Youth is about the only thing worth having, and that is about the only thing youth has.
Edgar Watson Howe
India is recognized as a ‘nation of young people’. The young Indians are under the age of 25, and these are seen on the busy streets of a city and also in the villages. India most likely will be the world’s largest workforce by the coming few years. It is truly a very young nation apart from being the largest democracy.
So are we well placed globally with such a tremendous youth workforce? Certainly not. It is evident that the youth is lacking the vision. For years together India has been labeled as a developing nation. It is often referred as a third world nation.
The Indian population is undergoing a demographic transition, but the pace is not enough. The conclusion of any discussion regarding the country’s development, inefficient infrastructure, crime rates, the discrepancy in the governance draws a common conclusion – huge diverse population. We take pride in flaunting that diversity is our strength, but is it really? India is a world in itself. Different languages, culture, beliefs, vision and priorities add to the complication and dilute the ‘development motto’. The sentiments sort of lead to confusion than focusing on the cause.
The youth will have to work towards transforming India. Will they? This is a tough one. India is not uniform when it comes to its people. A certain state of India is literate and developed, whereas some states are not. It is not only about education, but when it comes to the birth rate in urban and rural areas, there is a huge disparity. The rate is roughly 2.1 children per woman for most countries. The current fertility rate as per National Family and Health Survey -3, will have an average of 2.7 children (The Hindu). The fertility rate in urban India is enough to maintain the ‘replacement rate’ that keeps the population constant, but the total fertility rate (TFR) is still high. It is higher (between 3.0 – 4.0) in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Nagaland.
So the youth coming from such regions that lack basic infrastructure, are poor and underdeveloped, not educated enough to shoulder high expectations. The gender ratios are appalling, and even worse is that the girls are not educated. About 50% of women in UP and Bihar are illiterate. Is this youth capable to uplift India? Women who contribute considerably to the young population are illiterate.
The Indian society boasts of its culture and tradition. The young men are stereotypical when it comes to selecting a life partner. There is a difference between obeying parents out of fear and respect. Indian youth generally is afraid of their parents, and follow the regressive customs and traditions. Similar situations arise with the girls in the society when it comes to their marriage. Their decisions are not theirs. And often marriage for both of them are forced and nothing less than a compromise. Something personal like marriage is merely a representation of how parents and society attempt to control the youth.
Religion plays a crucial role. In many cases, the youth is radicalized and brainwashed with religion as a tool. Here the religion is not a fault, but its conveners are. Hero worship is ingrained in Indian blood. Every community has heroes that have given their sweat and blood for the upliftment of the downtrodden and underprivileged members of the community. Merely celebrating their anniversaries will lead us nowhere. The youth is sensitive about mass celebrations, but ignores the progress and development issue.
Who does not dream? But to make it big, one has to work towards it and that should be ethical. The inefficient government system also is a hurdle and creates a non-conducive atmosphere for the youth. Young, talented lot does extremely well when they work abroad, but face difficulties in moving back to India. It is the responsibility of the government to run enough schemes to promote the abundant talent and create opportunities. Having said that, the youth too must be ready to work diligently. Blaming the government for every little personal failure is an excuse, but a short lived one.
The education system generates plenty of ‘doers’, and less of ‘thinkers’.
Children in school are focused on subjects that will fetch them stable jobs, as told by parents and teachers. There is no denial that secure life is a priority, but readers and thinkers represent a progressive society and nation. The education department certainly needs some major reformation.
So in all, the youth is confused with being told what to do, whom to marry, what to study, which career to choose, whom to worship, and which religion to follow. It is time to be responsible for our decisions, failures and successes.
It is the responsibility of the parents to bring up their children as independent individuals with a vision for a better India. This is not a miracle, it is a process. A nation that rises above caste, creed, and gender is a developed nation.
