22-Year-Old Gorakhpur Woman Becomes British High Commissioner For A Day

A 22-year-old woman from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, got the chance to experience what it is like to be the British High Commissioner in India after she held the post for a day.

Ayesha Khan got the chance after she won the "High Commissioner for a Day" competition which is a celebration of October 11 "International Day of the Girl Child" and is open to Indian women aged 18-23.

On October 4, as envoy, she spent the day overseeing the UK's largest overseas network, chairing briefing sessions, networking with dignitaries and meeting project beneficiaries, a British High Commission statement said.

The selection for the "High Commissioner for a Day" competition, now in its third year, requires a person to record a one-minute video on why gender equality is important and whom they see as their biggest gender equality inspiration.

The competition received applications from around 14 states, the statement said.

"My day was pretty hectic but also really fun and I got to learn a lot. Leading daily briefings, interacting with stakeholders from the UK and India, and experiencing the richness of multi-culturalism has been a great experience," Ms Khan was quoted as saying.

"I believe education is a powerful tool that can help achieve gender equality. I have been following the past winners of this competition and I thank the British High Commission for giving me this opportunity," she said.

Dominic Asquith, the British High Commissioner to India who was the Deputy High Commissioner for the Day on October 4, said: "I greatly enjoyed working for and with Ayesha for the day. She spoke articulately, passionately and convincingly on this important issue."

"I am delighted that we were able once again to celebrate this important occasion by demonstrating to young women from all walks of life that anything is possible, and by giving them the opportunity to realise their potential," Mr Asquith said.

Over the course of the day, Ms Ayesha visited Apeejay School in Pitampura, met with women working in Delhi's unorganised sector and learnt how they are supported by SEWA, and hosted a discussion with a beneficiary of Facebook's GOAL (Going Online as Leaders) programme. She also met leaders from business, foreign policy and civil society.