Meha Dixit, a scholar from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, today released her book ‘Piece of War’ in Srinagar. Meha says peoples’ perception of the conflict is at the heart of the book which is a product of thousands of conversations with stakeholders through a number of contexts across the world. She has also extensively spoken to the people in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly those living close to the border areas.
‘Piece of War‘, according to Sage Publications, will be a heartfelt and introspective read for all readers, and an analytical read especially for psychologists, anthropologists and journalists. Sage further says, “Throughout history war has affected civilizations in many ways. In contemporary times, Afghanistan, the Kashmir Valley, parts of Middle East and Africa continue to be embroiled in conflict. It makes you ask the question: Is there an ‘ordinary’ life beyond violence in these conflict zones? Through the real-life stories of people, the book attempts to uncover the human aspect of war, and how individuals and communities make sense of and cope with the pain and uncertainty. In this book, narratives of people who have either lived or are living in conflict zones are presented in an anecdotal manner, highlighting the extraordinary resilience humankind possesses and its ability to survive amidst despair and destruction. Documenting the author’s first-hand experience of confronting the realities of conflict-affected and ‘post-conflict’ regions of the Middle East, South Asia and West Africa (Afghanistan, Afghanistan–Pakistan border, Lebanon, Lebanon–Syria border, Sierra Leone, Indo-Pakistan border, Kashmir, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Rohingya refugees along Bangladesh–Myanmar border), the book is a raw and bleeding portrayal of hope and strength.”
Meha Dixit has a PhD in international politics from Jawaharlal Nehru University. Her thesis is titled Human Security and Post-conflict Reintegration of Child Soldiers: Disarmament Demobilisation Reintegration (DDR) Programmes in Mozambique and Sierra Leone . She has conducted field research in various conflict and ‘postconflict’ zones such as Afghanistan including Afghanistan-Pakistan border, Lebanon, Lebanon-Syria border, Sierra Leone, India-Pakistan border, Kashmir, Maoist insurgency regions in India (Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh-Odisha border) and northeastern states in India (Manipur and Assam) and on the Rohingya issue in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, and Bangladesh-Myanmar border. She has worked with Amnesty International and Save the Children. She has also taught at Kashmir University.
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