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The Tree with a Thousand Apples
If the criminal was once a saint and the saint was once a criminal, then who is a criminal and who is a saint?
Inspired by true events, this riveting narrative traces the lives of Safeena Malik, Deewan Bhat and Bilal Ahanagar, three childhood friends who grow up in an atmosphere of peace and amity in Srinagar, Kashmir, until the night of 20 January 1990 changes it all.
While Deewan is forced to flee from his home, Safeena’s mother becomes ‘collateral damage’ and Bilal has to embrace a wretched life of poverty and fear. The place they called paradise becomes a battleground and their friendship struggles when fate forces them to choose sides against their will.
Twenty years later destiny brings them to a crossroads again, when they no longer know what is right and what is wrong. While both compassion and injustice have the power to transform lives, will the three friends now choose to become sinful criminals or pacifist saints?The Tree with a Thousand Apples is a universal story of cultures, belongingness, revenge and atonement. The stylized layered format, fast-paced narration and suspenseful storytelling makes for a powerful, gripping read.
Inspired by true events, this riveting narrative traces the lives of Safeena Malik, Deewan Bhat and Bilal Ahanagar, three childhood friends who grow up in an atmosphere of peace and amity in Srinagar, Kashmir, until the night of 20 January 1990 changes it all.
While Deewan is forced to flee from his home, Safeena’s mother becomes ‘collateral damage’ and Bilal has to embrace a wretched life of poverty and fear. The place they called paradise becomes a battleground and their friendship struggles when fate forces them to choose sides against their will.
Twenty years later destiny brings them to a crossroads again, when they no longer know what is right and what is wrong. While both compassion and injustice have the power to transform lives, will the three friends now choose to become sinful criminals or pacifist saints?The Tree with a Thousand Apples is a universal story of cultures, belongingness, revenge and atonement. The stylized layered format, fast-paced narration and suspenseful storytelling makes for a powerful, gripping read.
284 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2016
About the author
Sanchit Gupta
12 books39 followersBorn and brought up in the hills of Himachal Pradesh, Sanchit began his career as a part-time copywriter. He went on to co-found his own theatre group, worked as a freelance film screenwriter and as executive producer–fiction for a leading television network. His short stories have been published in several publications and lit festivals, viz Muse India, Indian Ruminations, Contemporary Literary Review India and Tata Lit Live to name a few. He has worked with All India Radio as a talk show host and regularly features in poetry recitals at Prithvi Café, Mumbai. This is his debut novel, the screenplay based on which has been long-listed in Sundance screenwriters’ International lab- US.
When not writing, he is usually hanging out with his wife or looking for people to play poker with. He says his works explore his fascination for global cultures, societal structures, vagaries of the world and the human mind, but you know that's all blah.
When not writing, he is usually hanging out with his wife or looking for people to play poker with. He says his works explore his fascination for global cultures, societal structures, vagaries of the world and the human mind, but you know that's all blah.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 278 reviews
November 7, 2019
“He puts his arms around his shoulders and walks him out. The apple tree in the back yards looks down at them, stoic and expressionless, like a mute spectator who has a million words to say, yet would prefer to remain silent, always.”
During this period, when you are flooded with books, having themes of love stories, romance, mythological fantasies, and feminism in the literary arena of India, the book like this one can provide you with some freshness and peculiar experience of a new sort.
I am happy that I read this book; the title and its blurb both had attracted me.
This book is inspired by true events, as it claims in the very beginning, and brings to the reader, the story of three childhood friends, who grow up in the peaceful ambiance of Srinagar, Kashmir, but their life does not remain same after 1990.
We know that in India, the turmoil of Kashmir and its people does not remain confined to the valley; it echoes, resounds and reflects within the large geographical region of India. Recently, in past one year, we have seen many national debates and student conflicts within the campuses of leading universities in India over the issue of ‘freedom’ or rather more of its interpretation, that was derived from the Kashmir turmoil and it expanded itself into the socio-political and cultural discourse within the whole part of India. This book covers the very same theme with a gripping real looking story and with the extremely beautiful writing style of the author. The author has beautifully portrayed the Kashmiri culture and the association and belongingness of its people with it.
I found some noticeable points in this book.
First, a very nice portrayal of Kashmiri culture, its beauty and its local elements, the sentiments of childhood, families and their mutual belongings to the same traditions despite different religious interests.
Second, the sensitive issues of Kashmiri pundits, Muslims, army and terrorism, all have been written and depicted by the author in a very balanced way. Any kind of writer bias towards such issues was absent, and that made this story more authentic.
Third, writing is very alluring and it grips you from the very beginning, its visual imagery can be enjoyed while reading. Conversation and dialogues are very good and are in complete sync with the narration of the book.
The tendency of taking the path of violence, among the youth in the valley, is depicted well. When a 70- year-old gardener looks at the two 18- year- old boys engaged in a battle of blood he thinks …
“His grandson is 18 years old. He studies in his village. He plays cricket on the street whenever he can, sings a lullaby to his 5 years old sister during the night. Why don’t these boys play cricket? Can their lips ever sing a song? They can stab a dagger in each other’s heart, but can they ever hold a delicate petal of tulip or mustard flowers and caress them with their hands? One of the 18- year- old is going to die today. Right there, in front of his eyes. His grandson is 18 years old.”
Beauty and innocence of Kashmiri's childhood and then its translation into Kashmiri youth, full of tyranny, pain, and dilemma is shown convincingly by the author. I found revenge, redemption, and atonement as main themes around which the psyche of the characters is woven by the author.
I will recommend this book to all who are living in India, to get a closer view of the pain, plight, and predicament of Kashmiri people!
During this period, when you are flooded with books, having themes of love stories, romance, mythological fantasies, and feminism in the literary arena of India, the book like this one can provide you with some freshness and peculiar experience of a new sort.
I am happy that I read this book; the title and its blurb both had attracted me.
This book is inspired by true events, as it claims in the very beginning, and brings to the reader, the story of three childhood friends, who grow up in the peaceful ambiance of Srinagar, Kashmir, but their life does not remain same after 1990.
We know that in India, the turmoil of Kashmir and its people does not remain confined to the valley; it echoes, resounds and reflects within the large geographical region of India. Recently, in past one year, we have seen many national debates and student conflicts within the campuses of leading universities in India over the issue of ‘freedom’ or rather more of its interpretation, that was derived from the Kashmir turmoil and it expanded itself into the socio-political and cultural discourse within the whole part of India. This book covers the very same theme with a gripping real looking story and with the extremely beautiful writing style of the author. The author has beautifully portrayed the Kashmiri culture and the association and belongingness of its people with it.
I found some noticeable points in this book.
First, a very nice portrayal of Kashmiri culture, its beauty and its local elements, the sentiments of childhood, families and their mutual belongings to the same traditions despite different religious interests.
Second, the sensitive issues of Kashmiri pundits, Muslims, army and terrorism, all have been written and depicted by the author in a very balanced way. Any kind of writer bias towards such issues was absent, and that made this story more authentic.
Third, writing is very alluring and it grips you from the very beginning, its visual imagery can be enjoyed while reading. Conversation and dialogues are very good and are in complete sync with the narration of the book.
The tendency of taking the path of violence, among the youth in the valley, is depicted well. When a 70- year-old gardener looks at the two 18- year- old boys engaged in a battle of blood he thinks …
“His grandson is 18 years old. He studies in his village. He plays cricket on the street whenever he can, sings a lullaby to his 5 years old sister during the night. Why don’t these boys play cricket? Can their lips ever sing a song? They can stab a dagger in each other’s heart, but can they ever hold a delicate petal of tulip or mustard flowers and caress them with their hands? One of the 18- year- old is going to die today. Right there, in front of his eyes. His grandson is 18 years old.”
Beauty and innocence of Kashmiri's childhood and then its translation into Kashmiri youth, full of tyranny, pain, and dilemma is shown convincingly by the author. I found revenge, redemption, and atonement as main themes around which the psyche of the characters is woven by the author.
I will recommend this book to all who are living in India, to get a closer view of the pain, plight, and predicament of Kashmiri people!
April 5, 2017
"If a criminal was once a saint & a saint was once a criminal, then who is the criminal & who is the saint?" - a wonderful line from a wonderful book. I am glad I got chance to read 'The Tree with a Thousand Apples" by Sanchit Gupta.
It is a story of Deewan, Bilal, and Safeena. A Kashmiri pandit family of Deewan has to leave J&K within a day. It is like you get only 20 minutes to pack things which you have gathered or nurtured for life. Bilal, a Kashmiri Muslims, who turned into terrorist due to mishap of the military. Safeena, a peace loving girl, fights for missing people in her locality. No matter how chaotic situation became, people were adjusting to circumstances. But it gave birth to revolution when circumstances became unbearable. Each of them met such circumstances which forced them to take extreme steps.
"The Tree with a Thousand Apples" is not a story, but a journey. For people living away from Kashmir, it is a place for which our country fighting for years to keep away from Separatist or Pakistan. But we hardly think about the people who live in Kashmir. It is the same place which was known as heaven on the earth. Their culture was peace oriented Sufi sect. But today it is turned into a battlefield. Those who don't know the reality simple curse Kashmiri. Sanchit has tried to show about real peace loving spirit of Kashmir.
Things I liked in the book are Poems, Story telling and Characters.
If you really want to enjoy this book. Spare 5-6 hours aside. Have cups of coffee on table. Finish this book in one go.
Detailed Review Link - http://chevusread.blogspot.in/2017/04...
Author Interview Link - http://chevusread.blogspot.com/2017/0...
It is a story of Deewan, Bilal, and Safeena. A Kashmiri pandit family of Deewan has to leave J&K within a day. It is like you get only 20 minutes to pack things which you have gathered or nurtured for life. Bilal, a Kashmiri Muslims, who turned into terrorist due to mishap of the military. Safeena, a peace loving girl, fights for missing people in her locality. No matter how chaotic situation became, people were adjusting to circumstances. But it gave birth to revolution when circumstances became unbearable. Each of them met such circumstances which forced them to take extreme steps.
"The Tree with a Thousand Apples" is not a story, but a journey. For people living away from Kashmir, it is a place for which our country fighting for years to keep away from Separatist or Pakistan. But we hardly think about the people who live in Kashmir. It is the same place which was known as heaven on the earth. Their culture was peace oriented Sufi sect. But today it is turned into a battlefield. Those who don't know the reality simple curse Kashmiri. Sanchit has tried to show about real peace loving spirit of Kashmir.
Things I liked in the book are Poems, Story telling and Characters.
If you really want to enjoy this book. Spare 5-6 hours aside. Have cups of coffee on table. Finish this book in one go.
Detailed Review Link - http://chevusread.blogspot.in/2017/04...
Author Interview Link - http://chevusread.blogspot.com/2017/0...
July 21, 2017
Deeply Riveting!
It won't be an exaggeration if I say this is the best book on Kashmir that I've read.
Reading about the people of Kashmir, what chaos they go through and how haunting it can become was an eye-opener. Books like The Tree With a Thousand Apples should turn into movies.
The novel unfolds itself with three young children, Deewan, Bilal and Safeena. Even being from different religions, their friendship knows no bounds. Between the turmoils of politics and insurgencies, where does the fate of all three of them moves is shattering to watch.
Sanchit Gupta has excellently portrayed the lives of Kashmir people. His writing style appeals to engage you from the beginning to the end. Fast paced action and poignancy in this heartfelt storyline evokes insightful and evocative emotions.
You can't differentiate between reality and fiction when the author vividly recounts a story fabricated with friendship, love, trust, family importance and thunderous experiences of the characters.
You start questioning everyone, everything. The difficult part is you can't decide who is the criminal and who is the sufferer. The sand castle of your self-esteem comes crashing down once you feel engrossed with the narration.
Moving characters, heart-melting narration and magnificent plot made me declare this one as a Must Read.
An intriguing, captivating and unforgiving tale that you don't want to miss.
It won't be an exaggeration if I say this is the best book on Kashmir that I've read.
Reading about the people of Kashmir, what chaos they go through and how haunting it can become was an eye-opener. Books like The Tree With a Thousand Apples should turn into movies.
The novel unfolds itself with three young children, Deewan, Bilal and Safeena. Even being from different religions, their friendship knows no bounds. Between the turmoils of politics and insurgencies, where does the fate of all three of them moves is shattering to watch.
