Khushboo from Kashmir
Written by Avi Anshika & Abdullah Waqar Tajwar, with illustrations by Avi Anshika
Audience: Ages 10-14, 15-18
Khushboo from Kashmir is a poem that tells the story of a young teacher named Khushboo, who is living through an unprecedented time of uncertainty and hardship in the history of Indian Administered Kashmir. Her story is one of strength, sense of duty, and compassion for her students.
“As long as you hold on to each other and keep learning,
We too will remain as strong as this tree
For I have you, and you have me.”
It is the authors' hope that readers in middle school and beyond, even if they are not currently in a conflict setting, develop deeper empathy for their counterparts who are. For students that are faced with the uncertainty of displacement, this story is a small message of hope—the hope that this too shall pass, and that they, like the mighty Chinar tree of Kashmir, will persevere.
Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this publication belong solely to the authors and do not necessarily represent those of REACH or the Harvard Graduate School of Education.