Young India Fellowship Convocation 2025

Ashoka University hosted the 14th Convocation Ceremony of the Young India Fellowship (YIF) on 27 June, honouring the Class of 2025. The on-campus celebration marked a significant milestone in the journey of the graduating Young India Fellows. The ceremony began with an evocative academic procession titled ‘Full Circle’, set to music composed by YIF alumni. The air was filled with excitement as Fellows, faculty, family, and friends gathered to commemorate a year of personal growth and unforgettable memories.

The YIF Convocation continued with a moving musical performance by Fellows from the Class of 2025. Through a carefully curated setlist of songs in Kannada, Hindi, and English, the Fellows paid tribute to the emotional and intellectual journey of the past year. From the soulful Amma Ninna Edeyaladalli, an ode to freedom and duality, to the powerful Yeh Honsla and Bawra Mann, the performances stirred deep emotion in the audience. The performers – Blanche Rodrigues, Denise Shailynti Noronha, Shamant Raghottam Desai, Helena Fuluifaga Chan Foung, Rusha Chatterjee, and Shweata Nagapati Hegde – were met with enthusiastic applause from the gathering for their soulful performance.

YIF Director Karan Bhola extended a warm welcome to the gathering and acknowledged the presence of several esteemed guests and members of the Ashoka community.

Ashoka University Chancellor, Professor Rudrangshu Mukherjee, addressed the audience, sharing his thoughts on the Fellowship’s evolution and the personal connection he shares with every cohort since its inception.

“It has been my singular good fortune to have taught every single cohort of YIF since the inception of the programme…The YIF brought us together and, more importantly it gave to all of you a rather precious experience – the experience of studying together, living together, sharing your joys and sorrows together and through that experience you must have developed what Adam Smith in The Theory of Moral Sentiments called the ‘circles of empathy’… I offer to each of the Fellows my heartiest congratulations, and I urge each one of you to become good human beings, the best of Ashoka, the best for India and for the world.”

This was followed by an address from the Vice Chancellor, Professor Somak Raychaudhury, who commended the Class of 2025 for their intellectual courage, interdisciplinary curiosity, and commitment to building inclusive communities.

“As Vice-Chancellor, I have been deeply moved by the curiosity, care, and creativity our Fellows have brought to this campus. They have reaffirmed our belief that learning is not simply the transmission of knowledge, but a shared endeavour of questioning, rethinking, and reimagining… It is a matter of pride for all of us at Ashoka that our Fellows are stepping into diverse roles – from education consulting to public policy, brand marketing to management consulting, and government advisory to programme implementation. We are also delighted that many are entering global learning spaces through opportunities supported by Ashoka’s Office of Global Education, including the Semester Exchange Programme at Sciences Po, Paris, and the Birmingham International Summer School.”

Pramath Raj Sinha, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees and one of the founding forces behind the Young India Fellowship, introduced and welcomed the Chief Guest, Laila Tyabji, legendary craft activist, Padma Shri awardee, and co-founder of Dastkar. In his heartfelt address, he recounted her extraordinary journey – from her early days in a post-independence India to co-founding Dastkar, an organisation that has transformed the lives of over 1.5 lakh artisans across the country. Speaking to the values of creativity, compassion, and community that she embodies, he emphasised how Laila Tyabji’s life work aligns deeply with the ethos of the Fellowship. His remarks set the tone for an inspiring keynote that followed.

“Today, as you go out on your own journey, you are not just shaping your own life but reshaping the jigsaw of this complex Incredible India. Life and education are too precious to waste in being bored, being passive, missing opportunities, being second-rate, following peer pressure, sticking in your own narrow comfort zone… Growing up, I had the good fortune to have a father who told me, ‘I don’t care what you do in your life as long as you do it with passion and do it with pleasure’. I’ve carried that as a banner through my 70 years. I pass on that message to you.”

Director Karan Bhola presented a snapshot of the cohort during his address: 57 cities, 21 states, three countries, and over 25 languages represented. With 80% of Fellows on scholarships – many supported by HDFC Bank – the class embodied diversity in all its forms. Fellows engaged in eight rigorous academic terms, with courses spanning public policy, law, climate science, economics, and literature. Highlights included nine new courses and a robust Crossover speaker series, featuring luminaries like Aruna Roy, Dr Jayaprakash Narayan, and Padma Shri Pushpesh Pant.

Special Awards for Outstanding Fellows
The convocation also honoured individual and team achievements through the presentation of Special Awards:
YIF Scholar Award: Serene George (CGPA: 3.90), with runners-up Blanche Rodrigues and Shweata Nagapati Hegde, and third place Devyani Bharti Vijay Mahajan.
Torchbearer Awards: Ashritha Sardhu and Siddharth N Vijayaraghavan, recognised for their leadership, empathy, and service.
Spirit of YIF Awards: Helena Fuluifaga Chan Foung and Rutuja Sangeeta Sanjay Chavan, lauded for their vibrant presence and community contributions.
Cheistha Kochhar Memorial Honour: Pushpendra Chourdiya, awarded for his deep commitment to care and inclusion.

Outstanding ELM Awards
Three Experiential Learning Module (ELM) teams were recognised for their impactful work:
Team 1: Heer Nimavat, Kehkasha, Serene George – for their work on documenting queer performances and creating a multimedia archive.
Team 7: Abhishek Panchaal, Anushka Barthwal, Shweata Nagapati Hegde, Tanvi Saxena – for developing a climate change strategy board game.
Team 9: Afshan Nisar, Anshif Ekkadan, Devyani Bharti, Vijay Mahajan, Priyanka Singh – for designing a scalable framework for project-based learning in engineering colleges across Kerala.

Special Mentions were given to:

• Team 5: ‘Pahunch’ – Universal Accessibility in Higher Education
• Team 6: ‘Kadam Forward’ – Career guidance for underrepresented students
• Team 16: ‘Patch Stories’ – Designer toys made from upcycled textile waste

The Fellows of 2025 have secured placements across sectors and gained admission to prestigious institutions including Oxford, LSE, SOAS, and Imperial College London. Several will also represent Ashoka at international summer schools and fellowships. Their accomplishments not just exhibit academic excellence but also the values of empathy, collaboration, and innovation that the Fellowship stands for.

As the ceremony concluded with the Fellows’ rendition of the national anthem, everyone present at the gathering rose in a standing ovation – not just for the achievements of the past year, but for the promise these young leaders hold. The Young India Fellowship Class of 2025 carries forward the ethos of Ashoka: critical inquiry, compassionate leadership, and a commitment to social good.