Sanchit Gupta has excellently portrayed the lives of Kashmir people. His writing style appeals to engage you from the beginning to the end. Fast paced action and poignancy in this heartfelt storyline evokes insightful and evocative emotions.
You can't differentiate between reality and fiction when the author vividly recounts a story fabricated with friendship, love, trust, family importance and thunderous experiences of the characters.
You start questioning everyone, everything. The difficult part is you can't decide who is the criminal and who is the sufferer. The sand castle of your self-esteem comes crashing down once you feel engrossed with the narration.
Moving characters, heart-melting narration and magnificent plot made me declare this one as a Must Read.
An intriguing, captivating and unforgiving tale that you don't want to miss.
June 8, 2017
‘The tree with a Thousand Apples’, a hypnotic and enthralling tale is a story of three childhood friends Bilal Ahanager, Safeena Malik and Deewan Bhat. Inspired by true events this story comes from the turbulent place they called paradise, Kashmir, Srinagar becomes a battlefield and they are forced to choose a side.
In the backdrop of the books is the valley of Kashmir, this book is a work of fiction but I can say there is a truth hidden behind the veil of fiction after reading many non-fictional books on tormented Kashmir in recent past.
The book is a must read and must reach to the wider audience. The book is a rollercoaster ride and the ending will take you by surprise. It is a fight of demons of mind and angels of heart. It is one of those books you want to keep reading to see what will happen next and you can’t foretell what will come next. A surprise package quiver you from inside out. A must not miss book.
https://thereviewauthor.com/
In the backdrop of the books is the valley of Kashmir, this book is a work of fiction but I can say there is a truth hidden behind the veil of fiction after reading many non-fictional books on tormented Kashmir in recent past.
The book is a must read and must reach to the wider audience. The book is a rollercoaster ride and the ending will take you by surprise. It is a fight of demons of mind and angels of heart. It is one of those books you want to keep reading to see what will happen next and you can’t foretell what will come next. A surprise package quiver you from inside out. A must not miss book.
https://thereviewauthor.com/
December 10, 2018
31st Book of 2018
5 Stars
'A few white petals of Jasmine have found their way out amidst the bushes. Their narrow stems and delicate leaves grapple against the sputtering raindrops. The old gardener must have had an illicit affair with the flowers; their love refuses to die.' (Page 126)
My Review - 'The Tree with a Thousand Apples' is a story penned across the life of Safeena Malik, Bilal Ahanagar and Deewan Bhatt living in Kashmir Valley, The Paradise on Land, portraying their growing years throughout the book. The events of the Book started as Safeena, Bilal and Deewan being best of childhood friends, enjoying, playing, celebrating together. But it all went haywire on the night of 20th January 1990. There were an uprising and merciless killing in the valley. Deewan and his family being Kashmiri Pandits are being targeted by the Militants who wants 'Azad Kashmir' and they'll go to any extent to get what they believe is theirs. Safeena and her family of Bhatts being Deewwans neighbor gives them shelter but the events become Gruesome and the night becomes darker by the passing moments. Deewan and his family had to flee from their motherland to save their lives.
Throughout the book, Author wrote a lot about the culture and different delicacies of Native Kashmiri dishes which even without seeing, eating or even without ever hearing about those dishes, I felt the Aroma and the Taste of them all. These little details made me fall with the writing skills of the Author. He also used a lot of lines repeatedly as a reference and to keep the importance of characters real nature like the one about 'Ustraa'. These small and detailed ways of connecting characters to readers is what transformed me into the book.
I haven't read about the Kashmir this way before. There was a totally different perspective, a perspective of a Local Kashmiri, who sees the Paradise transform from being the most beautiful place on Earth to a shattered and Gruesome place. All the hardships a native Kashmiri goes through even when their fault was none. The double-faced people, Media and all the lies which are fed to the citizens across Nation and world is transcribed outstandingly in this book. The emotional value of this book is much more felt than said or written. Just go for it and feel for yourself.
The Pros - Narration, and Feel of being a Kashmiri.
The Cons - None.
Writing Style - Cumulative of both, great parallel narration which keeps the Soul of the book intact with that of the feeling a Reader shares with the character.
Conclusion - One of the best works I read on Kashmir.
Full Review on Blog.
Link to Blog - The Tales of Fugitive Biker
5 Stars
'A few white petals of Jasmine have found their way out amidst the bushes. Their narrow stems and delicate leaves grapple against the sputtering raindrops. The old gardener must have had an illicit affair with the flowers; their love refuses to die.' (Page 126)
My Review - 'The Tree with a Thousand Apples' is a story penned across the life of Safeena Malik, Bilal Ahanagar and Deewan Bhatt living in Kashmir Valley, The Paradise on Land, portraying their growing years throughout the book. The events of the Book started as Safeena, Bilal and Deewan being best of childhood friends, enjoying, playing, celebrating together. But it all went haywire on the night of 20th January 1990. There were an uprising and merciless killing in the valley. Deewan and his family being Kashmiri Pandits are being targeted by the Militants who wants 'Azad Kashmir' and they'll go to any extent to get what they believe is theirs. Safeena and her family of Bhatts being Deewwans neighbor gives them shelter but the events become Gruesome and the night becomes darker by the passing moments. Deewan and his family had to flee from their motherland to save their lives.
Throughout the book, Author wrote a lot about the culture and different delicacies of Native Kashmiri dishes which even without seeing, eating or even without ever hearing about those dishes, I felt the Aroma and the Taste of them all. These little details made me fall with the writing skills of the Author. He also used a lot of lines repeatedly as a reference and to keep the importance of characters real nature like the one about 'Ustraa'. These small and detailed ways of connecting characters to readers is what transformed me into the book.
I haven't read about the Kashmir this way before. There was a totally different perspective, a perspective of a Local Kashmiri, who sees the Paradise transform from being the most beautiful place on Earth to a shattered and Gruesome place. All the hardships a native Kashmiri goes through even when their fault was none. The double-faced people, Media and all the lies which are fed to the citizens across Nation and world is transcribed outstandingly in this book. The emotional value of this book is much more felt than said or written. Just go for it and feel for yourself.
The Pros - Narration, and Feel of being a Kashmiri.
The Cons - None.
Writing Style - Cumulative of both, great parallel narration which keeps the Soul of the book intact with that of the feeling a Reader shares with the character.
Conclusion - One of the best works I read on Kashmir.
Full Review on Blog.
Link to Blog - The Tales of Fugitive Biker
February 10, 2018
“The moon and the stars sigh. The days elude them, but they are the ones who witness the sorrows of the night. How they wish they could resolve the unbound grief of the human heart. If only, they could know what it was looking for. If only, unbound joy could be the answer.”
The Tree with a Thousand Apples is based on the events that led to the killing and departure of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990, from their homeland Kashmir.
Dewaan, Bilal, and Safeena, three friends, who would do anything for each other, but when you’re a kid, those words don’t mean more than taking a beating from a bunch of mischievous kids to save your friend from the trauma, or writing speeches for your buddy because they have no idea about it.
Matters get complicated when few people throw a bomb at an army tent, killing soldiers, including Rakesh, Dewaan’s brother. Ceewan and his family (Kashmiri Pandits), after spending a night at Safeena’s house (As refugees) decide to leave Kashmir, a decision made due to the loss of one of their own. They make it out of Kasmir, but their leaving is not a happy memory, not to him and neither to his friends, Bilal and Safeena. All of them devastated in their own way, and with the army breathing down their necks in Kashmir, they have days which are both terrorizing and agonizing.
As the story progresses, we see men killing men, reason or not, everyone trying to find justice and peace in mass killing people from the other religion.
The first thing that I noticed was the points that the author covered throughout the book. The term ‘Kashmiriyat’ rather than Hindustani/Pakistani, the upbringing of kids, the love within the community as a whole and a few people who can be serpents in disguise, people whose concept of Azadi are a flawed as their hearts. The events that have happened throughout the book, are exactly the events that I have read about, all my life. Hindus and Muslims scarred for life, kids turning into militants because they are tired of injustice happening to them in the name of religion and freedom. So many people have lost their loved ones because a few people in their community decided one fine day that ‘Khoon Ke Badle Khoon’, the thirst for blood is so high that innocent people dying are just casualties.
“Yes, you are right. I lost my home, my mother, my identity. I lost it. Not you, Inspector Imandar. I did. They I don’t understand, what did you lose? What did you lose that you hate them so much?”
The writing style is very direct and the author hasn’t sugarcoated anything. There are events that have agitated me and keep me on the edge of my seat. The best part about this book is that it’s Unputdownable. Every chapter leaves you curious. Then, we have a few poems, which are breathtaking and raw, the words leave an impact. I have re-read the poems and the verses so many times, it all nicely wrapped up in empathy.
The book gives us a clear picture of the Kashmir before the attacks- serene and beautiful and after- with corpses and rivers of blood, devastated citizens and no sign of peace.
One problem I faced was during the scene transitions, a few of which were not as smooth as it should’ve been. I kept reading and then suddenly realized that one event led to another, and I had to go back to the precise point when that happened. If one can ignore that (which I did, thanks to the remarkable plot as well as characters), the rest of the book is a piece of cake, it’s a wonderful rate, and hurts like hell when it ends.
“For us, Deewan Bhai, whatever it takes”, is one of the quotes that touched my heart and made me sob, it’s basically the author’s version of ‘For you, A thousand times over’ or ‘After all this time? Always’. It holds the same intensity in this book. And it symbolizes friendship, that outshines among hardships, death, and abandonment.
The Tree with a Thousand Apples is based on the events that led to the killing and departure of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990, from their homeland Kashmir.
Dewaan, Bilal, and Safeena, three friends, who would do anything for each other, but when you’re a kid, those words don’t mean more than taking a beating from a bunch of mischievous kids to save your friend from the trauma, or writing speeches for your buddy because they have no idea about it.
Matters get complicated when few people throw a bomb at an army tent, killing soldiers, including Rakesh, Dewaan’s brother. Ceewan and his family (Kashmiri Pandits), after spending a night at Safeena’s house (As refugees) decide to leave Kashmir, a decision made due to the loss of one of their own. They make it out of Kasmir, but their leaving is not a happy memory, not to him and neither to his friends, Bilal and Safeena. All of them devastated in their own way, and with the army breathing down their necks in Kashmir, they have days which are both terrorizing and agonizing.
As the story progresses, we see men killing men, reason or not, everyone trying to find justice and peace in mass killing people from the other religion.
The first thing that I noticed was the points that the author covered throughout the book. The term ‘Kashmiriyat’ rather than Hindustani/Pakistani, the upbringing of kids, the love within the community as a whole and a few people who can be serpents in disguise, people whose concept of Azadi are a flawed as their hearts. The events that have happened throughout the book, are exactly the events that I have read about, all my life. Hindus and Muslims scarred for life, kids turning into militants because they are tired of injustice happening to them in the name of religion and freedom. So many people have lost their loved ones because a few people in their community decided one fine day that ‘Khoon Ke Badle Khoon’, the thirst for blood is so high that innocent people dying are just casualties.
“Yes, you are right. I lost my home, my mother, my identity. I lost it. Not you, Inspector Imandar. I did. They I don’t understand, what did you lose? What did you lose that you hate them so much?”
The writing style is very direct and the author hasn’t sugarcoated anything. There are events that have agitated me and keep me on the edge of my seat. The best part about this book is that it’s Unputdownable. Every chapter leaves you curious. Then, we have a few poems, which are breathtaking and raw, the words leave an impact. I have re-read the poems and the verses so many times, it all nicely wrapped up in empathy.
The book gives us a clear picture of the Kashmir before the attacks- serene and beautiful and after- with corpses and rivers of blood, devastated citizens and no sign of peace.
One problem I faced was during the scene transitions, a few of which were not as smooth as it should’ve been. I kept reading and then suddenly realized that one event led to another, and I had to go back to the precise point when that happened. If one can ignore that (which I did, thanks to the remarkable plot as well as characters), the rest of the book is a piece of cake, it’s a wonderful rate, and hurts like hell when it ends.
“For us, Deewan Bhai, whatever it takes”, is one of the quotes that touched my heart and made me sob, it’s basically the author’s version of ‘For you, A thousand times over’ or ‘After all this time? Always’. It holds the same intensity in this book. And it symbolizes friendship, that outshines among hardships, death, and abandonment.
