Dear Kashmir,

I m an outsider to you, and I would gladly accept it because I don't want a house on your land but a little place in your heart. I have been reading all these news about encounters, internet shut downs, businesses running into losses, students suffering.

Every time I read about an encounter, my heart breaks a little more. Yes! I cannot totally feel your pain but I m human enough. My army people abusing citizens, claiming hegemony over the essence of Kashmir. It puts me to shame!

The army has absolutely over-powered the conscience of people and forgotten it's very first duty- protection and humanity. Young children are picking up guns and stones. Why?

It's not their fault. They have grown up in turmoil, they have seen the uniform people as oppressors, and rightfully so. The power of a bullet has either surpassed that of a pen, or not everyone got the opportunity to get educated.

The least I can do is let my humanity be my language. Kashmiris matter, their lives matter! Now those who would ask me to go to Pakistan for this, NO! I won't be going. It's my country, which you have brought down to a level where it's hard to recognise the India I grew up in.