Kashmir: Dawn of a New Era is a powerful narrative that delves into the heart of Kashmir’s history, challenges, and hopes for the future. Divided into three distinct sections, the book offers a panoramic view of the region’s tumultuous journey through the lens of personal experience, societal change and cultural revival.

The first part recounts the author’s vivid and heart-wrenching experiences during the tragic exodus of Kashmiri Hindus in 1989-90. It paints a poignant picture of a community forced to abandon its homeland amidst the rise of militancy, reflecting the profound loss and resilience of those who endured this dark chapter.

The second part chronicles the sweeping changes in Kashmir’s political, social and law-and-order landscape from 2016 to the present day. It provides a thoughtful analysis of the region’s shifting dynamics, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of its ongoing transformation and the challenges that lie ahead.

In the final section, the book explores the enduring spirit of Kashmiriyat—the essence of Kashmir’s pluralistic heritage. It presents a hopeful vision for restoring harmony, fostering unity, and reclaiming the Valley’s identity as a symbol of coexistence and mutual respect.

Deeply moving and insightful, Kashmir: Dawn of a New Era is both a chronicle of struggle and a beacon of hope, inviting readers to reflect on the possibilities of healing and renewal in this storied land.

Brigadier Pramathesh Raina hails from a Kashmiri Pandit family from Srinagar and thus has an intimate knowledge of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army in June 1971, he was baptised by fire in the Indo Pak war of the same year. He has had a number of tenures in Jammu and Kashmir, two of which were highly eventful; the first in 1989-90 when he was witness to the tumultuous events of that period, resulting in the exodus of an entire community from the land of their birth and the onset of a violent and bloody insurgency; and the second, a decade later as a Brigade Commander. He retired from the Indian Army in 2007 and is settled in Pune.

In service and thereafter, he has been a prolific writer and has written on subjects as diverse as short stories, essays, security and defence related topics. He is currently working on a historical fiction novel.

He is married and has two children.