April 28, 2017
Full book review is up on the blog here The tree with a thousand apples by Sanchit Gupta | Halo of books
There are many books which represent the misery of Kashmir. Among these I have read two non-fiction books Our Moon Has Blood Clots: The Exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits and Curfewed Night both books are excellently written. So when I read the blurb of this book I was quite amazed thinking that how will the author put the misery of Kashmir, that to holding it in a story. But to my surprise, this book outdid my thinking.
Plot summary:
This book starts with an intrigued note in Pune where Safeena is traveling in the bus and about to meet Bilal. They both are planning something. At first, they seem to like the terrorists. They make the Molotov cocktails and throw it on the police vehicle which is shifting the prisoner Deewan to Yerwada Jail.
The story then moves to the childhood of Safeena, Bilal, and Deewan in the bright, peaceful and beautiful Kashmir. They all lives in the same locality, Safeena and Bilal are Kashmiri Muslim and Deewan is a Kashmiri Pandit.
Even though they all belong to the different religion, their friendship and family bonding was very good. There was an apple tree which branches go to both of houses. They say that the tree gives best, ripe thousand apples.
They were simply living in a Jannat, paradise until the dreading night of 20 January 1990. When an insurgency broke out in Kashmir. Kashmiri Pandits were killed by Kashmiri Muslims. People were running just holding their life.
The life these close friends changed forever on that night. Deewan’s family runs away from Kashmir with the help of Safeena’s father. Safeena and Bilal never got to see Deewan. What happens next is really horrible where Safeena and Bilal both lost their loved ones, one by one.
To fight the injustice, peace, and equality they all distracted to the different paths, which are not their choice but a compulsion.
During all these the tree with a thousand apples stood stoic and expressionless, like a mute spectator who has a million words to say, yet would prefer to remain silent, always.
In between, you will meet various characters like Malik Chacha, Captain, Kamalpreet Singh who will make an unfading imprint on your heart.
I won a review copy from Chevus'Read. Follow Chevus'Read blog http://chevusread.blogspot.com or their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/fewgoodreads for more updates.
There are many books which represent the misery of Kashmir. Among these I have read two non-fiction books Our Moon Has Blood Clots: The Exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits and Curfewed Night both books are excellently written. So when I read the blurb of this book I was quite amazed thinking that how will the author put the misery of Kashmir, that to holding it in a story. But to my surprise, this book outdid my thinking.
Plot summary:
This book starts with an intrigued note in Pune where Safeena is traveling in the bus and about to meet Bilal. They both are planning something. At first, they seem to like the terrorists. They make the Molotov cocktails and throw it on the police vehicle which is shifting the prisoner Deewan to Yerwada Jail.
The story then moves to the childhood of Safeena, Bilal, and Deewan in the bright, peaceful and beautiful Kashmir. They all lives in the same locality, Safeena and Bilal are Kashmiri Muslim and Deewan is a Kashmiri Pandit.
Even though they all belong to the different religion, their friendship and family bonding was very good. There was an apple tree which branches go to both of houses. They say that the tree gives best, ripe thousand apples.
They were simply living in a Jannat, paradise until the dreading night of 20 January 1990. When an insurgency broke out in Kashmir. Kashmiri Pandits were killed by Kashmiri Muslims. People were running just holding their life.
The life these close friends changed forever on that night. Deewan’s family runs away from Kashmir with the help of Safeena’s father. Safeena and Bilal never got to see Deewan. What happens next is really horrible where Safeena and Bilal both lost their loved ones, one by one.
To fight the injustice, peace, and equality they all distracted to the different paths, which are not their choice but a compulsion.
During all these the tree with a thousand apples stood stoic and expressionless, like a mute spectator who has a million words to say, yet would prefer to remain silent, always.
In between, you will meet various characters like Malik Chacha, Captain, Kamalpreet Singh who will make an unfading imprint on your heart.
I won a review copy from Chevus'Read. Follow Chevus'Read blog http://chevusread.blogspot.com or their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/fewgoodreads for more updates.
May 23, 2017
The book is set in Kashmir before and after the 1990 insurgency and the exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits. It is the story of three childhood friends, Bilal Ahanagar, Safeena Malik and Deewan Bhat. It is a beautiful story about love, friendship, revenge and atonement. I love how the Author has weaved these elements in the story.
It perfectly depicts the struggles of the common Kashmiri people, the confused loyalties between the good and bad. The friendship between the three characters is beautiful. The book teaches an important lesson, Humanity comes first before religion.
It is very rare that you come across books which tugs at your heartstrings and stays with you forever. This book is one of those. I urge everyone to read this book.
I wish I had more stars to rate this book, a 100 stars would also seem less.
Rating 5/5
It perfectly depicts the struggles of the common Kashmiri people, the confused loyalties between the good and bad. The friendship between the three characters is beautiful. The book teaches an important lesson, Humanity comes first before religion.
It is very rare that you come across books which tugs at your heartstrings and stays with you forever. This book is one of those. I urge everyone to read this book.
I wish I had more stars to rate this book, a 100 stars would also seem less.
Rating 5/5
September 8, 2017
There are certain books which make you want to read them again and again just for the fun of it and then there are certain books which may completely change the way you look at the reality around you. This one falls in the latter category.
While I had a broad idea of what the book was about when I picked it up, I never thought too much about the amount of ignorance that Indians (including me) are steeped in. The story revolves around three protagonists Safeena Malik, Bilal Ahanagar and Deewan Bhat who live in the same neighbourhood and who went to school together as the best of friends. The book is written from the third person PoV which helps the story weave across timelines and geographies. The editing of the book is very tight and the reader doesn't end up getting distracted at any point. The narrative starts with our protagonists as adults and then we are suddenly taken back several years to a paradise which is in stark contrast to where the book started off. This according to me is what kept me hooked throughout the book since I was really interested in knowing how the innocent kids end up being where they were at the beginning. Considering that the book is inspired by true events does lend it an edge which is generally missing in purely fictional works. Also, it is only when one has read the book does one end up appreciating the cover art here.
Having been born and brought up in a city which has had its fair share of victimization when it comes to terror attacks, it is quite natural to paint a uniform brush across individuals as either black or white. What this book shows is that there are several shades of gray in between and all it needs is a single positive quality like friendship for us to truly understand what it means to be on the other side. The book really delves deep into what it meant and what it means to be a Kashmiri - the plight of the people there and of course their struggle to attain freedom (azadi). What I always thought before reading this book (in my ignorance) was that azadi meant for them to have their own state separate from India, but what I realised afterwards is that this is what any human being needs - right to life and right of expression. Who doesn't need it?
I would strongly recommend this book to all ignorant Indians (like me) who do not mind spending some time to really understand the meaning of the word azadi.
While I had a broad idea of what the book was about when I picked it up, I never thought too much about the amount of ignorance that Indians (including me) are steeped in. The story revolves around three protagonists Safeena Malik, Bilal Ahanagar and Deewan Bhat who live in the same neighbourhood and who went to school together as the best of friends. The book is written from the third person PoV which helps the story weave across timelines and geographies. The editing of the book is very tight and the reader doesn't end up getting distracted at any point. The narrative starts with our protagonists as adults and then we are suddenly taken back several years to a paradise which is in stark contrast to where the book started off. This according to me is what kept me hooked throughout the book since I was really interested in knowing how the innocent kids end up being where they were at the beginning. Considering that the book is inspired by true events does lend it an edge which is generally missing in purely fictional works. Also, it is only when one has read the book does one end up appreciating the cover art here.
Having been born and brought up in a city which has had its fair share of victimization when it comes to terror attacks, it is quite natural to paint a uniform brush across individuals as either black or white. What this book shows is that there are several shades of gray in between and all it needs is a single positive quality like friendship for us to truly understand what it means to be on the other side. The book really delves deep into what it meant and what it means to be a Kashmiri - the plight of the people there and of course their struggle to attain freedom (azadi). What I always thought before reading this book (in my ignorance) was that azadi meant for them to have their own state separate from India, but what I realised afterwards is that this is what any human being needs - right to life and right of expression. Who doesn't need it?
I would strongly recommend this book to all ignorant Indians (like me) who do not mind spending some time to really understand the meaning of the word azadi.
July 25, 2019
This book is not for everybody. It’s the story of three people who spend most of their childhood growing up in Kashmir. As children they develop strong bonds and promise to always stick out for each other. But one night, due to circumstances brought about by the political insurgency, the children’s lives will never be the same again. Driven apart by fate, Safeena, Dewan, and Bilal must try and stick together through the grim times that lie ahead.
This book puts you in a moral dilemma. The characters find themselves in unthinkably difficult situations. The plot is unpredictable making this book an absolute page-turner.
However, I didn’t like that some parts of the story felt a bit removed from reality. These downplayed the believability of the plot. It is a fast-paced read and at times, visceral. Some aspects of the story left me feeling quite disturbed. While some amount of description of harrowing events is necessary to strengthen the narrative, I felt it went a bit overboard.
What did I like?
-strong well-rounded characters
-the setting of Kashmir
-the author’s language and vocabulary
-the suspenseful plot
-the unexpected twists and thrills
-the short sentences and chapters
-the fast pace
-creates awareness about the political situation in Kashmir and how it has done some irreparable damage
-offers moral dilemmas and forces readers to take a stand for themselves.
What did not work for me?
- the plot was not believable enough. Some turns in the plot were not substantiated well enough. So I found it difficult to accept as they failed to convince me
- I felt uncomfortable reading certain descriptions of torture in detail.
- I was not very pleased with the ending. It felt open-ended in a way and also, slightly filmy.
Warning: this book contains descriptions of physical torture, rape, and violence that may not suit every type of reader.
On the whole, this is a good read for those who are interested in regional literature. If you like thrillers or books that address issues relevant to Indian society.
This book puts you in a moral dilemma. The characters find themselves in unthinkably difficult situations. The plot is unpredictable making this book an absolute page-turner.
However, I didn’t like that some parts of the story felt a bit removed from reality. These downplayed the believability of the plot. It is a fast-paced read and at times, visceral. Some aspects of the story left me feeling quite disturbed. While some amount of description of harrowing events is necessary to strengthen the narrative, I felt it went a bit overboard.
What did I like?
-strong well-rounded characters
-the setting of Kashmir
-the author’s language and vocabulary
-the suspenseful plot
-the unexpected twists and thrills
-the short sentences and chapters
-the fast pace
-creates awareness about the political situation in Kashmir and how it has done some irreparable damage
-offers moral dilemmas and forces readers to take a stand for themselves.
What did not work for me?
- the plot was not believable enough. Some turns in the plot were not substantiated well enough. So I found it difficult to accept as they failed to convince me
- I felt uncomfortable reading certain descriptions of torture in detail.
- I was not very pleased with the ending. It felt open-ended in a way and also, slightly filmy.
Warning: this book contains descriptions of physical torture, rape, and violence that may not suit every type of reader.
On the whole, this is a good read for those who are interested in regional literature. If you like thrillers or books that address issues relevant to Indian society.
April 9, 2017
Please visit http://www.guptakaushal.in/2017/04/bo... to read the complete review of the book.
If you ever decide to create a word cloud of the answers that you receive for the question, "Where is heaven on earth?", out of the many answers that you will get, Kashmir would definitely be a big bold word in it. Why do people call Kashmir a heaven? What makes them still say that? We all know that it is mainly because of the beautiful landscapes that it has to offer, the snow clad mountain views and the picturesque settings that one longs for.
The book blurb questions, "If a criminal was once a saint and a saint was once a criminal, then who is the criminal and who is the saint?". What do you think? A tough question to answer? Is it about the perspective or the situation? Is it about the challenges or the changes? How does this change happen? Does it happen over a period of time or it is the burst of everything erroneous that has happened? The Tree With A Thousand Apples is an answer to this.
I would recommend this 279 page long book to anyone interested in reading a realistic fiction with thriller and a close to reality story.
If you ever decide to create a word cloud of the answers that you receive for the question, "Where is heaven on earth?", out of the many answers that you will get, Kashmir would definitely be a big bold word in it. Why do people call Kashmir a heaven? What makes them still say that? We all know that it is mainly because of the beautiful landscapes that it has to offer, the snow clad mountain views and the picturesque settings that one longs for.
The book blurb questions, "If a criminal was once a saint and a saint was once a criminal, then who is the criminal and who is the saint?". What do you think? A tough question to answer? Is it about the perspective or the situation? Is it about the challenges or the changes? How does this change happen? Does it happen over a period of time or it is the burst of everything erroneous that has happened? The Tree With A Thousand Apples is an answer to this.
