As the dawn breaks over the vibrant tapestry of India, the first rays of sunlight illuminate the dreams and aspirations etched on the faces of millions of young Indians. As we approach International Youth Day on 12 August and our 78th Independence Day on 15 August, it’s time to reflect on these dreams — dreams that pulse with hope but are often threatened by the harsh realities of our society.

Breaking Societal Shackles

Our youth are ensnared in a web of stereotypes and societal expectations that equate success solely with white-collar jobs. This narrow definition stifles creativity and smothers innovation, forcing countless young minds into paths that do not align with their passions. Picture Priya, a vibrant soul with an artist’s heart, coerced into the rigid confines of engineering because it’s deemed more ‘respectable’. Her palette of dreams is muted, her aspirations silenced. It’s time to shatter these shackles and celebrate diverse careers that honour individual talents and passions.

Cultivating Policies: From Blueprint to Reality

Imagine a garden, lush with potential, yet marred by the choking weeds of inadequate policies. Government initiatives, despite their noble intentions, often wither in the face of poor implementation. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 promises a revolution in education, but without proper execution, it remains a blueprint gathering dust.

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Hosted by Kit Patrick, The History of India Podcast takes listeners on a captivating journey through India’s past, suitable for both history enthusiasts and novices. Patrick skilfully guides us through dynasties, starting from 600 BC, showcasing his meticulous research in well-detailed accounts of historical events. The podcast spans various periods, exploring political, cultural, and social aspects, offering a comprehensive understanding of India’s evolution. While his pronunciation attempts may falter, minor glitches are outweighed by the intriguing knowledge shared. The podcast’s beautiful structure allows listeners to create vivid mental images aided by brilliant narration simplifying Indian history. This podcast is a must-listen, standing out as an informative and engaging exploration of the intricacies of Indian history.

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India is home to 718 snow leopards, accounting for roughly 10-15% of the big cat’s global population. Conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), the Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) Programme was carried out from 2019 to 2023 as part of the Population Assessment of the World’s Snow Leopards (PAWS), a global effort to determine the snow leopard’s numbers.

The survey covered approximately 120,000 sq kms of snow leopard habitat across the trans-Himalayan region. After camera traps identified 214 individual snow leopards, surveyors analysed leopard trails and other data to estimate the animal’s population at 718. Ladakh, with 477 individuals, is the leading snow leopard habitat in India, followed by Uttarakhand (124), Himachal Pradesh (51), Arunachal Pradesh (36), Sikkim (21), and Jammu and Kashmir (9).

The snow leopard is classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In India, it is given the highest wildlife protection status. Its numbers in the wild face multiple threats, from habitat loss and poaching to infrastructure development.

Understanding the precise population of the snow leopard is important because of its role as the apex predator in the Himalayan ecosystem. Its population can indicate health of the ecosystem and help identify potential threats to its habitat, and shifts caused by climate change.

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This statistic holds promise for the future, as young people are often seen as the drivers of change, progress, and innovation. However, despite this significant demographic advantage, it is puzzling to see a lack of capable and talented young leaders emerging to guide the nation forward. One reason could be the lack of opportunities and resources available to the youth. Another reason could be the cultural and societal expectations placed on young individuals. Furthermore, corruption and nepotism within the political and social systems can also discourage young, honest and well-educated individuals from entering leadership positions. However, it is essential to recognize that there are also positive signs of change. With the rise of social media and technology, young Indians are increasingly finding platforms to express their views, engage in socio-political discourse, and advocate for change. 
Sameedha P. Batthe (15)
School of Scholars, Wanadongri, Nagpur

Today, politics in India has become a dirty business. Almost all political parties are filled with dubious people with multiple criminal and civil cases. When any bright, honest person joins politics, he has to join a party, and as soon as he joins a party, he gets threats. An honest person cannot survive and flourish in a party without money support or support from other powerful leaders, and no parents would want their child to get threats.
Yuvraj Singh Rajput (12)
Notre Dame School, New Delhi

