Representing India In BRICS Youth Summit 2018 SA, Ms. Jahnavi Patky | IIM Rohtak

Was there anyone else along with you from India during your visit to South Africa?

Yes, there were a total of 13 delegates and 2 government officials. The delegates were all students. I was the only one from a B-school, there were 2 law students, one person from ISI Kolkata, 3 from IIT Delhi and the like.

Please share a brief about the proceedings of the Summit.

We got six days’ time to prepare for the summit wherein we were informed about the program agenda framework, given a list of topics and asked to prepare presentations on our topics of interest. On the day of departure, we were given comprehensive orientation. We left India on July 13th, 2018.

On the first day of the summit, we grouped ourselves into five teams and decided to work on one of the five topics for the panel discussion. Also, two or three members of the team were supposed to be a part of commissions for the same topic. I was assigned the team which prepared for the topic of “Access to education, curriculum reforms and jobs for the future”.

On the second day, as India was chairing the plenary panel discussion sessions, two of the Indian delegation were prepared to be moderators. Post a few formal speeches, sessions of panel discussion and question and answers commenced.

On the third day of the BRICS Youth Summit, I attended the last plenary session on ‘Access to education, curriculum reforms and jobs for the future’ with the role of a panel member. Also, I was a participant in the commission on the same topic.

I presented the introductory speech and answered a question directed to the higher education system of India.  This was followed by a debate session on the problems, solutions and the action plan.

The last day of the summit was the ‘Nelson Mandela day’, the 100th birth anniversary of Nelson Mandela. The day commenced as the head of the delegation presented the report of the commission conducted on the previous day. Deputy Minister of international relations and cooperation officially closed the summit. A few presentations on contemporary issues were delivered by experts which added to our knowledge.

What were few of the other topics discussed by the rest of the panels?

The summit represented various other topics like ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’, ‘Youth economic participation in BRICS business council’, ‘Critical conversations on Gender-based violence and identifying solutions to protect women and children’, ‘Access to education, curriculum reforms and jobs for the future’, etc.

What is your take on the topic of your panel?

Mine was the last plenary session on the third day of the summit. I contributed as a panel member and was also a part of the commission for the topic ‘Access to education, curriculum reforms and jobs for the future’.  I gave my speech on my belief that education needs to provide interdisciplinary knowledge, social, emotional & cognitive skills and global attitude as well as values such as respect for life, human dignity, trust, and motivation. Our present curriculum is still of the first industrial revolution and it needs to be reformed to be in accordance with the fourth industrial revolution. For achieving this goal, I proposed that youth should be creative, empathetic and responsible. I believe that an equal emphasis should be placed on regional languages and Sanskrit as it is placed on English. Also, ethics education, yoga, and meditation should be introduced in the new education policy.

How was your experience outside of the formal event?

I particularly enjoyed the extravaganza of the event. We were welcomed in a very grand way upon arrival. Usually, the events were followed by excursion and networking. The game rides exhilarated us and we captured wild animals, like elephants, rhinoceros, ostrich, baboons, deer, in our cameras. At the dinner table, we interacted with people from different countries, exchanged numbers and promised each other to stay in touch. The dinners started off with spectacles like the South African folk dance. We enjoyed dancing on Punjabi songs as well as learning local dance steps.

On the last day of the summit, as a part of Mandela day youth service activities, we went to a nearby orphanage. We painted the walls, built a brick wall, did gardening and on the top of that some of us danced there too. We returned to get ready for closing ceremony which was the cultural evening. Every country sang some of their popular songs.

In what ways did IIM Rohtak contribute towards this achievement of yours?

Faculties here have been immensely supportive and the love and care I have received from my peers is outstanding. The administration always supported me throughout the process. The college has played the key role in refining my skills and personality which helped me immensely in displaying a worthy picture of our nation at BRICS Summit.