Kathmandu:

Five of us from Nepal were chosen to participate in the 12th National Youth Festival that was held in Pune, India from January 12-16. So along with artist Erina Tamrakar, theatre artiste Bhola Raj Sapkota, tabala player Manoj Gautam and social worker Palangi Jethara, I made my way to Maharashtra.

We were greeted Ananta K Saran, under secretary at the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and he accompanied us throughout our stay in India. The festival was hosted by the government of Maharastra in collaboration with Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan.

The theme of the festival was ‘Peace, Progress and Prosperity’ and had been organised with the motive to provide a platform to Indian youth from all over India to showcase their efforts, art and culture. Youngsters from various states across India participated in 18 competitive events like classical dance, classical vocal, instrumental music, folk dance, one act play among others.

Five delegates from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh each joined us. It took us a while to get along and after that we all became like a family.

The delegates were given the royal treatment and we lacked for nothing except maybe it would have been more enjoyable if we had had more time for us to look around the city and mingle.

However, the enthusiasm of the Indian youth really inspired us. Like Sheetal Mahajan, 24, who holds the record for the being the first Indian to complete sky diving in the North Pole without any practice in 2004, and is first Indian to go sky diving in the South Pole.

“I always wanted to be famous, but I did not know how. My prayers were answered when I meet Squadron Leader Kamal Singh Oberth, who is an experienced sky diver,” said Mahajan. “I always knew I had to do something unique to bask in the limelight, I knew this was my call. I did enough research, and armed only with theoretical knowledge, I went for the North Pole sky diving expedition.”

She emerged a winner fighting against all odds be it collecting funds for the expedition. Her ‘never give up’ attitude helped her stand tall. And her dream now is to participate with the Indian women team in the world para sky diving cup to be held in July 2007.

Not only Mahajan, other Indian youth too share similar stories.

Nitika Thakkar, 22, awardee of the Indira Gandhi NSS Volunteer Award for her contribution to save nature by promoting polythene-free zone in 12 major shopping complexes said that a lot could be done if all youngsters got together for a noble cause.

“Youth can make a huge difference, but their contribution should be recognised,” she said.

Mahajan’s parting words were, “You dream big and if you work to achieve it, nothing can shatter your dream.”

And inspired we returned from a festival that was brimming with youthful vigour and optimism.