BA (Hons) Student Carries India’s Cultural Voice to World Youth Festival Assembly in Russia

We often say the city is our classroom, but one student took that a step further and made the world her classroom. Our BA (Hons) student​​​​​​, Jhinuk Sharma, gained an inside view of how young people across nations think about global issues, learning about the diverse cultures, morals, and values of participants from as many as 120 countries.

Jhinuk represented India at the World Youth Festival Assembly 2025, the world’s largest youth gathering organised by the Government of the Russian Federation. She was among 6,000 participants from 120 countries, and one of only 40 delegates representing India.

For Jhinuk, this wasn’t just an international event. It was a living dialogue between cultures, ideas, and generations. Standing amid such diversity reaffirmed her belief that culture is the foundation of cooperation, a bridge that helps people from different nations understand each other’s struggles, histories, and hopes.

Jhinuk’s participation builds upon her academic journey at Ahmedabad University. She began her studies in Social and Political Sciences​​​​​​, but soon found her calling in History​​​​​​. “Every History course I took felt like opening another window into the world,” she says. With a penchant for international relations, she discovered how History connects everything, including philosophy, politics, society, and international relations.

With each class, she realised that studying History wasn’t just about the past but about understanding the present and shaping the future. “History doesn’t limit my perspective; it expands it,” she reflects. She carried these perspectives with her to the World Youth Festival Assembly in Russia. The event also built on her work with the BRICS Youth Alliance, where she serves as Director of Operations, fostering international cooperation and partnerships for young people across BRICS nations.

At the festival, she attended workshops on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), women’s leadership, and cross-cultural understanding within the BRICS framework. These experiences deepened her knowledge of how CSR, women’s empowerment, and social entrepreneurship can bridge communities and strengthen global cooperation.

She also attended workshops on youth leadership and mentoring, innovation, and the influence of young generations within the BRICS framework. These offered her perspectives on how mentorship, creativity, and cultural exchange help youth drive positive change and international cooperation.

As an extension to the festival, Jhinuk also participated in the World Atomic Week, organised by State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, which brought together scientists, experts, and youth worldwide. The discussions made her see how science and culture complement each other in shaping a sustainable and equitable global future.

“At Ahmedabad University, we are constantly encouraged to think beyond disciplinary boundaries, to connect History with global issues, and culture with innovation. That mindset helped me approach the Assembly as a delegate and as a humanities student, observing how policy, art, and identity come together to shape the world’s future,” Jhinuk reflects.