Representing India

I have worked as a media and communication researcher at the ministry of external affairs, Government of India in New Delhi and am currently a project manager with Government of Gujarat in Gandhinagar. As my passion is public policy and good governance, I have been studying Indian and international polity. Due to my suggestions on youth policy, I was shortlisted and invited by the Government of Sri Lanka to Yowun Pura, the City of Youth, to present my views on youth policy at an international youth conference from March 27 to April 3, 2019. Ninety delegates from 39 countries were shortlisted, of which eight were from India.

Over 7,000 youths from across the globe attended the conference along with academicians, politicians and professional public policy makers. There were multiple dialogs and debates among the youths over burning contemporary issues in today’s world, including good governance, national youth policy, contemporary global issues, leadership and development and social-political sectors at the conference. I had a brief discussion with the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe and felicitated him with a shawl and book on behalf of India. He was impressed by Gujarat’s growth story and the Vibrant Gujarat summit which I suggested he attend. He smiled and said, "I wish all the best to the citizens of India for the upcoming elections, and am sure youths like you will continue to play an effective role to strengthen the democracy and will contribute to share the growth stories between our two countries."

Sagala Ratnayaka, Sri Lanka’s cabinet minister for youth affairs and project management, exchanged views with me on various models of youth initiative programs and UN projects. At a live session of Parliament, I spoke with the parliament secretary on contemporary Indian and Sri Lankan democracy. I was also invited to the High Commission of India where the officials discussed how relations between the two countries can be strengthened through the youth of both countries.

JAMSHED BHAGWAGAR

Gandhinagar, Gujarat

jamshedbhagwagar93@gmail.com