There are 3 pillars of Sustainable Development - economic, social, and environmental. 

People have made mnemonics to remember the SDGs. However a problem with many of them is that you have to learn a bunch of SDGs together. Consider an acronym KOTA for 4 SDGs. Using it, one is not able to recall the SDGs individually - thus it is better to learn each goal individually. I have presented my methods of learning them. A few may seem convoluted. Pick and choose what you like, and for the rest you should make your own.

You can click on any goal for more information on the United Nations website.

Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere

How can we talk about development when so many people are living in poverty? The Number 1 priority is to end poverty. "Garibi Hatao गरीबी हटाओ "

By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere.

Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

Link Two to - 2 square meals a day, 2 joon ki roti ( 2 जून की रोटी )

Every human should get at least that.

Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

To be healthy is to be well in all dimensions - mind, body, and soul; diet, exercise, and medicine. Take care of your 3D health.

SDG 3 - 3D Health.

Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning

An animal walks on 4 legs. Without education, a person is vulnerable to be exploited and their condition might be no better than an animal who walks on 4 legs. The knowledge of our species is stored in books- education elevates man from mere animal existence.

SDG 4 - 4 legs - Education

Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

When women are empowered, they will be on an equal footing to men, and will say - "Give me 5 ! " 

Goal 6: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all

Have you watched a game of cricket? There are many memorable matches where a batsman washed away the opposition with a flurry of sixers.

"Kya match the yaar, Dhoni ne Australia ko dho dala! | क्या मैच था यार, धोनी ने ऑस्ट्रेलिया को धो डाला ! "

SDG 6 - Sixer / छक्का - wash away the other team - wash using water - WASH = Water and Sanitation

Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

Solar energy is set to be a major source of sustainable and modern energy in the 21st century. Sunlight separates into 7 colours in a rainbow.

Link SDG 7 to 7 colours of a rainbow = sunlight= energy

Goal 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all

A tilted 8 is ∞ - the symbol for infinity. Human desires are limitless. It seems like everyone wants infinite growth. To increase the Per Capita Income of India, 8% growth of a few years isn't enough. It requires sustained growth for decades, it requires decent employment to take advantage of the demographic dividend, which will recede by 2050, according to the Economic Survey 2016-17 released by Government of India.

Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

3 Is - Infrastructure, Industry, Innovation

The square root of 9 is 3. There is the concept of the third eye. 

Only when you are knowledgeable and creative, it is as if your third eye opens and you are able to innovate. This requires infrastructure. Innovation leads to growth of industry.

However you can, link SDG 9 to 3i.

Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries

Just look at the number 10. A one and a zero. We don't want a world where one person is 1, has everything, while another is 0, with nothing.

We want a win-win world, where everyone is 1. 1-1, not 1-0.

Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

When we think of the world's most prosperous cities, the image that comes to mind is that of skyscrapers. Look at the number 11. It is like 2 skyscrapers. Twin towers - like the Petronas Towers.

11 - Towers- Cities

Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

Every year, the Environmental Working Group publishes its Dirty Dozen list, naming the fruits and vegetables that rank highest in pesticide residue.

Think of the Dirty Dozen - where a very high price in terms of pesticides is being paid for production of food for consumption.

Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

The number 13 is considered unlucky by many. Climate Change is leading us towards a Friday the 13th type apocalypse.

Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources

Goal 15: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss

SDG 14 relates to oceans. Sea levels are rising, and encroaching upon coastal land.

SDG 15 is all about land - forests, biodiversity, land degradation, desertification.

Goal 16: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies

1. the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development,
2. the provision of access to justice for all, and
3. building effective, accountable institutions at all levels.

A few SDG 16 targets are -

• Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere

• End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children
• Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all

A sweet sixteen is a coming of age party celebrating a teenager's 16th birthday. Imagine a girl who just turned 16.  She should not face violence, or be a victim to human trafficking. There should be justice.

Link SDG 16 to Sweet Sixteen - 16 year old girl - Peace, not violence and Justice

Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

Finally the 17th and last goal is related to partnerships for achieving Sustainable Development-  between governments, the private sector and civil society. 

This article was updated on April 8, 2018