Drawing Political Narratives with Humor in Kashmir - by Heeba Din (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

This book explores the remarkable ability of political cartoons in the region to craft and preserve an alternative narrative by employing the potent tool of political humor. Over the centuries, political humor, delivered through satire, caricature, ridicule, or irony, has been a powerful instrument for scrutinizing the establishment and unveiling the shortcomings and absurdities within society. In this book, the author delves into the meaning-generational structures utilized by political cartoons to amplify the underlying political-socio-cultural ideologies. It also investigates the pivotal role of political humor in shaping and defining the discourse in Kashmir. This book sheds light on the enduring impact of satire and caricature as instruments for not only commenting on contemporary issues but also for creating and sustaining a collective memory that reflects the complex sociopolitical dynamics that have characterized Kashmir throughout its history.

From the Back Cover

This book explores the remarkable ability of political cartoons in the region to craft and preserve an alternative narrative by employing the potent tool of political humor. Over the centuries, political humor, delivered through satire, caricature, ridicule, or irony, has been a powerful instrument for scrutinizing the establishment and unveiling the shortcomings and absurdities within society. In this book, the author delves into the meaning-generational structures utilized by political cartoons to amplify the underlying political-socio-cultural ideologies. It also investigates the pivotal role of political humor in shaping and defining the discourse in Kashmir. This book sheds light on the enduring impact of satire and caricature as instruments for not only commenting on contemporary issues but also for creating and sustaining a collective memory that reflects the complex sociopolitical dynamics that have characterized Kashmir throughout its history.

Heeba Din is a media studies researcher and academician with a PhD in Political Cartoons in Kashmir. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism at the Islamic University of Science and Technology, Kashmir. Her body of research encompasses Emerging Graphic Narratives, the Role of Music in Conflict, the Visual Power of Iconic Images, Media and Diasporic Identities, Third Gender Representation in Bollywood, and Gender Disparity in Kashmir's local press. Her current focus spans New Media, Comic Journalism, Visual Anthropology, and Cultural Studies.

Born and brought up in Kashmir, Heeba is passionate about documenting the collective memory of Kashmir as shaped by various media narratives.

Review Quotes

"The book is methodologically robust in hermeneutic terms. Heeba is transparent about scope and source material, and she situates each argument within a defined reference period. ... For scholars, journalists, and archivists working on South Asian visual politics, this book is indispensable; it maps laugh lines onto power lines and provides the vocabulary necessary to trace how satire participates in the making and unmaking of public life." (Muhammad Nadeem, Kashmir Life, Vol. 17 (32), November, 2025)

About the Author

Heeba Din is a media studies researcher and academician with a PhD in Political Cartoons in Kashmir. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism at the Islamic University of Science and Technology, Kashmir. Her body of research encompasses Emerging Graphic Narratives, the Role of Music in Conflict, the Visual Power of Iconic Images, Media and Diasporic Identities, Third Gender Representation in Bollywood, and Gender Disparity in Kashmir's local press. Her current focus spans New Media, Comic Journalism, Visual Anthropology, and Cultural Studies.

Born and brought up in Kashmir, Heeba is passionate about documenting the collective memory of Kashmir as shaped by various media narratives.