“YOUTH FOR CHANGE”

Hakeem Irfan

“…The aim of life must not be mere to control mind, but to develop it harmoniously; not to achieve salvation hereafter only, but to make best use of it here below; and not to realize beauty, truth and good only in contemplation, but also in actual experience of daily life, progress does not mean ennoblement of few but enrichment of ‘many’….” (An Indian Revolutionary).

Revolution doesn’t merely or only mean an upheaval or a sanguinary strife-nor is there any place for individual vendetta. Revolution necessarily implies the programme of systematic reconstruction of society on a better basis. Revolution means that present order of things which is based on manifest injustice must change. The revolution is the spirit, the longing for a “transformation” for better..

Who can bring this “transformation”? What can be the answer to this other than “YOUTH”. Change factor depends crucially on the ways and means through which the youth are encouraged and nurtured as a positive force for catalysts of the “change”. At institutional level it is essential for an appropriate policy frame work to be in place to harness the energies of the youth, which is terribly missing here or is sabotaged by the institution itself. Youth has to instill in themselves, an abiding awareness of the whole scenario, and adherence to the “change process” and then unswerving commitment to this is but necessary.

There are efforts to convert youth, who are to take reins of the land in their hands tomorrow, into absolute dumb individuals. We all agree that their main focus should be their studies but is the knowledge about the conditions in their land and ability to improve them not part of their education? If it is not then we question this system only. Many parents say “Son or daughter, you may study and think in tune with ‘politics’ but don’t actively participate in it. This way you will be wiser and more helpful to the nation.” Then it is better to teach students the lesson of sycophancy from their birth itself. The people generally get accustomed to the established order of things and begin to tremble at the very idea of “change”. It is this lethargical spirit that needs to be replaced by the revolutionary spirit otherwise degeneration gains the upper hand and all of nation is led astray by “so many” forces. Such a state of affairs leads to stagnation and paralysis in progress of nation.

When we study revolutions we come across the contribution of students in all those winning strides and know how students have shaped the destinies of nations. Students in highest seat of learning are mature enough to take part in decision making as well as forming strategies and execution part as well. But here a student of same age can be father or mother of next generation but he or she is still immature for being the part of “the change making machinery”. Institutions here have to be the platform for grooming the next generation leaders and it is their duty to provide the space without any biases and inclinations of any kind. They will lead our nation in future. Otherwise in near future we will be having leaders who don’t even know how to react to a particular incident or even to a question, which is the case this time as well with few exceptions only. We are witnessing the terrible failure of our leaders, and we have to follow them as our second line of leaders is nowhere. Our young generation is the driving spirit of the “change” we all want and we all have to be initiators of this “change”. If we will cocoon ourselves in the criminal silence, just cramming the salybus, then we have to bear with the leaders from shop parapets and hooligans from the mob. At least we have to appreciate them for taking this “brave step” which our educated class is not able to do even after being the students of “Revolutionary Studies and Political Sciences”. We then will be having no right to say that why is somebody else making decision on our behalf. Our youth have to successfully accomplish the challenging tasks of national reconstruction and “change” we all talk about. Our youth is to be motivitated to be active and committed participants in the exciting and tuff tasks of “change”.

Our nation stands at the decisive cross roads. Will we recklessly walk the same path of acquiescence, injustice and political ignorance? Or we will pull back before it is too late and reclaim the goal which is blurring by the every passing day. Above all it is for the youth to decide the path. This choice will decide and determine the future we will leave for our future generations.