“Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life; dream of it; think of it; live on that idea. Let the brain, the body, muscles, nerves, every part of your body be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success, and this is the way great spiritual giants are produced.”
― Swami Vivekananda, Vedanta Philosophy : Lectures on Raja Yoga
Not long ago, nation building was perceived to be a complicated process meant only for the political class. Present day youth seems to have changed that conception. Consciously or unconsciously they are following the message given by Swami Vivekananda by picking up an idea and making it work for Bhartiya masses with techno-nationalist zeal. From home delivery of pizzas to providing basic healthcare at affordable prices, Bhartiya youth are innovating and applying entrepreneurial skills. They are conscious of their responsibility and prepared to be drivers of change in Bharat. They are undoubtedly changing the counters of nation building process. The real question is why they are able to do so now? Despite the critical failures policy makers to inspire the common masses for a large period of our post-independent history, what is that made possible for Bharat to arrive on the world stage? The answer seems to be three fold.
Many people are arguing in favour of demographic dividend, explaining how our population growth is turning into a human capital. That is true to some extent. But the same population was reasoned as a denigrated cause of low Hindu Growth Rate. Thus population has turned into an asset because our minds are freed from the clutches of socialist thinking where government was expected to do everything. Opening of the market, though under foreign pressures, enabled Bhartiya minds to apply their ideas, skills and ability to customise the things as per the needs, popularly known as Jugaad.
High number of youth with greater technological exposure is another reason for this turnaround. Bharat is the fastest growing market for android phones. Not just because our per capita income and purchasing power has increased but we adapted to the changing technology as per our societal needs. That is the reason a youth turning car battery as a mobile charger for whole village or a start up coming up with solar energy chargers are becoming rules in Bharat’s resurgence as a ‘great’ power in real sense.
Some would give credit to the change of Government at the Centre which is promoting ‘ease of doing business’ and skill development. It is true to some extent. But the most important factor that is unknowingly working in our favour is Bharat’s urge for hard-earn prosperity. The present day youth are demystifying the conventional idea that Bharat is the land of spirituality and therefore, promotes the philosophy of poverty. Despite of aggressions and colonial drain of economic resources, we survived through as a nation because our social networking and business activities were never state centric but society centric. Government or State can be just facilitators but where the climatic conditions and social needs are diverse, it is the social values that drive the model of economic development.
It may be true that we have to walk a long path for inclusive progress. On many parameters of human development index also we have to improve. But while celebrating the 69th Independence Day of Bharat, we should cherish the youth power and their resolve to innovate for Bharat.
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