Camus comes to Kashmir

Abstract

ABSTRACT Sometimes, it is difficult to explain simple things. Sometimes, a simple word like ‘normalcy’ forces you to (re)think about your own ways of approaching mundane and other activities marked as routine. In my case, rethinking about ‘the mundane’ started with a simple conversation with one of my friends about life during covid pandemic. The conversation triggered reflections reminiscent of my field notes from my doctoral dissertation and reading of Albert Camus’ novel The Plague. A synchronised reading of the novel and my field notes showed me that Camus's Oran echoed the idea of ordinary and everyday situations in contemporary Kashmir. In both settings, I looked at life's fragile nature and absurdity through a ‘taken for granted attitude’ towards everyday life. I understand that the timescale is important and needs context, and I, as an observer, was fixed in a different temporal dimension. However, I felt compelled to express my emotions triggered by reading The Plague and share my experiences from my fieldwork in Kashmir.