Why YIF? - A Mystery To Many, Decoded By Me

“Why did you do YIF?”

This is a question that I’m often bombarded with, after I graduated from Ashoka University as a part of the Young India Fellowship Programme.

And the people who ask this question? They come in all shapes and sizes. They could be my loved ones, who are fascinated by the allure of liberal arts. Or it could be the sceptics, who thought I was stupid to choose something different like YIF over a more traditional path.  

Recently, though? One of my close friends from college posed this same question, two years after I'd graduated.

“Why did you do it?” He asked me, sounding genuinely puzzled. “Why not an MBA or something else?”

At that time, I didn’t say much and parroted the generic stuff that I normally do. Because you see, my salesmanship skills are quite weak, especially when it comes to selling myself.

But later, as I went back home, I realized that… I had a lot to say about YIF.

And if you’re interested, you can read it too:

Kya Hai Yeh YIF?

If you want the TLDR version, YIF (or Young India Fellowship) is a post-graduate programme in liberal studies and leadership.

Now, here comes the next question:

Kya hai yeh liberal studies?

To make it very simple for you: it’s everything under the sun. From YIF’s context, though, it’s a multi-disciplinary programme. This means that you can take up any combination of subjects, along with the main courses. One day you could be studying ecological philosophy. The next day, you could be studying all about Indian elections.

So, over the course of one year, you get to study close to 20-21 subjects and get introduced to concepts which you would have never ever imagined existed.

And that’s not all, you’re not assessed basis your final exams always. Each course has a tailor-made mode of assessment, which will make sure that you get the concept at its course. These could be research papers, skits, projects – anything that the professor wants.

The best part is? You get to be taught by people who are literally the Avengers of their fields. I know I sound like a boomer when you read that sentence, but please bear with me. The teachers really, truly are amazing.

They are people who’ve made change happen and who come with a wealth of experience that you, as a learner, can gain so much from.

Aur kya kya hai YIF me?

The story of a YIF’s journey doesn’t just end here.

Apart from studying, you also have to be a part of two more equally intense programmes – the Experiential Learning Module and the Critical Writing Programme.

Experiential Learning Module, to put it simply, is the chief practical component of your course. Apart from the assignments you do, ELM (as it’s called more commonly, because saying Experiential Learning Module again and again is time consuming) allows you to be a part of a project with a leading company, NGO, or other organizations. You, along with others from your team, have to help these organizations solve their real-world projects and get to apply what you’ve learned during the fellowship in a practical setting.

When I was a YIF, I got the opportunity to be a part of a project with a textile revival startup, which aimed at modernizing dying handloom textile crafts for urban Indian women. The eight months I spent for the project not only helped me understand the difficulties that Indian textile artisans face, it also taught me how businesses for social impact really work. Plus, I got to work with a group of really cool people, who came from different parts of the country. While we were different on the surface, we made a pretty good team. 😊

Now, you must be wondering: Hey! You mentioned something about a Critical Writing programme. What is that about?

It is… not creative writing.

And that’s NOT a bad thing. It’s actually pretty terrific.

If I want to put it simply, Critical Writing is basically one component that teaches you of one of the toughest writing styles: the writing that makes sense.

In a world full of pretentious snobs, throwing in flowery words that only Shashi Tharoor knows the meaning of, the art of writing that makes sense is very important.

The Critical Writing programme, at the core, helps you be clear with your thoughts. It teaches you how to ask the right questions and critique arguments, instead of holding onto a biased viewpoint. And then, it helps you how to communicate these thoughts through different academic writing projects, such as research papers, book reviews and more.

On a personal note, it also opens your eyes to perspectives which you never, ever would have imagined you had and would encourage you to be more open minded.

Kyu kare hum YIF?

Why should you do it, really?

It’s a question that many ask me, and my honest, bluntest answer is this:

Do it because you want it to.

At the outset, YIF can open doors to opportunities you never would have imagined existed. You learn so many different courses, while juggling between the ELM and Critical Writing programme. That’s not all, you get to meet and interact with peers from all over the country and who come from diagrammatically different backgrounds from yours. This is the best opportunity for peer learning and build relationships, not just fishing for 'contacts' as a 'networking' tactic.

Even from a practical, pragmatic standpoint, it offers a lot. The placement opportunities are with some of the best companies in the country and the roles you get are meaty. Even after you’ve graduated, you are a part of a close-knit alumni network, which gives you access to job opportunities which you wouldn’t have gotten on a social platform like, say, LinkedIn. Apart from this, a unique course like YIF stands out in your resume and also gives you an extra edge if you’re applying for masters abroad.

But at the core of it all, do YIF because of who you are as an individual and what you want from life.

It’s not a one-size-fits-all package.

It’s the first renaissance of your life, which helps you discover a version of you that you never thought existed.

And if you’re open to discovering newer horizons of your potential, then I highly recommend it.

So, what are you waiting for?