “We have to reach out to people to keep ourselves relevant. We can’t act as mute spectators.”
He said, “After August 5, 2019 (when the Centre announced its decision to revoke Article 370 and bifurcated it into two union territories) the political situation has changed drastically. We have only two options either to adapt to the changed situation or call it quits.”
It’s in place to mention here that two former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti have already dropped enough hints that they won’t be contesting the assembly elections whenever these are held in Jammu and Kashmir.
An analyst said, “Kashmiri leaders are caught in a difficult situation. They are trying to put the pieces together and are struggling to know from where they should begin.”
He said, “During the past few months PDP president Mehbooba Mufti held some public meetings and she was the only leader who made an attempt to meet the people. Otherwise the political activities, especially in Kashmir, have come to a grinding halt.”
A politician said, “After J&K’s transition into a union territory powers of the political leaders have been curtailed to a great extent. Now, everything is under New Delhi’s control. Even if we have an elected government in place politicians will have to get all their decisions approved by the Lieutenant Governor.”
“Till J&K’s statehood is restored politicians will have to remain content with what they will get. Big leaders have realized it, that’s why they are saying that they won’t be a part of the electoral process,” he added.
The politician said that political formations in Kashmir will have to look for new ways and means to keep themselves in circulation. “They have to ensure that grass root workers of their parties don’t get disillusioned, for that to happen they will have to revive the political activities to instill the confidence among their workers that time will change and they too will have a say. These leaders cannot just go into oblivion and remain aloof from the people.”
A leader of newly floated political party said, “Restoration of the statehood is must. Till J&K remains a union territory, politicians will continue to struggle.”

Anantnag: In late 2017, Urban Environment Engineering Department (UEED) dug the roads and lanes in this south Kashmir town for construction of sewage treatment plant (STP). The sanitation project for the town was sanctioned by the Central Government under Atal mission for rejuvenation and urban transformation (AMRUT). The cost of the project was Rs 17 crore.

The executing agency, UEED, after seeking permission from the R and B department dug most of the main and internal roads and lanes to fix the sewage pipes underground. The compensation for the damage caused to the black topped roads due to digging was supposed to be paid by the executing agency while the tiled lanes and bylanes were to be repaired by the UEED itself. However, most internal roads and lanes await repair even four years after being dug.

Though the Road and Building Department after facing criticism by the local traders repaired and macadamized some main roads a few months back but most of the internal roads and lanes continue to be in shambles.

Even as UEED having paid more than Rs 2 crore to R&B for repair of the dug up roads, the latter is yet to do so.

Localities where the internal roads continue to be in mess include Kadipora, Sarnal, Bakhshiabad, Cheeni chowk, Reshi Bazar, Malaknag and Gulshanabad.

Official sources said that repairing the roads and lanes after digging was very much in the estimated project cost but neither R&B nor the executing agency has bothered to set them right.

Failure of the concerned agencies to set the roads and lanes right has left the local residents fuming.

“After being dug these roads and lanes have become hazard for the people both in dry and wet weather. During dry weather conditions heavy volumes of dust emanate from these roads and lanes while in case of rains they become too slippery to walk upon,” said a local resident from Kaddipora, Mubashir Ahmad.

Another resident, Junaid Ahmad from Mohalla Syed Sahab said that the lanes leading to their mohalla from main road have been in complete shambles for the last three years since it was dug for fixing sewage pipes.

“One wonders how come the authorities construct a sewage project at the cost of the black topped roads and tiled lanes. Only mindless can do it,” Ahmad said.

A resident from Malaknag Mohammad Iqbal said that after the tiles from the lane leading to their house were removed several years ago it has become very difficult for them to walk through the same. “According to our information project cost also included the repair of roads suffering damage during the execution of the sewage project. Now the project is also functional since last year but the dug up roads and lanes continue to await repair,” Iqbal said.

No top UEED official was available for comment , however, an engineer of the agency , Firdous Ahmad who supervised the project and is now posted at another place said that UEED has paid all the amount to R and B required for blacktopping of the main and internal roads damaged due to digging.

“Though i am no more there but what i know is that UEED has paid for the damage caused to the roads. It is now R&B which has to repair them. UEED’s job is over,” he said.

Executive Engineer R&B , Qazi Jasid, said that they have completed macadamization of a few kilometers of damaged roads in the town and have floated tenders for the remaining ones.

“After inviting tenders earlier we did not get any response. Now, the weather has improved. We are expecting response to our fresh tenders. Black topping of these roads will be done soon,” he said.