Researching at the London School of Economics

I joined the PhD programme at the Development Studies Institute (DESTIN) of the London School of Economics and Political Science on the 10th of October 2004, after I crossed over the Atlantic from Boston where I was working with the Youth Employment Summit Campaign. There are 9 of us in my batch and all my fellow research students are really cool and committed people coming from around the world. We have build a strong community here where we can support each other. I am also really honoured to have the best and the most supportive supervisors in my department who have both been an inspiration to me. I have had a great time here in the past 10 months reflecting on what I have done in my life so far and figuring out where I am heading next. I have been learning about how the academic world operates and finding out where I fit in the whole equation. So now after completing all my core academic requirements, I am all set to take off to do my field work in my home state Meghalaya, the "Land where the clouds come home" in North East India.

My research is focused on the implications of the Supreme Court logging ban on the rural livelihood strategies of the forest dependant communities in my state. I will be gone for about 4 months starting from September 2005 through January 2006 to collect my data from the field. I will be studying how the poor people are coping to sustain their livelihoods after the logging ban through agricultural intensification, diversification and migration in two sample villages located in different districts using both qualitative and quantitative methods to answer my research question. I will then return to the LSE in London to analyse my data before writing the finding on my 100,000 words thesis. This whole process should take me about 3 years to complete and hopefully I will walk out of the great academic institution with a doctorate degree in 2007. I have got miles and miles to go, so wish me luck!

Addressing the World Bank on Youth & the MDGs

In collaboration with the United Nations Association, the UN body mandated to organize the annual celebrations on October 24 of United Nations Day, the World Bank Y2Y Community organized a full-day event at the World Bank on Youth and the Millennium Development Goals – linking the local with the global on Friday, October 22, 2004. The week leading up to UN Day 2004 in the National Capital Area focused on the process and achievements made towards reaching the MDGs. Given the increasing attention both within UN agencies and affiliates, including the World Bank, and outside on the important role of youth in development, the UNA and the Y2Y Community decided to dedicate a full day during the UN Week 2004 celebrations in DC to youth and the MDGs.


The event showcased the work and activities of United Nations agencies and affiliates, NGOs, including the World Bank, on youth and the MDGs, making an explicit link between both local and global experience. The event provided an opportunity for participants to learn about the MDGs, share lessons learned, stimulate discussion, provoke thought and discuss related work both locally and globally. The conference stated with a basic course on the MDGs in order to provide participants with a foundation. The second activity was a panel discussion where I was invited to address the Bank’s young staff members and other participants on “The Relevance/Role of youth in achieving the MDGs“. The participants also benefited from an overview on this topic and different perspectives ranging from multilateral, to regional, to an NGO. Once equipped with an this understanding, they moved onto roundtable discussions where they will be presented with more detailed information on various case studies of “youth inclusion” in achieving the MDGs.


The event brought attention to the crucial role of youth in achieving the MDGs, as well as the important work which the UN agencies and the World Bank is doing, both locally and globally, to integrate youth and better address their respective needs and concerns. The event also brought greater awareness locally of both the work and role of the World Bank and of the UN, and of collaboration between these organizations as well as other organizations.

Graduating from Columbia University in New York

It was the 22nd of May 2002, my big day graduating from Columbia University's School of international and Public Affairs (SIPA). I was so happy to have my papa beside me on that special day who flew 15,000 miles all the way from India to watch his first son do the ceremonial walk and get his degree for the Master of International Affairs. The night before on the 21st of May, my school SIPA had its own little graduation ceremony for its 700 graduate students who walked down the isle of St. John's the Divine, the largest cathedral in North America. As I was appointed as the Lead Marshal of my graduating class by the Deans of SIPA, I had to lead my fellow students as the pipe organs played in the background that night. It was such a romantic experience as the sound echoed in my ears. The cathedral was so huge that it could fit all the 7000 friends and family members of the graduating students. Our graduation speaker for SIPA was New York City Major Michael Bloomberg. He reminded us of what happened in 911 one semester before our graduation, and that we must be strong and defend our freedom. Huge screens were hung from the top of the cathedral projecting the walk, so that the people at the back of this massive cathedral could see their loved ones get their degrees. It was a grand event that night and I could still remember everything just like yesterday.


