Shreya Dharmarajan, a Chennai resident, took on the role of British High Commissioner to India for a day, receiving a rare behind-the-scenes peek at the life of a diplomat and witnessing the UK-India alliance in action. Shreya studied political science and is now a Teach for India fellow teaching in a government school in Mumbai. She is really interested in schooling and child psychology.
"Spending a day as the British High Commissioner to India was an incredibly enlightening, enriching, and fulfilling experience," Dharmarajan remarked of her experience. I was able to meet with and learn from great examples of women's leadership in a variety of industries. I was lucky to participate in vibrant debates about India's efforts to further the Sustainable Development Goals."
As the UK's top diplomat in India, Dharamrajan led discussions at the United Nations on advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), met with one of this year's Earthshot Prize finalists about their innovative initiatives to address global environmental challenges, met with the inspiring women leaders of the Chevening SheLeads programme, and met with principal scientific advisor Professor Ajay Sood to review plans to strengthen UK-India research collaboration in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks. "Women leaders talked to me about what their experience has been, how they faced criticism or backlash," Dharamrajan said after meeting with women leaders in medicine, the environment, and politics. Everyone faces criticism, but women are evaluated harsher than males, and I felt it extremely pertinent that their advise to me was to focus on myself and have a thick skin."
"It was fantastic to follow Shreya for the day, her conversations ranging from the role of young women in tackling global challenges to the UK-India partnership on science, technology, and innovation," stated Alex Ellis, Deputy High Commissioner for the Day (on other days, High Commissioner to India). The High Commissioner for a Day competition serves as a timely reminder of the possibility of a world with gender equality. We all elevate when women rise."
Since 2017, the British High Commission in New Delhi has held the 'High Commissioner for a Day' competition to commemorate International Day of the Girl Child (October 11). The winning entry this year was picked from a pool of more than 180 applications.
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