In Bollywood’s imagination and in Indian media’s narrative a Kashmiri Muslim is always this old Shikarawallah or Tongowallah who can’t read his letters and some benevolent foreigner helps him/her and gives a generous tip too. (S)he then happily rovs the boat. Skull cap. Hookah!

A Kashmiri Muslim is never a scientist at Harvard; an architect in Europe; an entrepreneur in the Middle East; an author known globally; an upright officer; a journalist of integrity; a well educated common individual; a restaurant owner; an artist; a musician. Always unlettered!

A Kashmiri Muslim woman is always depicted as submissive, not allowed to go to school to read and write; and then an Indian tourist sponsors her education. These idiots don’t know that Kashmir has more female authors than males. Grow up. Propaganda doesn’t work. No shelf life!