Er Qazi Zia

Unknown Location

The writer is a civil engineer in the Public Works Department (PWD) of Jammu & Kashmir, where he has worked for years constructing and repairing roads in one of the India's toughest yet most spectacular landscapes. But behind the asphalt and concrete is a better thinker—one who has long grappled with the larger questions of life: Who am I? Why are we here? What is the reason behind our strife, our triumphs, our travels? His frequent commutes, particularly along the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway, became more than mere trips—they became meditations. Observing cars navigate curves, pass each other, break down, or speed by, he came to view life reflected on the road. Those moments gave rise to the thoughts that informed The Long Drive. Here, he combines the technical rigor of an engineer with the humble awe of a seeker—merging the physical highways he assists in constructing with the metaphorical highways we all journey through..