This youth bulge is often considered a valuable asset for the nation’s progress. However, despite the abundance of young, honest, talented, and well-educated individuals, there is a notable absence of their active participation in leadership roles.
Traditional Mindsets and Hierarchical Structures: One of the significant challenges hindering the ascent of young leaders in India is the prevalence of traditional mindsets and hierarchical structures within various spheres of society. Established norms often favour experience over innovation, leading to a reluctance to entrust leadership roles to the younger generation.
Political Landscape and Dynastic Politics: In the political arena, the influence of dynastic politics remains a prominent barrier to the rise of young leaders. By recognizing and nurturing the leadership capabilities of the younger generation, India can unlock its full potential and pave the way for a brighter, more dynamic future.
Priya Raj (14)
St Joseph’s Convent High School, Jethuli, Patna

Sometimes it can be puzzling why young, honest, talented, and well-educated individuals in India aren’t stepping up to lead the country, despite the fact that a large portion of the population is under the age of 35. It’s possible that limited opportunities and support for young leaders might be discouraging them. Additionally, the complexities and challenges of politics can be daunting for anyone, especially for those who are just starting their careers. It’s crucial to create an environment that nurtures and empowers young leaders.
Palak Roy (14)
Notre Dame School, Badarpur, New Delhi

The average age of MPs in India is 57, while the average age of an Indian is 28. This clearly suggests that the youth of our country are quite uninterested in politics. We have a general perception that states that one cannot get into politics without getting one’s hands dirty. Also, the current scenario depicts that it is actually the old political families who are governing our country. Nowadays, the youth lack the chief traits of leadership, which are, communication skills and effective campaigns. One needs to face a lot of challenges, travel constantly and put efforts on the ground level. Despite toiling so hard, there is no guarantee of being a familiar face to the public. Thus, most of the Indians, though ambitious, prefer not to lead our country.
Anwesha Ajay (13)
St Joseph’s Convent High School, Jethuli, Patna

The lack of young, talented, and well-educated individuals coming forward to lead our country in spite of India’s significant youth population is a complex issue. Possible reasons could include limited opportunities for political engagement, a lack of trust in the existing political system, or a preference for other career paths. It is crucial to address these barriers and create an environment that encourages and supports young leaders to step forward and contribute to the nation’s progress.
Babatto Baby (14)
St Michael’s Anglo Indian High School, Kannur, Kerala

Some of the reasons why good and educated people stay away from politics are:

1. When good people enter politics with the intention of doing something good for their nation they are suppressed and oppressed by unscrupulous politicians.
2. Politics is not everyone’s cup of tea. Educated people are very conscious about their image. Politics is risky, but they don’t want to take a risk.
3. Politics require large amounts of money and not everyone is affluent.
4. Politicians over-promise and lie to get elected. They have manipulative and deceitful skills. Nowadays, politics has become a haven for thugs and criminals. That’s the reason why educated people keep away from politics.
   Sneha Sharma (15)
   St Mary’s Convent Inter College, Prayagraj

Since our democracy has become riddled with casteism, nepotism, racism and criminalisation, young, honest, talented and well-educated people are not coming forward to join politics and lead our county. Lack of political consciousness and vouch for having leadership quality is another reason for this trend. Besides this, most of our youngsters belong to such economic class which compels them to secure life through jobs and refrain from choosing politics as a career.
Aditi Shekhar (14)
St Joseph’s Convent High School, Jethuli, Patna, Bihar

Today, young minds prefer to settle in other countries rather than getting engaged in political affairs. Social expectations and family obligations might steer young individuals toward more conventional and stable career paths rather than the unpredictable nature of politics. It is also very difficult for young and talented people to rise in the political conflict, as most Indians vote based only on religion and caste, which is not fruitful for our country. The existing political landscape might be perceived as challenging with complexities, corruption and bureaucracy deterring potential political leaders. Addressing these issues may lead to an improvement in our political system.
Aadya Kumar (13)
St Joseph’s Convent High School, Jethuli, Patna

