Haroon Lone

Haroon Lone presents an extensive review of late Akhter Mohiuddin’s novel Jahnamukh Panun Panun Naar, translated as “One’s Own Hell.” Lone’s review remains consistently loyal to the many critiques that unfold within its pages that hold a mirror to the societal and political landscapes of Kasheer (Kashmir in English), which are relevant to times past and present. The reviewer deftly explores how the novel’s intricate narrative structure and coded characters become powerful tools for political critique, allowing readers to confront the unsettling realities of oppression and complicity in their own societies. While deeply entrenched in these realities that have shaped the historical trajectory of Kashmir and its peoples, the review, much like the novel, has the potential to examine the maladies that plague other societies—where authoritarianism, tyranny, and corruption thrive under the guise of democracy, remaining uncontested and beyond critical scrutiny.