Early August in Kashmir

The region of Kashmir lies between the nations of India and Pakistan. Both nuclear armed countries have argued over who has control of the territory for decades. In addition to this, Kashmir had joined with India when it was independent from Great Britain, on the condition they maintain some autonomous rule.

However, at the beginning of the month, India's prime minister Narendra Modi, a Hindu nationalist, placed Kashmir under lockdown with Indian forces in an attempt to bring Kashmir further under Indian control. In that time, the people of Kashmir have been unable to leave, thousands there have died, and their economy is in distress.

Something that haunts me about this is the evidence of rising nationalism in India, as well as around the world. India is the world's largest democracy, and now its nationalist prime minister is attempting to control a region India was never meant to fully control. There is the new far right leader in Brazil letting the Amazon burn, Salvini in Italy, and even polarizing events in the Untied States. The situation in Kashmir makes this rise worrying, as soon there could be no going back.

Inside Kashmir, Cut off from the World: 'A Living Hell' of Anger and Fear

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