I would recommend this 279 page long book to anyone interested in reading a realistic fiction with thriller and a close to reality story.
June 15, 2017
Noted Historian and Travel Writer, Jan, Morris said of Kashmir: Kashmir has always been more than a mere place. It has the quality of an experience, or a state of mind, or perhaps an ideal.
It is no wonder then, that the author, Sanchit Gupta, dedicates this book ‘To the people of Kashmir—
those who live there,
those who used to live there,
and those who will continue to live there…’
Sanchit Gupta brings a story capturing the beauty of the valley and paints it with the poignancy of the rich, deep-rooted cultures and history inherent to the land and its people. He introduces the three friends as young, naïve children and traces their journey through adolescence and adulthood, as they wrestle with the injustices meted out to them.
The native Kashmiri dialect peeks through the prose every now and then, bringing an authenticity to its flavour and evoking a strong sense of yearning for the beauty of Kashmir.
Gupta adds layers to his narrative by describing the lives of each of the friends, left alone to deal with their troubles, while they remember the lost but unbroken bonds that have been left behind.
He structures the storyline with a crisp time jump across decades. His writing is fast paced, adding suspense and thrill to the narrative, making it unputdownable, despite the deluge of emotions that comes with reading it.
This is a story of friendship, love, belonging, religion, cultures, fear, revenge, and atonement. It seeks the answer to the eternal question: Who is the criminal and who is the victim? It is an incredibly gripping tale of reality camouflaged in fiction. A reality that most of us cannot fathom.
The sensitivity with which the characters are written, and the riveting plot, ensure that The Tree with a Thousand Apples remains in the reader’s heart for a long time to come.
Note – I received this review copy from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
For complete review, visit aquamarineflavours.wordpress.com
It is no wonder then, that the author, Sanchit Gupta, dedicates this book ‘To the people of Kashmir—
those who live there,
those who used to live there,
and those who will continue to live there…’
Sanchit Gupta brings a story capturing the beauty of the valley and paints it with the poignancy of the rich, deep-rooted cultures and history inherent to the land and its people. He introduces the three friends as young, naïve children and traces their journey through adolescence and adulthood, as they wrestle with the injustices meted out to them.
The native Kashmiri dialect peeks through the prose every now and then, bringing an authenticity to its flavour and evoking a strong sense of yearning for the beauty of Kashmir.
Gupta adds layers to his narrative by describing the lives of each of the friends, left alone to deal with their troubles, while they remember the lost but unbroken bonds that have been left behind.
He structures the storyline with a crisp time jump across decades. His writing is fast paced, adding suspense and thrill to the narrative, making it unputdownable, despite the deluge of emotions that comes with reading it.
This is a story of friendship, love, belonging, religion, cultures, fear, revenge, and atonement. It seeks the answer to the eternal question: Who is the criminal and who is the victim? It is an incredibly gripping tale of reality camouflaged in fiction. A reality that most of us cannot fathom.
The sensitivity with which the characters are written, and the riveting plot, ensure that The Tree with a Thousand Apples remains in the reader’s heart for a long time to come.
Note – I received this review copy from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
For complete review, visit aquamarineflavours.wordpress.com
March 24, 2018
4.5/5
https://storyofabooknerd.blogspot.in/...
This is a MUST READ book, and I would recommend it to everyone. I won't be surprised at all if, this book is made into a movie, and I can even picture Alia Bhatt in the lead role of Safeena Malik!
The tree with a thousand apples is one of the best books I've read this year. The author has penned down a beautiful fictional story which is also based on true events. All the characters has its own depth and has been brilliantly sketched by the author.
I loved the way the author has described the beauty of Kashmir as well as the lifestyle of 'Kashmirians'. I have never been to Kashmir, but the way the place has been described in the book, I could feel I am standing right there and experiencing everything in front of me with my bare eyes. The author has used many traditional Kashmiri words along with their meanings in the form of footnotes below every page for better understanding of the terms.
The narrative style is smooth, intriguing and moves in a fast pace which makes it unputdownable. However, there were some scene transitions which made me confused at times that is, in some chapters, one scene jumps to another, making the former scene incomplete. But, the rest of the book is so beautiful, that, this small fact can as well as be overlooked. While reading the book, I went with the flow and kept on turning pages, until I finished with it. And even after finishing, I could not stop thinking about the book.
The author has penned down many poems in between chapters which is heart-wrenching as well as alluring. The ending definitely made me sad, with Bilal's words still ringing in my ears, " For us, Deewan bhai, whatever it takes."
*I received a copy of this book from Vinfluencers in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.*
https://storyofabooknerd.blogspot.in/...
This is a MUST READ book, and I would recommend it to everyone. I won't be surprised at all if, this book is made into a movie, and I can even picture Alia Bhatt in the lead role of Safeena Malik!
The tree with a thousand apples is one of the best books I've read this year. The author has penned down a beautiful fictional story which is also based on true events. All the characters has its own depth and has been brilliantly sketched by the author.
I loved the way the author has described the beauty of Kashmir as well as the lifestyle of 'Kashmirians'. I have never been to Kashmir, but the way the place has been described in the book, I could feel I am standing right there and experiencing everything in front of me with my bare eyes. The author has used many traditional Kashmiri words along with their meanings in the form of footnotes below every page for better understanding of the terms.
The narrative style is smooth, intriguing and moves in a fast pace which makes it unputdownable. However, there were some scene transitions which made me confused at times that is, in some chapters, one scene jumps to another, making the former scene incomplete. But, the rest of the book is so beautiful, that, this small fact can as well as be overlooked. While reading the book, I went with the flow and kept on turning pages, until I finished with it. And even after finishing, I could not stop thinking about the book.
The author has penned down many poems in between chapters which is heart-wrenching as well as alluring. The ending definitely made me sad, with Bilal's words still ringing in my ears, " For us, Deewan bhai, whatever it takes."
*I received a copy of this book from Vinfluencers in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.*
September 28, 2020
Highly recommended.
Trigger/ content warnings: Rape, Murder, Violence, Terrorism, Death of the loved ones
Srinagar, India: 20th January 1990
It's Bilal’s 11th birthday. Bilal’s mother sings the melody and his sister, father and some neighbours join in. But Bilal is not happy because his best friends Safeena Malik and Deewan Bhat are not with him. Bilal is not only sad but also angry with his friends. How can they not come? They promised. Poor Bilal does not know that Deewan and his family are hiding in Safeena’s house. Because there are people on the streets, cutting throats, raping women, killing children. What for? Azadi! Freedom.
On the same night, Deewan loses his brother, and Safeena loses her mother. The beautiful friendship between Safeena, Bilal and Deewan and all the memories in a paradise called Kashmir vanish in the darkness of that night. The fact that Deewan and his family are Kashmiri Pandit forces them to leave Kashmir because that was the only way to live further. That one night turns their life upside down. Being Kashmiri Muslims, Bilal and Safeena's families suffer too. The only thing remaining undisturbed there is a tree with a thousand apples in their backyard.
20 years later, paths of these three friends cross only to relive the moments of friendships. But these moments are not so rosy and happy like their moments spent in childhood in the streets of Srinagar. These are the moments where they are tested, their lives are threatened, their homes are destroyed, their names are printed on papers, where they learn to kill people, they sacrifice, they cry, they almost die. Die!
“For us, Deewan Bhai, whatever it takes”, says Bilal in the end. Isn’t that a beautiful sentence to understand how deep their bond was. Their friendship knew no boundaries. That ‘us’ involves humans and NOT the people of particular religion or caste or any country. How about we always consider ourselves as ‘us'? How about blurring the boundaries of religion? How about being friends? How about just being humans? No tags, No labels, Nothing around our necks to give out the identities. I am not here to challenge your beliefs. But can we be just humans?
Three lives entangle in the most unexpected ways and thousands of other people. There's a thrill. There are moments you feel like screaming and crying, and no tears come out. You feel numb. Devastated. Extremely Privileged to lead a normal life.
My Take:
First of all, this is the most underrated book I have ever read.
Sanchit Gupta is a brilliant writer, and I can vouch for this statement. Reading this book was o
ne hell of the experience. I was afraid to put down my experience in words. Because what I witnessed in this book isn’t usual. And the fact that it is based on true events didn’t only thrill me but also filled me with rage at so many moments. I realised that being alive is a simple thing but not for everyone. It’s a luxury for some. This book shows you that face of Kashmir that you don’t see on travel magazines. This book shows you that face of our system that you don’t see in newspapers or news channels ( because of course, we are busy covering celebrities). This socio-political drama is a must-read. It was emotionally and factually educational for me as I usually do not look into border matters. Because let’s be honest, I don’t understand it. It is always masked with some political agendas. How often do we see the people who are suffering? Rarely. We look at the sides. We take sides. We define the sides.
A must-read. I highly highly recommend it.
Trigger/ content warnings: Rape, Murder, Violence, Terrorism, Death of the loved ones
Srinagar, India: 20th January 1990
It's Bilal’s 11th birthday. Bilal’s mother sings the melody and his sister, father and some neighbours join in. But Bilal is not happy because his best friends Safeena Malik and Deewan Bhat are not with him. Bilal is not only sad but also angry with his friends. How can they not come? They promised. Poor Bilal does not know that Deewan and his family are hiding in Safeena’s house. Because there are people on the streets, cutting throats, raping women, killing children. What for? Azadi! Freedom.
On the same night, Deewan loses his brother, and Safeena loses her mother. The beautiful friendship between Safeena, Bilal and Deewan and all the memories in a paradise called Kashmir vanish in the darkness of that night. The fact that Deewan and his family are Kashmiri Pandit forces them to leave Kashmir because that was the only way to live further. That one night turns their life upside down. Being Kashmiri Muslims, Bilal and Safeena's families suffer too. The only thing remaining undisturbed there is a tree with a thousand apples in their backyard.
20 years later, paths of these three friends cross only to relive the moments of friendships. But these moments are not so rosy and happy like their moments spent in childhood in the streets of Srinagar. These are the moments where they are tested, their lives are threatened, their homes are destroyed, their names are printed on papers, where they learn to kill people, they sacrifice, they cry, they almost die. Die!
“For us, Deewan Bhai, whatever it takes”, says Bilal in the end. Isn’t that a beautiful sentence to understand how deep their bond was. Their friendship knew no boundaries. That ‘us’ involves humans and NOT the people of particular religion or caste or any country. How about we always consider ourselves as ‘us'? How about blurring the boundaries of religion? How about being friends? How about just being humans? No tags, No labels, Nothing around our necks to give out the identities. I am not here to challenge your beliefs. But can we be just humans?
Three lives entangle in the most unexpected ways and thousands of other people. There's a thrill. There are moments you feel like screaming and crying, and no tears come out. You feel numb. Devastated. Extremely Privileged to lead a normal life.
My Take:
First of all, this is the most underrated book I have ever read.
Sanchit Gupta is a brilliant writer, and I can vouch for this statement. Reading this book was o
ne hell of the experience. I was afraid to put down my experience in words. Because what I witnessed in this book isn’t usual. And the fact that it is based on true events didn’t only thrill me but also filled me with rage at so many moments. I realised that being alive is a simple thing but not for everyone. It’s a luxury for some. This book shows you that face of Kashmir that you don’t see on travel magazines. This book shows you that face of our system that you don’t see in newspapers or news channels ( because of course, we are busy covering celebrities). This socio-political drama is a must-read. It was emotionally and factually educational for me as I usually do not look into border matters. Because let’s be honest, I don’t understand it. It is always masked with some political agendas. How often do we see the people who are suffering? Rarely. We look at the sides. We take sides. We define the sides.
A must-read. I highly highly recommend it.
May 11, 2021
My video review: https://youtu.be/SQlbfbzGOzA
Trigger Warning: Violence, Rape
"Oh, you foolish children! Curfew is never over. That is a thing about curfew in this town. It doesn't matter what the loudspeaker says, the curfew is never over. This town is a prison, a prison with lakes and flowers."
I remember asking my parents as a child why we never go to Kashmir for a holiday and they used to answer," waha ka mauhal sahi nahi hai abhi, jald hi theek hoga toh jayenge." It is not safe to visit Kashmir right now, as soon as it is safe we will definitely go. It has been twenty years to this conversation and they still answer the same.
The Tree with a Thousand Apples, is a story based on true events across a span of 24 years. It follows the exodus of Hindus from Kashmir and the effect that left on the community of Kashmir. The story focuses on the lives of three children, Safeena, Bilal and Deewan and how everything turns upside down in one night leading each of them to take actions that they never imagined in their wildest dreams.
