Ashoka Reflections_AUGUST 2023
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YIF has a brief but strong 12-year alumni legacy, and I truly believe that the answer to most questions can be
found within the community. Finally, YIF is the flagship of a multidisciplinary teaching and research institution,
which opens up many other pathways of possibility. That is what sets us apart from most other programmes.
Our mission, ‘to groom socially conscious change-makers and leaders for the 21st century’, is fairly timeless. As
Dean Brar has often said, and I paraphrase—even though the specifics of the fellowship keep changing, we have
always strived to remain topical and relevant—whether it is through changes in coursework, a greater emphasis
on critical writing or structuring the ELM in a way that is beneficial for a larger group of people. We have always
wanted to be a programme that has something for everyone. The opportunity in front of us is to constantly push
ourselves to continue staying ahead of the times. While this could mean many things, two thoughts (not
necessarily my own) worth pondering over, keeping the mission at the core, are: how we can support and
mentor Fellows as they work collaboratively to address complex problem statements and how we can make our
existing coursework and opportunities for perspective-taking more intersectional so that more Fellows derive
greater meaning? Deliberation on questions like these, in collaboration with key stakeholders of the YIF, will help
us move into new dimensions.
What are some of your plans for the Fellowship?
I think the Fellowship continues to write itself, given that it is feedback driven and co-owned by so many
stakeholders! There are however three elements that I can expand on briefly—investing in Fellows' success,
integrating with the larger institution, and intake. First, we as an institution can collectively support Fellows in
manifesting their visions of success during and beyond the year on campus. By that, I do not just mean enabling
resources on campus, or a good placement or admission at a top University. Success is atypical and may look
different for different people. It may not always be tangible which is fine. I look forward to us all coming together
as enablers for Fellows. We do a good job at that, but there is always room to raise the bar.
The second is integration with the larger ecosystem. Several Student Life programmes continue to be a great
way for Fellows and other students to build friendships, learning circles and support systems outside of YIF, and
I am hopeful that these can be leveraged further. We piloted a few programme initiatives last year and are
carrying them forward—cross-listed coursework for credit across different Centres (Centre for Entrepreneurship
and Ashoka Centre for Well-Being) as envisioned by Dean Brar, along with The Crossover Series and Alumni-in-
Residence. The latter two are generally open to all Ashokans, and many sessions have had good participation
outside of the YIF. Additionally, a lot more Ashoka faculty are now engaging with the YIF through their courses
and even as members of the Chancellor’s Merit Scholarship selection panel. We are also bringing in ELM projects
with several Ashoka Centres that are outward facing and (are poised to) do cutting-edge research.
Finally, intake. There are several changes that have happened recently - class size back to around 100, removal
of the age limit to apply, and the introduction of the Chancellor's Merit Scholarship (12 awardees in the 2024
cohort). We are starting to see a shift in the demographic split of the batch in terms of age and the lived,
academic and professional experiences they represent. I am excited to see how this unfolds!
As YIF grows from strength to strength, we want it to be an accessible and equitable platform and remain the
first choice for global changemakers to build on their journey.
(Saman Waheed is currently an Assistant Manager at the Office of PR & Communications, Ashoka University.
She is a former Young India Fellow from the batch of 2022)
C O V E R S T O R Y
Ashoka Reflections | Page 07
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