Brain drain has been a very important issue for India in recent years; many talented Indian minds are working for other countries. India is losing its young population, drastically. This could be due to:

1. Higher standard of living.
2. Good employment opportunities and higher salary.
3. Better medical, education and recreational facilities.
4. Autonomy and liberty in dissemination of information.
5. Advanced technology and hospitable working conditions.
6. Less population and strain on social amenities.
7. Secure economic and political conditions.
   Sara Tamseel Khwaja (14)
   St Joseph’s Convent High School, Bankipore, Patna

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The celebration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav on 15 August 2022 is truly a proud moment for us. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav means elixir of energy of independence, elixir of inspirations of the warriors of freedom struggle, elixir of new ideas and pledges, and elixir of Aatmanirbharta. Therefore, this Mahotsav is a festival of awakening of the nation; a festival of fulfilling the dream of good governance; and the festival of global peace and development.”

We took a written interview with students across the country who expressed their views about the nation.

Ruju Aporva Shah, a student of Carmel School, Malad, Mumbai, says: “India today can’t disappoint me. It has given me an education, a beautiful environment, a wonderful society, the chance to live in the city of dreams and most of all, a supportive family. However, I do get worried about deforestation, anti-social activities, corruption, poverty, expensive education, excessive number of factories, etc. We need to take collective steps to wipe out such unwanted activities from our nation.”

Diya Jannath, a student of Jyothi Nivas Public School, Aluva, Kerala, states that if she is given the power to govern this country her priorities would be: “To promote unity, facilitate peace and spread love among all Indians. I will respect the beliefs, values and practices of all communities and make sure that everyone gets equal opportunities.”

Swarup Suresh Chavan, a student of Kamalnayan Bajaj School, Chinchwad, Pune, has listed the following five priorities to make India a better nation: 1) Form policies to remove caste system and the discrimination of people on the basis of class, caste, race, gender, religion, etc. 2) To ensure no dearth of experienced teachers and infrastructural facilities in schools. 3) Ensure the safety and proper health care of women. In this way, the female mortality rate can be reduced, and the sex ratio can be improved. 4) Address sanitation and hygiene issues. By keeping our country clean we can avoid many health problems. 5) Eradicate poverty by generating employment opportunities for poor people, ensuring at least two square meals a day.

Shreya Chakraborty, a student of St Pauls College, Bengaluru, has some innovative suggestions to make India a better place: “In India, as a fast-growing and large democracy, human capital is the driving force behind our future growth. India must significantly invest in healthcare and education to leverage its demographic dividend. Ayushman Bharat is a big step towards easing the healthcare burden on poor households. But to improve health outcomes, equal emphasis must be placed on the schemes of other objectives — of improving primary health infrastructure at local levels. Scaling up this initiative would require expanding and strengthening primary health infrastructure, enforcing quality standards and conducting periodic audits.”

Shainillah Jabbar Mansuri, a student of Duruelo Convent School, Bandra, Mumbai, has her role cut out if she is given the power to make changes: “At first, I would form policies to remove the caste system. Thus, discrimination of people on the basis of caste, class, gender and religion can be eliminated from our society. Then I would give priority to sanitisation issues. We can reduce health problems only by keeping our environment clean.”

Riya S. Timothy, a student of St Francis de Sales School, Nallasopara, Maharashtra, has kept education as her priority: “I would definitely make considerable changes in our education system and make education not only quantitative but also qualitative, thereby focusing on the integral development of a child. I would try to introduce new employment schemes even for illiterate people so that they can earn their livelihood.”

The youth of India have spoken. They represent a force that is restless but hopeful, disturbed yet innovative, unhappy but determined. Let these young minds join forces to create an India which is more harmonious, democratic and just, where development is the key word and where everyone will be able to live in peace, harmony and fraternity. Happy Birthday to India@75!

