The Convocation Ceremony for Cohort One Fellows of the Digital Swaraj Fellowship (2023-2024) was a momentous occasion, held on 15th September 2024 at Barkatt House, Pondicherry. The ceremony was a celebration of the fellows’ transformative journey over the past year, highlighting the significant impact of the program on both personal and professional fronts.
Fellows Maitri Singh, Mili Dangwal, Pratiksha Kamble, Punti Kumari, Swati Tiwari, and Shrishti Sinha shared their experiences, reflecting on how the fellowship had shaped their growth, provided opportunities for meaningful work, and fostered a deep connection to the communities they served. Each fellow offered valuable insights into the challenges they faced and the triumphs they achieved during their fellowship, underlining the life-changing nature of the experience.
For the incoming cohort, the day provided an invaluable opportunity to learn from their predecessors. Listening to the reflections of the graduate fellows, the new cohort gained practical advice and guidance, which would help them navigate their own fellowship journeys. The ceremony served as both an inspiring and enlightening event, celebrating past achievements while also looking toward a future shaped by digital inclusion and empowerment.
One of the highlights of the day was the launch of the book “Imprints of Change: The Journey to Digital Swaraj,” co-edited by Dr. Arpita Kanjilal and Ashwini Shah. This anthology of experiences, learnings, and insights from the 2023-2024 Cohort serves as a testament to the profound impact of the Digital Swaraj Fellowship.
The book is divided into two parts:
– Part One: Digital Swaraj in Action captures stories of grassroots transformation led by fellows. Narratives from Maitri, Mili, Pratiksha, Punti, Swati, Shrishti, and Vikas Chinchkar highlight unique initiatives that used digital tools to foster citizen-centered development and create a resilient digital ecosystem.
– Part Two: Fellows ki Duniya: Notes from the Field, authored by the seven fellows, offers a more intimate look at the fellows’ personal journeys, detailing how they bridged urban-rural divides and overcame challenges to emerge as digital changemakers, leaders, and experts.
Jayesh Ranjan, the Special Chief Secretary of the ITE&C and Industries & Commerce Departments of the Government of Telangana, honored the ceremony as the Special Chief Guest. In his address, he emphasized the importance of the fellowship in creating future digital experts and leaders, urging the fellows to make the most of their experiences and continue to drive change.
The ceremony chaired by Osama Manzar, Founder & Director, Digital Empowerment Foundation, also graced by special guests, including Board Members, and the Advisory Board of the Digital Empowerment Foundation and the Digital Swaraj Fellowship. A few of the keynote attendees were Mr. Mathew Cherian, Ms. Shalini Kala, Mr. Amitabh Singhal, Ms. Sharada Kerkar, Prof. Amirullah Khan, Mr. Satya Prabhakar, Mr. Swaraj Shetty, Ms. Piya Bahadur and Mr. Praveen Kumar. They shared their words of wisdom, and pride in witnessing the fellowship initiative grow and excel in its mission to create a generation of youth as digital experts and leaders, contributing to a more inclusive and empowered digital future.