Praise should be given to the author because as the story progresses, there is violence in the name of peace and religion and the author has maintained a neutral point of view without creating any prejudice in his characters, and providing understandings of the mindset of all the people and communities involved.
Gupta paints an extraordinary before and after picture of a beautiful and a war torn Kashmir which we could possible never see from our eyes.
"Only a few years ago, the smell of cardamom and cinnamon would fill these streets, where tourists would flock and pack the exotics away in jute sacks. Today, the smell of burning rubber and tear gas from protests during the day resides in the air."
The violence is explained quite vividly in the book which might be a trigger warning for some readers.
The writing style is direct and to the point. The Tree with a Thousand Apples stands tall and proud amongst its contemporaries with its strong plot and crisp writing and can easily give them a run for their money.
The fast paced, and suspenseful storytelling makes this an engrossing read. This book is nothing short of a masterpiece.
My Verdict: 5/5
My blog: https://booknbhook.blogspot.com/
Trigger Warning: Violence, Rape
"Oh, you foolish children! Curfew is never over. That is a thing about curfew in this town. It doesn't matter what the loudspeaker says, the curfew is never over. This town is a prison, a prison with lakes and flowers."
I remember asking my parents as a child why we never go to Kashmir for a holiday and they used to answer," waha ka mauhal sahi nahi hai abhi, jald hi theek hoga toh jayenge." It is not safe to visit Kashmir right now, as soon as it is safe we will definitely go. It has been twenty years to this conversation and they still answer the same.
The Tree with a Thousand Apples, is a story based on true events across a span of 24 years. It follows the exodus of Hindus from Kashmir and the effect that left on the community of Kashmir. The story focuses on the lives of three children, Safeena, Bilal and Deewan and how everything turns upside down in one night leading each of them to take actions that they never imagined in their wildest dreams.
Praise should be given to the author because as the story progresses, there is violence in the name of peace and religion and the author has maintained a neutral point of view without creating any prejudice in his characters, and providing understandings of the mindset of all the people and communities involved.
Gupta paints an extraordinary before and after picture of a beautiful and a war torn Kashmir which we could possible never see from our eyes.
"Only a few years ago, the smell of cardamom and cinnamon would fill these streets, where tourists would flock and pack the exotics away in jute sacks. Today, the smell of burning rubber and tear gas from protests during the day resides in the air."
The violence is explained quite vividly in the book which might be a trigger warning for some readers.
The writing style is direct and to the point. The Tree with a Thousand Apples stands tall and proud amongst its contemporaries with its strong plot and crisp writing and can easily give them a run for their money.
The fast paced, and suspenseful storytelling makes this an engrossing read. This book is nothing short of a masterpiece.
My Verdict: 5/5
My blog: https://booknbhook.blogspot.com/
June 6, 2017
‘The Tree with a Thousand Apples’ is a heart touching tale of 3 childhood friends living in the beautiful & terrifying valley of Kashmir. It is an account of 3 innocent lives, who suffer at the hands of destiny & end up becoming ‘collateral damage’.
*A Tale of Thousand Shattered Dreams
The novel revolves around the the lives of 3 freinds- Deewan Bhat, Safeena Malik and Bilal Ahanagar. It is set in the land of Kashmir, where insurgencies (rebellion against government) are a common phenomenon. Deewan is a Kashmiri Pandit, while Bilal & Safeena are Muslims.
The 3 of them are ready to do whatever it takes for the sake of their friendship. Their dreams as well as their lives are shattered during an insurgent night. Deewan has to leave the land, which is no longer his. Safeena’s mother has to face death without any cause. Years later, Bilal too, finds his life crushed.
The circumstances change everything & they are forced to make choices against their will. 20 years later, when destiny brings them together once again, each one is caught in a separate turmoil. Lying in front of them, are the two paths- one leading towards crime & the other towards sainthood.
“If a criminal was once a saint
and a saint was once a criminal,
then who is the criminal or who is the saint?”
*My Verdict
The novel has a beautiful story & a fast paced plot. It keeps us engaged from the very first page to the last one. It offers a moving account of the wrongs done to people by the military & the consequent attitude of those people towards army. We also get to see how soldiers, sometimes, have to obey the orders of their officers & do something that they know is wrong.
Though the army is doing it’s task well by suppressing the rebellions but it lacks a sense of responsibility towards the citizens. They forget that all Muslims are not militants. And similarly the militants too forget that Hindus are just like their Muslim brothers & sisters. The two groups continue to battle against each other, while common people- who have no issues with each other, keep suffering.
The author has beautifully penned the beauty of Kashmir, the emotions of people & their inner turmoils. The narrative offers a vivid picture of the land. The book also offers an insight into the Kashmiri Culture. One thing that I loved about the book is that the meanings of the regional words have been given as footnotes. There’s also a glossary of such words at the end.
In the beginning, I didn’t find myself connected with the characters. But as I moved on with the book, I found myself becoming a part of their lives. At several moments, the writing gave me goosebumps. Here are my favorite lines from the text:
~… the kind officer grabs her by the waist … , slips his hand beneath her kurti and sets loose the drawstrings. The salwar slips down. Her bare, naked legs flash in the illuminated room. He runs his hand up her thighs, … plunges his fat, little fingers inside her underpants, and proclaims, ‘Salim! Come, I will show you, this is how a woman feels like!’‘
~You brought your Indian Identity Card?’ … ‘Yes, … got it made yesterday itself. Why is it better than the previous one?’ … ‘It proves that you are an Indian.’ … ‘Who else am I?’ … ‘You are a Kashmiri, …’
~There is a jungle of a wild plantation mushrooming along the edges of the boundary wall. A few white petals of jasmine have found their way out amidst the bushes. … The old gardener must have had an illicit affair with the flower; their love refuses to die.… --_-~Curfew is never over. That is a thing about curfew in this town. … This town is a prison, a prison with lakes and flowers. …
These lines are enough to show the beauty & poignancy of the writing. They also give a hint about all that these people have to undergo.
I loved this book & enjoyed reading it thoroughly. It is just the title, that is not somewhat clear to me. Perhaps, that indicates a failure on my part. There’s actually a tree of apples, which is common to Deewan & Safeena’s house. So, the tree can be a symbol of love & the bond that the two families share, which in fact is a reflection of the bond between people of two different faiths. Or the thousand apples can be a symbol of the dreams that these children & their parents holds in their eyes.
The book has a lovely ending & leaves one teary eyed. It is one such book that keeps you immersed in it even after finishing it. I would recommend this book to everyone out there. And I’ll be looking forward to more by this author.
My Rating: ***** (4.5/5)
I received a copy from Writersmelon, in exchange for an honest & unbiased review.
*A Tale of Thousand Shattered Dreams
The novel revolves around the the lives of 3 freinds- Deewan Bhat, Safeena Malik and Bilal Ahanagar. It is set in the land of Kashmir, where insurgencies (rebellion against government) are a common phenomenon. Deewan is a Kashmiri Pandit, while Bilal & Safeena are Muslims.
The 3 of them are ready to do whatever it takes for the sake of their friendship. Their dreams as well as their lives are shattered during an insurgent night. Deewan has to leave the land, which is no longer his. Safeena’s mother has to face death without any cause. Years later, Bilal too, finds his life crushed.
The circumstances change everything & they are forced to make choices against their will. 20 years later, when destiny brings them together once again, each one is caught in a separate turmoil. Lying in front of them, are the two paths- one leading towards crime & the other towards sainthood.
“If a criminal was once a saint
and a saint was once a criminal,
then who is the criminal or who is the saint?”
*My Verdict
The novel has a beautiful story & a fast paced plot. It keeps us engaged from the very first page to the last one. It offers a moving account of the wrongs done to people by the military & the consequent attitude of those people towards army. We also get to see how soldiers, sometimes, have to obey the orders of their officers & do something that they know is wrong.
Though the army is doing it’s task well by suppressing the rebellions but it lacks a sense of responsibility towards the citizens. They forget that all Muslims are not militants. And similarly the militants too forget that Hindus are just like their Muslim brothers & sisters. The two groups continue to battle against each other, while common people- who have no issues with each other, keep suffering.
The author has beautifully penned the beauty of Kashmir, the emotions of people & their inner turmoils. The narrative offers a vivid picture of the land. The book also offers an insight into the Kashmiri Culture. One thing that I loved about the book is that the meanings of the regional words have been given as footnotes. There’s also a glossary of such words at the end.
In the beginning, I didn’t find myself connected with the characters. But as I moved on with the book, I found myself becoming a part of their lives. At several moments, the writing gave me goosebumps. Here are my favorite lines from the text:
~… the kind officer grabs her by the waist … , slips his hand beneath her kurti and sets loose the drawstrings. The salwar slips down. Her bare, naked legs flash in the illuminated room. He runs his hand up her thighs, … plunges his fat, little fingers inside her underpants, and proclaims, ‘Salim! Come, I will show you, this is how a woman feels like!’‘
~You brought your Indian Identity Card?’ … ‘Yes, … got it made yesterday itself. Why is it better than the previous one?’ … ‘It proves that you are an Indian.’ … ‘Who else am I?’ … ‘You are a Kashmiri, …’
~There is a jungle of a wild plantation mushrooming along the edges of the boundary wall. A few white petals of jasmine have found their way out amidst the bushes. … The old gardener must have had an illicit affair with the flower; their love refuses to die.… --_-~Curfew is never over. That is a thing about curfew in this town. … This town is a prison, a prison with lakes and flowers. …
These lines are enough to show the beauty & poignancy of the writing. They also give a hint about all that these people have to undergo.
I loved this book & enjoyed reading it thoroughly. It is just the title, that is not somewhat clear to me. Perhaps, that indicates a failure on my part. There’s actually a tree of apples, which is common to Deewan & Safeena’s house. So, the tree can be a symbol of love & the bond that the two families share, which in fact is a reflection of the bond between people of two different faiths. Or the thousand apples can be a symbol of the dreams that these children & their parents holds in their eyes.
The book has a lovely ending & leaves one teary eyed. It is one such book that keeps you immersed in it even after finishing it. I would recommend this book to everyone out there. And I’ll be looking forward to more by this author.
My Rating: ***** (4.5/5)
I received a copy from Writersmelon, in exchange for an honest & unbiased review.
February 2, 2018
Story
Safeena Malik, Deewan Bhat and Bilal Ahanagar are childhood friends that grew up in the strikingly beautiful and peaceful Srinagar, Kashmir. Playing cricket, blowing out rats, defending and applauding each other, their lives are progressing like that of any other eleven-year-olds, when the night of 20 January 1990 shatters their lives in its entirety.
The insurgency of war trodden Kashmir drives Deewan from his home, the land he grew up in; Safeena loses her mother and Bilal is left with arduous choices. Twenty years later as their paths cross yet again in a city where being a Hindu Pandit or a Musalman defines your life expectancy, where abodes are being destroyed and bodies burnt unrecognisable, the trio is struggling to survive. As the distinction between right and wrong blurs down, as the world as they knew comes crashing down, what choices will they go for?
What I loved
First things first, I immensely loved this book and it has right away made it to the list of my all-time favourite books. Whenever I fall head over heels in love with a book, I find it impossible to write a review about it. When I love each and everything about the book, be it the story, the characters or the writing, I find it impossible to coin words that can justify how immensely beautiful I found the book to be. The Tree With A Thousand Apples falls right into that category.
The plot is absolutely brilliant; the way the story progressed through the years was not only amazing but also had me engrossed in each word, page by page, chapter after chapter. Inspired by true events, the author has done an amazing, amazing job in bringing to life the events of Kashmir through Bilal, Safeena and Deewan. The characters have been drawn up and portrayed in a manner in which I could easily identify with them. When a story revolves around a number of characters, often the reader gets tangled in unnecessary confusion. But in this book, the characters have been portrayed with so much precision and has been thoroughly researched that no one felt out of place; there was no confusion at all.
I was completely bowled over by the author’s writing; the way each sentence was weaved, the dialogues that were nothing less than perfect, the beautiful poems that found their way into each chapter, I could go on and on. His way of writing has a certain enthralling charm that could just glue me to his every word. In recent times, I don’t think any Indian author has put forth such an extraordinary tale backed by extremely skilful writing. And it breaks my heart to know that not enough people are reading this sheer piece of brilliance; the book truly deserves to be mentioned along with the likes of works by Roy, Hosseini and similar established authors.
