Stories
Inside Kotla Mubarakpur: Navigating Identity, Ambition, and Community in Delhi
- •Kotla Mubarakpur is an ancient urban village nestled in New Delhi, surrounded by modern institutions and upscale neighborhoods yet often perceived through unfair stereotypes.
- •Seventeen-year-old Toshi Siddiqui, a B.Com student from Kotla, challenges local stigmas with his grounded ambitions, hard work, and deep sense of community responsibility.
- •Toshi envisions a future where he can financially support underprivileged families outside hospitals and advocates strongly for teaching young boys consent and respect.
- •Growing up with diverse friends, Toshi identifies primarily as an Indian citizen committed to self-improvement and contributing positively to his country.
- •The neighborhood reflects a complex duality of rich historical heritage and modern youth striving to reshape their community's narrative beyond mere reputation.
Key Questions Answered
Toshi Siddiqui is a 17-year-old first-year B.Com student at Jamia Hamdard University who scored 426 on his CUET exam. He chose commerce because it suited him, and he grew up in the old urban village of Kotla Mubarakpur watching his parents practice daily responsibility.
Toshi wants to fix the broken roads, clean up the rubbish left on streets, and change people's attitudes regarding waste management, treating women, and living responsibly. He also aspires to become wealthy enough to help sick, poor, or homeless individuals, such as families waiting outside AIIMS.
Toshi expresses anger toward sexual violence and believes that society focuses too much on making rules for girls rather than teaching boys basic boundaries. He emphasizes that parents must actively teach sons not to leer, harass, or force themselves on others, shifting the burden of behavior away from women.
