Srinagar, May 24 -- In Kashmir, a child's birth brings endless joy. But the moment that child walks into school, something changes.

Suddenly, they are measured, compared, and pushed to compete. School stops being just a place to learn. It becomes a battleground where even five-year-olds find themselves running a race they never agreed to.

What was once pure joy turns into pressure to be productive, focused, and competitive. Being happy isn't enough anymore.

From early on, kids are taught life is about proving their worth. "Work hard or get left behind" is the message, and "survival of the fittest" stops being a biology lesson and becomes a harsh reality drilled into their minds by parents, teachers, and society.

Here in Kashmir, this ...