By Jun Kit Man, Digital Media Manager
Young Indian woman takes on role of British High Commissioner for a day
A 21-year-old woman from Mumbai stepped into the shoes of the UK's top diplomat in India as part of a competition to empower girls.
Shreya Dharmarajan spent Wednesday as 'High Commissioner for a Day' in New Delhi, getting a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a diplomat.
The 'High Commissioner for a Day' competition has been organised annually by the British High Commission since 2017 to celebrate International Day of the Girl Child on October 11. The event provides a platform for young women to raise awareness about girls' rights and highlight the importance of women in leadership roles.
According to the British High Commission, Ms Dharmarajan led talks on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, launched a report on electric vehicles, and met with female leaders.
She also interacted with this year's Earthshot Prize finalists and spoke with India's Principal Scientific Adviser about research collaboration.
Ms Dharmarajan said "Spending a day as the British High Commissioner to India was an incredibly enlightening, enriching, and fulfilling experience. I had the opportunity to interact with and learn from inspiring exemplars of women’s leadership in wide-ranging fields. I was fortunate enough to be a part of lively discussions about India’s efforts toward further achieving the Sustainable Development Goals."
The UK and India are working together to empower women and girls to reach their full potential. This includes the 'Pledge for Progress' campaign launched in 2020 that encourages practical steps to tackle gender inequality.
In March, the UK also announced a new global Women and Girls Strategy to help address gender inequality worldwide.
Alex Ellis, the UK's High Commissioner to India, shadowed Ms Dharmarajan during her day in office.
He said: "It was fantastic to follow Shreya for the day, her conversations from the role of young women in tackling global challenges to the UK-India partnership on science, technology and innovation."
"The High Commissioner for a Day competition is a great reminder for us all on the potential of a world with gender equality. When women rise, we all rise."
Ms Dharmarajan is a teacher in Mumbai through the Teach for India programme and holds a political science degree.
She was selected from over 180 applicants across India to become High Commissioner for a Day.
The competition aims to advance gender equality and highlight the importance of women in leadership.
