Rating: 5/5
I picked up Those Who Stayed: The Sikhs of Kashmir by Bupinder Singh Bali with high hopes, and it surpassed every expectation I had. From the very first pages, I felt drawn into a world I knew little about—one marked by both deep-rooted heritage and wrenching conflict. As someone who believes in amplifying marginalized voices, I found Bali’s docu-memoir to be not just a contribution to Kashmiri history, but a vital testament to resilience and identity.
Immersive Narrative
Right away, I was struck by Bali’s skillful weaving of personal anecdotes with broader communal stories. When he recounts the tragic killing of Supinder Kour in 2021, I felt the shock and sorrow as if I were right there in Srinagar. Yet, Bali never lets emotion overshadow detail; each memory and testimony is contextualized with clear-eyed research. This balance kept me engaged throughout the book, eager to learn more about each chapter of Kashmiri Sikh history.
Historical Depth
Bali doesn’t shy away from diving deep into historic events—most notably the 1947 tribal invasion of Kashmir. In October 1947, Pashtun tribal militias backed by Pakistan launched coordinated raids across the princely state, leading to widespread violence against Sikh and Hindu villagers, many of whom were killed or displaced. Bali traces his community’s presence in Kashmir back over 500 years, revealing how Sikhs have been both defenders and bearers of local culture.
Chittisinghpora Massacre
One chapter that chilled me was his account of the 20 March 2000 Chittisinghpora massacre, when 35 Sikh villagers—lured out of their homes by gunmen in army fatigues—were executed in cold blood. Bali interviews survivors whose haunting testimonies bring this atrocity into stark relief, underscoring how this single event became a turning point in Kashmir’s communal landscape.
Micro-Minority Challenges
With Sikhs comprising under 1% of Kashmir’s population today, Bali explores the unique challenges they face—targeted violence, economic hardship, and social marginalization. Census data confirms the community’s precarious numbers in the Valley, hovering well below a single-digit percentage. Yet Bali also celebrates small victories: the revival of gurudwaras, local festivals, and community solidarity that persist against all odds.
Emotional Resonance
What really moved me were the first-person survivor accounts sprinkled throughout the text. Hearing directly from individuals who lived through targeted violence and displacement brought an immediacy that dry historical analysis can never match. I found myself reflecting on their courage long after closing the book, recognizing the quiet heroism in simply choosing to stay.
Contemporary Significance
Bali discusses how recent political changes—most notably the August 2019 abrogation of Article 370—have intensified Kashmiri Sikhs’ fears of eroded rights and eroded identity. While many analyses focus on Muslim-majority concerns, Bali’s focus on his own community fills a critical gap in our understanding of the Valley’s evolving social fabric.
Personal Takeaways
Reading Those Who Stayed reaffirmed for me why storytelling matters. I walked away with not only a deeper knowledge of Kashmiri Sikh history but also a renewed sense of responsibility to share these narratives. Bali’s memoir inspired me to seek out other underrepresented histories and to honor the voices of those who persevere when the world has all but forgotten them.
Conclusion
In my view, Those Who Stayed is an indispensable addition to any bookshelf. It educates, it moves, and it challenges preconceived notions about Kashmir. I am thoroughly “for” this book—its compassion, its scholarship, and its unwavering spotlight on resilience make it a landmark work. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone interested in history, human rights, or simply in witnessing the indomitable spirit of a community that chose to stay.
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