Sopore Girl Releases Her Debut Book, ‘Blame Game’
WS/VP Desk
A few days ago, Jibran Khan, the owner of one of Sopore’s popular food chains, Zero Miles Grill and Cafe, took to Instagram to announce that a local girl had recently authored a book titled “Blame Game.” The book addresses the harsh reality of substance abuse in Sopore. I am volunteering to help promote her book, “Blame Game,” and raise awareness about drug abuse and addiction.
Shortly after the post, the girl garnered significant attention, and “Blame Game” became the talk of the town.
Her dream came true on Saturday when her book was officially launched at a ceremony held at GDC Sopore.
The book launch ceremony was held in the presence of MLA Sopore Irshad Rasool Kar, ADC Sopore S.A. Raina, SSP Divya-D, Former Chairperson MC Sopore Masrat Rasool Kar, and other dignitaries from the town.
After the book launch ceremony Mehwish Rafeeqa Firdous Speaking to The Web Story/The Varmul Post stated, “Whenever people engage in activism, they tend to focus solely on issues related to women’s domestic violence. However, I wanted to address a different topic. As we all know, people are often reluctant to discuss substance abuse because they believe it involves high-profile cases, which creates fear for their safety. However, through my research, I found that this fear is unfounded; there is nothing high-profile about it—it’s merely baseless anxiety.”
“After conducting a year and a half of research, I completed my book ‘Blame Game,’ which presents logical data on the subject,” she added. “In this book, I analyzed 65 neighborhoods in Sopore, of which 44 responded and cooperated. Based on this feedback, I compiled a draft that incorporates people’s perceptions, alongside my own analysis.”
“This book represents only the first part of my research. In it, I provide foundational knowledge on the issues at hand, while the second part will include stories from drug addicts in Sopore,” she explained.
Mehwish emphasized her intention to incorporate narratives from drug peddlers who are willing to cooperate in her next volume.
“My research has shown that while we cannot completely stop the supply of drugs, we can certainly address the demand. We need to tackle the underlying causes that lead to addiction. In the book, I’ve highlighted various aspects we need to work on to reduce demand. For instance, I discuss the role of parents in a child’s life and how they can influence the cycle of drug addiction. I also examine early-age relationships and the roles that both females and society play in this issue,” she stated.
Regarding the title “Blame Game,” she noted, “It is common for community leaders to dismiss the issue, claiming it is not their responsibility to track which children are involved in substance abuse. When you approach people, they often say the police aren’t doing anything, and when you turn to the police, they refer you to the administration. Essentially, no one wants to take responsibility; everyone prefers to shift the blame.”
Mehwish reflected on Kashmir’s troubled history, stating, “Kashmir has been a conflicted state, and we need to take action. We often wait for someone from outside to come and save us; we never take a stand ourselves, which is why I wrote this book.”
While she mentioned that not all stories are included in this edition, she plans to share detailed accounts in the second part. “For this first part, I had no external support; I worked on it voluntarily. However, for the second part, I’m hoping to receive assistance from a team so that I can include more detailed stories.”
“I am not a born writer; I learned how to write this book. The idea came to me from my research and the realization that there are still intellectually engaged individuals in our society who appreciate such content,” she added.
Mehwish acknowledged facing numerous challenges, particularly financial ones as a student. “I never intended to publish this book for profit; I asked everyone to contribute a little so that I could distribute the book for free in neighborhoods, especially those with higher instances of drug addiction. However, many people claimed that the reading culture has diminished. To counter this, I have initiated book reading sessions, and I am committed to advancing this vision,” she further added.
