From Orphanage to Inspiration: Tribal Girl Hajra Bano’s Unyielding Spirit

Srinagar: Hajra Bano, a resilient soul from Kashmir, India, was born on October 15, 1998, in Barabanki, Lucknow. She is the second child in her family, with a younger brother. At the tender age of 5, tragedy struck when her father passed away from pneumonia, plunging her family into dire financial straits. This led to Hajra being placed in a child care institute (CCI) for her upbringing, while her younger brother joined a boys’ child care institute.
Upon entering the CCI, Hajra faced a significant language barrier. She was native in the Gojri language, spoken by her Gujjar community, a scheduled tribe with many societal norms for girls. Over time, she learned Kashmiri and became fluent. During this period, she also discovered that she had a hearing impairment. For 19 years, she remained separated from her family, who had no shelter. Despite these immense challenges, Hajra persevered. Hajra completed her General Nursing and Midwifery, a journey fraught with difficulties, including bouts of depression and anxiety. She was diagnosed with schizophrenia but fought through it with therapy and medication for a year and a half. The support of her friends and college teachers was invaluable during this time. Her resilience and determination enabled her to successfully complete her nursing education.
Hajra’s achievements include being selected for the LIFT fellowship under Udayan Care and UNICEF, focusing on working with specially-abled care leavers. As a specially-abled care leaver herself, this cause is close to her heart. She used her platform to shed light on the challenges faced by care leavers through her impactful blogs. Inspired by her journey and the impact of her blogs, Hajra decided to compile them into a book “Who am I, breaking barriers as a specially abled care leaver “.This book aims to share not just her personal story but also highlight the struggles and triumphs of care leavers. Notably, amidst her battle with depression, Hajra managed to write and publish her first book, “Journey from Darkness to Light,” in April 2022.
Hajra Bano’s story is one of resilience, hope, and the power of turning challenges into opportunities for growth. Through her work, she continues to be a beacon of inspiration for many.