India is a country of more than one billion people. Out of this huge population 45% of them are in the age group of 15 and 35. That is huge reservoir of energy, youthful exuberance, drive and a mighty force. It is more than the total population of Amercans, or Russians or Japanese or any other country except China. It is the demographic cream of the nation. About half of them are educated professionals or semi-educated skilled workers. Even the rest of them are beneficiaries of certain level of education however low. Those who are illiterate too are not ignorant fools like their ancestor. They are worldly wise young folk who are self-educated. Some of them are smarter than the literate ones.
On the whole, our young men and women are intelligent and aggressive. They have the drive to conquer the world. The future progress of India depends on them. Wisdom is not the monopoly of the old age. Experience is something from which everyone does not learn. There are a large number of old people in India who are as ignorant as they were in their youth. But today’s youth learns something or the other as the modern technology keeps bombarding us with knowledges and information. Modern youth have receptive minds. A learned wisdom reveals that the young persons have more virtue than the old.
Indian youth are full of spirit of adventure, daredevilry, courage, ambition and hope. An abundant energy keeps them charged up. Only thing that is required is to guide them into right path honestly. Their energies should be channelised into nation building and other creative works. The programmes and schemes must be drawn to use youth power in positive causes. At the same time the plans must help them individually build up their own careers. They should not merely be treated as volunteer force meant to be kept engaged in building castles in the air. The programmes should be really serious, practical and fruitful. These youth are no fools. They will quickly find out if they are being taken for a ride by the rulers. Their anger will be destructive. If properly guided and motivated they can work miracles being flexible, more generous and dynamic.
We must look at the example of China. Where in the decade fifties of the last century Mao-ze-Dong’s thoughts inspired Chinese youth to rise as one man to challenge the old systems. That movement called ‘Cultural Revolution’ paved the way for the emergence of modern China, the world power in economy and military might. The revolution leaders knew the power, unlimited energy of the youth, their single minded zeal and dedication to a cause. Similarly youth power brought complete change overs in France and Indonesia.
But in India, no effort is being made to harness this youth power to transform our country socially. Our youth energy is being wasted in local outbursts, aimless agitations, pointless violence and for the unholy causes of small minded, parochial rabble-rousing leaders. There is complete lack of any purposeful guidance, central theme or cause, channelisation effort or worthwhile programme. To add insult to the injury, the youth are being blamed for impatience, indiscipline, irreverence and irresponsibility. It is all because of lack of understanding of is grievance and mind of the youth by elders of the society and the governments of the old people. The old guard tries to see the modern situation with closed minds and foggy eyes open. The old generation wants to impose their outdated values on modern youth. A bullock cart mind can not understand how a modern jet should be handled. The need is to get the people who understand the mind of the modern youth, demands of today and tomorrow and national aims to draw plans for youth. Proper orientation and inspiration is required.
A National Youth Policy was framed in the end decades of last century to harness the youth power. The aim was to educate the youth in national ideals of secularism, non-violence, integration and our rich cultural heritage. It also aimed at developing qualities of discipline, self-dependence, leadership, fairplay, scientific temper and sporting spirit. The scientific temper was meant to counter superstitions, orthodoxy and other evils that plague the Indian society.
To realise the above goals, Yuvak Kendras, adventure institutions, cultural centres and sports centres have been set up in various cities and towns. Indian Mountaineering Foundation and National Adventure Foundation promote adventure sports. They provide training, facilities and funds for adventure activities like mountaineering, tracking, hiking, rafting, expeditions, explorations, cycle tours, camping etc. These activities bring the youth from different parts of the country together.
1969—National Service Scheme involves the college and +2 level students in social service and national development programmes. It is on voluntary and selective basis. The scheme now covers 500 colleges all over the country.
There are special schemes for tribal youth to give them vocational training for self-employment. To promote travelling among young men and women youth hostels have come up all over the country. They provide cheap accommo-dation to youth on tours of historical and cultural places. Nehru Yuvak Kendras serve non-students and rural youth in improving personality and employment skills. Bharat Scouts and Guides and All India Boys Scouts Association promote the spirit of loyalty, patriotism and compassion.
These all appear to disjointed efforts. Much more needs to be done. A central theme is missing from these programmes. There is no one motto, idea or all encompassing common objective to catch the imagination of all youth and start a nationwide movement to change out dated systems. There is no national common goal for the youth to achieve. The number of young people will increase with the passage of time. So, it is urgent to find more effective ways and means to use this youth power in economic reconstruction and social regeneration under a common inspiring motto.
