Dear Kashmir,

I m an outsider to you, and I would gladly accept it because I don& #39;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& #39;s very first duty- protection and humanity. Young children are picking up guns and stones. Why?

It& #39;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& #39;t be going. It& #39;s my country, which you have brought down to a level where it& #39;s hard to recognise the India I grew up in.