Story of Himadrish Suwan, RTI National Award & APJ Abdul Kalam Award Winner
Himadrish Suwan is the former Media President of Delhi University Students Union(DUSU) and a young Columnist, Activist and Citizen Journalist(C.J) for various reputed dailies and magazines. Himadrish is one of the Youngest Recipient of prestigious Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam Award 2016 and also the International Association of Educators for World Peace Global Award for the year 2014 in the areas of Media & Information Activism. He is listed among India’s most influential Youth. He has been actively participating on some serious discussion on Youth and improvement of the Nation.
- From where it all started?
I am from Ranchi, Jharkhand. There is a train named Ranchi Rajdhani connecting New Delhi to Ranchi and vice versa. It had two decade old coaches and it was the only Rajdhani which didn’t had the LHB (Linkmen Hofmann Bush) coaches the new coaches which are actually meant for Rajdhani’s as its anti-collision and do not collide in an event of collision .So I used to think that “Why my state is being Discriminated”, We are paying same tariff like other passengers of Rajdhani’s. I took the Ranchi Rajdhani from Delhi to Ranchi mostly every summer and noticed it was the only Rajdhani still using the old ICF coaches. “They were horrible. So, I thought why not file an RTI and know why Ranchi Rajdhani is not having the LHB coaches and I asked direct question to the Ministry of Railways that “If any accident happens will the Railway be responsible”? The Indian Railways swung into action once the RTI was filed and changed 16 ICF coaches with LHB (Linkmen Hofmann Busch) coaches, which are ideal for high-speed trains. The LHB coaches are anti-telescopic and in situation of derailment or collision it prevents the bogies from turning turtle. It all started with this first RTI Application when I was just in class 11th. Then, I started writing for my own blog fortunately some of India’s prominent media houses recognized my writing skills and then I started writing in my free time for several prestigious magazines and journals as guest columnist.
- What inspires you?
My biggest source of inspiration is the society itself. I am just an awakened citizen exercising my rights. I haven’t done something quirky, it’s just we need to traverse and bare our inherit talents. Every person is born with a talent and the need is just to explore that inherit flair. For example, when I initiated the initiative for Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan the biggest source of inspiration was none other than the Prime Minister Modi himself. It was only after Oct 2nd, 2014 that the concept of “Societal Hygiene” came in light. Prior 2014, we were more centric towards the concept of just “Personal Hygiene”. Thus, Prime Minister’s foresight inspired me to bestow my part towards Mission Clean India.
- How did your parents react initially to the work you were doing for society?
I believe that no parent will oppose if his/her child maintains a balance between both academics and extra activities. By god grace, I have been able to maintain a balance and therefore my parents and family members have been of great support.
- How did you feel when you got the youngest APJ Abdul Kalam Award and National RTI Awareness Award?
It is an honour not only for me or my state, but for the entire country because it will help encourage the youth. To win the Dr Kalam award is like a dream come true. Apart from being a great scientist, he was one of the greatest human beings the world ever knew.
- What do you want to suggest the youth?
Everyone has a talent and so do you. Let it shine out, is all you have to do. The youth should remember that with constitutional rights there are constitutional duties too. Everyone has to perform their duties of citizenship in the country in order provide bright future. A country is backward, poor, or developing, everything depends on its citizens especially if a country is democratic country. With 65% of our population under the age of 35, India is the youngest nation in the world and in success of the youth, lies the success of the nation. “No other democratic nation has 600 million youth. The ignited mind of the youth is the most powerful resource — on the earth, above the earth, under the earth — and we have that”. Thus, Each and every youth should work to realize Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam vision towards a brighter and stronger India.
You might also be interested in “Meet The Social Worker Who is One of The Youngest Recipient of Karmaveer Chakra!”
- Your goal?
It is my dream to see India as a Knowledge Superpower by 2025. Just as a face is the mirror to the heart of a person, level of education reflects the status of a nation. Since independence India has marched much ahead in the field of science and technology, nuclear power, food production. But the social face of India is from satisfactory. In the two major segments of social face i.e. education and median age in India, we have not performed up to the mark and have thus adversely affected the social performance. “Learning gives creativity, Creativity leads to thinking. Thinking provides knowledge and knowledge makes you great.” – A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
- What was your high point in life?
Every day, every moment and every work is special for me. The high point was when I was the youngest recipient of the prestigious Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Award among 21 eminent Indians including 10 Padma Award Recipients.
- What do you think needs to be changed in the Indian mentality?
We live in a modern globalized world which is progressing every second in every possible way. However, people still have thoughts, views and opinions. The problem with the Indian mentality is that people here cling to idols and therefore end up following people rather than ideas. This is one of the primary causes of the abysmal political environment in India. This has led people to worship politicians rather than working in collaboration with them in policy making. The primary reason for such a mentality is the colonial background of our people .We are still mentally in a state of colonization where we consider our representatives to be our masters and thus create the impression of India being a Hobbesian state. The fact that the clean India campaign had to be propagated with the image of Gandhi is in itself a proof of this idol-centric mentality of our people because people wouldn’t join this movement, if you tell them that sanitation is important but they will join it if they are told that this was the vision of our Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi). That is the irony of our society. There is no doubt about the fact that change begins at home. Any initiative should be a combined effort of both the Government as well as the people as at last People + Government = Good Governance.
You can also see his columns on Opindia Myvoice.
You should also check “Meet one of the Youngest Woman Authors from Miranda House, Delhi University”
Also published on Medium.