Srinagar, July 18 -- I was born in Srinagar on 26th August 1979, a hot summer day during the holy month of Ramadhan. The hospital, situated near the picturesque Dal Lake, offered a beautiful view from the second floor. My elders recall it as a warm and vibrant day, and our home was just a few minutes' walk from the hospital. At the time of my birth, my father was working in the field of administration-a stern man known for his no-nonsense attitude-while my mother served in the Department of Education.I spent most of my childhood either in our ancestral house or in government quarters allotted to my father. The ancestral house, a dilapidated structure, stood a few meters away from the famous Jhelum River, while on the other side lay the bu...