What didn’t work for me
For obvious reasons, there isn’t anything that did not strike a chord with me.
Conclusion
The Tree With A Thousand Apples by Sanchit Gupta talks about love, friendship, resilience, survival, the struggles of being in an insurgency-hit city and the choices one has to make. It talks about a pressing issue, which probably every other Indian is pretending to not notice. And most importantly, instead of telling the story from the perspective of just one of the religions or one particular section of the people, Sanchit has ensured that he brought to life everyone involved-be it Muslims, Hindu Pandits, the army, civilians or the militants. This is what sets the author apart from other prominent figures that talk and/or write about Kashmir. And that, for me, is one of the million reasons why I loved this book tremendously.
I urge you to pick up The Tree With A Thousand Apples, immerse yourself in it, let it linger (which it will, much much longer after you finish it) and then recommend it to anyone who can read.
Rating
Story – 5/5
Characters-5/5
Writing-5/5
Overall-5/5
Safeena Malik, Deewan Bhat and Bilal Ahanagar are childhood friends that grew up in the strikingly beautiful and peaceful Srinagar, Kashmir. Playing cricket, blowing out rats, defending and applauding each other, their lives are progressing like that of any other eleven-year-olds, when the night of 20 January 1990 shatters their lives in its entirety.
The insurgency of war trodden Kashmir drives Deewan from his home, the land he grew up in; Safeena loses her mother and Bilal is left with arduous choices. Twenty years later as their paths cross yet again in a city where being a Hindu Pandit or a Musalman defines your life expectancy, where abodes are being destroyed and bodies burnt unrecognisable, the trio is struggling to survive. As the distinction between right and wrong blurs down, as the world as they knew comes crashing down, what choices will they go for?
What I loved
First things first, I immensely loved this book and it has right away made it to the list of my all-time favourite books. Whenever I fall head over heels in love with a book, I find it impossible to write a review about it. When I love each and everything about the book, be it the story, the characters or the writing, I find it impossible to coin words that can justify how immensely beautiful I found the book to be. The Tree With A Thousand Apples falls right into that category.
The plot is absolutely brilliant; the way the story progressed through the years was not only amazing but also had me engrossed in each word, page by page, chapter after chapter. Inspired by true events, the author has done an amazing, amazing job in bringing to life the events of Kashmir through Bilal, Safeena and Deewan. The characters have been drawn up and portrayed in a manner in which I could easily identify with them. When a story revolves around a number of characters, often the reader gets tangled in unnecessary confusion. But in this book, the characters have been portrayed with so much precision and has been thoroughly researched that no one felt out of place; there was no confusion at all.
I was completely bowled over by the author’s writing; the way each sentence was weaved, the dialogues that were nothing less than perfect, the beautiful poems that found their way into each chapter, I could go on and on. His way of writing has a certain enthralling charm that could just glue me to his every word. In recent times, I don’t think any Indian author has put forth such an extraordinary tale backed by extremely skilful writing. And it breaks my heart to know that not enough people are reading this sheer piece of brilliance; the book truly deserves to be mentioned along with the likes of works by Roy, Hosseini and similar established authors.
What didn’t work for me
For obvious reasons, there isn’t anything that did not strike a chord with me.
Conclusion
The Tree With A Thousand Apples by Sanchit Gupta talks about love, friendship, resilience, survival, the struggles of being in an insurgency-hit city and the choices one has to make. It talks about a pressing issue, which probably every other Indian is pretending to not notice. And most importantly, instead of telling the story from the perspective of just one of the religions or one particular section of the people, Sanchit has ensured that he brought to life everyone involved-be it Muslims, Hindu Pandits, the army, civilians or the militants. This is what sets the author apart from other prominent figures that talk and/or write about Kashmir. And that, for me, is one of the million reasons why I loved this book tremendously.
I urge you to pick up The Tree With A Thousand Apples, immerse yourself in it, let it linger (which it will, much much longer after you finish it) and then recommend it to anyone who can read.
Rating
Story – 5/5
Characters-5/5
Writing-5/5
Overall-5/5
October 31, 2017
The Tree with a Thousand Apples by Sanchit Gupta is a fictional take on the insurgency in Kashmir during the 90s, against the Kashmiri Pundits and the citizens’ fight for Azadi that followed, and is still continuing. There is not one but three protagonists of the story, Deewan Bhat, Safeena Malik and Bilal Ahanagar, whose story we follow, from their childhood days through their adolescence and finally adulthood.
Deewan, Safeena and Bilal are best of friends, living in the land they call jannat, their lives are harmonious in the amity valley until one day everything falls apart. The fateful night of 20th January 1990, when the rest of the nation slept, thousands were being killed and forced to flee their homes because some miscreants wanted azadi. And since that day, neither the refugees, nor the militants have looked back. The beautiful place these kids called their home was being torn apart each day, by the army and the militants alike. For a sufferer, there was hardly difference between the two - both carried guns, both shed blood and both were making their homeland impious.
The insurgency raging in Kashmir had it’s effect on everybody, while Deewan fled with his family to Jammu and then Bombay, Safeena lost her mother and brother to collateral damage, and Bilal took up arms, only to later forgo it for the sake of his beloved friend. After being years apart and with no news about each other, a situation arises which forces Bilal to seek out Deewan, now a famous journalist and poet. He asks for his bhai’s help to locate Safeena, who seems to have gone missing recently.
Will Deewan reach out with help? Will they ever find about Safeena’s whereabouts, or will she be lost like the numerous others? What about the gap of the years that kept them apart and what about the reason for them being in this situation?
Narrated in the third person with present tense, the first word that would describe this beautiful prose for me is - captivating. Seldom I come across such books whose story I wish were real, and this is one of those, not for the gory and horrific things, but for the bond formed between the protagonists during the tender years of their childhood, to remain unharmed even after all the hate and tragedies decades later. How come they have such strong feelings for each other still? What makes them so that they are ready to sacrifice their own life for each other? I may never know the friendship they share, nor will the millions who have never formed a bond so great.
The author seems to have taken special care when sketching out the characters, be it the protagonists or the inanimate Kashmir, which is rendered alive in the reader’s eyes through beautifully placed words. Never at any point I felt like keeping down the book, and it only proves the ability of the author that I finished it in a single sitting! This is my first book on the disputed territory, and am glad I wasn’t disappointed. In fact, it has sparked my interest in the history of this particular land and it’s fall from grace.
The depiction of the effects of a war, be it external or internal, is shown explicitly by the means of these three families. We think we are safe from harm if we are the oppressors, but we usually forget to look at the larger picture, a war does good to nobody. Oppressors or sufferers, both are punished in some form or the other. The displacing from one’s home is terrible, so is living in the place you have been living ever since, but can’t call it home anymore. Losing loved ones to someone's’ selfish cause is always painful, it doesn’t matter which side you are on, blood will be blood and it will be red. Youths are often lured by the charm of money and fame, and yes, brainwashed into thinking that God wants them to do something particular. But they know not that all God wants them to do is to live in peace, here or there doesn’t matter, only peace does. And by the time they do realize this, it’s mostly too late, either for them or for others.
The summers will go away, the winters shall approach. But if winter is here, can spring be far behind? We can only hope to have the apples back, not just in thousands, but in millions, for all the lost years, for all the lost hope.
Deewan, Safeena and Bilal are best of friends, living in the land they call jannat, their lives are harmonious in the amity valley until one day everything falls apart. The fateful night of 20th January 1990, when the rest of the nation slept, thousands were being killed and forced to flee their homes because some miscreants wanted azadi. And since that day, neither the refugees, nor the militants have looked back. The beautiful place these kids called their home was being torn apart each day, by the army and the militants alike. For a sufferer, there was hardly difference between the two - both carried guns, both shed blood and both were making their homeland impious.
The insurgency raging in Kashmir had it’s effect on everybody, while Deewan fled with his family to Jammu and then Bombay, Safeena lost her mother and brother to collateral damage, and Bilal took up arms, only to later forgo it for the sake of his beloved friend. After being years apart and with no news about each other, a situation arises which forces Bilal to seek out Deewan, now a famous journalist and poet. He asks for his bhai’s help to locate Safeena, who seems to have gone missing recently.
Will Deewan reach out with help? Will they ever find about Safeena’s whereabouts, or will she be lost like the numerous others? What about the gap of the years that kept them apart and what about the reason for them being in this situation?
Narrated in the third person with present tense, the first word that would describe this beautiful prose for me is - captivating. Seldom I come across such books whose story I wish were real, and this is one of those, not for the gory and horrific things, but for the bond formed between the protagonists during the tender years of their childhood, to remain unharmed even after all the hate and tragedies decades later. How come they have such strong feelings for each other still? What makes them so that they are ready to sacrifice their own life for each other? I may never know the friendship they share, nor will the millions who have never formed a bond so great.
The author seems to have taken special care when sketching out the characters, be it the protagonists or the inanimate Kashmir, which is rendered alive in the reader’s eyes through beautifully placed words. Never at any point I felt like keeping down the book, and it only proves the ability of the author that I finished it in a single sitting! This is my first book on the disputed territory, and am glad I wasn’t disappointed. In fact, it has sparked my interest in the history of this particular land and it’s fall from grace.
The depiction of the effects of a war, be it external or internal, is shown explicitly by the means of these three families. We think we are safe from harm if we are the oppressors, but we usually forget to look at the larger picture, a war does good to nobody. Oppressors or sufferers, both are punished in some form or the other. The displacing from one’s home is terrible, so is living in the place you have been living ever since, but can’t call it home anymore. Losing loved ones to someone's’ selfish cause is always painful, it doesn’t matter which side you are on, blood will be blood and it will be red. Youths are often lured by the charm of money and fame, and yes, brainwashed into thinking that God wants them to do something particular. But they know not that all God wants them to do is to live in peace, here or there doesn’t matter, only peace does. And by the time they do realize this, it’s mostly too late, either for them or for others.
The summers will go away, the winters shall approach. But if winter is here, can spring be far behind? We can only hope to have the apples back, not just in thousands, but in millions, for all the lost years, for all the lost hope.
February 3, 2018
The tree with a Thousand Apples is a story about three childhood friends Deewan Bhat, Safeena Malik and Bilal Ahanagar who lives in Kashmir, Paradise on Earth. Safeena's father Rehman Malik and Deewan's father Praveen Bhat are neighnours and shares a friendly bond irrespective of their different religion. Deewan, Safeena and Bilal are innocent kids who plays together, study together and their eyes are filled with many dreams. The story tells us how the lives of these three innocent school going kids turn into living hell in their own Kashmir, paradise on Earth.
On 29th January, 1990 when they witness merciless killings of people in Kashmir, Rehman Malik gives shelter to Bhat family. Kashmiri Pandits felt helpless and they felt like prisoner in their own home, in their own town, in their own state, in their own country. A Muslim family risks their life to protect Hindu family. Safeena sees her mother die in front of her eyes. Deewan's elder brother Ravi, who was an Army Jawan is killed by an unknown militant group. Kashmiri Pandits were seen with suspicion everywhere. The beautiful Srinagar turns into a battleground overnight.
After this, Deewan with his family was displaced from his own homeland Srinagar and their only fault was that they were Kashmiri Pandits. Bilals sees her sister molested in front of his eyes and in order to take revenge, he turns into terrorist. Safeena who loses her mother, father and brother Tariq one by one, now loses The tree with a Thousand Apples is a story about three childhood friends Deewan Bhat, Safeena Malik and Bilal Ahanagar who lives in Kashmir, Paradise on Earth. Safeena's father Rehman Malik and Deewan's father Praveen Bhat are neighnours and shares a friendly bond irrespective of their different religion. Deewan, Safeena and Bilal are innocent kids who plays together, study together and their eyes are filled with many dreams. The story tells us how the lives of these three innocent school going kids turn into living hell in their own Kashmir, paradise on Earth.
all hopes in life. She has been kept as captive in Major Choudhary's home.
After 20 years, fate brings all three friends together. Deewan become a journalist and poet in Mumbai. He is called back by Bilal to save Safeena's life. Their childhood suffered and these characters unwillingly becomes the person they never wanted to be. To know what happens next in their lives, you'll have to read this book.
