The J. B. Petit High School for Girls’ first ever interschool JB Model G20 (JBMG20), held on November 25-26, 2023 at the Taj President, was "instrumental in awareness building amongst the youth of this nation,” said 15-year-old Sanjana Singh who was its secretary general. At the first ever inter-school G20 conference, where 150 students from Bombay and Bangalore schools participated as "representatives” of various G20 nations, she "not only imparted but also gained so much knowledge and perspectives about issues that are not discussed often at youth forums.” Speaking to Parsiana on December 15, Singh noted, "at the end of the conference most of the delegates were talking and thinking like diplomats.”
Top, from l: Ambika Tiku, Uma Ganesh, Benaifer Kutar, Anant Goenka, Yezdi Malegam, Milind Hardas, Tinaz Bana,
Manjeet Kripalani; above: school participants
At the opening ceremony executive director of The Indian Express Anant Goenka inspired participants by referencing the fascinating strength of over 1,000 mothers, not a single one literate, who came together to plant mangroves to save the Sunderbans ecosystem. "In India, I believe polarization can be saved by our diversity,” he stated. Author Uma Ganesh told participants how the opportunity to view different strata of society within a single city fosters an "innovative ecosystem.” She spoke of the danger of Artificial Intelligence (AI): "We can’t afford AI in India because we need the mundane jobs,” she stressed.
At the closing ceremony Brijesh Singh, principal secretary to the chief minister of Maharashtra, cautioned: "Generative AI is a newer beast. But it is parasitic. It needs guardrails.” He urged students to "develop a healthy scepticism, use common sense and fact-checking as a good inoculation against disinformation.”
As stated School principal Benaifer Kutar, "the secretariat’s persistence and determination have been exemplary, leading to valuable learning and growth throughout this challenging endeavor.” Faculty coordinator Tinaz Bana appreciated the participants’ ambition backed by passion, a strong sense of self-confidence and faith.
Supported by the government of Maharashtra as well as the G20 Secretariat of the union government, the summit was held in collaboration with think tank Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations.