Short History of Factors Shaping Indian Youth
How its History has Shaped India's Newest Young Generation
Jan 11, 2009
A variety of historical forces have shaped India's modern day youth. As one of the world's youngest nations, these forces are worth taking a second look at, since India's youth will have a big impact on future world affairs. Let's take a look at some historical factors that have impacted their self-perceptions and behavioural patterns.
Gandhi, Nehru and Other Great Youth Leaders
Indian history has seen many of its youth leading political movements. Jawaharlal Nehru became leader of the Indian National Congress, and was one of the most popular leaders in northern India at a very young age. He took his inspiration from Mohandas Gandhi, who also became politically active in his youth. Indian youth were extremely active in their country’s struggle for independence. In 1942, the greatest youth uprising took place, mainly among students, who participated in the Quit India movement organised by leaders of the All India Congress, demanding complete independence from Britain.
The Indian Constitution
In 1950, the Constitution of India was established, which called for a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic with a parliamentary system of government. The secular aspect plays a large role in Indian society. India is a union of 24 federated states and seven centrally administered territories with the President as the head of union, and governors as the heads of states. The Prime Minister is leader of the majority party and is appointed by the President.
After independence, the All India Congress Committee formed a youth wing (though it was not active until 1970). According to Dr. D. Paul Chowdhry, in his book Youth Participation and Development, the duties of this youth wing included tree plantation, slum clearance, blood donation, family planning, and illiteracy; not exactly hard-hitting politics. In the 1980s, there was an insurgence of young men and women in Indian Parliament. It was around this time that the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) received its own constitution. The objective of the IYC, according to then President Mr. Anand Sharma, was ‘…to unite the youth of India, to identify itself with their cause and to work with devotion to build a strong and powerful and self-reliant India’. Increased literacy and educational facilities have also been improving over the decades, and leading to greater participation of Indian youth in political affairs.
The Government of India (GoI) created National Youth Day in 1985 on the birthday of Swami Vivekananda, to take place in January of every year. The hope was that the life and work of the young spiritual leader, who died before his 40th birthday, would inspire youth to inculcate values of service to the nation.
Indian Youth Begin to Disengage
However, enthusiasm was soon muted by government corruption. According to a New York Times article from 1989, the year the voting age was lowered to 18, Indian youth in several northern and eastern Indian states were ‘often cynical and unenthusiastic about politics,’ and not very interested in national party platforms. Some Indian youth were reported saying that young people were losing faith in politics, that they were very pessimistic and did not believe that voting would effect change. Similarly, the article reported that the youth were highly disgusted by corruption in the Indian government. The article went on to quote an Indian youth remembering when Rajiv Gandhi came to power, giving promises against corruption and for improved employment, however after five years, the student said, ‘corruption is so deep-rooted that the Prime Minister of India is involved’ and unemployment had doubled.
Liberalisation and Popular Culture affect Indian Adolescents
The 1990s saw the liberalisation of India’s markets. Its media and cultural production were liberalized in 1991. The resulting popular culture invasion has led to new worries about Indian youth development. The GoI has embarked upon many programs to unite the young people of India. Its goal, as yet, has not been realised.
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