evidence: The erosion of Kashmir’s autonomy paralleled — and perhaps stemmed from — a growing narrative of desire for Kashmir. While Kashmir’s land was long "prize[d]"80 for its fertile soil and strategic geographic location,81 this India-crafted narrative had a more intimate fervor. Kashmir — said the first Prime Minister of India — was a "supremely beautiful woman, whose beauty is almost impersonal and above human desire."82 It is ultimately this desire that has furthered the settler colonial project today. [...] The legal changes that flowed from C.O. 272’s groundwork were swift. On August 5, the upper house of Parliament passed a statutory resolution recommending the President of India proceed with Article 370’s abrogation.124 Later that day, Presidential Order C.O. 273 acted upon the recommendation, causing Article 370 to "cease to be operative" and affixing all provisions of the Indian Constitution upon Kashmir.125 In parallel, the Parliament also passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.126 The Act fractured the state into two union territories,127 which would be under the direct control of the central government. One union territory included Jammu and the Kashmir Valley; the other, Ladakh.128 Thus, over a few days, the Government of India not only revoked Kashmir’s special autonomous status but also erased its identity as a state altogether. While screams in opposition rang through the chambers of Parliament,129 the deathly silence in Kashmir was more stifling. The entire map of Kashmir had changed without its people knowing.130