India, when we talk about, too many feelings run down on us. If it has to do with some international achievement, we feel proud and on the other side we feel dejected when we hear about terrorism, sedition and corruption. India is a strange nation where strange things take place. Here there is riot at one end between Hindus and Muslims and at places they are good neighbors next door. Here an atheist minister, who disparages the existence of God, escorts his wife up to the door-step of a temple. Here a man who fights for the recognition of his State’s language, the one who urges people to identify him as son of soil, sends his children abroad for studies. Though we are taught that India is a democratic nation, but big businessmen are behind big decisions. We are taught that India is secular nation; no doubt we nurture several religions. Here a political party abuses another party and next morning one gets to read there’s been a coalition and a Government is formed. Here things and situations are quite sundry. Even in such diverse condition one has to applaud that we still live as one national.

But amidst the quest for civilization, we are leaving behind our past magnificent history. Today not even the grey-haired, but only the white haired ones cite about it. Others are too busy. Only few people like children, teachers and politicians recount history in their day-to-day life. Children study it to clear a subject, teachers who teach the subject history has no options and politicians use it in their speech. The history of India is very vast. Prior the British invasion we had hundreds of kings ruling different regions. Here we have thousands of communities and even more mythologies.  

Somewhere down the line we feel that civilization is what it is in the west. Unknowingly we are heading towards the west. That’s fine as long as structures and buildings are concerned. But apart from this, one has to stick to his basics i.e., basics of being an Indian citizen. Plenty of responsibility lies on the shoulder of youth to build a nation free from hunger, corruption, etc. It is proven that in any part of the world, revolution has always been evoked by youth. People who desired a social transformation or a revolution always banked on youth for it’s effectiveness.

Today’s youth has to take a cue or two from our past glorious history. History does not mean just wars and kings. It has to do with our culture, heritage and civilization too. Mahatma Gandhi once mentioned that youth is an agent for social transformation. Today a farmer’s son doesn’t want to be a farmer, a carpenter’s son does not want to be a carpenter, a blacksmith’s son does not want to be blacksmith. Everyone wants a blue-collared job which is more lucrative in terms of income. People should realize that there are areas in the field of carpentry, blacksmith, farming etc. which requires incredible technological developments. Of course, farming has a great history in India. Farmers have dying then and now too. Surely some innovative ideas and technology can come to their rescue. If the youth has their instincts right, India could be world’s largest agricultural zone, or it could be largest foundry hub. We have a history of greatest craftsmanship. Same is the case with other fields too. Surely, we can combat with state of affairs like un-employment and hunger. Once you are united, content and self-sufficient, it is obvious, corruption and terror can also be taken care of.  Our resources are in abundance. It’s unfortunate that outsiders are only able to tap it.

The world of computers, software and BPO’s have totally mesmerized today’s youth in the town. Youth in the rural, dreams of life in the city. Wannabe young politicians or political party workers do something for their individual footage. When one says it is on the youth to build a future India, it does not mean glass-covered buildings, sophisticated gadgets, stylish dressing, instant meals etc. It means that it lies on the hands of today’s youth to build a nation free from un-employment, hunger, corruption etc. what our leaders dreamt of and what they visualized. Merely blaming political leaders or politicians would definitely not bring up any solution. The question is how many of them land up at polling booths during election.

There is lots of expectation from the youth by our nation and our leaders. Youth needs to be empowered. With experience being the back-seat driver and the youthful energy on the front seat, India definitely has places to go. Our development or our future should be worked on, keeping our wonderful and glorious history in mind. It’s definitely not right when some politician aver that they would transform a city as Shanghai or as Amsterdam etc. We must comprehend that we are Indians. Our cities need to be identified as Indian cities. There still exist our values. Even now, our heart breaks like none. Our values and emotion has much more depth than others. We can spring back in any situation and circumstances. One thing we ought to understand is that where other nations are trying to explore India as a potential market, we being mere spectators.

Rather than pin-pointing flaws, together we can overcome our drawback. We can certainly build a future India. It is the youth who’s got to come forward with good intentions and innovative ideas. When one reads stories of our struggle for Independence we’ll note, there was thrill among the youth then. There were so many unsung heroes. Stories and biographies of these people were nothing less than thrillers. We need to have same enthusiasm now. Only this time it would not be for a national independence struggle from foreigners but freedom from unemployment, corruption, illiteracy, terrorism and social discrepancy. Once this is the vision of every Indian youth, nothing can stop it from becoming a powerful nation.

- Anil Thadathil