Every evening, as the sun dips behind Mumbai’s skyline and crowds rush across the Kandivali station skywalk, a different kind of movement begins. Right in the middle of the noise, footsteps, and chaos—you’ll find Haimanti Sen sitting cross-legged with a whiteboard and a group of eager young faces around her.
This isn’t a school in the traditional sense. There are no walls, no desks, no uniforms. But learning? It’s happening in full force.
At just 28, Haimanti has turned one of Mumbai’s busiest walkways into a classroom for children who have long been ignored by the system. Many of these kids once spent their days begging near the station or simply wandering aimlessly. When Haimanti first spoke to their parents, she was told they were “enrolled in school.” But the truth was painfully different—they weren’t.
A psychology graduate, Haimanti couldn’t shake off what she saw. So, in 2018, she did something bold: she quit her job, emptied her savings, and launched her own initiative—Junoon. With no sponsors and no big promises, she started teaching these kids herself.
Her classroom setup was simple: a few floor mats, a whiteboard, chalk, and a lot of heart. But her vision was anything but small.
She faced resistance. Some parents didn’t trust her. Local politicians questioned her motives. Commuters complained. But Haimanti stood her ground—literally—on that skywalk.
Now, those same children are learning English, Hindi, and hygiene. They sing songs, act in street plays, and paint stories with crayons and confidence. Most importantly, they believe in themselves. Six of her students have even transitioned to formal schools, like Raghuvir School—a milestone she cherishes like a personal victory.
Haimanti shows up every day, come rain or traffic or disapproval. Because for her, education isn’t about classrooms or certificates—it’s about showing a child that they matter.
And on a skywalk meant to carry people forward, she’s helping these children do exactly that.