The next morning the full graduation ceremony took place outdoors on the university campus for all the 15 schools of Columbia University where about 10,000 students and 50,000 cheering family members took part. Our out going Columbia President Dr. George Rupp gave his farewell and blessings to his graduating students before saying goodbye to his own colleagues at the university. My colleagues and I from SIPA did not realize that we were on the front page of the New York times the next day, probably we attracted too much attention waving the different mini flags representing the countries that our graduates came from. It was truly a very colourful and spectacular event.


The following are excerpts from President Rupp's speech:

"Our destiny cannot be divorced from the fate of the rest of the world, including those furthest from us in geography, ideology, and socioeconomic status. The United States may be the world's lone superpower. But we cannot simply impose our will, even on those who seem relatively powerless.”

"One challenge we face together is, then, to make globalization work for the impoverished as well as the wealthy. To meet this challenge will certainly require more generous programs of foreign assistance than the post-Cold War world has so far produced. But it will also entail designing incentives and, when necessary, enforcement mechanism to assure that all the players follow the rules of the game.”

"So today we are challenged to rethink and re-order the ways we live together. First, globalization requires a reorientation of our stance in the international arena'a reorientation that recognizes how intimately we are interconnected with even those most distant from us. And second, along with our embrace of markets, we must affirm the legitimate role of public institutions in requiring adherence to rules of conduct and standards of quality to which all participants are held accountable.”

The day I met my hero President Nelson Mandela

On the morning of 29th September 2000 after the daily briefing with the members of my parliamentary delegation at the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, I ran across to the UN building two blocks down the road on 1st Avenue and 43rd Street. The day before on 28th September, I had delivered my official youth statement to the 55th Session of the UN General Assembly. Now I wanted to listen to my hero President Nelson Mandela, as he was due to brief the UN Security Council on the peacekeeping operation in Burundi.

I made sure I had all my UN security clearance tags to enter the Security Council chamber, as it was a closed meeting only for government delegates. I thought I was running late, but as I was about to open the chamber’s door, I heard a deep voice behind me and as I turned back, there was my man wearing a colourful shirt different from the rest who were all in their dark suits. So I held the door for him and his bodyguards and as he was about to enter the chamber, he stopped looked at me and greeted me "good morning young man". It is the happiest moment in my life to have the honour of shaking his hand and to wish him good luck on his briefing. I then entered the chamber and walked behind this tall man and sat close enough where I could film his briefing.


The Council President Moctar Ouane of Mali opened the show and introduced Nelson Mandela to the chamber packed with top UN officials and diplomats from many countries. Then UN Secretary General Kofi Annan thanked President Mandela for travelling all the way to New York to brief the Council on the current phase of his peace efforts in Burundi. After that great introduction, Mandela started his briefing with a deep and slow voice “Mr. President” he said, addressing the Security Council President and I got it all on tape. It was just great. Thanks to his work, the peace process has moved forward significantly. The signing of the Arusha Agreement on 28 August, followed by the agreement on 20 September in Nairobi on the participation of the remaining three parties, is surely a very important milestone in Burundi's long and painful road to peace.

In his briefing President Mandela stressed that there could be no justification for the violent attacks on Burundian civilians when a comprehensive political agreement had been reached, opening the way for all sides to bring their concerns to the political table. He called on the rebel groups to demonstrate the quality of their leadership, announce a ceasefire and halt the slaughter of innocent people. He also told the Security Council that if the armed groups were not included in the peace process, there was no guarantee that the issues agreed to recently in Arusha by the 19 political parties would be followed by the rebels.


Secretary General Kofi Annan, who also addressed the Council, called the Arusha agreement a "comprehensive blueprint" for the reform of Burundian society. "It addresses the root causes of the conflict, such as exclusion and genocide, as well as the tragic consequences of the war, including the plight of hundreds of thousands of refugees and internally displaced people," the Secretary-General said. He also said that the United Nations was ready and willing to make its contribution to the success of these efforts -- for the sake of the people of Burundi, but also for the stability and prosperity of a troubled region, which could find a source of inspiration in a successful peace process in Burundi, for the negotiated settlement of its wider conflicts.

