Therefore, I finally decided to write today about an issue that is both intriguing as well as raises some critical issues, especially for my generation. It's about India's Generation NOW. Mind you, not Generation X, but Generation NOW! (which, interestingly Wikipedia also calls the Generation Y). Since the past few days, I have been following the results of a survey conducted by one of India's leading national publications, The Hindustan Times (HT), aimed at trying to figure out what India's Generation Now (categorized by the newspaper as anyone between the age of 18-25) thinks about different socioeconomic factors such as career, romance, marriage, family, health and religion. The results, at least for me, have been surprising and unsettling.
The polls conducted across several major cities across India show that India's Generation Now, is in fact quite conservative when it comes to issues of family, romance and religion, but at the same time also comes across as confident and ambitious, striving to move ahead, although at too fast a pace at times. Being a part of this generation, I can identify with some of the characteristics that the survey reflects upon, but there are also a few things that that bother me about my generation's ability and future. Thanks to globalization and the critical economic reforms that have taken place in our country in the last two decades, the Generation Now has been able to dream big and better. And not just dream, but also have the confidence and resources to fulfill those dreams. This has led to an increased social mobility, providing the Generation Now with ample opportunities to prove their mettle.
And although, this all sounds exciting and worthy of recognition, the Generation Now might be losing out on something very important. And, that is the ability to think rationally, to believe in scientific reasoning and thought, and to encourage an atmosphere of intellectual discourse. It's upsetting to see that a majority of the Generation Now still regards religion as the prime source of reasoning and morality, and money and status triumph over rational thinking and knowledge. Of course, this blog is not a vendetta against religion or capitalistic values, but just an opinion of what I think my generation might be missing out on in this age of 15 seconds of fame.
So, how about encouraging an atmosphere where someone who questions religion or politics, or even decides to change the status quo, is given an opportunity to do so rather than frowned upon? Or how about along with the ability to earn money, also have the ability to give some away, and develop a social conscience? Not that the Generation Now does not do this, rather it doesn't do it enough. One of the promising thing the survey showed is that India's Generation Now is very much aware of it's responsibilities towards one's family and regards it as one of it's primary source of happiness. Although, a tremendous quality that I am proud of, we shouldn't let this strength become our weakness, which prevents us from questioning things around us, raising our voices to provide new answers and to expand our imagination and embark on cutting-edge innovations.
It was therefore, unsettling when I read the headline of the survey, which said that India's Generation Now is a conformist generation, that sticks to the status quo, and contended with the way things are overall. However, though we have a lot to applaud ourselves about, our generation still has a long way to go, where we can break the old-age constructs of reasoning and progress, and instead develop a new paradigm of development, free from biases and prejudices. Being a conformist is not the way to go, instead being a rebel at times is better, more important and relevant now, more than eve before.
