Streets to Delhi University: S

Education

Streets to Delhi University: Salini a Youth Icon Empowering Rural Girls

Once a child learning on the streets of rural India, Salini Giri has risen from adversity to become a leader, educator, and symbol of hope for thousands of girls who now believe that if she can do it — they can too.

In the heart of Supbazar Colliery in Paschim Bardhaman, West Bengal, a young girl once traced the alphabet on a mud wall, dreaming of a life far beyond the limits of her village. That girl was Salini Giri, and her journey from those dusty lanes to Delhi University has now become a story of courage, learning, and transformation that is inspiring a new generation across South Asia.

Born into an economically backward family, Salini grew up in a tiny asbestos-roofed hut her family built on a patch of abandoned colliery land. They had no home of their own and survived on a piece of government land near the mining fields. Originally from Bihar, her father had migrated to West Bengal as a daily-wage laborer, struggling to earn enough to feed his family. Poverty was constant, and education seemed like a distant dream.

But hope arrived one day — not in a classroom, but on the streets. A teacher known locally and globally as the Raster Master, Shri Deep Narayan Nayak, began teaching children from the poorest families on mud walls and open courtyards. His vision was simple yet radical: education should reach the child, not the other way around.

His Three-Generation Learning Model (3GLM) turned village spaces into classrooms where children taught their mothers and grandmothers, while elders shared folk tales and traditional wisdom. For Salini, this street classroom opened the door to a world where dreams were possible and learning was shared across generations.

“Sir taught us that education is not a privilege — it’s our right,” Salini recalls.

“He showed me that even a small village can become a university if there is a teacher who believes in his students.”

Breaking Barriers, Building Futures

Growing up in a conservative rural community, Salini faced immense pressure to abandon her studies and marry early. Yet, she refused to give up. With determination and courage, she continued her education — walking miles each day — and eventually became the first girl from her area to study at Delhi University.

That achievement was not just a personal milestone; it became a symbol of hope for other girls. Her story showed that poverty and patriarchy need not define a girl’s destiny.

“Education gave me wings,” she says, “but it was the street that taught me how to fly.”

From Learner to Leader

Today, Salini leads the Raster Master International Foundation, founded by her mentor. Under her leadership, the organization has reached over 20,000 learners in more than 100 villages across India and Bangladesh, transforming lives through low-cost, community-based education.

Through street classrooms, women’s literacy programs, digital hubs, and girls’ football initiatives, Salini has built a movement that connects learning with empowerment. Women who once could not sign their names now lead literacy circles. Dropouts have returned as volunteer educators. Her leadership focuses not on authority, but on awakening confidence.

“When one girl learns to read, she changes her own life,” Salini says.

“But when she teaches another girl, she changes the world.”

An Inspiration for a Generation

In villages where Salini once studied, her name has become synonymous with hope. Mothers tell their daughters her story — the girl who learned on the street and reached Delhi University. Across communities, young girls now say proudly, “If Salini can do it, we can too.”

“Salini’s success is not just her own,” says Shri Deep Narayan Nayak.

“It belongs to every girl who dares to dream and every community that believes in education.”

Looking ahead, Salini plans to expand the Foundation’s reach to 100,000 learners across more than 500 villages by 2030, combining education, digital literacy, and women-led enterprises to build sustainable futures.

From a modest hut on government land in Supbazar Colliery to the classrooms of Delhi University, Salini Giri’s journey stands as proof that education can transform not only individuals but entire generations.

Pull Quote:

“If Salini can do it, we can too.” — Voices of Rural Girls Inspired by Her Journey