Youth and Contemporary Issues
(Depoliticisation of youths and its impact in the social change)
- Part 4 -

Dr. Dhanabir Laishram *

The youth in our country, like young people everywhere in the world, are searching for genuine ideals and values which they can live by, and for revolutionary ways to win them. Thus the Freedom Charter has become deeply rooted in the hearts of our youth. Their involvement in mass democratic political actions and quest for revolutionary theory and grasp for the primacy of organisation, are features characteristic of the process of involving our youth in struggle. These are due to the objective conditions under which they mobilise, organise and fight.

The subjective factor is equally significant like the correct ideological and political orientation of the youth, the ability of the movement (and in particular the youth section) to impart to the protests by the youth a conscious and organised nature. Our ability to educate them in a genuine revolutionary spirit is a key factor.

The future of any movement or nation is dependent also on the integration of the youth in the political and other social activities. The grooming of those who have to ensure that the genuine aspirations of the people are fully realised demands a conscious effort on the part of the revolutionary movement.

The inexperience of the young provides the opportunity for a systematic process of political upbringing. This involves bold decisions in giving heavy responsibilities to the youth. We correctly say the future is in their hands.

Youth are back bone to the nation. They can change the future of the society with their well being and courageous behavior. They are here to show us that which we have not been willing to look at within ourselves. Unfortunately today we find the youth those who are more interested in other places which are not useful to them as well as nation. They choose to spend their days doing drugs and playing video games. They spend their nights partying and living it up, so to speak.

More and more young men of this age group are sitting at home in front of their televisions playing games all day instead of bettering themselves or going to work. They have no vision and if they do have dreams they do not have the drive to make any attempt at achieving them.

We must get control of this. We must motivate our youth. We must teach responsibility and goal setting. I fear if we did not do so, we would soon be supporting an entire generation of homeless and needlessly on welfare families. Things have to change, with our schools, with the older generation being good role models, with the older generation being mentors, and with the youth who are right now doing nothing.

Those of you are in age of teen, you have a choice. You can allow yourselves to stay your course and do nothing or you can rise above what the cynics around you expect and go get educated or get jobs. Show the older generation they are wrong about you. Let them know you have intelligence and skills. Show yourself what you are made of. You might be surprised at how proud of yourself you become with even the smallest of accomplishments.

I can tell you that nothing can happen if you do not try bad or good. You will not become rich overnight either way but at least if you make an effort, then you have begun your journey to your dream. The role of the youth in developing a society is tremendous. Youth should be motivated and encouraged to make contribution to the society in the areas of societal, cultural, economic developmental issue and environmental issues. Youth can play their roles in preventing socially harmful production, form development groups that can undertake practice of savings, take initiative to organize various cultural programs that unite the youth group at large.

Education, the Best Agent of Political Socialization.

Lastly, one may conclude by saying that only through education we could bring them as attentive public and competent political actors in this democratic system, in which one could attain his best self. For this some of the important points needed to keep in our mind in order to put into practice:

Young people possess energy, but it should be channelized in the right direction. Misguided youth may do greater harm to the society than even the worst enemy can do. Moreover, it is on the shoulders of the young that the future of the country rests because they represent new values, new thinking and the new ways of life.

Society should mould itself according to the thinking of the young because it is difficult for the older generation to have new thinking. The young should always look with hope and confidence to the future. They must have the spirit to work among the masses and also give a sense of direction for the others to follow.

Political freedom gives duties as well in responsibilities. These are more important as the case of India because we want to be free from poverty, disease and all types of divisive forces. Our political freedom must create conditions not only for better life but also for peace for the rest of the world. The youth of India should be inspired with these ideas and make them as popular with the people as it is possible.

In fact the older generation becomes hardened in their thinking. So it is difficult for them to adopt a new path. The faith of the young people is never so rigid. They can adopt, modify and change their ideas according to the demands of the circumstances. So youth of India should take this responsibility on their shoulders.

The great ideas enshrined in our culture will help us to set the energies of nation in the proper direction. So if the younger generation does not take up this challenge, they would be almost the enemies of the future.

The Young people of India should try to give a practical shape to the ideals of democracy which have kept before us. An ordinary person is not adventurous enough to take up the challenges to adopt certain ideals which may be good for the nation. Generally the actions of the individuals are guided by the normal way of thinking and also by the normal conventions. It is only the young who can accept unconventional ideas with spirit and enthusiasm.

Various social movements which seem to be the basis of progress need the help of the younger generations. For example, for the older genera­tion the idea of having planned families might not be proper and at moments they might consider it a political move on the part of the party in power. It is so because their conventional thinking does not agree with the new set up of circumstances. But the younger generation has vision of the future and is guided by that very vision. So "a nation is built in its educational institutions" through younger generations.

India is wedded to the policy of industrial development, but no industry can make progress till men are properly trained and technologists help in the development of the industrial complex of the country. Only the new generation can help. It may also be understood that the world is standing on the threshold of supreme catastrophe and measureless record. It is the young who can give appropriate direction to these forces.

Younger generation in India has always been depending upon the older generation. Our social set up did not allow them to have independent thinking and independent way of life. But now younger generation is to mould the thinking of the older generation. They will have to give proper shape and form to the policies which might have been out-dated and worn out. Only the young in India can seize the opportunities for doing something for the country. So they will give new enthusiasm and energy to carry forward the programme which has been chalked out for the country. We should not give only the changes from heavy school bags to big potato Bora (sack) on their back.

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Concluded.....