Henna, a 28-year-old researcher from Nilambur in Malappuram, is pursuing a PhD in psycho-oncology at IIT Bombay while caring for her young son Omer. She moved to Mumbai with the baby in July 2025 after being selected for the programme, while her husband remained in Kozhikode for work. Faculty members and fellow students helped her manage childcare, with Omer often accompanying her on campus. Henna says the support system enabled her to continue both motherhood and research without abandoning her PhD goal.