Consciousness, conscience

While consciousness makes youth aware of multifaceted scenarios across the world, their conscience directs them to act prudently

- B MARIA KUMAR

A few days ago, I came across a deeply thought-provoking piece, more aptly a masterpiece, written by Kishore Kumar Bandreddy, a noted educational thinker and an accomplished pedagogue.

The essence of his message stirred within me far more questions than answers. In his observation, he addressed humanity at large, highlighting the rising tides of untruth and post-truth that now define much of our global environment, an atmosphere through which the youth must navigate their lives.

Bandreddy's silent yet unmistakably felt anguish centres on the very heart of Generation Z. and the current Alpha Generation, especially in India, where young people constitute a significantly large demographic, often earning the country the epithet of "the world's most youthful nation."

His message calls upon these budding citizens to be mindfully aware of their surroundings, to remain vigilant in distinguishing the real from the illusory, so that they may both resist the encroaching falsehoods and equip themselves with a moral compass for leading productive, righteous lives and contributing meaningfully to society. He emphasised that the dual forces of consciousness (awareness) and conscience (moral integrity) are critically vital, as much for personal growth, as for the overall betterment of human existence.

Which Comes First?

It's in this context, notably amid the contemporary trends, that consciousness and conscience are attracting increasing interest from intellectuals, having been largely neglected for a long time. This sparks natural curiosity about which of the two emerges first in life and how their interplay might be relevant to various aspects of human development.