Approximately 600 million population in India is younger than 25 years of age and close to 70% of the total population is less than 40 years of age. Near about 40% of the Indian population is aged between 13 to 35 years that is defined as youth according to the National Youth Policy. Such a huge population of young is not only exceptional in India but also in the World. In case, this demographic dividend is not used properly then it may result in demographic disaster in India. The youth then will not be on right track.
Also if we look at the median age of the country and the average age of our leaders then it is clear that country’s median age is 25 years whereas the average age of our cabinet ministers is 65 years. Hence there exists a gap in age which leads to a gap between thoughts. This gap in India is much wider than the gap in any other country, such as in United States the gap is of 23 years whereas in Germany the gap is less than 10 years. History reveals that in such a scenario where there exists such a wide gap and most of the population is comprised of youth then it definitely leads to one or more political movements in the country. This had been seen in America at the time of the civil rights movement and the sexual revolution which happened during America’s baby boomers period when 79 million people born between 1946 and 1964. Even if you check the history of India then also it is clear that youth can bring a huge change. Almost all our freedom fighters were young when they started their struggle for freedom that resulted in the freedom of our country.
But this enthusiasm among today’s youth is eloping somewhere leading to frustration and lack of zeal. The reason may be unnecessary burden in the form of competition, unemployment, lack of job skills and skill based job etc. Indian Youth at present is also facing acute pressure in every field from getting job to performance at the job. In the coming decade, it is expected that the Indian labour force will grow by more than 8 million per annum. More and more youth will enter into the labor market. So the real challenge in front of the policy makers is to create enough jobs in the market for this educated workforce so as to direct the youth and nation.
Moral degradation of youth is an important problem in emerging India. Morality is about the appropriateness of the goodness of what a person does, think or feel. Morality helps one to make a right moral judgment and thus present morally acceptable behaviour. Youth power is the driving force of a nation; if it moves in the right direction. But now a day youth is adversely diverted through different immoral activities which do not only influence the present Indian society but also it stimulates the future generation of our civilization. Therefore, it is imperative and a duty of everybody to find out the solution of this crucial problem to establish India in the world of peace and harmony that is very much depends over the hand of the youth generation.
Morality originating from the Latin word ‘moralitas’ refers to “manner, character, proper behaviour” which differentiates intentions, decisions, and actions between those that are good and bad. Moral values reduce social problems like unrest, social erosion, crime, separatism, class conflict, isolation, lack of well-being and after all collective distance.
In the past social organization of the society played a responsible role in framing and implementing value-based moral responsibilities. But society at present has been experiencing conflict regarding value-based moral degradation particularly of youth and in reality, it cannot be denied that there is no ideology in the society which can bring them a value-based livelihood and vision.
The youths of today have been ensnared by youthful lusts, pride, arrogance, disrespect, disobedience and indiscipline; these are traits that can only grow out of habits for
‘Thoughts bring forth acts, acts produce habits, while habits become character’. The changes in the family structure, the advent of westernization, the media revolution, dirty policies etc. are speculated to have played a determining role in redefining the value systems in the Indian society.
Why Value Education? “It is easier to build strong children than to repair a broken man.” – Frederick Douglass
“What we are today is the result of what we valued yesterday… What we will be tomorrow will be the result of what we value today…” Wouldn’t you want your country to be Superpower?
Wouldn’t you want your Family to be an ideal family?
Wouldn’t you want your Child to be of good character and competence?
If yes root lies in how we empower our children in good values today which is the future of tomorrow. If yes then root lies in how we empower good values today in our children- who are future of tomorrow.
Today’s children are leaders of tomorrow. A country’s strength is not machines and industries, not the values of currency notes, not the sports cars or cinema stars, nor the political parties that are here today gone tomorrow. A country’s strength is the leaders with character who can move mountains, who can change hearts and who can make the whole population of India unite for the common cause.
India is known for producing such selfless leaders as A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Gandhi etc. who walked across the land of India and moved the masses to action, lived the life of virtues and left a legacy for us to follow their royal path.
Where are such leaders today? In the earlier times, education meant ‘wholesome’ education. That which does not end with the classroom but also trains a student inappropriate behaviour, healthy lifestyle and moral values. The current education system may produce competent doctors, engineers and IAS officers but what lacks in today’s age is a solid foundation of good character. Let us take an example of a diseased person faced with two options. One, a hospital of very competent doctors but a case history of exorbitant bills, unnecessary extensions of treatment and even stolen kidneys. Or two, a hospital with competent doctors who are honest and sincerely serve their patients with care. Definitely, the person would choose the second hospital.
Therefore to become a truly successful individual, competence alone is not sufficient but must be blended with character. Since the modern day role models for children & Youths are Bollywood actors and sports stars, we are faced with a nation where values are eroding very fast. The MNCs from West entered India along with their shadow-like culture that has degraded Indian values, morals and character. How can we revive traditional India with her Cultural Moral Spiritual foundation? It is only possible by instilling a value-based lifestyle in our children. That is why we need ‘Value Education’.
Ronald Reagan – “We don’t expect our children to know & discover the principles of calculus on their own, but some of us would give them no guidance when it comes to ethics, morality, and values.”
William Rasperry – “ In our zeal to get religion out of the classroom, we threw out morality as well.”
