by Lilac Ali
SRINAGAR: An afternoon of reading and discussion around City of Kashmir: A Popular History by Sameer Hamdani brought together a cross-section of Srinagar’s intellectual community at a riverside café, as the Jhelum River flowed quietly in the background.
Organised by the Friday Book Club and moderated by journalist Shakir Mir, the session drew academics, architects, journalists and students. Participants noted that such literary gatherings remain relatively infrequent in the city, often attracting a familiar but committed audience.
Opening the discussion, Mir positioned the book against the dominant narratives on Kashmir, observing that Hamdani’s work shifts focus from conflict-centric writing to a layered understanding of Srinagar as a city shaped by intersecting cultures and histories. He described the book as grounded in detailed research while remaining accessible to general readers.
A key theme that emerged during the session was the historical divide between the gaam (village) and shahar (city). A passage read aloud sparked discussion on how this distinction continues to inform social attitudes. Responding to questions, Hamdani traced the origins of the divide to the 18th century, when migration of prominent religious families into Srinagar complicated notions of urban superiority. He noted that the city’s identity became associated with refined cultural practices, though he stopped short of endorsing the hierarchies that developed alongside it.
Expanding on this, Hamdani remarked that Srinagar’s identity has never been static, but rather shaped by successive waves of movement, adaptation and exchange. He underlined that the idea of the shahar as culturally superior is historically fragile, pointing out that many of the traditions associated with urban refinement were themselves shaped by influences arriving from beyond the city’s limits.
The conversation also turned to architecture and power, with Hamdani highlighting the Mughal-era construction of the Pathar Masjid opposite the revered Khanqah-e-Moula. Built in stone in contrast to the city’s predominantly wooden structures, the mosque was described as a symbolic assertion of authority. Hamdani noted that its subsequent abandonment reflected a form of local resistance, describing it as an instance where dissent took the form of disuse rather than confrontation.
He further situated Srinagar within broader networks of cultural transmission, describing it as both a recipient and a conduit of ideas across regions and centuries. The discussion touched on the Kashmiri as storyteller, one who preserves memory carefully, yet is equally capable of reshaping narrative when circumstances demand.
On his writing approach, Hamdani said the book represents his first non-academic work, adding that he consciously reduced the density of scholarly language to reach a wider audience without compromising on research depth. He noted that the intent was to retain academic rigour while making the material readable for those outside formal scholarship.
A noticeable shortage of chairs meant several attendees stood through the session. The situation shifted briefly when a politician arrived, prompting the sudden arrangement of additional seating and momentarily interrupting the discussion.
During the interactive session, scholar Muzaffar Khan commended the book’s citations and bibliography, calling it a necessary addition to existing historical perspectives. “We need to read our histories from different perspectives to understand ourselves better,” he said, adding that the work contributes meaningfully to that effort.
A student participant, Umar, emphasised the importance of such forums in sustaining historical awareness, particularly at a time when attention spans are shrinking. He said that basic historical literacy remains essential, and that discussions like these provide a rare space where such engagement continues.
The setting itself, a café along the riverfront with the afternoon breeze and passing waters, lent an informal tone to what remained a substantive exchange. Attendees described the format as conducive to open conversation, allowing both structured discussion and spontaneous audience participation.
The event concluded with an extended interaction between the author and attendees, with questions ranging from historiography to contemporary cultural identity. The discussion, participants noted, reflected a continuing interest in reclaiming and re-examining Srinagar’s past beyond dominant narratives, even as such platforms remain limited in number.
