Srinagar, Aug. 12 -- It was around 10 p.m. I was about to go to sleep when my phone rang. A friend told me, almost casually, "Tomorrow you have to attend a meeting with the Worthy Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora, Ms. Indu Kanwal Chib (JKAS), at 9:30 a.m. at the Knowledge Centre, Bandipora." A few minutes later, I received another call from the Worthy Deputy Chief Education Officer, Mr. G.M. Puju, conveying the same message. The meeting, I was told, was related to solid waste segregation.

At around 8:15 the next morning, I started my car and headed towards the DC Office. I reached the Knowledge Centre at about 9:15 a.m. At exactly 9:30, the Worthy Deputy Commissioner entered. I had expected an official meeting. What followed was much more ...