Diplomacy, international affairs, and bilateral relations aren’t a ballgame for most. But what when kids find them interesting? Shreyanjit Kar, a Class XII student of D.A.V. Public School, Siliguri, is drawn to pursuing foreign diplomacy; he wants to become a foreign diplomat when he grows up.
We aren’t sure how much of his intellect Shreyanjit is using (whether 100% or more), but his knowledge, presentation skills, rational thinking, oration, and ability to persuade have been winning him accolades ever since he was a 12-year-old adolescent.
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Shreyanjit Kar is a regular 12th-standard student, but what sets him apart from his classmates and contemporaries is his affinity for rational discussions, policies, issues bothering nations, finding their possible solutions, and his pursuit of brilliance while remaining grounded. The teenager began by participating in an inter-school elocution competition, followed by several debates and speech competitions before IMUN (online) happened. He was in standard IX when he participated in the International Model United Nations for the very first time. His next appearance was in Legatio 2022, the UN General Assembly, which was held at Delhi Public School, Siliguri, where he won the title of the ‘most promising delegate.’
Kar represented the Netherlands in the European Council, in the Goenka MUN (Model United Nations), where he got a special mention because his competitors were far more senior and experienced than him. What followed this was a series of celebratory events – Delhi Public School MUN organized by the Youth of India, where he won the ‘best delegate’ title. Last year (2024), he represented Russia at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, in Diplomateia 2024, which was hosted by D.A.V. Public School, Siliguri itself. Besides these, Shreyanjit Kar has won small-scale MUNs, debated at district and state levels, participated in youth parliaments, and won several recognized debates.
AED: What brought you to participate in debates and speech competitions?
Shreyanjit:I was a wallflower up until I discovered that I could be much more (.) the (The) intense urge to be a part of something and the want to be recognized after being in the shadows of my peers up until grade 4 made me realize that literature is my path to salvation.
AED: What is your home environment like? Is it diplomatic, a usual Bengali household, or anything else? Please elaborate.
Shreyanjit: It’s at the tip of a fragile balance really, although my family is politically neutral to an extent, we have regular conversations about world issues, which I usually initiate, me and my parents work symbiotically in order to share information, my parents keep me updated on national headlines and I on the international problems, like for example, I told them about the tariff impositions and the Las Vegas fires and they shared the details of the registration issues of the teachers of 2016.
AED: Do you follow any specific study hours? Please describe your equation with studies.
Shreyanjit: Although this might vary from individual to individual, I do not have a specific time allotted for self-study, I sailed through class 10 ICSE through the way of listening in class and doing my homework and managed to score 93% without any tuitions, but class 11 and 12 surely hit hard as my marks plummeted in the first half of class 11. This was when I realized the slacking off did have its payback. Now, since I barely have time for being a sloth, I just utilize my time to study whenever my heart wishes for it, for me and chaos do not work well. The balance between me and studies is quite dynamic. I never force myself to study after hours, it's just that intense attention to what’s being taught in class teaches me what I need to learn, and a soft brush-up before exams does the job for me.
AED: What do you think about the current education system you are in? What are the two flaws with the system, and two factors that you think are good about it?
Shreyanjit: A very controversial question in my opinion, I fear I do not really prefer this education system. Rote learning, restricted syllabus and hardly any freedom sure did curtail my euphoria to a certain extent. I have lost count of the amount (number) of times I have been burnt out. I have spondylitis, and the hours and hours of continuous writing, reading, and memorizing has (have) left me immobile on my bed multiple times a month. During boards, I struggled with keeping my mental peace awhile (while) managing all these extra co-curricular (activities) and it has taken a toll on my persona. Nevertheless, it (is) not all graves and corpses, I actually prefer this system sometimes. I like how this system pushes me to my limits and helps me gain access to parts of me that wouldn’t be discovered if not for the immense amount of pressure, so it’s a double-edged sword really!
AED: Who’s your favourite bureaucrat among the current ones, and who’s among the veterans?
Shreyanjit: Well, my all-time favourite would be Dr. S Jaishankar, his throw of words and the way he’s always ready to answer journalists, other diplomats is incredibly inspiring and among the former lions of the diplomatic community, I find Kofi Annan to be the torchbearer of the UN, his resolution building, ability to guide entire countries and solve conflicts was instrumental in framing the United Nations.
AED: Debating often requires thinking on your feet. How do you prepare yourself mentally and emotionally before stepping onto the stage?
Shreyanjit: This is going to be quite radical, but the one tactic that I go through each time I enter an assembly hall or stand up to deliver my GSL, I consider myself to be better than everyone, this causes an adrenaline rush in me which cancels out any fear and nervousness that I previously felt, this might raise eyebrows but this is the one thing that I swear by and the moment you (I) enter moderated caucus or resolution drafting session, this attitude changes by a 180 degree and I’m all about being understanding and considerate in order to reach consensus peacefully.
AED: Can you recall a particular debate or MUN that challenged you deeply or changed your perspective on any particular issue?
