A first generation learner in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda village, Kulsum, all of 12-years-old is an avid Harry Potter fan just like any other pre-teener her age. But, her love and admiration for the author of the Harry Potter series is more insightful than many would expect of someone her age. It is no secret that JK Rowling’s life before her books about an orphaned boy took the world by storm, was a litany of struggles including depression, being a single mother and living on government welfare.

Kulsum, when given an assignment to write about her favourite author, wrote, “I am not inspired by J K Rowling only because she writes well but also because she has faced many difficulties but didn’t give up…May Allah bless JK Rowling and give her a long life so that when I grow up, I get to meet her,” wrote 12-year-old Kulsum Banoo Batt.

Her teacher, Sabbah Haji Baji, impressed with Kulsum’s thoughts tweeted her essay to the British author.

Within a hours of the tweet, she received a reply back from none other than Rowling herself.

Rowling, known for inspiring her readers through her books, speeches and letters, showed why she is loved by millions across the world. In her reply to Sabbah the teacher and also the Director of Haji School, who had tweeted to her Kulsum’s essay, Rowling let it be known she wanted to send something to her fan residing in the Himalayas. Upon being told of Rowling's response to her letter, Kulsum's response was gracious, “Sabbah ma’am told me that J K Rowling had seen my essay and that she had replied. I am so happy. If I get to meet JK Rowling, I will tell her she is wonderful,” Kulsum told the Indian Express.

Kulsum is a student of Haji Public School, a privately run non-profit school in the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir. A brief research on Haji Public School shows it is located in Breswana village in the mountains of Doda in J&K.

By their own description, “the village is a 4-hour hike up the mountain after one drives from Jammu to Premnagar, the last road stop before having to take to the mountain trail.”

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 30, 2018 09:51 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).