VOICE OF THE YOUTH

Insightful discussions, pulsating concerts and more...Youth Summit 2024 was brimming with energy as over 5,000 students converged in Bengaluru to meet their icons

- AJAY SUKUMARAN

In its 19th edition, the India Today Mind Rocks Youth Summit set a new benchmark for the event that connects youngsters to their role models. Held on September 14 at the Presidency University campus in Bengaluru, it was the first time that Mind Rocks went beyond its popular auditorium format to become an arena event with 5,000-plus students in attendance. Serving up a non-stop, eclectic line-up of speakers that boasted Bollywood celebrities, Union and state ministers, a best-selling author, start-up hero, supercop, YouTube star and a top standup comedian among others, the day-long summit, in true arenarock spirit, also featured two power-packed concerts by rapper MC Square and Indo-Canadian singer Jonita Gandhi. It wasn't just minds that rocked, the feet did too!

WHY THE YOUTH SHOULD JOIN POLITICS

"I've seen over the past few years there are more younger MPs and MLAs coming up.... We will create opportunities for young people. Please come forward, take up the mantle of leadership. At least from my party, I would like to open the door for young people to come into politics"

KIREN RIJIJU Union Minister, Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs

NEW DIRECTION How the beloved YouTuber remodelled himself as an actor

"Mera dream hai ki main khud ko ek theatre me dekhoon [I dream of seeing myself on the big screen]. I want to make a film; I want to work in a film, not necessarily in the one that I make.... The only reason I opened my own production house was to not let anyone else make a fool of me. I want to learn from my own mistakes"