A Generation Unwilling to Wait
A metamorphosis is happening at a hectic pace. And, it reflects a sense of impatience. Acting as the fulcrum, generation next is propelling this change. A combination of factors swelled the support for an aggressive CJP, which managed to force the government to give in to its demands. Is the young India turning restless? Or, is the young India seeking quicker remedies to its issues? The agitation at Jantar Mantar has certainly pushed one to pause and ponder.
India’s young population is increasingly turning assertive and demanding. The congregation reconfirms this mindset. Just a few months ago, Tamil Nadu saw what the young could do. They delivered a stunning blow to long-established and powerful cadre-based parties. The two Dravidian parties alternated for decades. A party that was born just two years ago and whose leader is a rank outsider to politics emerged as the winner! Charismatic film personality C Joseph Vijay stormed into Fort St George thanks to the youth who not only came in large numbers to vote but also played the role of an influencer in goading their family members to vote for him! In a way, Tamil Nadu is the trend-setter.
Jobs: The Real Ballot Issue
The TN youth is more politically aware now than at anytime in the past. Why? The reasons aren’t far to seek. A modern youth is aspirational. The minimum that is required to satiate their aspiration is a job. With constant search, their patience runs out. Joblessness is the core of the issue. Worse still is the educated joblessness. Political parties across the spectrum need to wake up and recalibrate their focus to include the youth in the growth journey of the nation. The Jantar Mantar episode brought into focus the need for the political authorities across the spectrum to be responsible and accountable. Proof of the pudding is in eating. Similarly, the trust in a system is directly proportional to its willingness to subject itself to greater scrutiny and be held accountable.
