Militarisation and violence as a response to conflict are now part of the global social order. In this book, twelve journalists explore the impact of such militarisation on the lives of women in four conflict-affected zones of South Asia: Pakistan’s frontier provinces which share a border with Afghanistan; Nepal during and after its decade-long civil war; Northeast India under the shadow of AFSPA and the Kashmir valley amidst the overwhelming presence of the Indian army. These essays range from evocative accounts of women’s personal lives during combat in Nepal and while travelling through the changing political landscape of Manipur, to detailed explorations of the violent restrictions imposed on specific communities, such as the Hazaras of Pakistan, the dancing girls of Swat Valley, or the ostracised widows of counter-insurgents in Kashmir. They represent the lived realities of a diverse set of women forced to come to terms with horrific circumstances and determined to wage peace.
About the Author
Laxmi Murthy is consulting editor with Himal South Asian, the region’s only political review magazine, published from Kathmandu. She also heads the Hri Institute for South Asian Research and Exchange, a research unit under the Himal banner. She is currently based in Bangalore and has been active in the autonomous women’s movement in India for more than twenty-five years.
Mitu Varma is project director at Panos South Asia and has been leading the project on which this book is based. She is also director for Film South Asia, a biennial festival of documentaries for the region, and editorial advisor for Himal South Asian. She is based in New Delhi and is a founder member of the Community Radio Forum—India.
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