The First MUN @ SSU !

2nd October 2015
One of the landmark days I would say in my days at Sri Sri University.

My friends Priyanka and Lavita have taken this great initiative of "T.G.I.F" - Thank God It's Friday! No, it isn't the general exclamation of a forthcoming "high weekend" , it is an evening
marked for intellectual stimulation of the entire student community in innovative ways.
Since I have started taking my test series I have been reluctant to do anything apart from core academics, even when I know such events lead to unmatched holistic growth. When Pinka asked about the first ever M.U.N of Sri Sri University to be held on 2nd October 2015, I was reluctant - seeing it not fitting into my scheme of things. However, skillful as she is, she roped me in and I will always be grateful to her for this. The topic was "Resolving the Kashmir issue through a discussion in UNSC". And guess the country which Pinka and Lavita gave me - India -- the only one I wanted to represent.

The event started at 6 PM in the newly constructed Shruti Hall, and had 9 delegations of three members each - from the P5 (Russia, US, UK, France and China) and the G4 (Brazil, Germany, Japan and India). I had my classmate Abhishek Jagini along with me - a person skilled in political rhetoric and oratory skills. Abhishek began the session with a three-minute speech by India on our four-point formula for resolving the Kashmir Issue : -
1. Talk only after terror stops.
2. Withdrawal of Pakistani "fighters" and "fringe elements" from the POK.
3. Conducting a Plebiscite in POK by the Indian Election Commission.
4. To be conducted under UN Observation.

Our controversial clauses were enough to ensure that an adventurous and nail-biting conversation ensued amongst the nations. US had the issue of "How will you identify who is a terrorist",China raising issues of why no demilitarization?, while France alleged that stopping terror on grounds cannot be an excuse to stop talks, UK doubted the authenticity of our Election Commission and almost all the nations had the issue of "why only POK and not the whole of Kashmir? Sitting beside the Chair while being surrounded by the nations in a semi-circle,Listening to everyone to ensure not missing out on any allegation, talking to Abhishek to figure out responses, writing the response to each allegation and formulating written responses to chits received from other nations - I felt like a multi-tasking super-computer ! On the top of that we had a wild-card entry of "Yasin Malik" - the spearhead of separatist movements in Jammu and Kashmir. However our responses to the allegations were much more sharp and audience-supported.

To start with , India proposed a motion of "Increasing time allotted to India from 1.5 minutes to 2.5 minutes in order to effectively respond to various questions". It was unanimously approved by the committee. I got into the trouble-shooting mode in a phased manner. To US : "Even UNSC Resolution 49 had the clause of "securing the withdrawal of Pakistani fighters and citizens before conducting the elections" - holding relevance even today , to add to it to identify terrorists and terrorism India is pushing the long pending CCIT (Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism) ; to China : Army would withdraw only from the civilian areas and not from the battlegrounds, and would put up in Cantonments and temporary arrangements, we cannot sacrifice any more of our civilian lives ; to France : we believe in no-hypocrisy that talks ought to reflect the on-ground situation, peace in talks can prevail only from peace on ground ; to UK : IEC has conducted hundreds of successful elections since Independence vis-a-vis Pakistani counterpart
whose autonomy and authenticity is world-disputed ; to Japan : we recently agreed for a NSA level and DGMO level talks which were again hindered because of Pakistani Ceasefire violations, to everyone : even though India has the legal right as per Instrument of Accession to solve the issue bilaterally without inviting foreign intervention, we have agreed for the plebiscite, however if member-nations feel we can deliberate on the possibility of a plebiscite on both sides, India is ready to converse. To my"friend from J&K -J&K is witnessing record voter-turnouts - fighting elections to voice your opinion is the way to go!"

Each response was met by a round of applause which boosted our morals. After some more formal discussions, countries proceeded to talk to each other informally in order to create lobbies favorable to their position. G4 met and decided to stay united and pressurise their friends in P5 to vote in favor of India's draft resolution. After some more dynamic diplomatic conversations, we witnessed a scene which the world would want to see - USA coming forward with the initiative of formulating a draft resolution in the presence of all the countries - and it so happened! The points added were " Plebiscite across J&K", "not just UN observation but also UN collaboration in conducting the plebiscite" , " phased withdrawal of Army", " preventive custody of separatists till the elections end", " results to be respected and enforced by all".

Back in our seats me and Abhishek discussed the viability of this proposal. Just yesterday POK had widespread protests regarding people fed up of Pakistani rule. And voter turnout on this side of the border was clear enough an indication of where the wind was blowing in J&K as a whole. We thought the new proposal if passed would be a landmark decision in the history of UNSC affairs symbolizing that middle path solutions can be found out, and that UNSC has finally started delivering on key issues because of entrance of G4! We decided to go ahead with the proposal. Once the proposal was read and there were no points in its response, the Chair exclaimed : P5! How could you guys agree to it! This proposal if passed would assure India a Veto seat in the UN" - A fact which none of the participants were clear about since the beginning. What ensued was a never-seen-before hilarious role-play by student delegates to ensure VETO is delinked with Kashmir Issue. Both of us also appealed to delink the two things so as to move forward at least on one issue. Kashmir resolution is as important to India as anything else. The amendment was included in the draft proposal.

And it was time for the climax -- The Final Vote. We were expecting US and China to show their true colors in the Voting but to our utter delight and surprise they passed the motion culminating with the entire Committee adopting the motion. Both of us were extremely happy and felt triumphant. The experience of representing our country, defending it and pursuing it's interests on the highest international platform - was one of a lifetime experience. This was already overwhelming for us which was followed by us being awarded the Best Delegation too! Yuhoo! :D

Prof. Kamala Kanta Sir giving me(centre) and Abhishek(in Kurta) the first Prize. Sharan (extreme right) and Arushi played the Chair and Vice Chair.

Often when we are put into challenging situations only then we realise what our true potential is. I was a bit tensed since the morning - had it been any other country it wouldn't have mattered much to me - but since it was my own - non-performance would have meant letting my nation down. This is the worst thing which can happen to me. But the way things unfolded - I felt the whole event was MEANT for me. So many people would have got to learn so much from it, but being India was special. Multi-tasking with full awareness, choosing the correct words, saying the straightforward truth pleasantly and humorously, lobbying - so many of vital soft skills were blossoming inside which are indispensable for us as students of Good Governance and Public Policy.
The ways of the Master are strange, are beautiful. Jai Guru Dev!