Hiraya Foundation

Our small office is tucked away in the New MIG Colony over in Bandra East. We are in Building Number 1, which everyone calls Nishigandh CHS. It’s Flat Number 16. If you know Mumbai, you know how crowded Bandra can get, but our little corner is actually somewhat tucked away from the heaviest traffic. We have been here for some time now, and the walls are filled with stacks of folders and old notebooks. The flat isn't very big, so we have to be careful about where we put things so we don't trip. There is a small window that looks out over the colony grounds. You can hear the kids playing outside in the evenings and the sounds of the city never really stop. We usually have the fan running at full speed because it gets quite stuffy in the afternoons. Sometimes the milkman leaves the packets right by the door and we have to remember to bring them in before we start our work for the day. It’s a lived-in space, not one of those glass buildings you see in the movies. We drink a lot of chai from the stall downstairs. The neighbors are mostly families who have lived in the colony for decades. It feels very local and grounded. We just show up every morning, unlock the door, and get to work on whatever is on the desk.