Jagriti Yadav from Delhi University became British High Commissioner
New Delhi: A 20-year-old girl from Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow became the British high commissioner to India for a day. She assumed the charge as UK’s top diplomat in India on September 23.
Let’s know about Jagriti Yadav:
Jagriti Yadav from Lucknow won the sixth edition of the ‘High Commissioner for a Day’ competition.
She hails from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh and graduated from University of Delhi’s Miranda House. She is an avid reader and prefers to read self-help books that provide insights and perspective on life.
Jagriti’s one day experience
Jagriti experienced a broad range of diplomatic activities, including leading meetings with diverse stakeholders, chairing discussions and attending several events during the day.
In her office for a day, she met the minister of state for external affairs and culture Meenakshi Lekhi, the mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, and the executive chairman of Wipro, Rishad Premji.
The one-day UK’s top diplomat also interacted with project leads working on the Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI) project at the British Council and beneficiaries of the Chevening-funded SheLeads project – a women leadership programme that helps aspiring female political leaders.
Alongside Professor Ajay Kumar Sood, the principal scientific adviser to the Indian government, she also launched a book honouring 75 Indian Women in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics).
Honoured to serve as the 🇬🇧High Commissioner for a Day for 🇮🇳. It was a real pleasure to meet and interact with @AlexWEllis.The day was full of opportunities and truly inspiring.Thank you @UKinIndia for making it the best day of my life.#Dayofthegirl #SheLeads https://t.co/bEGyXX1XQY
— Jagriti Yadav (@Jagriti34265269) October 11, 2022
Jagriti Yadav, High Commissioner for the Day, said: “It was an intellectually inspiring experience to serve as the British high commissioner for a day. My day was full of opportunities – discussions with established business leaders, a meeting with the mayor of West Yorkshire and interacting with a leading female politician of India about significant obstacles to women’s professional advancement and the value of women as leaders.”
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“Meeting the SheLeads project beneficiaries and female STEAM role models was motivating, and I learned about STEAM engagement between the UK and India and the UK’s efforts to advance gender equality. The day gave me the opportunity to learn from a diverse perspective and, as a young woman, it gave me the confidence to be more determined and considerate towards the role of women in society,” Jagriti Yadav said.
Alex Ellis, deputy high commissioner for the day (on other days, high commissioner to India), said: “The ‘High Commissioner for a Day’ is an event I look forward to every year. Jagriti is articulate and focused and shows the talent across India. As women rise, we all rise.”
“The UK and India do a lot together to promote gender equality, including on research and education. I’m delighted that 50% of the Chevening scholarships for India this year were awarded to women. The UK is a world leader at incorporating gender equality in universities and India is a top country for girls studying STEM-subjects. I wish Jagriti the best for the future and hope she enjoyed being High Commissioner for the day.”
अंतरराष्ट्रीय बालिका दिवस 2022 पर लखनऊ की जागृति यादव -@Jagriti34265269 को @UKinIndia के High Commissioner for a Day Competition जीतने की बधाई।
— Alex Ellis (@AlexWEllis) October 11, 2022
जागृति ने उच्चायुक्त का काम बखूबी निभाया, जो की भारतीय महिलाओं की प्रतिभा का प्रमाण है।#sheleads #DayoftheGirl pic.twitter.com/k28u5e024M
The British High Commission in New Delhi has organised the ‘High Commissioner for a Day’ competition annually since 2017 to celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child (October 11).
Over 270 young girls from all around India applied for this year’s competition.
