Chennai Girl Becomes British High Commissioner for a Day

Chennai’s Shreya Dharmarajan, a 21-year-old, assumed the role of British High Commissioner to India for a day, gaining invaluable insights into the life of a diplomat and witnessing the UK-India partnership in action. This unique opportunity was made possible by the British High Commission in New Delhi, which has been running the ‘High Commissioner for a Day’ competition annually since 2017 to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child on October 11. The event’s mission goes beyond merely providing a peek into diplomacy; it aims to empower young women and promote gender equality.

Out of over 180 applicants, Shreya emerged as this year’s winner, thanks to her dedication to education and child psychology. Throughout her day as the British High Commissioner, Shreya engaged in meaningful discussions with accomplished women leaders across various fields. She also delved into India’s efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and observed the significant impact of the India-UK ASPIRE Program on electric vehicle development.

Shreya Dharmarajan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Lady Shri Ram College in Delhi and currently serves as a Teach for India fellow in a government school in Mumbai. Her students were a major source of inspiration for her, motivating her to use this platform to amplify important conversations taking place in her classroom. During her day in the role, Shreya participated in diverse activities, including leading discussions on SDGs at the United Nations office in New Delhi, engaging with accomplished women leaders, and discussing research collaboration between the UK and India with Ajay Sood, the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, following the G20 Summit. As High Commissioner for the Day, she also unveiled a report on electric vehicle charging infrastructure in collaboration with the Delhi transport department, part of the ASPIRE bilateral technical assistance program.

Re-reported from the article originally published in The India English