A new view of the valley

Qadri weaves in Kashmiri elements like Ari work

In the snowy Gurez Valley, a little girl named Amiya dreams of a library. But there are no storybooks in its proximity. So, how will she build a library? Then, she remembers that she lives with a storyteller - Deidi, ‘grandmother' in Shina, a Dardic language spoken in Gurez. The plan is to get her to narrate tales, which Amiya will write down and her sister will illustrate. And if every girl in Amiya's school does the same with a family member, they will be able to build an extensive library. Deidi proceeds with the narration over noon chai, a salty, pink-ish tea made in samavaars. This heartwarming tale of love and separation set around the Line of Control in 1947 is the crux of Noon Chai and a Story (Tulika Books) that was released this month.

Noon chai is characterised by its pink colour. Pics courtesy/Tulika Books

Written by Adithi Rao and illustrated by Ghazal Qadri, the book encapsulates the warmth of the conflict-ridden land and its people while packing in socio-political nuance. The book stemmed from Rao's extensive travel through Ladakh and Kargil in 2000. "We have a certain perception of Kashmir and its people, but what I observed was small villages with simple people living very difficult lives. I locked my heart to this beautiful place. Aside from all the militancy and the stories you hear, there's a completely different face to this idea," she shares, adding that the decision to set the story in Gurez originated from another book project she was working on.

Adithi Rao

Rao asserts that it was important to reach out to children with this narrative so that they can see a side of the region different to what is being portrayed in the media. Qadri, a Kashmiri illustrator who is now based in the United States, was overwhelmed and excited when the publisher reached out to her to work on this book. "As a girl who has been born and brought up in Kashmir, I am completely aware of the fact that there are not many picture books about Kashmir or stories about us," she says. Qadri's work brings the essence of the place to life - be it through the Ari work on the cushion Deidi rests on or the image of a shikhara in a tiny frame on the wall.

Ghazal Qadri

The relationship that Amiya shares with her Deidi was inspired by Rao's own life. Raised by her maternal grandparents who hailed from Burma, Rao grew up hearing stories of the torturous journey of migration to India: "A grandparent adds a magical dimension to a child's life because they have the patience and wisdom. And a cup of noon chai warms the heart and the body. If, after reading this, children take a little bit of time to see the other person as human and not a label, my job is done."