Assam and Guwahati in general was able to charm the G20 and Y20 delegates who converged here in the month of February for key meetings as part of the agenda set by India’s presidency of G20 this year. While the visit to Kaziranga National Park, the sylvan surroundings of tea gardens as well as village life, the banks of Brahmaputra all contributed to some serious discussions from sustainable finance to peace building to entrepreneurship and more importantly sustainability, these delegates were also bowled over by the State and its people, its food and its hospitality. While the net outcome of all this will take its time to unravel, a very important beginning was made.
“I think the world needs to learn one thing from Assam–we need to learn hospitality. The hospitality received here by us… It’s unbelievable. We can’t put it into words, it’s spectacular. I really love how you helped us learn about everyone’s tradition and culture, especially the tribes of Assam and the wonderful wildlife and biodiversity, food, and culture. We enjoyed everything,” said Sripada Indrakanti from the US.
So was the case with Satami, the Japanese delegate. “I came for the first time to Assam and I was surprised. It is very beautiful. You are warm-hearted and welcoming people. We really enjoyed it,” she said.
The idea was not hospitality alone but also substance.
Y20 chair Anmol Sovit told Asom Barta that a very good beginning has been made. “Network is Networth. We have now networked with future leaders from the G20 countries who are likely to be here during the course of various meetings. In Guwahati, more than 20 Y20 leaders from G20 nations were present besides over 100 Indian delegates. This will have its own impact,” he said.
Similar were the views of Michael Sianipar of Indonesia, the former chair of Y20. “I am feeling very inspired after spending three days in Assam. I see a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of excitement among the youths and I can see how the youth of India would shape the discourse of the global future. G20 is the premier forum of global leadership and India being the chair of G20 this year is a huge platform. A White Paper on the five themes of Y20 was launched by Anurag Thakur, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports. Dr. Ranoj Pegu, Minister of Education, Government of Assam presented the Research Papers on the five themes. (Please See Box)
Talking about these themes, the Minister said that these themes have been carefully chosen to be deliberated upon for a shared future of the global community. These five themes present an extraordinary opportunity for the youth to create, contribute and collaborate to the development agenda of G20, he said.
“Y20 India Summit this year would exemplify youth-centric efforts and showcase progressive policy measures ideated by the youth and for the youth across the globe,” Thakur told the gathering.
The Minister applauded the effort of the Government of Assam for organising the Y20 awareness drives across the State.
In the run-up to the event, 10,000 youth in 36 colleges of Assam participated in seminars, debate, workshops, and quiz competitions on Y20, besides over 10 lakh students from nearly 4,000 schools.
