Srinagar, May 6 -- A government letter should feel like a bridge between the state and its people. Many letters in Jammu and Kashmir read like directives handed down from above. Tone matters in public life, and tone in official communication sends a clear message about how the state views its citizens.

A recent example captures the problem in plain terms.

A Station House Officer wrote to a local NGO seeking help to rehabilitate people with mental disabilities. The request read like a command. The letter opened without a salutation and ended without any courteous sign-off.

It carried the weight of authority, though the situation called for cooperation and empathy. The document circulated in a WhatsApp group and drew attention for the wr...