Jammu, Apr 22: Jammu witnessed a significant literary and academic milestone with the release of “Hidden Scars: Girl Child Sexual Abuse and Incest in Jammu”, a pioneering research-based work that addresses one of the most sensitive and under-discussed social issues in the region.
The book has been co-authored by Dr. Juhie Mohan, a Radio Jockey with 92.7 BIG FM Jammu and the first and the only RJ in the region to hold a Ph.D. in Sociology, along with Dr. Kavita Suri, Professor at University of Jammu and former Member of the J&K State Commission for Women and Child Rights. Based on Dr. Juhie Mohan’s extensive field-based research, the book is regarded as the first comprehensive academic study from Jammu focusing specifically on girl child sexual abuse and incest. It documents lived realities, entrenched social silence, and the structural challenges surrounding child protection.
The book was formally launched by Dr. Karan Singh, eminent statesman, former Union Minister, and Member of Parliament, widely respected for his contributions to the cultural, intellectual, and social life of Jammu and Kashmir. Appreciating the authors’ courage, he described the work as a bold and timely intervention that confronts a painful reality often concealed by societal silence. He commended the book for its academic rigor, sensitivity, and its potential to initiate meaningful dialogue on child safety and collective social responsibility.
The launch ceremony was attended by distinguished dignitaries including Vikramaditya Singh, Dr. Jyotsna Singh, Dr. Kunwarani Ritu Singh, and Ajatshatru Singh, who appreciated the authors for undertaking a socially significant and emotionally challenging research initiative.
Speakers at the event emphasized the urgent need to break the culture of silence surrounding child sexual abuse and acknowledged the book’s contribution to awareness, policy discourse, and community sensitization. By combining sociological insight with survivor narratives, Hidden Scars seeks to encourage reporting, foster empathy, and promote a shared sense of responsibility toward safeguarding children.
The authors expressed hope that the book will serve not only as an academic resource but also as a catalyst for awareness, dialogue, and systemic change in Jammu and beyond.