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly

Participation in decision-making is one of the key priority areas of the UN's agenda on youth. This, of course, should also be applied to its own work. Therefore, for some years, the most direct form of youth participation at the UN has been the inclusion of youth representatives in some of the the official delegation to the General Assembly of the UN in New York.

For the 55th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, eight countries included youth in their delegations. I was appointed by the Indian Prime Minister to be included on India's national delegation to the historic Millennium Summit and Assembly that brought together 189 heads of states and governments, who later launched the Millennium Development Goals. My fellow representatives from other countries and myself were at the General Assembly for at least two weeks to raise attention to youth related problems. We were in New York from the mid-September until the first half of November 2000. The role of a youth representative varies between member state delegations. Most of us were responsible for delivering a statement to "the Third Committee." The Third Committee is the part of the UN General Assembly that deals exclusively with economic and social affairs.


Six of us addressed the Third Committee under item 103 of the General Assembly's agenda on social development. I delivered my official youth statement of 28th September 2000 on Youth and Sustainable Livelihoods. All of us also attended a number of meetings within the UN, and assisted our delegations in their consideration of agenda items relating to youth. During several weeks in New York, most of us had time to fulfill a mixture of roles, being both trainees, politicians, diplomats and lobbyists. Together we also published our own bulletin and organized a well-attended Youth Symposium at the UN followed by a press conference.


All these activities were aimed at raising awareness about the importance of having youth representatives and encouraged other States to include Youth Representatives in their delegations, as well as about the importance of youth participation in general. Several meetings between the Youth Unit and the Youth Representatives took place. The Youth Delegates bring the knowledge home to tell youth in schools and youth-organizations on how UN deals with youth issues.

Follow these 10 steps to be appointed as the official Youth Representative of your country to the UN General Assembly:

1. Join your National Youth Council or any other youth platform that represents the youth voice of your country. You can connect to existing National Youth Councils through the World Assembly of Youth.
2. Take a leadership role within your National Youth Council or youth NGO.
3. Promote the United Nations Charter and what it stands for in your country through your national organization or network.
4. Organize campaigns and briefing sections to inform other youth members about the importance of youth participation in decision making.
5. Highlight the importance of active and meaningful participation of youth people at all levels of decision making processes.
6. Have the National Youth Council or youth organization nominate you as a candidate for the official delegation to the UNGA.
7. Have the National Youth Council or youth organization to send your name to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your capital.
8. Follow up with government officials, who will forward your name to the Prime Minister's or President's office for approval.
9. If the Head of State approves your candidacy as youth representative to the UNGA you can start a media campaign in your country.
10. Organize a formal debriefing session for all interested youth organizations and press before you leave for the UN HQ and inform them what you hope to achieve through your participation in our country's official delegation.

For more information please visit the following web site of the United Nations Youth Unit: http://www.un.org/youth

My 2000 Walk for Nuclear Disarmament

After participating at The Hague Appeal for Peace Conference in May 1999, I joined the "2000 Walk for Nuclear Disarmament." Around 1000 of us walked 300 kms in 10 days from the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, to NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, to bring NATO the message of the World Court. In July 8, 1996, the World Court said, "The threat or use of nuclear weapons would generally be contrary to the rules of international humanitarian law..." In a situation where a country is breaking international law then the Nuremberg Principles take effect. It basically states that if a country is not following UN laws it is every citizen's responsibility to stop its government from breaking these laws. NATO still has thousands of nuclear missiles within its control that it should be dismantling.


We had walkers of all ages from the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Romania, Ukraine, Germany, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Spain, Cameroon, Korea, Japan, Iran, India, Pakistan, Switzerland, Australia, Canada and the United Stated of America. As Walkers, there were Catholics, Protestants, Quakers, Hindus, Hara Krishna's, Buddhists, Muslims, Agnostic, Atheists and Non-denominationals. It was a family walk for me as I inspired my younger sister Iba and younger bother Aiban to walk with me. It was great to get their support!


