From Aspiration to Action
Young Indians Today, Shaping Tomorrow
Young Gurjeet sits in the verandah of his home, his eyes locked on his sisters as they transform soft fabric into stunning fashion, and other fascinating things that adorn their home.
They sew and embroider creating vibrant patterns. He too longs to create, to express and imagine. But he feels inhibited as men rarely indulge in such work. When, he wonders, would he be able to pursue his passions?
At 27, Gurjeet finds himself in an interview with Vogue, the leading magazine on fashion and lifestyle with a readership of over 268 million worldwide. Today, he is an artist, a sculptor, and a performer. He’s a shapeshifter for discarded items and unwanted materials that he turns into invaluable art.
Gurjeet represents a large group of young people who have grown up with deep questions about their identity and sexuality, grown up despite harsh words, often as first generation learners to break the cycle and emerge as young adults that are empathetic and hopeful of a better world for future generations.
“As a queer man, I faced a lot of discrimination growing up and people considered me a good-for-nothing. When I use leftover materials in my art and give them a new lease on life, it feels like I’m healing some of my own trauma.”
India, the world’s largest democracy, is a young country with 52% of its 1.4 billion population under the age of 30. Yet, their representation in parliament remains a mere 1%. This corresponds with an equally low number of young people between the ages of 25-30 standing for elections. According to an analysis of election data gathered by the Association for Democratic Reforms which looked at data of 8,337 of the 8,360 candidates contesting elections, only 537 were individuals in the age bracket of 25-30 years of age. What does young India’s lack of participation in the democratic process mean for its aspirations?
These trends in India reflect a larger global context. While 52% of the world population is under the age of 30, the average age of national leaders is 62 years.
We are at a pivotal moment in history where the next generation is the largest. Young countries like India will be most impacted by this demographic boom.
Decisions made today will impact the future of this young population and with only 15% of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on track, we are jeopardising their future.
Investing in young people can turn this story around.
In the lush green hills of Aldur in Chikmagalur district of Karnataka, Awais often dreamt of the stars. While pursuing his undergraduate degree, he saw a chance and took a leap of faith in his idea to start Pixxel.
Just 5 years later, Pixxel is one of India’s highest-funded space startups, aiming to build a health monitor for the planet through a constellation of hyperspectral imaging satellites.
His story is testament to the entrepreneurial spirit of young people who have ideas and ambitions that extend beyond themselves, thinking about people and the planet.
Young leaders like Awais are driving the Decade of Action for SDGs and investing in them is investing in our collective future.
As we stand at a crossroads, now more than ever is the time to act and show young people we care.
Gurjeet and Awais are part of a brilliant cohort of 11 young Indians who have come together to forge a blueprint for future India – the Next Generation India Fellows.
The fellowship is a partnership between the United Nations Foundation and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), working to think, plan and act for a future that centres the needs of next and future generations.
Whether it is young artists like Gurjeet changing the social landscape around them one art piece at a time or entrepreneurs like Awais finding solutions to Earth’s problems in outer space, young people today are not standing on the sidelines – they are making history.
The future belongs to young people and it is crucial that decisions made today reflect their dreams and aspirations.
In the vibrant and cosmopolitan megacity of Delhi, we also have the Bhalswa landfill, a colossal dump site with 200,000 people living in its shadow: families, elders, infants, all in makeshift housing amid waste. This is the problem that consumes our Fellow Gunraagh.
As a student of architecture, Gunraagh finds himself frustrated at the lack of human perspective and social insight into city planning.
"Why should waste not wanted in our homes lay waste to another's home?" – this is the question he grapples with as he tries to come up with solutions that can promote people-centred urban planning and build sustainable cities.
Driven by his desire to foster equity and dignity through architecture, Gunraagh has embarked on an ambitious mission: to improve living conditions in one of the most challenging and underserved areas of his city, and reclaim space for the people who call it home.
Through his grassroots initiatives Chhav and Better Bhalswa, Gunraagh is changing the lives of Delhi’s citizens through a deep understanding of the local landscape and people, creating dignified open spaces and developing better housing solutions to uplift the urban situation.
Our Fellows are not just individuals with inspiring ideas but young people working together to build a better world.
Through their participation in key global moments, the Fellows are working to drive change and influence global processes with innovative ideas and solutions.
Earlier in the year, Prachi Shevgaonkar, Nandini Harihar and Anoushka Sinha were invited to the United Nations ECOSOC Youth Forum.
There, they joined member states and young leaders from across the world to brainstorm solutions for youth wellbeing and plan for the 2024 Summit of the Future. Prachi delivered a powerful closing remark at the Reception on Fostering Intergenerational Dialogue Action for a Stronger Multilateral Future, and Nandini led a dynamic session on Intergenerational Cooperation.
Using their voices for good, the Fellows will continue to serve as a much-needed bridge between local communities and the global stage at the upcoming 2024 Summit of the Future, COP29 and other critical moments.
It’s clear that young people need to be at the forefront of change and take an active role in shaping the future. That's where the Engine Room comes in – it’s a digital intergenerational platform led by a diverse group of young voices to reimagine how the UN thinks, plans and acts for the future.
Building on the momentum from last year, the Engine Room is hosting a series of Spotlights and Pitstops. These are digital events timed to coincide with significant UN moments, which allow young people from all over the world to discuss and design these future-shaping actions together.
Empowering young leaders to shape the future of India
Our cohort includes young champions like Anoushka Sinha who have been in this space for over a decade, starting out as 10-year-olds with dreams of a better world.
We have grassroots leaders like Saikot Sukla, who have worked in tandem with government bodies to ensure that the last mile does not become a deciding factor in access to public health.
And we have strong researchers like Dhruvak Aggarwal, Nandini Harihar and Ruchira Goyal, who bring their keen eye for detail, data and discourse to the program, enriching and enhancing its work.
Together, they are working to create not just an action plan, but also the language of the future. We cannot solve future problems if we cannot articulate and understand them, and the Next Generation India Fellows are dedicated to developing a dictionary for the future – identifying, defining and imagining trends, phrases, technologies, concepts and ideas that will shape the coming years.
As India marches towards its centenary, this cohort is strategically envisioning India in the year 2047. The national government’s roadmap prioritises people and the planet, and the role of young India in shaping this trajectory.
Now is the time for young Indians to actively plan and act for the future they want for their country, to answer the question: what are our aspirations for future India?
Integrating the local with the global, the Fellows will lead a national Town Hall in New Delhi to engage, empower and elevate the voices of young Indians and their input in shaping this national dialogue for future India. The Town Hall will foster discussions on local solutions contributing to global goals, focusing on generating ideas and commitments from the ground up.
With each innovative idea and bold action, the Next Generation India Fellows are not just dreaming of a better future – they’re building it.
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