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India completes 75 years of independence from colonial rule on 15 August 2022. This day is being celebrated as Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav with great patriotic spirit all over the country. On India@75, we remember our long and arduous journey to freedom, the many thousands of unsung heroes whose valiant sacrifices have made freedom a reality for us. We salute the memory of those martyrs who laid down their lives at the altar of freedom. We remember and pay homage to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, who led from the front with the noble weapons of non-violence and satyagraha. We salute other great leaders of our freedom movement — Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Subhas Chandra Bose, Bal Gangadhara Tilak and many more.

Achievements of India@75

At the time of attaining freedom, sceptics predicted a gloomy and dangerous future for India where anarchy and fascism would rule. They have been proved wrong by our efficiently-managed democratic institutions, including the world’s biggest electoral process, although it has its weaknesses. Over the past seven-and-a-half decades of history, India has registered phenomenal success in many areas of life. There are remarkable improvements in the areas of science and technology, space mission, etc. We have grown into a vibrant democracy. We have one of the best armed forces in the world which have always remained as our guardian from external forces as well as natural disasters.

Agriculture: The green revolution of 1966 gave a massive impetus to India’s agricultural production. Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for about 58% of India’s population. The agriculture sector employs nearly half of the workforce in the country. India is the world’s second-largest producer of rice, wheat, sugarcane, cotton, groundnuts and fruits and vegetables. It is the largest producer of milk in the world. In 2013, India contributed 25% to the world’s pulses production, the highest for any one country; 22% to rice production and 13% to wheat production.

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A rising population can never be a blessing in our country, as India is already overpopulated. In order for India to manage its population growth, it needs to be able to offer jobs, increase educational institutions, health and infrastructure, which is presently lacking. The country needs to put in place the right policies to maximize the potential of its people and their growth.
Keira Ferreira (15)
St Joseph’s Convent High School, Bandra (W), Mumbai

An increase in the population raises the demand for various essentials and goods. It will act as an incentive for producers to set up more industries which will bring economic development. A growing population will help in increasing the national output of the country and we can benefit from new talented minds of the younger generation. But at the same time it becomes quite difficult to feed people as the agricultural sector is still not fully developed. With a drastic increase in India’s population, there is a high rate of unemployment. Low level of per capita income reduces the purchasing power of the people, resulting in a lower standard of living.
Josita Dsouza (15)
Mary Immaculate Girls High School, Kalina, Mumbai

India’s increasing population is leading to food and water scarcity, depletion of natural resources, life-threatening pollution, hunger due to extreme poverty, amongst other issues. The present generation, and both society and the government should work together to solve this problem. If not, future generations will face a scarcity of resources.
Sneha Philip
Father Agnel School, Greater Noida

The growing population in India has put an unnecessary burden on our resources. A poorly-managed urban system and stinking slums are glaring examples of population explosion. This has put a strain on the medical and financial services available to the nation.
Janisha Bhatia (13)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

With a growing population, we have seen a growth in intellectuals such as doctors, engineers, scientists, etc. We have multi-talented people in sports, arts, music, etc. So we should be proud of the growing population. But an increasing population results in rising unemployment, and due to this most of the youngsters will have to suffer.
Trisha Lewis (10)
St Charles School, Vakola, Mumbai

The population of India is increasing per year due to factors like imbalance between birth and death rates and high illiteracy. An increasing population exploits the limited resources that we have. Overpopulation has several disadvantages, the foremost being unemployment which leads to poverty, health problems and a waste of resources.
Unnati Bhardwaj
St Joseph’s Convent High School, Patna

India ranks second in terms of population after China. But is it really something to be proud about? Some things can be viewed as pros: no shortage of manpower, higher economic growth, etc. But is it worth the cons it comes with? Unemployment leads to creation of slums, higher carbon footprint, strain on resources, low quality life, increase in waste, etc. Developed countries have a low or stable population. India may soon have to adopt methods to stabilize the population, a major step towards the economic and social development of our country.
Grace Dsouza (16)
St Xavier’s College, Mumbai

