SRINIGAR: Overlooking Srinagar is Hari Parbat, a hill home to a fort, a temple, a gurdwara and a dargah. The temple here is dedicated to Jagdamba Sharika Bhagwati, considered the presiding deity of Srinagar.

“The Kashmiri blood is gentle. We Hindus too don’t want revenge. We just want to get on with our lives,” says Kumar. “The rest of India tries to oversimplify our story depending on the narrative they want to sell. Few actually understand Kashmiris.” There is a general murmur of agreement about the innate excellence of Kashmiris, Hindu or Musalman.

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