I loved the writing style of author. The scenic beauty of Kashmir is very well-described by the author. This is a novel which will surely make readers cry and will make them to accept and respect each others religion. This novel makes us think that its us, the people of the country who make it a paradise or living hell by our own feelings of love and hatred towards people of other religion. It made me think about the people who lived in Kashmir and tough life of people who are living in Kashmir, their unimaginable pain and suffering. I hope this book will promote compassion. Lets become more compassionate, more human.
The characters feel real to readers. Sad scenes are written really well. I could actually feel the same horrific events happening in front of my eyes and I am unable to do anything to stop them and feel helpless just like the characters of the story. The apple tree in the backyard sees their friendship and their sufferings too. The story is gripping and kept me turning the pages. I feel all the readers will appreciate this book.
RATING~
Cover : 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Storyline:4/5
Overall : 4/5
On 29th January, 1990 when they witness merciless killings of people in Kashmir, Rehman Malik gives shelter to Bhat family. Kashmiri Pandits felt helpless and they felt like prisoner in their own home, in their own town, in their own state, in their own country. A Muslim family risks their life to protect Hindu family. Safeena sees her mother die in front of her eyes. Deewan's elder brother Ravi, who was an Army Jawan is killed by an unknown militant group. Kashmiri Pandits were seen with suspicion everywhere. The beautiful Srinagar turns into a battleground overnight.
After this, Deewan with his family was displaced from his own homeland Srinagar and their only fault was that they were Kashmiri Pandits. Bilals sees her sister molested in front of his eyes and in order to take revenge, he turns into terrorist. Safeena who loses her mother, father and brother Tariq one by one, now loses The tree with a Thousand Apples is a story about three childhood friends Deewan Bhat, Safeena Malik and Bilal Ahanagar who lives in Kashmir, Paradise on Earth. Safeena's father Rehman Malik and Deewan's father Praveen Bhat are neighnours and shares a friendly bond irrespective of their different religion. Deewan, Safeena and Bilal are innocent kids who plays together, study together and their eyes are filled with many dreams. The story tells us how the lives of these three innocent school going kids turn into living hell in their own Kashmir, paradise on Earth.
all hopes in life. She has been kept as captive in Major Choudhary's home.
After 20 years, fate brings all three friends together. Deewan become a journalist and poet in Mumbai. He is called back by Bilal to save Safeena's life. Their childhood suffered and these characters unwillingly becomes the person they never wanted to be. To know what happens next in their lives, you'll have to read this book.
I loved the writing style of author. The scenic beauty of Kashmir is very well-described by the author. This is a novel which will surely make readers cry and will make them to accept and respect each others religion. This novel makes us think that its us, the people of the country who make it a paradise or living hell by our own feelings of love and hatred towards people of other religion. It made me think about the people who lived in Kashmir and tough life of people who are living in Kashmir, their unimaginable pain and suffering. I hope this book will promote compassion. Lets become more compassionate, more human.
The characters feel real to readers. Sad scenes are written really well. I could actually feel the same horrific events happening in front of my eyes and I am unable to do anything to stop them and feel helpless just like the characters of the story. The apple tree in the backyard sees their friendship and their sufferings too. The story is gripping and kept me turning the pages. I feel all the readers will appreciate this book.
RATING~
Cover : 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Storyline:4/5
Overall : 4/5
September 27, 2017
War torn books always take a little piece of my heart and this one is no exception. Based on true events in Kashmir, the plot follows three friends, and how their lives are affected and devastated by the unrest in their country. Reminiscent of Khaled Hosseini's "A Thousand Splendid Suns" (yes, it is that good) the story and characters alike captured my heart and I was thinking of them days after the book was over. It made me think about the villains and the 'good' people in war time and how hard it can be to separate the two. I found myself having empathy for some of the characters that others may not necessarily feel for. *
The book captures the historic struggle of the Kashmiri's really well but naturally, I wanted more. I am a sucker for historical fiction and had some great discussions with my husband about Kashmir to get some more historical insight; he is my fountain of all knowledge when it comes to history. *
It's easy to read and simply written, telling a tale of cruelty yet extreme compassion too. Having said that, there are some scenes of torture which are very descriptive but that's necessary given the story is based on true events. We do have a glossary at the back which I felt needed to have a few more words in there; there were quite a few I didn't know the meaning of. But that's a minor point. *
Highly, highly recommended.
4.5 stars on #Goodreads - thank you SO much Sanchit for letting me read your debut novel.
The book captures the historic struggle of the Kashmiri's really well but naturally, I wanted more. I am a sucker for historical fiction and had some great discussions with my husband about Kashmir to get some more historical insight; he is my fountain of all knowledge when it comes to history. *
It's easy to read and simply written, telling a tale of cruelty yet extreme compassion too. Having said that, there are some scenes of torture which are very descriptive but that's necessary given the story is based on true events. We do have a glossary at the back which I felt needed to have a few more words in there; there were quite a few I didn't know the meaning of. But that's a minor point. *
Highly, highly recommended.
4.5 stars on #Goodreads - thank you SO much Sanchit for letting me read your debut novel.
August 14, 2020
#Qotd: what is the speciality of your city?
•
Inspired from true events, "A Tree with thousand apples" by Sanchit Gupta is a heartbreaking and riveting story of three friends Deewan, Bilal and Safeena who used live peacefully in Shrinagar until the peace of their life was snatched by the catastrophic night of 20th January 1990 and three friends fell apart from each other.
•
This journey of 3 friends took 3 different turns. Each one suffers losses which we can't even imagine. These situations make them take some unfortunate decisions which only bring more and more pain in their lives. But true friends are never actually apart. Maybe be in the distance but in their hearts, they are always together. Likewise, these three finds a way to protect each other on the battlefields of their life.
•
With an engrossing narration and heart-wrenching story, this book has completely shaken me with the troubles and pains Kashmiri people are suffering. Turmoil through which they undergo, the violence they experience in their hometown, discrimination they faced from their own countrymen living in other states is so harrowing. The book is an emotional rollercoaster ride which doesn't come to halt till the end of the book.
•
Recommended? Definitely!!!
•
Happy reading 📚 ❤️
•
Inspired from true events, "A Tree with thousand apples" by Sanchit Gupta is a heartbreaking and riveting story of three friends Deewan, Bilal and Safeena who used live peacefully in Shrinagar until the peace of their life was snatched by the catastrophic night of 20th January 1990 and three friends fell apart from each other.
•
This journey of 3 friends took 3 different turns. Each one suffers losses which we can't even imagine. These situations make them take some unfortunate decisions which only bring more and more pain in their lives. But true friends are never actually apart. Maybe be in the distance but in their hearts, they are always together. Likewise, these three finds a way to protect each other on the battlefields of their life.
•
With an engrossing narration and heart-wrenching story, this book has completely shaken me with the troubles and pains Kashmiri people are suffering. Turmoil through which they undergo, the violence they experience in their hometown, discrimination they faced from their own countrymen living in other states is so harrowing. The book is an emotional rollercoaster ride which doesn't come to halt till the end of the book.
•
Recommended? Definitely!!!
•
Happy reading 📚 ❤️
June 9, 2019
This book looks in itself so good ! I was all over its beautiful cover for a long time. Recently got the chance to read it.
A hardcover it is penned down by Author Sanchit Gupta and published by Niyogi Publishers. Story is based on 3 friends Safeena , Deewan , Bilal , in 1990 in Jammu & Kashmir , a thriller that talks about the life of people based in Jammu & Kashmir who though live in the heaven of India , that has the most beautiful scenic beauty in the country but inside there larks the poison of religious fanatism mingled with political and strategic tortures done on natives by even the states administrators.Blurb is Narration is made in such way you can imagine the backdrop of serious situations like a play and the tragic murders seen by their own family members ,
how muslims are always asked to join Pakistan, emergence of divide in people brought by traitors in the veil of closed ones is sad but yet reminds us ,yes people live in such situations in reality and the struggle is very hard and sad to digest that they have to fight for their basic rights and live in constant fear of loosing everything any moment .
The book is divided into chapters with thoughful lines that makes your mind dive deeper .
A hardcover it is penned down by Author Sanchit Gupta and published by Niyogi Publishers. Story is based on 3 friends Safeena , Deewan , Bilal , in 1990 in Jammu & Kashmir , a thriller that talks about the life of people based in Jammu & Kashmir who though live in the heaven of India , that has the most beautiful scenic beauty in the country but inside there larks the poison of religious fanatism mingled with political and strategic tortures done on natives by even the states administrators.Blurb is Narration is made in such way you can imagine the backdrop of serious situations like a play and the tragic murders seen by their own family members ,
how muslims are always asked to join Pakistan, emergence of divide in people brought by traitors in the veil of closed ones is sad but yet reminds us ,yes people live in such situations in reality and the struggle is very hard and sad to digest that they have to fight for their basic rights and live in constant fear of loosing everything any moment .
The book is divided into chapters with thoughful lines that makes your mind dive deeper .
August 17, 2020
This is the story of three childhood friends, Bilal, Safeena and Deewan. They belong to the beautiful Kashmir and the three of them supported each other like a family. Unfortunately, destiny had some other plans for them. They get separated from each other during one of the riots that happened in their hometown and their lived turns upside down. After years, three of them happens to meet each other and nothing remains the same anymore.
The tree with a thousand apples is a kind of story that will definitely leave you heartbroken. First of all, I appreciate the author for selecting such a bold plot to write a book. The author has tried his best to portray the life and hardships of the people in Kashmir. Even after finishing the book, I kept constantly thinking about the plot and characters.The title of the book was really interesting and once the story progresses, the reader gets an idea about the reason why the book has been named as such. And the cover of the book is really pretty. Tbh, I am really glad that I happened to read this book.Overall it was a very interesting read.
The tree with a thousand apples is a kind of story that will definitely leave you heartbroken. First of all, I appreciate the author for selecting such a bold plot to write a book. The author has tried his best to portray the life and hardships of the people in Kashmir. Even after finishing the book, I kept constantly thinking about the plot and characters.The title of the book was really interesting and once the story progresses, the reader gets an idea about the reason why the book has been named as such. And the cover of the book is really pretty. Tbh, I am really glad that I happened to read this book.Overall it was a very interesting read.
March 26, 2018
"... Likhne waale ne likh daale milan ke saath vichore , assa hun tur jaana hai din reh gaye those."
The Tree With A Thousand Apples is a heartbreaking story penned around the lives of Safeena Malik, Deewan Bhat and Bilal Ahanagar, who grew up in a peaceful atmosphere of Srinagar until the night of 20 January 1990.
On 20 January , 1990 Kashmir witnesses merciless killings. Safeena's family gives shelter to Deewan's family since he is a Kashmiri Pandit and is at stake of being slaughtered. A muslim family risks their lives to save a hindu family. Deewan loses his brother Ravi , an army jawan who was killed by some militants. Safeena watches her mother die right infront of her eyes. The "heaven on earth" turns into a merciless battleground overnight.
The Bhat family flees Srinagar overnight in order to save their life. Bilal sees here didi being raped by the general and later killed and in order to seek revenge he joins hands with the militants. In one such encounter , he sees Rehman Chacha , Safeena's father being shot right in front of his eyes. Safeena loses her family and is held captive by the Major who rapes her everynight.
20 years later , destiny beings all three friends together. Will their innocence heal their wounds or will all three avenge the gruesome murders of their loved ones?
Gosh this book is heartbreaking. The books takes you through the scenic beauty of Kashmir , the Jhelum and you find yourself in between the riots and killings and feel completely helpless and weak in the knees. The author has done a commendable job in maintaining the story line. The narration feels like a mystery , pages unfolding one at a time and all you can do is be on your toes and wait for what happens next.
The characters feel soo real. You can actually see Safeena , Bilal and Deewan in front of your eyes ; bruised , angry and scared. I have sobbed reading this book and I urge everyone to read it at least once.
It's a masterpiece.
December 16, 2019
For someone who does not have much experience of reading books based in Kashmir, I could still make out one thing which I'm sure many other books based in similar backgrounds lack: the unbiased views.
This writer doesn't pick a side. He has narrated a story as it is, without categorising characters as villains or heros, good or bad. He has narrated this heartbreaking story and has left the reader to decide their opinions.
The writing about the terrible torture gave me goosebumps. The story is real, honest and hasn't been sugar-coated to suit anybody. The portrayal of the effects of living in a war-zone on children is scary and honest.
I would recommend this book if you are looking for something that doesn't force political opinions on you. This book tells it's story and leaves you to form your opinions.