Though the increasing population seems to be a burden, an increase in number of hands will accelerate the chances of the vision of making India reach its target of a $5 trillion economy. The start-up trend is giving an opportunity to youngsters and local businesses, thus increasing the GDP of our country. A higher population leads to higher economic growth and takes the country to remarkable heights.
Gauri Sharma (16)
St Joseph’s Convent High School, Patna

The efficiency of the population of a particular country is largely dependent on its human resource. Human resources can be developed by providing skills, education and good health facilities. India, with its abundant resources, is still an under-developed country in comparison with other nations in the world, because of the lack of human resources. Thus, its population is more of a bane, but if we contribute towards improving the education and health facilities it can be transformed into a blessing.
Shreya Tiwari (14)
Father Agnel School, Greater Noida

Although India can boast of the world’s largest young workforce and economic growth potential, population problems are huge and daunting resulting in detrimental and economic consequences, including over-farming, deforestation, global-warming, eutrophication. Population explosion is a curse, retarding the true development of the country.
Rashmo Mehta (15)
St Joseph’s Convent High School, Jethuli, Patna

“The hungry population cannot be fed until and unless growth of its resources and growth of its population come into balance.” (Herbert Hoover) On one hand, India’s population size presents a tremendous opportunity for growth and development; but on the other, it poses significant challenges for managing its resources such as food and water, and most importantly, environmental pollution. This increasing population is a massive problem for the country’s future. Ecological degradation is the biggest problem caused due to the increasing population. Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water, and soil; the destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of wildlife. If appropriate actions are not taken to control this problem, we and our future generations will be in great hazard.
Nainshi Sharma (15)
Father Agnel School, Greater Noida

A population of 1.3 billion is a bane. Due to overpopulation, facilities and opportunities are few. Increased carbon emissions contribute to global warming, and due to this the temperature of the Earth is increasing day by day. Employment facilities are decreasing and poverty is increasing in our country.
Jahnavi (15)
St Joseph’s Convent High School, Jethuli, Patna

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On 15 August 1947, India became an independent nation from the British rule. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, hoisted the national flag at the Lahori Gate of the Red Fort in New Delhi. The Constituent Assembly that was set up in 1946 became the Parliament of Indian Dominion. On the eve of India’s independence, Jawaharlal Nehru announced in his historic speech to the Indian Constituent Assembly, “Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom.”

As India celebrates her 75th Independence Day and 74 years of freedom from foreign domination, we remember with love and respect all our pioneer leaders and the freedom fighters who participated in the struggle for independence.

According to Nelson Mandela, “to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” It is true; India is a constitutionally independent, free country. It makes each one of us proud to be a citizen of the largest democratic nation in the world. But even after 74 years of self-rule, a few questions pop up in our minds: Are we truly liberated and free? Are we free to lead a lawful, decent and fear-free life? Is my freedom respected by the authorities and do I in turn respect the freedom of my fellow-citizens?

Education opens up freedom

Here is a “Tagorean” prayer for the 21st century, written by Mr T. T. Srinivasan, Managing Director, Sundaram Finance: “A roof over the head, food on the plate, basic healthcare and education, for every Indian. Secularism sans hypocrisy, liberal thinking devoid of elitism, and a nationalism that respects our men and women in uniform. Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.”

Education plays an important role in the development of a person as knowledge is power and it opens up freedom. It is education that makes a person self-reliant, and creates conditions favourable for a better standard of living. It also empowers a person to fight injustices.

