On the historic occasion of India’s 79th Independence Day, the youth voice of Chhattisgarh found resonance on the global stage as Syed Azmaan Ali Madni, a third-semester mechanical engineering student from Raipur, returned from Istanbul after representing India at the International Volunteer Forum (IVF) 2025. The event, held from August 14–17, was organised by the Headway Institute of Strategic Alliances (HISA), an international public policy research institute headquartered in the UAE, with Glorno Corporation handling its research hub in the USA and event operations in the UAE. Azmaan, who is also a National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteer and a Viksit Bharat Young Leader under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, carried Chhattisgarh’s spirit of service to the international gathering that convened over 80 young changemakers from across the world along with UN-linked experts and civic leaders. “Chhattisgarh may be young as a state, but our ideas are world-class.

 

We don’t wait for resources-we build them, with communities, for communities,” Azmaan told The Hitavada while recalling his Istanbul experience. Over four days, delegates engaged in structured workshops, lightning talks, and networking circles across diverse themes, including youth-led public service, technology for social impact, human rights and international law, and volunteering in conflict zones. One session that left a lasting impression on him was by Doç. Dr. U?ur Yasin Asal on Volunteering in Conflict and Post-Conflict Zones. “His words reminded us that even in the harshest circumstances, service and resilience have the power to bring hope,” Azmaan reflected. The defining moment for Azmaan came on August 15 when he addressed the forum on India’s Independence Day. “Borders may divide us and politics may build walls, but the essence of humanity remains universal,” he said, drawing inspiration from Nobel laureates Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzai. His message of youth empowerment- “Believe in your ability to create change, no matter how small, and keep moving forward”-earned heartfelt applause.