The walk was organized by For Mother Earth, an organization that is run by direct democracy. All of the decisions are made by a form of consensus where everyone has an equal amount of power. When a proposal is brought before the organizational meeting called 'the circle' people either agree, disagree or block. If most people agree and no one blocks that then the proposal is passed. If most people disagree than the proposal doesn't go through, or if most people agree and one-person blocks then it still doesn't pass. This is how most decisions on the walk were made. This form of decision-making puts the responsibility on everyone, for everyone has the ability to make a change or try to improve any situation. Direct democracy is not always the easiest thing. Sometimes difficulties arise from translation problems, people not articulating their thoughts and participants of the Walk not participating in the circle because they are not used to responsibility. On a normal walking day wake up call would be at 6:30 in the morning and we would get up, put away our things and take down our tent. By 8am we would be packed and have our stuff on the luggage bus in time for breakfast. Normally we had muesli (raw oats with grain and dried fruit) with milk, soymilk or yogurt and good, European bread with jam, chocolate spread or peanut butter. Around 9:00 we had morning circle where we learned our route for the day, how far we were supposed to walk and what would happen in the evening. Then we would start walking.


The mayor of Brussels said he wanted the Walk to stop at the Brussels City limit. He also made it very hard to find a place to stay. On our last night outside of Brussels a helicopter flew high over head, then dropped and passed us about 20 feet (7 meters) off the ground. We were preparing ourselves for a police blockade in Brussels, but then the mayor said we could walk to the "Atomium," a relic left over from the 1958 World Fair. The mayor also said that we could not walk to NATO headquarters because Brussels, the city that prides itself as the capital of Europe with NATO Headquarters and European Parliament, has a ban on all political demonstrations. This ban was instated after the start of the bombing of Kosovo.


The morning we left for Brussels a very nice catholic school said we could sleep at their campus. When we got inside the city limits many police escorted us to the Atomium, a large building looking like (guess what?) an atom. The police had eight mini-vans, one of which had riot gear. That night the mayor gave his approval for us to walk to NATO Headquarters on the next morning. The next day we set out for NATO headquarters, and once again we had the police escort. The police helicopter also flew over us all day. When we got to NATO, I was very surprised by the reception. There is a four lane, divided road running in front of NATO. The two lanes on NATO's side were blocked off by portable razor-wire fence. The fence posts were in an "x" pattern; so on the top there was a "v." There was at least 500 uniformed officers (later I heard they were Belgian State Police) with many Big Black Trucks. Many of the officers had riot gear, with shields, helmets and plastic swords or rubber batons.


We walked down our two lanes until they were also blocked off by razor wire fence that was going from NATO to the building on our side of the road. Then we told them we wanted any information they might have relating to illegal nuclear weapons. They said they would let five people in to negotiate. As one of five negotiators we didn't get the information we wanted. So we went to plan "B," which was a "citizens inspection." This is a way of taking the law into our own hands and following the Nuremberg Principals. Taken after the example of inspections for illegal weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, citizens would try to enter NATO headquarters and look for evidence about the existence of, or placement of, nuclear weapons within NATO states. I decided to leave after that to attend to my sick brother at the camp. The rest of the demonstrators were arrested (including some who were not planning on it and had not made it through the first line of riot police) and were freed with in 12 hours. When they were freed from the police custody, the police always said "See you tomorrow!" Indeed, many went back for a second round. All in all we had 272 arrests. This made global television, including CNN (edited out of the American version). Hopefully these events raised awareness that the continued threat of nuclear weapons is illegal!

While on the walk I wrote this song and sang it to my fellow peace walkers in front of NATO HQ in Brussels. So here goes flying on my mighty wings!

I started out caring for my world since I was a boy
She gave me her love and I gave her my heart and my soul
Some folks say that I'll never make it
But I guess that they must have been wrong
Cause she's still got control of my life and I'm still going strong

Don't wanna have a human extinction, don't wanna have a nuclear war
You know I'm gonna work for world peace, you might say I'm a crazy man
But I've made a commitment, I'm standing by my mission
And I'm not giving up, cause I'm flying on my mighty wings

Can't say that it's always be easy, well that's ok
Well activism cost, but I've always been willing to pay
Sometimes it been a bit of a burden, but she's helped me to carry my load
And I'm still working night and day for mother earth

Don't wanna have climatic disasters, don't wanna have the oceans to rise
You know I'm gonna work to save earth, you might say I'm a crazy man
But I've made a commitment, I'm standing by my mission
And I'm not giving up, cause I'm flying on my mighty wings

I've flown a lot of miles already, but still there's some more to come
But when I reach the end, the world will be a better one

Don't wanna have children as soldiers, don't wanna have babies to die
You know I'm gonna work to stop this, you might say I'm a crazy man
But I've made a commitment, I'm standing by my mission
And I'm not giving up, cause I'm flying on my mighty wings

And I'm not giving up, cause I'm flying on my mighty wings
Flying on my mighty wings, flying on my mighty wings.................

