Who exactly is Kirty Mata Badal?
I am a 26 years old LLB graduate and currently pursuing my LLM Student Public International Law from the University of Leiden, the Netherlands. I am truly a Hindu by heart, a vegetarian and consider my family the most important thing in the world. In my spare time, I love to dance and “Bharatnatyam” is my favourite. I also love reading staking and painting.
When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me'. – Emma Bombeck. This is the quote I love and try to live by. And the other saying that inspires me the most is - ‘Be the change you wish to see in the World’ – Mahatma Gandhi ji.
What is your connect with India?
Since India is the country of my grandparents, I consider it my home. I can very well say that because that is the feeling I get the moment I arrive at Indira Gandhi Airport. It is the feeling of coming back home. Same culture, same religion, same people with dark hair and same skin colour, same food and I don’t need to constantly explain why I have certain values or habits.
When did your forefathers move to the Netherlands? How many generations of your family have been settled there?
I am the third generation to be born outside of India. In 1902, my great grandparents left India, to work in Suriname for a few years so that they could save money for a better future and return to India. But they actually missed the boat which was going to bring them back home to India. So, they decided to stay a bit longer and also the reason for my grandfather’s growing up in Suriname. Since Suriname became a colony of the Netherlands, they had the opportunity to send their children to the there for better education. My father, along with his brothers and sisters, were sent to the Netherlands in 1974. The circumstances became much better and our family decided to stay. Unfortunately, my great grandparents passed away in Suriname, without returning to India. Same with my grandparents, they also didn’t find a chance come back to their home - India.
You strongly believe in the Hindu ideology which is very rare in people of your generation. What is the reason behind it?
I strongly believe in the “Hindu dharma” but with some common sense and self education. I do not take lectures by priests for granted. In the Netherlands and Suriname, our culture and religion is very well preserved but it has been developed by some people in their own way. But to be honest there are still few groups of Hindus in the Netherlands that are even more conservative and old fashioned then the majority of Hindus in India.
I think the reason behind this is that our great grandparents missed their homeland a lot and to overcome that they did everything to make this new and strange country, look and feel like India. With the stuff they had, they tried to maintain and carry forward everything. They taught their children the importance of the tradition and values so that it could pass it on to their children and never forget where they came from.
Can you throw some light on the previous projects that you have worked on?
Ever since the age of 18, I have been quite busy working on social and cultural issues. I actually did pretty much of everything besides my studies. I always thought it as my own way of giving back to the society and I feel blessed for all the opportunities I have got. I have a strong belief in ‘do good in order to receive good’. In 2008, I was chosen to participate on the Outstanding European Leadership Programme from Fulbright in the US. I then won the 'Hague Spring prizes' of €1000, which was organised by a newspaper 'Algemeen Dagblad' and the municipality of the Hague. With the money I received as a prize, I established a Youth Foundation and organised a multicultural event with youngsters, the money which was being raised was meant for children in third world countries. I have been working on women rights issues and many more. Furthermore, I have been elected as the Dutch Youth Representative to the United Nations, for two years, being the first one with a Non-Dutch cultural background and Indian roots, makes me feel great.
At a session during the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (top left), and representing her country (right)
How did you go about to becoming the “Youth representative to the United Nations”? Do tell us about the journey.
Well, for becoming a Youth Representative on behalf of the Netherlands, I had to go through many debates and elections. People in the Netherlands had to vote for me. I still find it amazing that I was elected in 2011 as the youth representative over the people of the same origin. I have been a member of the Dutch delegation to the Commission on Population and Development, Commission on the Status of Women and the General Assembly of the United Nations. I got the opportunity to address the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2012 and share my vision with all the world leaders. In December 2012, I was a member of a delegation to Palestine and Israël, where I was on a children's rights mission. In April 2013, I was a member of a delegation to Croatia, for a Palestinian and Israëli conference. I have been to a lot of places around the world to speak and share my ideas and the topics I mostly worked on were implementation, gender equality, food security, education, youth participation and leadership. In the Netherlands, I organised a huge event on food security with a group youngsters.
It was quite a journey, hard work and being in this position for two years. You really get to know how people are, how they work and what they wish for you. You learn what politics are, what social work is and that there is a lot of corruption. However, compared to what I did, it was all worth it. I had the opportunity to meet and speak with so many people, thousands of youngsters and people such as mother Amma ji, Dadi Janki ji of the Brahma Kumari’s, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, but also Ban Ki-moon of the UN and Desmond Tutu. It was an amazing experience.
Where do you see Indian youth in future globally? Do you look forward to collaborating with Indian youth as well?
I believe that there is still a lot to gain for India, not only the Indian Government but also for the Indian Youth both living in and outside India. Outside India, Indian youngsters (especially PIO children) are growing up to high potentials. I see Indian youngsters taking leading positions in this world which is rapidly changing and growing. The Indian youth has a new way of working, new way of thinking, innovations, growing economies and growing groups of global citizens below the age of 30. These developments need youngsters and especially Indian youngsters who are known as hard and bright workers. At the UN I saw how world economies are investing in their youth and also rejuvenating their governmental bodies and business managements. Today’s youth has a lot of opportunities to gain knowledge then generations before. But I think that with the experience of the older generations, with the approach and knowledge of today’s generation India can become a real partner for other big countries such as US, China, Brasil and other developing as well as developed economies.
During the last PBD I have become the chair of GOPIO’s International Youth Council, so I look extremely forward to collaborate with all Indian youngsters across the world. I hope to connect them with each other, so they can exchange information, knowledge and connect with India and Indian youngsters. So, I would like to grab this opportunity and tell that whoever reads this - please, add my on Facebook or connect with me, so we can do something about the same!
According to you, in what ways can the Indian youth collaborate with the youths in Netherlands?
I believe that Indian Youth and Dutch Youth can exchange knowledge. The students of water management, science, construction, politics and technology can impart the knowledge in other youngsters. Both groups have their own specialism, which can be very important for both of them.
You have always followed your rule “Stop Thinking – Start Doing” and it has helped you achieve a lot. Would you like suggest the youth in India to follow the same rule and why?
Absolutely! I believe that conversations are important, but repeating things over and over again, is useless and a waste of time. Therefore it is necessary that we actually start doing, what we want, make sure that we do not only speak but also our words come into action. No one can achieve their dreams by doing nothing, everyone has to work for it. The longer you delay, the more is a risk to your position and your dream is achieved by someone else. As they say, hard work pays off.
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