“More than six months have passed since that October day. I’m often reminded of it, but not with joy.” Photo by Aakash Hassan The morning of 19 October was another day of work. We were getting ready for the usual press briefing of the government spokesperson in Srinagar in India-administered Kashmir. I settled in one corner of the hall packed with journalists, but before I could scribble even the date on my notepad, something unusual caught my eye. In front of the row of camera tripods stood a battery of reporters and photojournalists all male—except one. Donning a cream-coloured headscarf, a woman stood on her knees, firmly holding her DSLR camera. Kashmir’s photojournalism space is dominated by men. But here was a rare sight and an indicator that women were breaking into the sphere despite huge barriers, creating their own spaces. And these were no ordinary days. Since 5 August,…

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