Kashmir is one of the most disputed pieces of land on the planet, and its history stems all the way back to the partition of India in 1947 post-independence from the British.

If we have to analyze India's recent move to keep Kashmir in August 2019, we need to go back to where it all started.

Kashmir was the only heavily Muslim-populated region to stay within India.

The British sent an official at the time (who had no knowledge of the region) to cut up India based on religion. He took people who had lived in relative harmony for ages, and pitted them against one another and declared that there would be a Muslim nation and a Hindu nation. These nations became Pakistan and India respectively. Back then, Pakistan included what is today Bangladesh. Kashmir, however, was a place of many Muslim people with a Hindu king. The king, afraid that his people would turn against him decided to join India.

Article 370 was created so that the Kashmir and Jammu regions would have the autonomy to create their own legislation, therefore protecting them against the Hindu-majority India. This act was intended to be temporary, but it ended up lasting decades. Hindu-nationalist Prime Minister Modi revoked this article and essentially made Kashmir and Jammu union territories.

He has also revoked an act that allows Hindus to move in and acquire land in these territories. This has received attention for attempting to drive out the Muslim residents.

Modi's actions have much support as they do hate, since Pakistan-funded terrorist organizations exist in Kashmir and take advantage of its position in India. If Pakistan's claims to Kashmir were acknowledged, it would have access to the Himalayan boundary that protects India from Pakistani threats. There are two sides to this story, which explains why much of India is not rioting in the streets.

However, the world is taking a closer look at India and Modi, especially since he has been reelected. Modi conducted this mission without informing the Kashmiri and Jammu leaders, and placed them under house arrest. He has also cut off these areas from Internet access, leaving residents vulnerable and helpless. Thousands of soldiers have been deployed in the event that Pakistan attacks, which is looking likely.

Had this been conducted by a liberal Prime Minister, perhaps the world would not be as concerned. But we will never know. India's democracy lays in the treatment of Kashmiris, who have already been usurped without their consent.

As an Indian-American who is able to look at India with strong beliefs in American democracy, I am anxiously waiting to see whether Modi will be able to prove himself worthy of being the leader of what was once the world's largest democracy.