Vivekananda's message given 130 years ago is a 'life coach' for today's generation (Image Source: AI-Generated)
Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, New Delhi. A few days ago I saw a news somewhere that the post of Dean Students Well Being was created in IIT, Kharagpur and a professor was posted there. This work was done to help the students get rid of their mental stress and maintain their mental health. A few days later, similar postings were seen in some other universities of the country. Such arrangements have been in place in foreign universities outside India for some time, but it was a matter of surprise that such a thing happened in India. What was more surprising was that a positive response was seen in the intellectual society regarding such postings and it was said that making such arrangements would help in solving the increasing mental stress of Genji in educational campuses.
their tastes are different
There has been a continuous discussion in the society regarding Genji for some time. Seeing his changing attitude, surprise is also crossing limits. When my daughter, who teaches in a professional college and is also a youth, was asked what kind of difference she finds in the behavior of the Genji children studying in her class, her answers were shocking. He told that for Jane ji, samosa is fatty, oily and heavy, but not pizza or burger. He also said that his students do not like to sit in the framework of 'he' or 'she', they want to be referred to as 'they' or 'them' only. That is, we want an address which is not gender specific. This same generation, after seeing the bonfire, prefers to roast marshmallows and eat them instead of corn, gram or wheat ears. It may be that Gen Z children of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai think so, but do Gen Z children of Bhopal, Raipur, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Ranchi, Ahmedabad or Kochi think anything different? Would the children of Morena, Betul, Amravati, Etawah, Bareilly, Bhagalpur, Meerut think anything different from this? This question is serious. Therefore, in the Indian social system, cultural fabric and traditional ethos, we give priority to family and communication is our specialty. We are essentially an emotional society and for us emotions are above business or economic interests.
I remember that thought system
It was also surprising to know that the lifestyle and thinking of these students of Genji are also supported by the youth of their own generation who have become teachers. It is necessary to think about what thought system we will need to mold Genji's thinking into the mold of our country's culture and tradition and to bring his mental health in a positive and constructive direction. In such a situation, we remember Swami Vivekananda, who even about 130 years ago had the vision of shaping the lives of the youth and giving them such a constructive plan, which appears relevant and timely even today.
It is also interesting that when we use the word youth from Swami Vivekananda's point of view or on the basis of government accepted definition, we generally keep in mind the age group of 15 years to 35 years, but if seen from the modern definition, then this group will include three generations - Millennials, Gen G and Gen Alpha.
Swami Vivekananda gave a speech in the Victoria Hall of Madras (now Chennai) in February 1897, in which he disclosed his revolutionary plan while addressing the youth after returning from a trip to Chicago. Regarding social evils and moral deviation in the society, Swamiji had said, 'We only have to understand that the task of eliminating social evils is not as objective as it is subjective. No matter how much we boast, the task of removing the ills of the society is as educational for ourselves as it is for the society. We are concerned about the youth today, especially Genji, about their mental health and life values. The formulas we are adopting to communicate with them are not our own traditions and do not match our environment.
The plan should be followed properly
What have we planned for the cultural development and mental health of the youth? This is an important question. How we are communicating with them is a matter of examination. Youth are our demographic dividend, but it is beneficial for us only when we manage it properly and develop their cultural and character well, but before making any plan for the character development of the youth, we have to understand the character of our country and the vitality of the country.
get introduced to the younger generation
The call given by Swamiji in the year 1897 is eternal even today. He was eager to embrace the youth of the country with open arms. Every word spoken by him is like eternal nectar, which helps us to overcome any social problem. It does not suit the thoughtful, reflective citizens of a country whose great saint and inspirational man has the ability to bring welfare to the entire world with his thoughts, that it is worried about a temporary adjective like Zen Ji thrown up for some special commercial purpose. There is a need to properly introduce Swami Vivekananda to the young generation, especially Genji.
youth should not be confused
Today we are concerned about the character development and mental health of the youth of our country. Today, our educational institutions and think tanks are adopting different equations and trying to find such solutions so that our youth, our Genji can follow the path of our tradition and culture. At the same time, some anti-national people are taking advantage of such situation and trying to mislead the youth. Swami ji always believed in the potential and loyalty of the youth. He knew that with the right inspiration and guidance he could turn the entire world in a positive direction. He was passionate and enthusiastic about the unique creativity and potential of the youth. When he gave the speech in Madras, he was only 34 years old. That is, in the current definition, he was still young, but with his deep insight he had seen and understood everything that was in the womb of the future. Not only this, he had also taken a vow to stay with the youth and inspire them throughout his life. At the end of this speech he said, 'O my countrymen, my friends, my children, this ship of national life has been carrying millions of people across the ocean of life. This work has been going on for many centuries. I love you all, because you are children of the gods, descendants of glorious ancestors. Then how can I curse you, it is impossible. May you be well in every way. I have come to you, to present all my plans before you. If you listen to him, I am ready to work with you.’
Swamiji gave three mantras
Swamiji believed that with the help of these sutras we can rescue the country from the most difficult situation. Swami ji also expected the youth with full faith to do welfare of the entire world. That is why he had said, 'My friends, my thoughts are that I should establish such schools in India, where our youth can get educated in the knowledge of their scriptures and propagate their religion in India and outside India. There is a need for bright, faith-filled and honest young men. If we get 100 such people then the world will be transformed.
(The author is member secretary of Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts)
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