As a student, Sudheer Bandigari would listen to history lessons with starry eyes and was greatly inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s saying, ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world’. Currently the Vice President of the Telangana State unit of National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), 26-year-old Sudheer was recently selected as a delegate at the United Nations Youth Assembly, Winter 2017, to be held at the UN headquarters in New York City in the first week of February. It is the world’s largest youth assembly where active leaders from across the globe are invited. The UN’s sustainable development goals will be discussed at the assembly, with special focus on poverty, education, responsible consumption-production, among others.
“I realised that if I really want to make a difference, I have to expand the concept of ‘self’ to society. I have to think about not just me, but the people around me. Initially, it was about working for welfare more than politics. Politics frames the nation’s future, but when the youth don’t take part in it, progress is not possible. I want to be part of strategy building for the country, to serve people and fight for the rights of communities. The elections in the NSUI for internal party democracy opened doors for youth into politics, and that’s where it all started. For the first time in 2009, I was elected the college president,” he says.
On what this achievement means to him, Sudheer says, “To represent the nation and my organisation on a world platform is a huge thing and I am fortunate to be getting such an opportunity. I now have a responsibility to keep our country’s name flying high.” He adds, “By the end of the program, I am hoping that a bond will be created with other participants and many business cards will be exchanged. These connections will help to know about the education and poverty eradication policies in their countries. I will be discussing India’s Right to Education act 2009, amongst several other topics.”
Sudheer, who is already in the US has gotten in touch with fellow delegates from across the globe and is very excited for the big day. Post the assembly, the man is focussed on his ambitions. He says, “I hope to find the right kind of youth and organisations that are willing to collaborate with me to evolve policies for the welfare of the society. From my learnings in the assembly, I will construct the plan of action for the three goals and strive towards achieving it through my organisation.”
