Poonch Identity Politics and Resistance

Description

The Greater Objective to Publish This Book: The Timely Relevance of Poonch: Identity, Politics, and Resistance

Publisher’s Note: UMT Press
We are in a time zone when narratives around Kashmir are often shaped by politics, propaganda, polarization and vested interests. Poonch: Identity, Politics, and Resistance by Ershad Mahmud offers something rare—grounded scholarship that gives voice to a marginalized yet historically significant region.

As a publisher committed to advancing critical thought and nuanced perspectives, we found this book essential. Poonch is often overshadowed in discussions around Kashmir, yet it holds a pivotal place in the region’s political evolution. The book covers a crucial period (1819–1947), capturing the roots of political consciousness, resistance movements, and the identity formation that continue to shape the region’s dynamics today.

The decision to publish this book is rooted in its ability to reframe the conversation on Kashmir. Mahmud’s research challenges reductive narratives and sheds light on the local struggle and resilience of the people of Poonch—stories that deserve a rightful place in the broader discourse of South Asian history.

In the context of ongoing India-Pakistan tensions and conflicts, where Kashmir remains a flashpoint, this book provides historical context that is often missing in current political debates. It invites readers to reflect on how unresolved historical grievances and unacknowledged regional identities continue to influence policy, conflict, political moves & motives and public sentiments.

Ershad Mahmud, a native of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and a respected voice in Track II diplomacy, brings authenticity, balance, and rare insight. His work helps to bridge the gap between history and contemporary realities, making the book both timely and timeless.

We believe Poonch: Identity, Politics, and Resistance is not just a scholarly contribution—it is a call to engage with the past more honestly, and to imagine and pursue to peace more courageously.