When children’s book author Yasmin Hiranandani was choosing her university, McMaster called her name.
The first-year Social Sciences student, originally from St. Kitts, went to boarding school in Newmarket, Ont., for the last two years of high school. She wanted to go to university somewhere that had strong academics, but also a great community. She’s found both at Mac.
Though she felt homesick at times while at boarding school, she said, she’s made fast friends in her residence and already feels at home here.
Hiranandani hopes to major in political science and minor in business. She thinks that both areas of study could help with a project she’s passionate about: Writing children’s books that drive change.
While in high school, Hiranandani won a scholarship through the school’s incubator program, aimed at empowering future innovators, entrepreneurs and global leaders.
She decided to focus on a cause close to her heart: The lack of education in India and the social and gender barriers that come with it.
“I am an Indian girl myself and I’ve been to India quite a few times,” she said. “I decided that if I’m going to be able to do something with the scholarship, I might as well focus it on something that I’ve seen firsthand, especially because I know the situation we are in is out of pure luck.”
Devi’s Big Dream follows a young girl as she fights to access to an education, and the transformative impact that going to school ultimately has on her life.
After writing the story, Hiranandani used her scholarship money to hire an illustrator. She also flew to Nova Scotia to compete in an entrepreneurship competition, winning $600, which she put into marketing the book.
Devi’s Big Dream was published in April 2025. A portion of proceeds from the book sales are donated to the Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project and the Sadhu Vaswani Gurukul Day School in India, where her grandmother used to volunteer.
Devi’s Big Dream follows a young girl as she fights to access to an education, and the transformative impact that going to school ultimately has on her life. (Photo by Georgia Kirkos)
She hopes that the story can create a lasting impact on communities in need and help inspire young minds. “The change that you make starts from when you’re young,” she said.
She has another book already in the works, called Mia’s Ocean Mission, about plastic pollution and marine life in the Caribbean.
Hiranandani would love to do a series some day, adding books on different issues to help educate young people about the world around them — and encourage them to create positive change, as well.
“I feel like with the books, it helps, because although it’s so small…. the younger generations are the future.”