Mohamid Fared

Northwestern University

Mohamid Fared

I believe that my best experience of the Delhi Trip was the outstanding cultural experience I got out of this trip. India is a country that is full of history, traditions and a rich cultural background. I got the chance to meet people from different upbringings, different perspectives and difference cultural and religious backgrounds. Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus and Buddhists were very diverse on the trip and of a very different ideology.

Looking at the streets of India it was very clear to me that their differences were not important because they were all Indians. They were very proud of their identity, history and culture. At the reception, meeting and seeing all of those different important figures made me perceive Indians in a different light. Yes, they are workers in Doha, but I got a chance to meet the politicians, the businessmen, and the citizens of India and not to label them anymore as migrant workers, as domestic labour or as anything else of that matter. I discovered while interacting with the students of St. Stephen’s College that I was talking to the future leaders of India, a truly rare experience and opportunity.

I want to thank The Doha Debates staff, the 10 students from Qatar but most importantly the Indian community, where freedom of expression, a basic human right, was fostered and reinforced. The Doha Debates stopped being just a “Doha” debate but truly an international debate.

My experience in this trip made me believe and feel that freedom of expression is something that is created and not given.