Hajra Bano

The world expects us to stand alone, but who teaches us how?We don’t just want to exist—we want to live with dignity. By Hajra Bano  Hajrabano1910@gmail.com Thousands of young adults from child care institutions like orphanages and foster care systems in India exit when they reach the age of 18. The world wants us to be independent, to stand on our own two feet, but nobody knows about the invisible struggle we endure. Without a family to turn back to, without a place to call home, our path into adulthood is one of uncertainty, isolation, and struggle. Our struggles are not merely financial or material—they are struggles of identity, belonging, and survival in a world that frequently ignores us. The Identity Crisis: Who Are We? Living in an institution means growing up with a gap—a name without a past, a life without heritage. Legal Identity: A Struggle for Documents In India, all things—education, employment, even as simple as the purchase of a SIM card—are made possible through le...

Delhi shapes India's leadership and governance, while Kashmir defines its strength and unity.A strong Delhi and a stable Kashmir together ensure a powerful and united India. By Hajra Bano  Hajrabano1910@ gmail.com Just like a human body, India has Delhi at the center of its heart and Kashmir at the top like a crown. They both possess major significance, which can not be dwindled. India cannot win the hearts of the people without embracing the crown. Delhi is the north part and is the center of law and policy making, and Kashmir is the south head and the center of security. Delhi: The Political and Economic Center The Indian National Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, and Aam Aadmi Party are four major political parties and their success in Delhi pretty much decides their power in the rest of the country. The success of the political party in power in the nation’s capital, Delhi, determines who rules the country. Because of these factors, all of India keenly waits to see who wins the...

  They say that dreams are meant for all, Yet tell me I should never call— Upon a wish, upon a star, For dreams like mine won’t go too far. I held my dreams so fierce, so tight, Like cotton clings to thorns at night. But now they whisper, “Let them die,” And never dare to question why. What crime is there in dreaming high? What fear hides deep within their sigh? Do they dread the heights I'll claim, Afraid they'll never know the same? I’ve fought, I’ve struggled, I have bled, Yet they would have my dreams lie dead. They say, “A woman should know her place,” Four walls—a cage she must embrace. But when the Maker shaped this land, He placed no chains upon my hands. He gave me breath, He gave me fire, The right to dream, the heart’s desire. Why then must my sky be small? Why must I kneel when others stand tall? Why cage my wings, deny my flight, And steal away my burning light? If they can lead, then so can I. If they can rise, then why must I— Be bound, be still, be told to wait,...