In the shadow of towering office buildings like the WHO headquarters and the police offices, lies the Anna Nagar slum community—a world starkly different from the hustle of the city around it. Here, life is a daily struggle. Tiny and cramped shanties with the limited space and line narrow, litter-strewn lanes. In one of these shanties, measuring no more than 12×12 feet, lives Saurabh and his family of six.
Their small, cramped home offers little respite from the harsh conditions outside. The open drain nearby is a constant threat, especially during the monsoon season. When the rains come, dirty water and sewage seep into their home, soaking their bedding, ruining their clothes, and leaving the family to spend sleepless nights in the damp and cold. It’s not uncommon for Saurabh’s father, a laborer earning just 1000 rupees a month at a gas station, to sit up late, trying to shield his family from the rain with an old plastic sheet. His mother, a housewife, often goes without meals so her children can eat.
Saurabh, despite all of this, never lost hope. He would sit on the floor in their crowded room, surrounded by his family, his schoolbooks often getting wet from the leaks in the roof. But he didn’t let that stop him. He studied late into the night, sometimes by the dim light of a single bulb, other times with just the flicker of a candle when the power went out. It wasn’t just about his education—Saurabh wanted a better life for his family. He wanted to pull them out of the never-ending cycle of poverty that had been their reality for generations.
But as hard as Saurabh worked, his surroundings seemed determined to pull him down. His neighbors would often tell him, “Why bother? No one from here goes to college. Just get a job and help your father.” His father’s health was deteriorating from long hours of labor and poor nutrition, and there were moments when Saurabh questioned whether he should just give up.
Then, one day, something changed. The Asha team met Saurabh—quiet, determined, and hungry for education. With their support, he started attending the Asha center regularly. For the first time, he had mentors who believed in him, who told him that his dreams were possible. Asha provided him with textbooks, guidance, and most importantly, hope.
With their help, Saurabh’s grades soared. He sat for his school leaving exams, pouring his heart and soul into every paper. When the results came in, he held the mark sheet in his trembling hands—he had passed with distinction.
Today, Saurabh has secured admission to a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Mathematics at Delhi University. As he walks the university’s hallways, surrounded by classmates from wealthier backgrounds, he carries with him the weight of his past, but also the hope of his future. He dreams of becoming a teacher, not just to educate, but to inspire. He wants to show children from his community that they too can rise above the struggles they are born into.
