Manzoor Akash
Some short stories are meant to be read and forgotten; others must be slowly chewed and digested. Bashir Aarif’s recently released Kashmiri short story collection, Myani Vachik Kotar, which has left an indelible imprint upon readers, decisively belongs to the latter category. Written in accessible language, this volume is published by Meezan Publishers, Srinagar, and dedicated by the author to his wife and three beloved daughters. Rooted in local reality, this treasure trove offers socially conscious narratives that echo the deep relevance of a writer who has experienced life in all its dimensions. Aarif writes with great care and compassion, transforming small, sensitive details into complete, powerful narratives. His work is not art for art’s sake; it is an authentic account of Kashmiri life, deeply tied to the land, its traditions, and its old professions.
Comprising eleven short stories across 110 pages, this afsana collection unfolds as a sustained exploration of the author’s inner world. Rather than merely narrating tales through characters, the book serves as a literary feast that introduces readers to various facets of Kashmiri society. While the stories are woven with love around Srinagar’s bustling atmosphere, close inspection reveals a universal connection. Through various characters, Aarif takes us on a journey where life through thick and thin is fully laid bare. Amidst the clamor of modernity and a rapidly changing world, where writers often produce voluminous works to impress readers, Aarif understands that such books frequently end up gathering dust. Consequently, he has kept his collection concise, offering eleven tight stories that readers will engage with until the very end.
Bashir Aarif needs no introduction. A prominent figure in Kashmir, he is an intellectual, ace broadcaster, writer, poet, and veteran scriptwriter who also served as Deputy Director General of Radio Kashmir (now All India Radio). For decades, he shaped public discourse through the airwaves, and his broadcasts remain remembered across the Valley for their depth and thoughtful style. Beyond his na’ats, celebrated for their lyrical quality and enduring resonance, he is especially famous for creating the iconic radio program Zoon-e-Dab, which became immensely popular throughout Jammu & Kashmir.
Bashir Aarif has published numerous books across different genres in Kashmiri apart from Myani Vachik Kotar which is a rare gift for readers, presenting narratives that spring directly from the soil. Neither derivative nor purely imagined, they offer an honest picture of our times. The characters feel familiar because they belong to our immediate surroundings; their names carry subtle meanings that evoke old professions, family roots, and a close-knit social fabric. Through these figures, the stories maintain a direct connection to local history and heritage, prompting readers to reflect on how drastically society has evolved. At first glance, the eleven stories in Myani Vachik Kotar seem easy to finish in one sitting. Upon closer inspection, however, each entry transports the reader to a distinct world. Aarif captures expansive lives within tight frames. His Kashmiri prose sounds deceptively simple, yet it demands slow reading between the lines. Indeed, this reviewer went through these eleven stories twice to fully grasp their underlying weight.
In skillfully crafted pieces like Tuel-Kul, Brasht, Shooch, Atur, Gopa, Aav Ha Aav Ha, Kanz, Sakh Dod Chum, Yeth Makanas Manz, Manz Saraai and the title story Myani Vachik Kotar, Aarif evokes an earlier era in the Valley, a time when people were not divided by community or creed, and walls had not yet been built inside human hearts.
The writer is also deeply affected by the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits, a pain rendered acutely visible in stories such as Yeth Makanas Manz and Brasht. Drawing from years of observation and refined storytelling, he articulates the anguish of lost homes, homelessness, the feeling of becoming an outsider, and an unyielding longing for one’s native land.
Ultimately, Myani Vachik Kotar serves as a sharp social critique. The characters are not treated as flat archetypes, but as kotar (pigeons) nurtured within the vachik/wacheh (the inner sanctum of the chest), breathing life into the text while keeping it grounded. Literally, human desires remain infinite, and the heart longs for affection regardless of age. In s.stroy Tuel-Kul, Aarif illustrates this through Tara Chand, who seeks the same warmth that Thokur Manvot experiences. Yet, societal impatience and cynicism often intervene. In everyday life, petty gossip and belittling others have become normalized. Brasht, another short story highlights this dynamic through a 70-year-old Pandit who devotedly cares for his family, only to be hastily judged and labeled sinful by onlookers, a stark reminder of how quickly society jumps to condemnation.
Time lost cannot be regained, but its memories remain etched in the heart. Aarif recalls an era of intercommunal harmony and mutual affection between Muslims and Pandits, a time when brotherhood transcended religious lines. In afsana Atur, he portrays acts of solidarity amidst tragedy. When Farooq and Anjali run away to Gulmarg and are apprehended by the police, then Anjali’s father, Mohan Ji, saves Farooq from severe punishment by claiming that the two are siblings. Though overcome by shame, leading him to take his own life at home, the story underscores the complex bonds that once held the community together.
While humans are considered Ashraf-ul-Makhluqat (the noblest of creation), moral compromises frequently occur. In Shooch, a puppy dies because it is deemed “impure”, yet the same people willingly accept money set aside for its care. Through this short story, the author exposes the hypocrisy of those who profess high morality while violating basic ethics. Then finally, the title story, Myani Vachik Kotar anchors the entire collection. Here, the “pigeons” symbolize the people, memories, and moments that Aarif has quietly observed and sheltered inside his heart over the decades. They are living, breathing entities that reflect the human condition. In short, Myani Vachik Kotar stands as a significant addition to the Kashmiri short story (afsana) genre, reflecting both the endurance of local culture and the subtle shifts in contemporary social values.
(The author, author & educationist, is a regular columnist. He is a recipient of National Peace Award)
