Quest for Better Futures

In Episode 11 of Quest for Better Futures, Gautam John and Namrata Agarwal discuss how we can move beyond seeing young people as passive recipients of change and instead recognize them as active co-creators of solutions. How can we build a culture of active citizenship in India? How should institutions, leadership, and philanthropy change, given that uncertainty is the new normal? What if the futu...

For many of us, education, skilling, and employment are seen as three distinct stages, and not as a holistic continuum. Time and again, it has proven that skilling succeeds only when education and industry are seamlessly connected. In Episode 10 of Quest for Better Futures, Nikita Bengani and Atul Kumar Tiwari, IAS - Former Secretary, Ministry Of Skill development and Entrepreneurship discuss the...

A Google search for “top workplace skills” reveals lists full of ‘time management’, ‘leadership’, ‘creativity’, and ‘teamwork’. However, as Arnab and Arpita note, the idea of skills often hides deeper hierarchies of class, gender, and power. Think about it – how does society define and value skills? What do you classify as skills worthy of picking up?

People often say that if something can’t be measured, it can’t be managed, but what if that exact mindset holds us back from making meaningful change? In Episode 8 of Quest for Better Futures, Bhawna Parmar speaks with Punya Mishra about what happens when numbers define social change, and how education,in particular, has faced the consequences of this thinking. The full episode is now live on our...

What do you see, when you picture the future? If it’s AI, rockets and a highly engineered, precise world, you’re not alone. However, these visions are rooted in old, harmful ideas that dismiss nature and indigenous knowledge as “primitive,” carrying forward ideas with troubling origins. In episode 7 of Quest for Better Futures, Monika Bielskyte and Aakash Sethi explore how our ideas of the future...

In episode 6 of Quest for Better Futures, Neha Parti and Suchetha Bhat dig deep into the uncomfortable truths of leadership and privilege. From language, caste, and class to the subtle ways competition and control can undermine true collaboration, they confront the urgent questions we need to ask to co-create futures that are inclusive, equitable, and responsible. Host(s) - Neha Parti Guest(s) - S...

How do we balance today’s urgent demands while also being equally conscious of the rights of future generations?  In Episode 5 of Quest for Better Futures, Bhawna Parmar and Cat Tully of School of International Futures talk intergenerational fairness, the limitations of short-term political cycles, and the importance of civil society and youth in helping society move from outdated systems toward m...

If the future belongs to all of us, why do only a few get to shape it? What would it take to change that? In Episode 4 of Quest for Better Futures, Aakash Sethi sits down with Urvashi Aneja of Digital Futures Lab, to talk about the power of foresight, not just for policymakers and academics, but also for young people and communities to reclaim their place in shaping the future. They explore how fo...

Can we tackle the climate crisis without listening to those affected by it the most?
 Prof. Lyla Mehta and Shibaji Bose unpack the current dominant climate narratives with our colleagues Bhawna Parmar and Neha Parti. They highlight the critical role of education and the need for future literacy that equips youth with agency, imagination and real-world tools to navigate uncertainty and lead climate...

AI has moved from hype to a habit. In Episode 2 of Quest for Better Futures hosted by Namrata Agarwal, we are joined by Aapti Institute's Sarayu Natarajan to explore how we can take a more intentional role in shaping the direction of AI and emerging technologies, one that is youth-led and centres equity, ethics and human values.

How are young people shaping their futures in an ever-changing world? In a time when opportunities feel out of reach and the future is shaped by forces like AI, climate change and outdated education systems, young people are grappling with more than just career choices. In Episode 1 of Quest for Better Futures , we bring you the voices of Jai and Chandana, two young learners striving to rise above...

In a world of constant disruption, what does it take to build futures where young people thrive? Hosted by us, Quest for Better Futures brings you voices from young people and their allies at the frontlines of education, work, emerging technologies and climate change to challenge assumptions about what's possible and reimagine more just and inclusive futures. Host(s) - Aakash Sethi, Bhawna Par...