Pedalling for the Planet across the United States

In the summer of 1998 I had the honour of pedalling for the planet with 100 others bikers in a programme called Bike Aid, travelling 3,700 miles by bicycle from San Francisco to Washington DC, raising a dollar a mile to support grassroots development and environmental projects and programs globally. I was at the United Nations HQ in New York attending the Commission on Sustainable Development and got a call from my colleagues in Bike Aid HQ in San Francisco that there was room for an international partner rider from Asia. The Seattle group has an African rider and the Portland group had a South American rider. So I took my trans continental flight to SFO, took off my suit, put on my biking gear and then next morning rode 60 miles starting from the Golden Gate Park to the East Bay area. It was a painful day, as unlike the others, I did not get the chance to warm up my muscles two weeks earlier and prepare for the long ride.



As the team leader it was my responsibility to make sure that my group of 35 bikers get from point A to point B safely every day. My strength increased after riding across the Sierra Nevada Mountains and beautiful Lake Tahoe. By the time I got to the Rockies in Colorado I was ready for the 15,000 feet climb through Rabbit Ears pass. There was a lot of snow on top even in mid July and most riders got hypothermia, but thankfully my mountain blood protected me on the cold descend.


When I got to the Blue Ridge Mountains of West Virginia, I felt like I was home from the similarity of the scenery. I remembered going downhill this 10% grade descend full speed at 35 miles a hour and singing John Denver’s song “Country road take me home” and it was drizzling softly as I lost my concentration. Suddenly I saw a flash on my rear view mirror and then I saw another vehicle coming up from the bottom of the mountain and I was in the middle of the road. My reflex action took over and I pressed my breaks and then in a split second I remembered flying over my handle bars like superboy only to crash land on the road side with deep cuts on my right elbow and left leg. Both the pick-up trucks saw me fall and slowed down thankfully. The drivers stopped and gave be first aid and asked me if I needed a lift. I stood up and found out that no bones were broken and after checking that my bike was still in good shape, I rode again. Oh well at least I have scars to remember to show to my grand kids some day if I last that long.


Well my team met up with the other two groups from Seattle and Portland and in Leesburg, Virginia and then we rode together to Washington DC as one big united group. When I reached the end of my 9-week journey, I parked my bike and addressed the press conference on the steps of the US Capitol before going inside to meet different US Senators and to lobby them for more international aid to support developing countries. It was an amazing grand finale in DC when we actually got to vote which projects and which country the $500,000 that we had collective raised as a group would go to. Long live Bike Aid and our sweat, tears and gears!

Meeting the Secretary General of the U.N.

I met Secretary General Kofi Annan in April 1997 at the United Nations HQ in New York during the 5 years review process of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. Many youth delegates from across the globe gathered in New York to reaffirm their commitment to Agenda 21. Together as young concerned global citizens, we observed that planet earth took off 5 years before from Rio and now it has landed in New York to be serviced. So we the youth were going to check what has been recorded in its Black Box.


To our disappointment the promises that were made by our governments have not be kept. So as the heads of state and government gathered in the chamber of UN General Assembly for the Earth Summit+5 we made black boxes for each of them with our own demands inside. Of course we had a big black box for Kofi Annan and we all went up to his office on the 37th floor of the UN Secretariat to deliver our demands to him after our press conference with the global media. That was the time when I created an electronic group now call the WSSD Youth Caucus list which has been active since 1997 to connect the young people around the world working in line with the UN Commission on Sustainable Development. To join the group go to http://groups.takingitglobal.org/WSSD-YouthCaucus ok.

