Tomorrow is today

Youth mirrorwhattheysee.If leadersmodel disciplineand dignity, young citizens will followwith purpose. Before askingthemto build the nation, wemustshowthemhow ~ through character, not charisma; through listening, not lecturing; and by provingthat respectisearned through conduct, notstatus. India’s youtharenotinherently flawed. They aresimply adrift inasystemthathas failed to guidethem

- S S SAXENA

India’s youth are often hailed as the nation’s greatest asset ~ brimming with energy, ambition, and promise. But behind this hopeful narrative lies a stark truth: only a fraction are meaningfully contributing to national progress. The rest remain emotionally adrift, professionally underutilized, and socially undisciplined. Our much-celebrated demographic dividend risks becoming a demographic liability unless we confront this reality with urgency and resolve.

The symptoms are most visible in urban India, but rural regions are not untouched ~ thanks to the instant reach of electronic media and digital platforms. Aggression, impatience, and civic indiscipline have become routine. Reckless driving ~ on expressways, city roads, and even on the wrong lane ~ along with foul language, queue-jumping, and public confrontations reflect a deeper malaise. Helmets are ignored, traffic rules flouted, and civility eroded. Itis not uncommon to hear abusive language in public spaces, revealing a disturbing collapse of basic politeness and respect.

This behavioural drift is not confined to the uneducated or economically marginalized. It has seeped into the psyche of even the well-off and well-schooled. The rise of nuclear families, helicopter parenting, and instant digital gratification has shaped a generation emotionally unprepared for adversity. Shielded from discomfort and fast-tracked to rewards, many adolescents now lack the resilience to face failure, rejection, or uncertainty. When pressure mounts, escape often feels easier than endurance ~ manifesting in aggression, addiction, or apathy.

Emotional volatility, sleeplessness, and even suicidal ideation are no longer rare ~ they are warning signs ofa deeper disconnect. Based on NCRB data for 2022, 41 per cent of all suicides in India were committed by people under the age of 30 ~ a staggering 70,000 young lives lost in a single year.