At 356 million, did you know that India has the world’s largest population of youth? And all it takes is a little appreciation and guidance to allow them to break free and shine. A Bengaluru-based talent discovery platform, Campus Diaries aims to celebrate the young and the restless’ contribution to India with their annual 25 Under 25 Awards programme in the city on March 12 and 13 at The Zuri, Whitefield. The top 100 change makers in the fields of writing, photography, art and design and science and technology will come together to use their talent and experiences to bring exciting new ideas to the world and change a thing or two if they can, along with eminent mentors like artist Raghava KK, wildlife photographer Kalyan Varma and Nextrdrop’s Anu Sridharan to name a few.
According to the head of community engagement at Campus Diaries, the inspiration behind this initiative was the youth themselves. “Our entire platform’s mission is to discover and empower talent from among students and young professionals, and enable them to form communities that help each other and the society at large,” says Nandini, about their hunt that began in September, last year.
The two-day affair will see everything from robot jams and drum circles to live performances, storytelling sessions and workshops in writing, art and photography. And the chosen few will collide at the 25 Under 25 playground to unleash their ideas. Sure they will clash, but that’s the beginning of creation right? “Interdisciplinarity is the key to any kind of problem solving. It baffles most people how various subjects are connected, but I see the brimming potential of different backgrounds and specialisations coming together to reimagine things,” says Koyal Chengappa, a visual art and design finalist from Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology. With an interest in bridging the gap between public policy and communities, “I also want to teach and do away with all the White-centric aspirational lives mainstream brands resort to with Indian audiences. I want to make beautiful books, I want to be able to apply design to visualising data; there is so much to be done, and I know I will get there,” she says.
People like Koyal and their sheer optimism is what the world-class jury that includes artist Raghava KK, wildlife photographer Kalyan Varma and Nextrdrop’s Anu Sridharan to name a few, find contagious and thrilling. “The number 25 excites me! I think there is a ridiculous amount of optimism, excitement, and energy — the kind when channelised, can create anything. I’m excited to be energised and inspired by these young people,” adds artist Raghava KK, who will also be seen conducting a workshop on how to build a creative vision-based business.
