Srinagar, June 21 -- Some dreams start with a question. In Kashmir, one such dream is fast spreading among students, professionals, and young officials:What if merit alone decided who got promoted?

What if getting ahead didn't depend on who you knew, but on how well you performed?

In a region where turmoil has frayed trust in institutions, the idea of a "sufarish-free" Kashmir-a system without backdoor deals, political influence, or family pressure-feels radical.

But it also feels necessary. If we want a just, functional, and prosperous society, we need to make merit the rule, not the exception.

The idea sounds simple. But the road to get there isn't.

Kashmir isn't alone in struggling with favouritism. Across the world, only about 4....