A poem by Guwahati-based schoolteacher Saikh Md. Sabah Al-Ahmed has been selected for inclusion in The Penguin Book of Poems on the Indian City, a forthcoming anthology that explores India’s urban life through verse. His poem, In the Valley of Red, addresses the plight of radicalized Kashmiri youth and the human cost of cross-border terrorism.
The anthology, edited by Oxford University’s Bilal Moin, features nearly 300 poems in English and translations from 25 regional languages. Covering 37 Indian cities, the volume includes works by renowned poets such as Mirza Ghalib, Kamala Das, Nissim Ezekiel, Agha Shahid Ali, Sarojini Naidu, and Arundhathi Subramaniam. It is scheduled for release on May 30, 2025.
Sabah Ahmed’s contribution stands out for its poignant portrayal of young Kashmiri men who, after being radicalized and sent across the border to train as militants, return home to perpetrate violence—only to meet their end in encounters with security forces. Speaking to Awaz-The Voice, Ahmed said the poem seeks to express the anguish of parents who wait for their sons to return, only to receive their bodies.
“Through this poem, I’ve tried to convey the heartbreak of families and how a place as beautiful as Kashmir has been ravaged by externally sponsored violence,” he said.
Previously, In the Valley of Red was published in WITNESS: The Red River Book of Poetry of Dissent (2021), an anthology edited by poet Nabina Das. It also appeared in the Joao-Roque Literary Journal on February 28, 2022, curated by British-Asian editor Selma Carvalho.
In addition to the Kashmir-themed poem, another of Ahmed’s works, Guwahati Diaries, also features in the Penguin anthology. This piece reflects on life in Guwahati during the COVID-19 pandemic, capturing the uncertainties and emotional toll of the crisis.
Ahmed, 50, teaches social science at Don Bosco School in Pan Bazar, Guwahati, and is known for his warm rapport with students and colleagues. His literary journey began in his teenage years, scribbling verses in school notebooks. In 2019, he was honored with the Reuel International Prize for Poetry as the best upcoming poet from India’s Northeast. His works have since been translated into Italian by Naples-based poet Giorgio Moio, and into Manipuri by noted critic Laishram Memo Singh.
Expressing concern over the fragile situation in Kashmir, Ahmed said he remains hopeful that his poetry might influence change.
“Things were beginning to improve, but incidents like the Pahalgam attack have set us back,” he said. “Still, I hope my poem can touch the hearts of young people and inspire them to reject the path of violence. That would be the most meaningful outcome of my work.”
