Lucknow:
Thirteen-year-old Yugratna from Lucknow is all set to create history on Tuesday night by becoming the first Indian teenager and the second girl in the history of the United Nations to address the UN General Assembly.
On September 9, a letter arrived at the residence of Alok Shrivastav, a botany teacher at a government college in Lucknow. The letter was an invite from the UN secretary General for his 13-year-old daughter Yugratna, an environment crusader, to speak on climate change before an audience of 100 heads of states and countries.
Yugratna packed her bag's for New York leaving her exams midway. So on a day when most of her classmates will be busy writing the English literature paper, Yugratna will be telling world leaders a thing or two about how to tackle climate change.
But, it's only when Yugratna made headlines did her father realise the enormity of his daughter's achievement.
"I realised when many media people contacted me for photographs, and for her achievements, then I realised that this time she has achieved something rare, otherwise we are taking it as usual that she went to abroad, delivered a lecture and came back," said Alok Shrivastav, Yugratna's father.
Yugratna has been working with Tarumitra an NGO since 2006, her hard work earned her trips to Norway, Niarobi and South Korea as their brand ambassador.
But then came her moment of ultimate glory, a chance to represent the 3 billion children of the world and meet Barack Obama.
"My advice to my daughter is that be confident, perform your best and do well, and you will get all the things," said Yugratna's father.
So on Tuesday night, the entire nation will stand behind Yugratna as the first Indian teenager addresses the UN General Assembly.