Snakes in the Meadows

In 1987 Jammu and Kashmir, Aslam and Ashwar in Pathri Aali face turmoil as Mujahideen bring suffering. Ashwar fights back, calling on Aslam to uphold village legends. The novel depicts the onset of militancy and resilience in the region.

Jammu And Kashmir, 1987. In the hilly village of Pathri Aali, whereegends appear true, Aslam and Ashwar, two youngovers, dream of marriage and of good things ofife. But that is not to be. Unable to cope, Aslameaves Pathri Aali forever. Yearsater, as men migrate to Saudi Arabia for employment, Pathri Aali is populated mostly by women and children. Soon they realize the Mujahideen, who guise themselves as theiriberators, are the worst perpetrators, and misery seems inescapable. Ashwar refuses to be cowed down by this reign of terror and is determined not toet it devastate the once-peaceful village. The only one she can bank on is Aslam”and she calls out to him across the distance of time and space, to return andive up to theegends of their village. Snakes in the Meadows is a saga of the onset of militancy, and the suffering and the resilience of Pir Panjal”the "And'' of Jammu And Kashmir.