This writer doesn't pick a side. He has narrated a story as it is, without categorising characters as villains or heros, good or bad. He has narrated this heartbreaking story and has left the reader to decide their opinions.
The writing about the terrible torture gave me goosebumps. The story is real, honest and hasn't been sugar-coated to suit anybody. The portrayal of the effects of living in a war-zone on children is scary and honest.
I would recommend this book if you are looking for something that doesn't force political opinions on you. This book tells it's story and leaves you to form your opinions.
September 18, 2019
My first read on Kashmir and could not have been better. I was engrossed and was under the book's effect for the span of days I read it. Melancholy, grief, beauty and friendship. From the sunny peaks to the zero watt bulb, the descriptions are so clean and the visuals could stay with the reader for a long time.
Author's imagination gave me goose bumps a couple of times. Instance, "It rains ferociously that night, like a mother weeping over her dead son's body". Dark foreboding.
Highly recommended.
Author's imagination gave me goose bumps a couple of times. Instance, "It rains ferociously that night, like a mother weeping over her dead son's body". Dark foreboding.
Highly recommended.
May 6, 2017
Ratings :
Writing- 4/5
Plot- 4/5
Characters- 3.5/5
Overall Ratings- 4/5
Genre: Fiction
Age Recommended: 13 and up
It's not very often that we receive review copies of books that completely take us by surprise. The Tree With A Thousand Apples was certainly one of them.
I belong to a region that I haven't visited for the past seven years. The reason? It's 'terribly unsafe'. Between 1980 and 1990, among other Kashmiri Pandits who fled the gorgeous valley, were my relatives. After over two centuries of residing there, the descendents of our 'Kaul' clan unfortunately were left with no choice but to leave the valley which they once called home. Slogans saying "Asi gacchi Pakistan, Batav ros te Batanev san" ( We want a Pakistan along with HIndu women but without their men) were openly glorified while most women my dad's own aunt, chose to hide themselves in closets along with matchsticks (to set themselves on fire) for defense from the ferocious protestors who could barge into the house any moment.
The issue of Kasmir is a one that is incredibly close to my heart and so, when I was approached by the author with the request of an honest review, I obviously could not refuse.
The Tree With a Thousand Apples revolves around three friends Bilal, Safeena and Deewan, whose paths cross twenty years after they witnessed the 'Paradise on Earth' shatter before their eyes.
To put it quite simply, this was undoubtedly one of the best books I've read till date and the fact that my mother finished it before me, is proof enough of the same *chuckles* . Sanchit Gupta has very beautifully shed light on the condition of both the Hindu and Muslim communities and the aftermath of the brutal riots of 1990 without exaggerating too much or being biased towards any one party.
The language used by the author is simple yet so beautiful that it, at times, has you wanting to linger about over the same lines over and over again. The detailed & delightful descriptions of the various incidents by Sanchit are enough to prove what an expert the author is at visual imagery. The storytelling skills of Sanchit Gupta in fact, almost had me visualizing the whole book as an actual film!
The best part of the book in my opinion, was the fact that instead of forcing opinions onto you, it gives you an honest insight into the story that lies on both sides of the coin, without showing any of the two sides in bad light.
To sum up, The Tree With a Thousand Apples is an honest and heart-wrenching story about a shocking past, a strikingly strong bond of friendship and the lengths we go to to keep them from snapping. Written in an enrichingly elaborate way with apt cultural references, The Tree With A Thousand Apples is a turning point in Indian writing; the next big thing.
Yours A-fiction-ately
Nandika Kaul
Writing- 4/5
Plot- 4/5
Characters- 3.5/5
Overall Ratings- 4/5
Genre: Fiction
Age Recommended: 13 and up
It's not very often that we receive review copies of books that completely take us by surprise. The Tree With A Thousand Apples was certainly one of them.
I belong to a region that I haven't visited for the past seven years. The reason? It's 'terribly unsafe'. Between 1980 and 1990, among other Kashmiri Pandits who fled the gorgeous valley, were my relatives. After over two centuries of residing there, the descendents of our 'Kaul' clan unfortunately were left with no choice but to leave the valley which they once called home. Slogans saying "Asi gacchi Pakistan, Batav ros te Batanev san" ( We want a Pakistan along with HIndu women but without their men) were openly glorified while most women my dad's own aunt, chose to hide themselves in closets along with matchsticks (to set themselves on fire) for defense from the ferocious protestors who could barge into the house any moment.
This isn't my home. You don't know what it is to be on a lifelong exile. I have no home.
The issue of Kasmir is a one that is incredibly close to my heart and so, when I was approached by the author with the request of an honest review, I obviously could not refuse.
The Tree With a Thousand Apples revolves around three friends Bilal, Safeena and Deewan, whose paths cross twenty years after they witnessed the 'Paradise on Earth' shatter before their eyes.
To put it quite simply, this was undoubtedly one of the best books I've read till date and the fact that my mother finished it before me, is proof enough of the same *chuckles* . Sanchit Gupta has very beautifully shed light on the condition of both the Hindu and Muslim communities and the aftermath of the brutal riots of 1990 without exaggerating too much or being biased towards any one party.
“They want a hero to worship, and a villain to condemn. They have found their villain today, and they would cherish it for as long as they can, till another one comes along."
The language used by the author is simple yet so beautiful that it, at times, has you wanting to linger about over the same lines over and over again. The detailed & delightful descriptions of the various incidents by Sanchit are enough to prove what an expert the author is at visual imagery. The storytelling skills of Sanchit Gupta in fact, almost had me visualizing the whole book as an actual film!
“The moon and the stars sigh. The days elude them, but they are the ones who witness the sorrows of the night. How they wish they could resolve the unbound grief of the human heart. If only, they could know what it was looking for. If only, unbound joy could be the answer.”
The best part of the book in my opinion, was the fact that instead of forcing opinions onto you, it gives you an honest insight into the story that lies on both sides of the coin, without showing any of the two sides in bad light.
To sum up, The Tree With a Thousand Apples is an honest and heart-wrenching story about a shocking past, a strikingly strong bond of friendship and the lengths we go to to keep them from snapping. Written in an enrichingly elaborate way with apt cultural references, The Tree With A Thousand Apples is a turning point in Indian writing; the next big thing.
Yours A-fiction-ately
Nandika Kaul
February 16, 2017
A brilliant story created from true events. The story essentially revolves around three friends Bilal, Safeena and Deewan.
I was feeling that the book was not interesting at least in the very first chapter but trust me after completing that and once I started reading from chapter 2, I could not stop it till the end as it unfolded the life and miseries of Kashmir Muslims. Just because they were born there and as a Muslim, the endless tortures they had to go through has been very beautifully captured in this book and it in fact reveals the reality which is otherwise not shown or being made public either in the media or otherwise.
Deewan, a Kashmiri Pundit has to flee the place after one fateful night where his neighbouring Muslim family which gave them refuge gets killed. Only few survives the massacre and in the mean while Deewan's family get to hear that their elder son Ravi getting killed in a terrorist attack.
Just before the incident, Ravi has introduced Deewan to his boss Major Chaudhary who he held in high esteem.
During one the interrogation, Bilal and Safeena goes missing. As they say, events makes a man bad or good and not his birth, Bilal turns out to become a terrorist but he has to pay heavy price for it. Why did he become one and what did he achieve in the end is a different story altogether.
The story effectively captures the love and affection of Bilal and his sacrifices. The meeting of Safeena by Deewan who was long gone and later to turn up as a renowned Poet and Journalist was an unexpected one. Where did he meet and who was responsible for her fate is another story.
Did Safeena gets rescued from the place where she was held captive?
If yes, who helped her to escape?
Were there any more sacrifices?
Did the three friends unite in the end?
Find out by buying the book.
The story has lots of twists and turns which makes it a compelling read. This could probably be made into a bollywood movie as the movie plot would perfectly fit for it.
March 5, 2017
A brilliantly written novel that weaves you into the world of Kashmir so beautifully that you feel your heart pounding in your ears on almost every page. The story revolves around the life of three characters Safeena, Bilal and Deewan, and how an unfortunate incident determined the course of their lives. Each character is so intricately woven that you end up identifying with all three in respect to vicissitudes of human existence.
Political and Religious differences cause an upheaval in the city leading to a state of incongruence and acquainting each of them with the atrocities of life.
Amongst all the barbarism, what stands out that is their friendship, stirring your soul beyond words.
It's a riveting story line with undaunting plots and twists, and brilliant narrative.
The author has clearly laid his soul with his intensely emotional writing style and incredible story-telling. It's a book that'll stay with you for a long period of time and it's a book that you know you'd want to read again some years later to feel the rush of emotions, intoxicating your body.
Political and Religious differences cause an upheaval in the city leading to a state of incongruence and acquainting each of them with the atrocities of life.
Amongst all the barbarism, what stands out that is their friendship, stirring your soul beyond words.
It's a riveting story line with undaunting plots and twists, and brilliant narrative.
The author has clearly laid his soul with his intensely emotional writing style and incredible story-telling. It's a book that'll stay with you for a long period of time and it's a book that you know you'd want to read again some years later to feel the rush of emotions, intoxicating your body.
December 8, 2017
Full review https://booksteaandmorecom.wordpress....
The book starts in the year 1989 in the serene and beautiful environs of Srinagar Kashmir. Three children Safeena Malik, Deewan Bhat and Bilal Ahanagar share a lovely bond of friendship. A friendship that is as warm as the warmness of the kahwa. Like most children, they have an innocence and stand by each other as best friends do. Kashmir is a lovely abode where all live in peace and perfect harmony.
As the sun of 20th January 1990 rose all was not well. Kashmir entered in a dark tunnel escape from which became difficult. As the Kashmiri Pandits exodus began friends were separated, suspicions grew and the serenity which was synonymous to Kashmir slowly waned down. Suddenly the beautiful Kashmir became a conflicted zone and with people dying, being killed, tortured a thick blanket of darkness enveloped it’s very heart.
Twenty years hence the paths of these three friends again cross each other. Will the innocence and the beauty of their friendship still be there? Will the old friendship rekindle? How has their journey been in these 20 years?
This is that one book that covers the entire kaleidoscope of activities right from the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits, the rise of terrorist activities and the present day situation. The book is not over exaggerated neither does it underplay instances and events and maintains a healthy balance. The author has shown how it is circumstances and events that often mold one’s character. How people fall into extremism is well portrayed in the book. What happens when one is wronged and the burning desire for revenge often becomes one’s life aim is shown well.
The title of the novel is very apt as I found it symbolic to the theme of the book. Just like an apple tree which is laden with fruits is beautiful and has a heady fragrance which envelopes its entire vicinity, Kashmir before was like that beautiful apple tree. But as war and strife caused havoc on its soil the apple tree lost its apples with no one to care. The apples were trampled on and while the fruits still remained and the tree still stood tall the fragrance sadly left.
The book starts in the year 1989 in the serene and beautiful environs of Srinagar Kashmir. Three children Safeena Malik, Deewan Bhat and Bilal Ahanagar share a lovely bond of friendship. A friendship that is as warm as the warmness of the kahwa. Like most children, they have an innocence and stand by each other as best friends do. Kashmir is a lovely abode where all live in peace and perfect harmony.
As the sun of 20th January 1990 rose all was not well. Kashmir entered in a dark tunnel escape from which became difficult. As the Kashmiri Pandits exodus began friends were separated, suspicions grew and the serenity which was synonymous to Kashmir slowly waned down. Suddenly the beautiful Kashmir became a conflicted zone and with people dying, being killed, tortured a thick blanket of darkness enveloped it’s very heart.
Twenty years hence the paths of these three friends again cross each other. Will the innocence and the beauty of their friendship still be there? Will the old friendship rekindle? How has their journey been in these 20 years?
This is that one book that covers the entire kaleidoscope of activities right from the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits, the rise of terrorist activities and the present day situation. The book is not over exaggerated neither does it underplay instances and events and maintains a healthy balance. The author has shown how it is circumstances and events that often mold one’s character. How people fall into extremism is well portrayed in the book. What happens when one is wronged and the burning desire for revenge often becomes one’s life aim is shown well.
The title of the novel is very apt as I found it symbolic to the theme of the book. Just like an apple tree which is laden with fruits is beautiful and has a heady fragrance which envelopes its entire vicinity, Kashmir before was like that beautiful apple tree. But as war and strife caused havoc on its soil the apple tree lost its apples with no one to care. The apples were trampled on and while the fruits still remained and the tree still stood tall the fragrance sadly left.
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