James Campbell provides an in-depth survey of crime; punishment and justice in African American history. Presenting cutting-edge scholarship on issues of criminal justice in African American history in an accessible way for students; he makes connections between black experiences of criminal justice and violence from the slave era to the present.
#4532017 in Books Khan Nyla Ali 2010-11-17 2010-09-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.33 x .69 x 5.76l; .79 #File Name: 0230107648211 pagesIslam Women and Violence in Kashmir Between India and Pakistan
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Kashmir: Caught in the MiddleBy Andrew LubinStretching back generations; the problems in Kashmir are a sad mixture of India-Pakistani geopolitics; Hindu-Muslim issues; and casual violence against women; all of which author Nyla Ali Khan; PhD; weaves together in her book "Islam; Women; and Violence in Kashmir."Dr Khan is Kashmiri-born with a unique perspective to the volatile Jammu-Kashmir region; she is the granddaughter of Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah. Known as the "Lion of Kashmir;" Abdullah was the most popular and important Kashmiri leader of the 20th century as well as Jammu-Kashmir's first prime minister following the Indian-Pakistani partition of 1947.Through this unique perspective; in "Islam; Women; and Violence in Kashmir;" Khan analyses the cultural; political; and religious roots of Kashmir's history with particular attention to post-1947 and the effect of this instability and violence on the lives of women. What sets her book apart from the others written on Kashmir during the period of insurgency is the family perspective she brings; as Sheikh Abdullah's granddaughter; Khan was steeped in his belief that feudal tenant-landlord practices exacerbating Hindu-Muslim economic disparities were responsible for the miseries of Kashmir; and that a multi-cultural Kashmir warranted a democratically elected government in an independent state.That there are both Indian and Pakistani versions of Kashmiri history since 1947; which primarily blame the other for the instability and horrific violence suffered by the locals; is no surprise. However it is Khan's book; the first written by a Kashmiri woman scholar; that takes the reader through a Kashmiri-oriented history as she reveals the hearts and minds of the key Kashmiri politicians and participantsIt's said today that "all politics is local;" and that is especially true in regions as small as Kashmir; with a population of only 3 million people. As such; the past sixty-five years of violence have touched most families; and instead of simply quoting the dry statistics of civilian deaths; Khan instead presents oral histories ranging from the women who were part of the Women's Defence Corps set up in 1947 after the Pakistan-backed tribal invasion of Kashmir to Mrs. Parveena Ahangar who currently represents the Association of the Parents of the Disappeared People.This use of interviews provides a strong counterpoint to the state-sponsored Indian and Pakistani obfuscation of facts. To date the courage of these women has largely been ignored; but their inclusion by Khan serves to personalize the tragedy that is Kashmir.The unfortunate problem for the Kashmiri's is that the times have passed them by. Prior to Indian independence and 1947's partition; Jammu-Kashmir was one of India's many agricultural princely states consisting of Hindu's and Muslims dispersed through a multitude of tribes. Sheikh Abdullah might have been able to unite the many groups; but was instead overwhelmed in the Indo-Pak power struggle. Any legitimate aspirations of the people of Jammu-Kashmir have since gone unheard as the fight between Islamabad and New Dehli relegated the Kashmiri's to roles as bit players."Islam; Women; and Violence in Kashmir" provide a comprehensive background of Kashmir politics and armed conflicts; and also guides the reader through the intricacies of the conflict and political landscape of today. Khan's personal experience in Kashmir's violence and turbulence brings the agonizing experience of the Kashmiri people to the reader. Nearly 50;000 people have been killed in Kashmir since a Pakistani-supported revolt against New Dehli's rule broke out in 1989. Kashmir; claimed by both Pakistan and India; has been the trigger for two of the three wars between the nuclear-armed rivals. But as Pakistan (which is trying hard to become the world's first nuclear-armed failed state) continues to meddle; unrest in Kashmir threatens India's security and continued economic growth; which in turn risks dragging China and the West into an otherwise regional issue. Nyla Ali Khan's work is powerful and honest as she begins to explain why Kashmir matters.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Kashmir womenBy linda nobleAs a student of conflict analysis focusing on women's involvement in conflict resolution and peacebuilding; I was desperately searching for an honest; non- colonial or over romanticized version of Kashmiri history which included women and how the violence in Kashmir has affected the female half of the population. Hitting the jackpot on finding Dr. Khans book "Islam Women Violence in Kashmir between India and Pakistan;" is an understatement; I was overjoyed. Dr Khan not only gives a thorough; unbiased background of Kashmir politics and the time of militancy but also guides the reader to fully comprehend the intricacies of the conflict and political landscape of today; but her poetic and emotionally expressive use of language; that can only come from a love of Kashmiri literature; culture and her lived experience of Kashmir's most violent and turbulent times; brings the heart breaking experience of the Kashmiri people alive to the reader. Dr. Khan's work is powerful and honest; she projects the pluralistic and democratic strong voice of Kashmir that is desperately needed and completely relevant for all international and regional political and social discourse; negotiations and future peace process concerning India; Pakistan and Kashmir. Thank you.
