The book Rumors of Spring is a memoir by Farah Bashir who was grown up in Kashmir amid war and conflict. The conflict consumed so many lives and left so many families apart. The book is divided into six parts; Evening, Night, Early hours, Dawn, Morning and Afterlife and further divided into 36 chapters. The chapters follow the day of Bebeh that is grandmother’s funeral and each of the chapter explores different aspects of Farah Bashir’s life.  

The book written from the perspective of an adolescent girl who is a victim of everyday violence which has ravaged Kashmir for 30 years. Farah’s story is not about an individual but it represents thousands of people of Kashmir whose lives were torn apart in the political conflict and that turned innocent people’s life upside down.

Everyday violence can be seen in every chapter. There’s a chapter dedicated to the curfewed nights when Farah experience mensuration cramps but doesn’t dare to move out of her bed out of fear that she might invite attention of the troops posted outside. It also talks about her pain, anxiety, sleeplessness and PTSD that she suffers because of fear that caused by the violence and bloodshed, she witnessed everyday crackdowns and curfews become a part of daily life.

The book also talks about killing of innocent people by troops, kidnappings by militants and about disappeared people who never came back. It also talk about some happy moments of Farah’s life; about her first crush and also about Kashmiri customs, tradition and faith. Overall the book documents the changing political landscape of Kashmir that turned into a militarized zone overnight. Beautifully written and very engaging.