Hyderabad: TISS student wins 'High Commissioner for a day' contest; becomes UK dy high commissioner

Hyderabad: For a change, a 23-year-old girl became a deputy high commissioner of the UK for a day in Hyderabad.

Ritika Prasad got the opportunity on the occasion of the International Day of the Girl Child on October 11, 2023.

A post-graduate student at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences(TISS) won the 'High Commissioner for a Day' contest. The UK mission in India has been organizing a ‘High Commissioner for a Day’ competition annually since 2017 to celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child on October 11. She is currently pursuing her Master's Degree in Public Policy and Governance with specialisation in Urbanisation.

This competition is an opportunity to provide a platform for young women to raise awareness about girls’ rights and highlight the importance of women in leadership roles.

This year the day was celebrated at the UK diplomatic missions in Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, and Telangana where one young woman had the opportunity to be the British high commissioner in Delhi and Deputy High Commissioner at regional posts.

Hailing from Jamshedpur, Ritika completed her schooling at Loyola Law School, Jamshedpur. She did her graduation in Political Science from Miranda House, University of Delhi.

What did Ritika do in one day?

Ritika Prasad stepped into the shoes of Gareth Wynn Owen, the deputy high commissioner for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, for a day.

Well prepared to make the day memorable, Ritika visited the G Narayanamma Insititute of Technology and Science (GNITS) for her first public engagement, participated in a panel discussion, and interacted with young girls.

She then met CEO Krishna P of technology company Covalense and had an insight into the company's gender-friendly policies. She also met Chevening fellows working in STEM fields to get to know about their professional journeys, and Chevening lives in the UK.

How was your experience?

I think we get a new perspective on what essentially is the job of a Deputy High Commission. Because we are only acquainted with certain parts of it on the outside, when you enter into the role, you get to know that there are so many layers.

How does it feel to be Deputy High Commissioner?

It is something I would have dreamt of and never thought that it would come through. We all have the perception that, you know, you meet higher officials and we have some stereotypes around them. So I think that was the best part about it that none of them are actually according to those stereotypes that we have. I think they are very open to giving me new perspectives, and I'm looking forward to remaining connected with everybody so that I can learn more and contribute to public policies.

What did you learn?

I understood how Hyderabad is connected to the UK in India how they are collaborating and how the UK in Hyderabad is working with several other organisations and bringing a change.

Of course, the highlight was meeting Chevening fellows, who shared their journey with the UK in Hyderabad and their experiences in the UK during the Chevening fellowship. It was very nice to understand how they got through the process and what their experiences were being fellows. They are still connected with the UK in Hyderabad in general shows that their experience had been great. And I'm looking forward to becoming one in the future.

How can your one-day experience help you in the future?

My course has a lot of understanding of international policies and there's also a lot about climate change and gender diversity. I would say, a lot is focused on how to work towards attaining sustainable Development Goals. The UK in Hyderabad is working towards the same. My understanding and learning around those courses would add some aspect to this profession.

How do you think you can impact the society?

I think I can take the key learnings from this. I got to meet a lot of people and taking those forward and talking to my peers would be the first step that I would take.

I would be very excited and would be looking forward to if the British High Commission would give me another opportunity to do something in case they plan out some event, where it is related to climate action towards gender, anything regarding that I will be going forward and I am already interested in working in these policies.

What are the challenges you face today on the job?

I would say none, but then the challenge would initially be my apprehension to take on this role. Because, I was thinking if I would be able to do justice to this role, what if I make a mistake, because I'm not only representing myself as an individual, I'm carrying the identity of my college, I'm carrying the identity of UK in Hyderabad. That was the main challenge.

Who inspired you?

My mother is my inspiration. Being a single parent, she helped raise three kids and I always looked up to her. Even in tough times when women were judged for being single parents, she has done a fabulous job.

At the end of the day, she interacted with former winners of the High Commissioner for a Day contest and heard their life stories.

Later, interacting with the media, Deputy High Commissioner for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Gareth Wynn Owen said it was one of those days when he took a step back and thought about the generic role of women in workplaces.

"If the next generation of women is more like Ritika, India will be in very safe hands in terms of experiencing greater quality in a country like India where women have voices everywhere and across all dimensions, which is critical in any democratic society for equal rights for men and women," said Owen.