Shubhang Setlur, a graduate of the Class of 2011 of the Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar (GNLU) has been selected for the prestigious Young India Fellowship (YIF) programme. The YIF is a one-year fully residential programme based in New Delhi which offers Fellows the chance to learn, interact and be mentored by industry leaders and academicians.
The YIF was founded by a “team of like-minded, successful philanthropists with strong academic and professional track records” including Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Founder and Executive Vice-Chairman of InfoEdge (naukri.com) and Vinati Kastia, Partner at AZB & Partners
Speaking to Bar & Bench, Shubhang (pictured above) recounts that he had applied for the YIF after having graduated from GNLU in 2011. As part of the selection process, he had to undergo five stages of selection including a detailed application dossier, group discussions and personal interviews. It was the sheer diversity of the courses offered by YIF that caught the interest of this Bangalore based advocate. An undergraduate in India is simply never exposed to the kind of diverse courses that the YIF offers, contends Shubhang and this is something that he intends to take full advantage of.
Speaking about his pet interests, Shubhang says that writing has always been a passion for him, yet it was a skill which he had never fully been able to develop. Although a stint with the editorial board at the GNLU Law Review did help, it was the impulsive decision to compete in the World Bank Essay Competition in 2008 which was a deeply influential event. Using his internship experience with Bangalore-based NGO Janaagraha, Shubhang submitted a plan of what an ideal city should be like. He found mention in the top 230 authors of the global competition making him consider writing as a viable “medium for expression.”
On his expectations from the fellowship, Shubhang wants to use the programme to hone his writing, leadership and entrepreneurial skills. The chance to interact and learn from leaders of industry is something which he is particularly looking forward to. On a long-term basis, Shubhang views the YIF as a “one-stop destination” in terms of the sheer number of opportunities that it offers.
When asked whether he had any words of advice for other students who might be interested in applying for the YIF, Shubhang replied that the YIF is different from other scholarships in the sense that it selects people on the basis of the candidate’s demonstrated ability in his/her area of interest, potential to benefit from the Young India Fellowship and the uniqueness of their applications.
To give an example, while submitting his application, Shubhang had mentioned his interest in Vedic Astrology. Much to his surprise, during the interviews, he was actually quizzed on this aspect.
Shubhang is quick to acknowledge that he cannot objectively state what exactly the selection panel is looking for. Shubhang’s stint at the International Law Commission, where he worked with the Indian member in formulating comments, may have had a positive impact. Grateful for having been selected, for now, he is simply looking forward to the experience.