It is 8:30 in the morning. As I approach the lab, I am greeted by a toothbrush-wielding Hem, who has recently made the lab his bedroom. “What you said is not correct. We have figured out the correct answer”, he says. As I walk back to my room, an angry looking Keerthana meets me. “I am angry with myself for the low marks I scored in the last quiz”. I look at her with sympathy. She continues as she hands over her answer sheet, “In fact, you made a mistake in addition. You have given me three marks more.”

A few hours later, in the afternoon, I reach the boardroom of an auto ancillary. A young lad makes a presentation on his recent analysis to his top bosses. Thirty years ago, I would not have had his confidence. I understand later that he is the first-generation graduate from a family of farmers. His English is horrendous, but the technical analysis of a difficult problem, spotless. He is an Eklavya with Google as Guru. How I wish, the convent educated Tamil Nadu Chief Minister corrects this major anomaly, English language and communication, between the urban and rural education.

There can be many such examples. Can we conclude that this is the emerging young India: competitive, passionate, confident, honest and not over-awed by the surroundings. Or is it an aberration? My long experience with the youth tells me that the truth is somewhere between the two, leaning more towards the former than the latter. This, of course, one must admit, is one of several Young Indias.

This is the India that is protesting in Delhi. There has been youth participation in many issues in the past. Though one cannot compare the scale of participation, students responded massively to the calls of Jayaprakash Narayan and C.N. Annadurai. Those were different times, addressed to a different set of youth. The appeal at that time was to their emotion. The slogan was to their heart. One must concede that there has been a sharp fall in the involvement of the young India in politics and other issues facing our society.

A rational connect

Times are changing. We are now looking at a rational young India. One that can protest if the issue affects its progress, socially or professionally. These youngsters are aware of their rights and their approach is pragmatic and refreshingly different from the often solipsistic, educated, older India. Cynicism has not raised its ugly head. Anna Hazare, knowingly or unknowingly touched that part of the youth: Corruption can affect my progress and I will join the fight. When Arvind Kejriwal formed his party, their pragmatism came to the fore. There has been no large-scale support from the young India, as they do not seem to be convinced with his approach.

The mindset of this young India is different: Society and country are not different from me and if I am affected, society is affected. The current incident brings out this aspect: if it had happened to one, it can happen to anybody. Though this horrific incident was the catalyst and there is a justified anger to fight for justice, the youth started thinking rationally. An emotional bind with the victim was only the beginning. Admirably, they are able to abstract larger issues concerning women. Young men started believing that a harmonious atmosphere is required for progress.

This young India is not taken in by fiery speeches or an emotional connect that can be wound around by great orators. What we witness is a competitive and confident young community where rational connect precedes emotional connect. What amazes one is that the current protest is not due to any organisation or a leader. Issues attract these people and that is the sign of a mature community. For that matter Anna Hazare is not known for his oratorical skills.

Netas’ disconnect

The Netas are completely off the track. They are out of touch with the youth. Their analysis is poor and their ideas archaic. They seem to paint the whole of India, with the brush known to them, as a subservient and helpless mass.

It is this transformation that gives a ray of hope for this country. One of the several young Indias, which is growing by the day, is in auto mode. Though they have been the victims of mindless education policies of successive governments, there has been a natural evolution. With a lopsided science bias in the secondary school education, social studies have been branded unworthy of learning. In spite of such a handicap, this group of young India has hardly a gender bias and the members transgress caste, community and demography.

In a country that is woefully short of leaders, a vibrant rational youth community is a major solace. Hopefully, leaders will emerge from this group to channelise their energy and the other young Indias will be engulfed in this transformation.

(The author is Professor, Department of Engineering Design, IIT, Madras.)

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