Mr Manzoor Akash is a well-known budding writer and columnist in the literary and academic circles of the Kashmir Valley. He has already made his name by publishing several books on different genres. He is a youth icon and writes preferably in English. He is a widely read columnist and is a recipient of the National Peace Award.
The recently released book ‘A Harvest of Reminiscences’ by this acclaimed columnist, writer and poet is not only a beautiful addition to Kashmir’s literary tradition but also a clear portrayal of our social milieu. The present work is his collection of childhood and adolescent memories that he harvested from time to time. One gets nostalgic while flipping through the pages of a book which is so engrossing. The various stages of life are recalled, especially our childhood and hobbies. One can gauge how children got emotional, social and mental solace through involvement in traditional games which our modern generations are deprived of. The book unfolds an era when children made life enjoyable and meaningful by playing different traditional games which used to be less expensive, unlike present games. These games were used to imbibe the great values from which modern society is bereft.
As we read the book, we get solace and stand counsel as today a major chunk of the population is running away from day-to-day problems. In the good old days, life was simple and decent. No hankering after material pursuits. People by and large valued money, possessed civil sense and lived a serene life. The book is also a narration of real-life experiences where the new generation can learn a lot. The book opens with a poem entitled Childhood Evening by the author where in simple and charming village life is portrayed which nowadays seems to have gone into oblivion. The author has so sequentially followed the above poem by having mentioned the essence of evenings with jubilation and reverberating songs called rouf in local parlance with the advent of the holy month of Ramadhan (the month of fasting) under the ‘Where’ve gone the days’ chapter; then follows the chapters like Bedtime Stories, My Grandma, My Memories, My Childhood Doctor, and so on in the best phase of life which is the first part of the book.
The author of the book has also highlighted the way elders used to control the naughtiness of children and has also shown us the traditional way of treatment in villages where elderly women used to make the home remedy prescription for different diseases when healthcare was not at all introduced in Kashmir. Chapter after chapter one gets not only lost in his own past but simultaneously gets educated about one’s own culture and heritage which day in and day out seems to be forgotten.
In the sixth chapter of the book My Eid, My Childhood, the author has so impressively highlighted the fervor of festivals in villages of Kashmir and the sense of belongingness and care for the children and neighbors. It has also mentioned that the economic constraints were among people in early times which became instrumental in the simple lifestyle of people. He discerns that life was carefree and enjoyment was boundless. In chapter lessons, he has given a detailed account of schooling patterns, students’ engagements and diligence put in by teachers in teaching in the bygone era. The fret and fury of students had great lessons in emotional intelligence. He has described the wooden piece of slate called Takti as a vital tool which was a key factor for improving one’s writing and was reused again and again hence, was economically beneficial. He paid rich tributes to his great teachers for their parental care shown towards students of first-generation learners in schools.
The picnic was a real event of joy for the students. They got experience of arranging things themselves and preparing the food, tea, etc at picnic spots and also it was a novel experience for the students because they never went outside their villages except to their maternal uncles and a few close relatives. The teachers were also reluctant to arrange the trip as maximum students used to be from poor backgrounds. In schools, students had only one platform to convey the demand to the teachers that was chanting the demand in one voice collectively in the morning assembly. However, the author should have divided the book into the stages of life from childhood to adulthood as certain experiences which demanded elaboration because a good chunk of youngsters and children don’t know the events of some good old days. In another chapter entitled My Teachers, My Memories, he has considered corporal punishments as an effective tool for learning in school in the hands of teachers. He has also considered the recitation of tables and dictation a good experience for students.
The childhood games had paramount importance because they were also less expensive and affordable to one and all in the schools. He has made a special mention of the impact of games on the social educational and physical development of children. The popular games were hide-and-seek, hopscotch, tip-cat, rope scribing, marbles, see-saw, etc. The author has beautifully discussed some artefacts which were essential for domestic purposes and has made a special mention of wildlife especially green herbs and veggies.
The author has used simple language throughout the book with some popular slang which has added to its dexterity. The book is a sweet memoir of a teacher from Kashmir. From childhood to adolescence, the experiences of all delighted days are narrated by breaking the content into two parts i.e. Childhood and Adolescence.
The book is a treasure for new generations as it has depicted the peaceful and simple life of villages with customs, traditions, artifacts and rituals, etc. It has undoubtedly pinpointed the rich legacy of culture and heritage of Kashmir Valley and will evoke interest among the younger lot of Kashmir who are brought up outside the valley to peep into their roots. The book will equally act as a source of solace for senior citizens, teachers and other people by refreshing their glorious past. It is worth reading and easily accessible as the publishers have kept it available online platforms.
Author can be reached at [email protected]

Dr Imtiyaz Rasool Ganai