Shreyanjit: It was the European Council where I was the prime minister of the Netherlands; the sheer amount of knowledge in that room left me dumbfounded. All of the other delegates had researched every nook and cranny of the agendas that dealt with the funding provided to Africa by the UN. It was then I realized what true diplomacy looked like, I was a shadow compared to them and it didn’t make me feel inferior, it made me feel inspired to work much harder that what I was doing, I learnt so many things that MUN, from how to debate more formally, how to answer radio sessions and the sheer excitement you get from debating with equals.
AED: What topics or causes are you most passionate about speaking on, and why do they matter to you?
Shreyanjit: I mean all the agendas I’ve dealt with up until now were very serious issue that needed to be addressed, but if I had the choice to pick up a few, I’d definitely always go for topics that deal with sexism, racism, discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community, climate change, safety and security in accordance with humanitarian aid, etc. These issues make me feel more connected to the world since it’s spreading like wildfire throughout the planet, and it’s often never really solved. So, when I speak about it, I feel like I can create a change.
AED: How has participating in MUNs helped you better understand international relations or global challenges?
Shreyanjit: First and foremost, I was shook (shaken) at how deplorable the condition of our nations were, from terrorism to rape cases to domestic violence, it seems as if the problems just never subsided. When I entered the world of diplomacy, I also agreed to learning about the various issues that are too terrifying and inhumane to be known by the general public. The amount of constitutional loopholes, (the) exemption of the wealthy from the consequences of their actions, to how billionaires collectively own the entire planet along with the humans. This has opened my eyes to how desperately we need a change to occur.
AED: Beyond speaking, what are the skills that you think you’ve developed through these platforms that will help you in your future career?
Shreyanjit: I gained the skill of observation, understanding, demonstrating composure under collective scrutiny, increased confidence, and so much more. Well, apart from that, I have gained a plethora of connections throughout the country with some amazingly talented people, which has honed my social skills to an ideal degree.
AED: Has your journey in debates and public speaking influenced your academic or career goals in any way?
Shreyanjit: Well, to be honest. It reshaped my entire ideology. I wanted to be a surgeon, but the world of MUN has me rooting to be a minister of foreign affairs now. It really shouldn’t be a mandate, though. You can be whatever your heart desires. I wouldn’t let anyone else shape my future for me, and neither should you.
AED: War isn’t a solution, but what when your opponent doesn’t value diplomacy? How would you deal with such tricky situations?
Shreyanjit: When diplomacy is spurned, we do not throw away our principles — we sharpen them. War is the failure of imagination and collective will and when a country resolves to it, it throws away the humanity along with it, if it were up to me, the international community must be leveraged to corner aggressors with overwhelming political, economic, and moral pressure, making the cost of defiance unbearable, without sacrificing the ethical high ground. In a world where some choose brute force, my answer would surely be of lawful resistance, not an embrace of anarchy.
AED: Why foreign affairs?
Shreyanjit: I choose (chose) foreign affairs in MUN because it gives me the chance to engage with real-world issues that are constantly shaping the world around us. Understanding diplomacy, international relations, and the different interests of countries not only sharpens my critical thinking but also teaches me how to find common ground in complex situations. It makes me challenge what I already know and serves as a plane (platform) for me to infinitely expand my knowledge about the ongoing issues of the international communities.
AED: Where did you go for your last vacation? What do you notice in any new place you visit?
Shreyanjit: I visited Kashmir last October, and to think the situation of that place now has me thanking God for keeping me and my family safe. My heart goes out to the families that lost their son, husband and fathers, this situation proves why diplomacy is required to prevent this rouge behavior. Apart from the radical extremists, that place was truly divine, if anything, I was too entranced with Kashmir to leave it and the hospitality made me feel like I was at home. The first thing I notice is the behavior, customs and traditions of the general public of that place and I try to mould it into myself as a new persona, it might seem weird, but humans are a kaleidoscope of everyone they’ve ever met and I believe that if I act as a sponge to absorb all these memories, I could truly be one with them.
AED: With so much brain work, you surely need serious relaxation. How do you empty your mind or rewire it after any disappointment?
Shreyanjit: There is no fancy answer to this, I absolutely love binge watching Netflix, Hoichoi, Jio cinema, and blast(ing) music whenever I get free time. If there is one mode of entertainment I could swear by, it’s music. I am amongst the top 2% listeners in (on) Spotify and I need music to function, from funk pop to retro jazz to evergreen Bollywood, you name it and I’ve heard it. It feels like an escape from reality, and it helps me heal physically, mentally, and psychologically
AED Question: Would you like to share any tips for juniors or those who aspire to participate in MUNs?
Shreyanjit: If you wish to know what it is like to be a part of a change, then come out of your shell, feel the excitement and fear course through your body, and see how diplomacy pumps knowledge into your veins. You’ll be smarter, resilient, sharper, and much more confident than you’ve ever been before, and the socials will leave you breathless each time.