Apna Time Aayega is more than a book-it’s a movement.
Apna Time Aayega
In April, Mumbai’s literary and social impact scene witnessed a powerful moment at the release of Apna Time Aayega, a compelling anthology curated by 16-year-old bestselling author Aaditya Sengupta Dhar in collaboration with the Udaan India Foundation and published by Anecdote Publishing. The event was an emotional and inspiring celebration of resilience, hope, and the indomitable spirit of youth from Mumbai’s underserved communities. As young adults whose stories feature in the book took the stage to read their open letters aloud, their voices resonated with raw honesty and unwavering ambition, moving the audience to tears and applause. Leading the gathering in a rallying cry of “Apna time aayega!” (Our time will come), Aaditya encapsulated the book’s core message: that every young Indian deserves a chance to dream and succeed regardless of their circumstances.
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Apna Time Aayega is more than a book-it’s a movement. Conceived through Aaditya’s Project Kahaani, a teen-led initiative to empower marginalized youth with storytelling and communication skills, the anthology amplifies the voices of young adults from low-income communities, often referred to as India’s “other India.” These are the 70% of Mumbai’s population living in slums and tenements, whose stories of struggle and aspiration rarely make it to mainstream narratives. Through heartfelt open letters, the book shares the journeys of teens like Dhananjay, who rose from a construction site to pursue civil services; Aayushi, a budding engineer overcoming academic pressures; and Shalini, the first Chartered Accountant in her family. Each narrative is a testament to the power of determination in the face of systemic challenges, from inadequate education systems to financial hardship and societal biases.
Aaditya, a prolific author whose previous works include the Amazon bestseller Kaalchakra and the award-winning The Teen’s Guide to Saving the World, was inspired to create Apna Time Aayega by his observations of inequality in Mumbai. Growing up in Powai, he witnessed the stark contrast between skyscrapers and sprawling slums, a reality that became even more poignant during the COVID-19 lockdowns. The sight of migrant workers trekking under scorching heat, abandoned by the “city of dreams,” prompted Aaditya to question the dystopia unfolding before him. “I wondered whether I needed to write about fantastic worlds born out of imagination when a real dystopia was right in front of me,” he writes in the book’s introduction. This realization led him to partner with Udaan India Foundation, a Mumbai-based non-profit that has spent 20 years nurturing the potential of children from low-income families through holistic education.
The collaboration between Aaditya and Udaan was a natural fit. Udaan’s mission to ensure every child gains a strong educational foundation aligns with Aaditya’s vision of empowering youth through storytelling. Mamta Rangan, Founder and CEO of Udaan, describes the partnership as serendipitous in her foreword: “When Aaditya reached out, I knew it was not a mere coincidence. His empathy, sensitivity, and passion for storytelling brought their stories to life in a delightful way.” At the book launch, Mamta’s words echoed through the room as she highlighted the transformative power of education: “These stories show us that dreams don’t have pin codes, that determination can rewrite destinies, and that education is the greatest equalizer.”
The book also highlights the systemic challenges facing India’s youth, particularly in education and employment. According to the International Monetary Fund, college graduates in India are nine times more likely to be unemployed than the illiterate, a stark indicator of an education system that often fails to equip young people with relevant skills. Aaditya’s introduction poignantly notes the plight of youth who toil for degrees only to find their skills outdated or their jobs replaced by AI. Yet, through Udaan’s support and their own perseverance, the youth in Apna Time Aayega are rewriting their narratives, proving that with the right opportunities, India’s demographic dividend can be a force for unparalleled progress.
The launch event was a vivid reflection of this ethos. As the youth read their stories, their voices carried the weight of their struggles and the buoyancy of their dreams. Aaryan, who worked as a delivery boy to pay off his family’s debts while nurturing a passion for rapping, shared his unwavering belief that he’ll one day be India’s greatest rapper. Shalini, who overcame multiple failed attempts to become a Chartered Accountant, spoke of the courage it took to defy discouragement and trust in her own potential. The emotional intensity of these readings was palpable, with audience members visibly moved by the authenticity and resilience on display. Aaditya, guiding the event with a quiet confidence beyond his years, closed the session by leading everyone in the chant of “Apna time aayega!” The room erupted in unity, a powerful reminder of the collective hope that binds India’s youth.
Published by Anecdote Publishing, Apna Time Aayega is available at major retailers, with proceeds supporting Udaan’s educational initiatives. Aaditya’s own journey as a writer and changemaker-recognized with the 2024 Young Achievers Award by the Indian Achievers’ Forum-lends credibility to his advocacy.
As India dreams of becoming a global economic superpower, Apna Time Aayega serves as both a celebration of its youth and a clarion call to nurture their potential. The stories within its pages remind us that behind every statistic of India’s demographic dividend are real people with dreams, struggles, and the courage to proclaim, “Apna time aayega!”
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