Rohingya Kids Step Towards a New Life

At the crack of dawn on Friday, a 12-year-old girl woke up restless and full of anticipation.

- Varun Bhandari and Snehil Sinha

NEW DELHI: She had barely slept and skipped breakfast, as excitement and nerves churned in her stomach. It was no ordinary day—it was the first day of school.

But more than that, it was the end of nearly a year-long battle—one that had reached the highest court in the country.

For years, the children of most Rohingya refugees in India had been denied education. Their fight led them to the Supreme Court, and in February 2025, India's top court ruled in their favour. On Friday, the first day of the new session, 19 Rohingya children, from families settled in a northeast Delhi urban village, walked into a government school for the first time.

"I woke up at 6am, combed my hair, and got ready for school," she said gleefully after her first day. "Everyone there was so warm. I even made new friends who said they'll wait for me tomorrow."

She had no school bag, no uniform, no stationery—only hope and excitement. At lunchtime, she was too overwhelmed to eat.

For years, she had watched neighbourhood girls step out in crisp uniforms, their neatly plaited hair swinging behind them as they made their way to school. She had longed for that moment. Now, it was hers.