Meeting the President of India

I met President R. Venkataraman in October 1995 at the United Nations country office in New Delhi. He was accompanied by India’s former Ambassador to the United States Dr. Karan Singh and the Director of United Nations Information Centre. It was a special day to observe the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations on 24th October with the President. A special function to remember the work of the UN was held for all senior diplomats and UN officials on that day. I was there to speak on the role of Indian youth in the context of thinking globally and acting locally!


The current President of India Dr. A.P.J. Adul Kalam is also a great supported of children and youth. Dr. Kalam is one of the most distinguished scientists of India with the unique honour of receiving honorary doctorates from 30 universities and institutions. He was the Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister and Secretary, Department of Defence Research & Development from July 1992 to December 1999. During this period he led to the weaponisation of strategic missile systems and the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in collaboration with Department of Atomic Energy, which made India a nuclear weapon State. Dr. Kalam became the 11th President of India on 25th July 2002. His focus is on transforming India into a developed nation by 2020.

My good old days in the Indian Air Force

It was in the summer of 1993 when I decide to join the Indian Air Force National Cadet Corps (NCC). I was 18 then, but I have always had the passion to fly and conquer the skies as a boy. Since I moved 2000 miles to the Capital, New Delhi from my hometown Shillong to start my university there, I joined the Delhi No.1 Air Squadron. Since then the Air Force was like family to me and I had the best 3 years of my life packed with thrills and adventures. I did all the flight and military training required and also all the other adventure sports which included sky diving, scuba diving, river rafting, horse back riding, sailing, mountaineering, etc offered by the NCC. I started flying gliders, then micro-lights and then moved on to the Cessna.


I was later selected as the best Air Force Cadet representing my Air Squadron and then I competed in the prestigious annual Republic Day Parade in 1996 with the best of the best in the country’s Army, Navy and Air Force. It was just an amazing experience for me to be in the same camp with all these amazing young talents from all the states across the nation. We also had foreign cadets from Singapore, Scotland, England, Canada, and Nepal in our camp. The completion was so tense both physically and mentally and I was in the top 5 of the nation.


Later on I cleared the Staff Selection Board exams at the Northern Air Command to be commissioned as a fighter pilot, but I was required to stay with the force for the next 15 years of my life as a bond according to government regulations. Anyway after graduating from university with my first degree, I decided to leave the Air Force and move on with my graduate study in Environmental Communication as I won the WWF Prince Bernard Scholarship for Environmental Leadership. It was a good move for me, but I will always cherish the best days of my life that I spent with my colleagues in the Indian Air Force.

Hollywood Swing, Boston Tango, New York Salsa

Swing with the Stars

While I was working in Los Angeles, my Japanese buddy from Hiroshima and I used to go to the Derby to Swing in the weekends. well it was back in 1926, when the first restaurant opened its doors on Wilshire Blvd in Hollywood. Back in the days they say that on any given night, one could find such stars as Charlie Chaplin, W.C. Fields, or John Barrymore on the dance floor. So if you are lucky you may be dancing we the stars from Hollywood who love to Swing. I highly recommend swing dancing, its so cool and you feel like you are flying.
Check out http://dancingla.homestead.com/DERBY.html ok

Tango by Moonlight

While I was working in Boston, I used to Tango on Wednesday nights by the Harvard University pedestrian bridge. Argentine Tango is an amazing, but difficult dance. They guys have to lead the girls, so they must know every step they take. See the movie "Scent of a woman" if you know what I mean. But people of all ages come to dance or just to watch and listen to the music outdoors by the light of the full moon shimmering over the rippling waters of the Charles River. It is indeed in a romantic and atmospheric setting and I highly recommend giving it a shot, if you happen to pass by Cambridge. Check out http://www.bostontango.com/special-events/moonlight/ ok.

Salsa in the Big Apple

While I was working in New York, my colleagues and I used to go to the famous Copacabana to Salsa. I love Latin dancing and the Capacabana is an amazing place to learn and dance to the different styles and music of Salsa from countries like Cuba, Colombia, Mexico, etc. The moves are different from Tango and Swing of course, but it is always worth a try. So if you are ever happen to be in the city that never sleeps, go burn the Salsa dance floor. You will feel like sailing in the wind. The girls can also take the lead in this dance guys. Check out http://www.copacabanany.com/ ok..