The Dilemma of Modern India: A Call to the Youth

The Dilemma of Modern India: A Call to the Youth By Veera Gangawane

India is a vast tapestry of diverse religions, personalities, and cultures. Today, the population of our youth is growing at an unprecedented rate. While it is easy to say, "I am the youth of India," it is much harder to truly embody what that should mean. In our current climate, expressing a genuine feeling or an original thought feels risky; if we open our mouths, there is often someone ready to shut them. Is this truly the spirit of Indian youth?

Our statistics present a painful contradiction. India often leads the world in tragic categories, such as suicide rates. We celebrate our "top" lists, ranking the wealthiest individuals like Mukesh Ambani or following popular spiritual figures, yet we seem unable to top the list for cleanliness or public health. We have incredible hubs of talent: Bangalore and Pune for IT, Mumbai for cinema, and Kota as the forge for NEET, JEE, and UPSC aspirants. With all this intellectual capital, why aren't we number one in Artificial Intelligence? More importantly, why aren't we number one in women's safety?

The answer is uncomfortable: we are often too distracted. We are divided by religion and politics, consumed by debates over Hindu vs. Muslim or BJP vs. Congress. We are a generation "busy doing reels," often forgetting the responsibility we owe to the next generation.

True responsibility is seen in the smallest actions. Recently in Nepal, after a public riot, the youth themselves returned to the streets to pick up the trash and mess they had created. Why can’t we show that same accountability?

We also face a crisis of values. While people earn through 9-to-5 jobs or social media content, true artists often struggle to find support. Furthermore, our cultural awareness is fading; I recently heard a podcast where young people didn't even know the significance of Gandhi Jayanti. Our priorities are misplaced. For instance, during a recent controversy involving a comedian’s show, people were quick to burn effigies in protest, yet in that same period, a horrific crime against a young girl went largely ignored by the same crowds. We stand up for animal rights, as seen in the recent debates over dog bans, but where is that same fire for the safety and justice of our fellow citizens?

"I am the youth of India" is an easy phrase to utter, but a difficult standard to live by. It leaves me wondering: where is the India of our heritage, the land where the Mother Ganga flows with purity?

This article is not an attack on the youth or the government; it is a question of survival. How will the next generation endure the social and moral disasters heading our way? We must think about this. We must care.

I want my India back.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.