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There are a lot of discussions these days about how human beings have exploited nature and caused the degeneration of the universe to such an extent that nature is now taking its revenge by wiping out this harmful species. Even as we fight with the pandemic, we are forced to fight with a greater evil — human greed and cruelty. The greed for wealth and power continues to manifest itself in the endless battles between the haves and the have-nots, between those who exploit the weak and downtrodden. The future belongs to those who have the wisdom to avoid corruption and adhere to the path of truth and freedom. The future belongs to the young who must put an end to the era of injustice and herald a new dawn. An excellent example of this eternal principle is Arun Joshi’s classic novel The City and The River (1990).

Arun Joshi has been acclaimed as a psychological and philosophical novelist who has made a unique contribution to Indian English fiction. He uses literature as a medium to explore and resolve the human existential crisis. He wrote five novels — The Foreigner (1968), The Strange Case of Billy Biswas (1971), The Apprentice (1974), The Last Labyrinth (1981) which won the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award, The City and The River (1990) and a collection of short stories, The Survivor (1975).

The City and The River is a fable of the Indian nation-state. A mixture of fantasy and prophecy, it has been hailed as a parable of the times. The novel has to be read carefully and its richness needs to be absorbed gradually. The City is all cities. The River is the mother of cities. The novel focuses on the battle between the victimized citizens and the corrupt, power-hungry rulers.

The great City on the banks of the great River is ruled by a rich Grand Master. Hailing from a family of rulers, he has a charismatic and hypnotic persona. He lives in a white-domed palace atop the picturesque Seven Hills. Next in rank come the docile brick-people living in brick colonies. Lowest of all stand the despised mud-people living on the banks of the great River. The most rebellious of them are the boatmen who bow to the River alone and refuse to salute the Grand Master. These are the ‘nameless’ fiery and proud people who can die for their beliefs.

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Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer in the United Kingdom, has unveiled a ‘Diversity Coin’ of 50 pence on 17 October 2020, to celebrate the diverse history of Britain and to recognize the profound contribution minority communities have made to the shared history of the country. The coin carries a rare and brilliant message: ‘Diversity Built Britain’. The coin echoes the ‘commitment of the government to building a fairer society for all’ and a ‘fair representation of the contribution from all ethnic groups and walks of life’ to that effect.

The historic event was a wise and great gesture on the part of the government in recognizing and following up the campaign ‘We too built Britain’, which has been working for the fair representation of the contribution of minority communities across all walks of life. It may be noted that a great number of the minority groups are from South Asia, including India, who made Britain their home. It is also planned that the above coin will be the beginning of the series, in which Mahatma Gandhi will be the first non-white to be featured on the British currency coin. The coin features a geodome that represents a ‘community of connection and strength’, with ‘each section working together to build something greater’.

The scheme of the British government is a gleaming paradigm in itself, a paradigm of unity, perhaps in the entire history of the world, illustrating a ‘leadership with a difference’, edifyingly so. It is a proof positive for the refined sense of ethics in the elected government of Britain to have contained all ethnic groups and to have recognized duly their share of making the country what it is, without even the least degree of bias or considerations of superior and inferior, great and small or major and minor. It is also crystal clear proof that politicians have the capacity for rising beyond the street levels and leading the country to towering, global and reputable ideals.

It is interesting to note that the Chancellor who launched the coin is of Indian origin. Sunil Chopra was the mayor of the London Borough of Southwark in 2014-2015, and deputy mayor in 2013-2014, the first Indian-origin person to hold the prestigious office. There are hundreds of persons in various countries in the west, like USA, Canada and Australia, who profusely enjoy the goodwill, esteem and support of the respective countries and their people. Kamala Harris, whose mother is Indian by birth, is now the vice-president elect of the USA.

Diversity has been the hallmark of Indian society from time immemorial. India never tires of speaking at the top of its voice that ‘unity in diversity’ is another word for India. It could certainly be observed that there have been several instances of unbiased good sense in India from the political, governmental and administrative quarters in the interests of the country. All the same, discrimination, division, high-handedness and utilitarian ways have been having their sway in our country, to proportions much beyond imagination.

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