Lalit Gargg
Youth is not merely a stage of life defined by age; it is the embodiment of energy, courage, imagination, transformation and the spirit of creation. A society whose young people are awakened, sensitive and creative can script a new chapter of change. But when youthful energy becomes directionless, that very power can turn into a source of violence, addiction, extremism, crime, frustration and destruction. Therefore, the greatest question before the world today is not merely what young people are doing, but how their immense energy is being channelled. It is with this larger concern in mind that the United Nations observes International Youth Day every year on August 12. The observance began in 2000. The theme for this year is “Different Circumstances, Shared Aspirations.” This theme captures the reality of today’s youth with remarkable depth. Young people around the world live in very different circumstances. Some face poverty and unemployment; others live amid war and insecurity. Many struggles with limited access to education, while others confront technological inequality and the growing environmental crisis. Yet, beneath these differences, their aspirations are strikingly similar. They seek a dignified life, quality education, meaningful employment, security, mental well-being, participation in decision-making and a better future.
Governments across the world must understand that young people are not merely voters remembered during elections. They are active stakeholders in the process of policy-making and nation-building. The extent to which young people’s voices are incorporated into decisions that directly affect their lives is also an important measure of the quality of democracy. United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 recognizes young people as important partners in peacebuilding and the prevention of violence. This recognition reinforces a fundamental truth: young people are not the problem; they are a powerful part of the solution. Every country therefore needs effective mechanisms through which students, entrepreneurs, farmers, scientists, artists, sportspersons and social workers can directly engage with policymakers. It is not enough to make policies for young people; policies must be created with young people.
India’s young population is among its greatest strengths. Indian youth have repeatedly demonstrated that they aspire not merely to find employment but also to create, innovate and build something new. From science, sports, technology, entrepreneurship, art and literature to social service, young Indians are making their mark in numerous fields. Swami Vivekananda regarded youth as a vital force in India’s reconstruction. He firmly believed that awakened, character-driven and determined young people could change the destiny of a nation. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, too, connected the dreams of young people with the future of India. His central message was simple yet profound: dream big, acquire knowledge and transform those dreams into action.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India’s development discourse has also placed considerable emphasis on youth power, innovation, skill development, entrepreneurship and self-reliance. But the next stage must go beyond this. Young people must not remain mere beneficiaries of development programmes; they must become co-creators of development. The true significance of Youth Day will emerge only when young people’s lives experience positive change beyond August 12. Why not organize “Youth Dream Dialogues” in every city this year, where young people can articulate how they want to see their country ten years from now? Their dreams should not remain confined to paper. Governments, industries, educational institutions and social organizations should work together to transform the most practical of these aspirations into tangible initiatives.
Every young person should be encouraged to learn at least one useful skill and accept at least one responsibility towards society. Every district could establish Youth Innovation Centres, where young minds can use their talent and creativity to find solutions to local problems. Among the most serious challenges confronting today’s youth are substance abuse, digital addiction, violent tendencies, mental stress, unemployment and a lack of purpose. The expanding web of addiction does not merely destroy individuals; it weakens families and erodes the productive strength of the nation. It is not enough to tell young people, “Do not take drugs.” We must give them such a meaningful purpose in life that they do not feel the need to escape into addiction.
Young people must be connected with sports, yoga, meditation, art, literature, social service, entrepreneurship and constructive community activities. Transforming idle time into creative time can become one of the most effective social strategies for building an addiction-free generation. Another growing challenge is the widening communication gap between the younger and older generations. The elderly represent experience, while the young represent energy. Experience without energy can become stagnant, while energy without experience can become directionless. What is needed, therefore, is meaningful intergenerational dialogue.
Families, institutions and governments must create an environment in which young people can present new ideas while the older generation guides them through the wisdom of experience. This harmonious combination of experience and energy can become a formidable force for nation-building. Across the world, youth movements are emerging. Young people are making their voices heard by governments and institutions. India, too, has witnessed youth movements from time to time, expressing both aspirations and discontent. But the greatest success of a youth movement will come when it moves beyond being merely a voice of protest and becomes a voice of possibility and solutions.
The young should be able to say: “We do not merely want to complain; we want to provide solutions. We do not merely want jobs; we want the capacity to create jobs. We do not merely want rights; we are ready to fulfil our responsibilities. We have not come merely to change governments; we have come to improve the system.” This could well become the new definition of youth-led social transformation. Youth by itself is not an achievement. True youthfulness is a state of consciousness. If the face is young but the mind is trapped in rigidity, youth remain incomplete. Energy without direction can become a crisis. That is why today’s young generation needs two things above all: passion and wisdom—“Josh and Hosh.”
Passion gives young people the courage to fly high; wisdom gives them the right direction. Passion inspires dreams; discernment turns those dreams into reality. Passion teaches them to struggle; compassion teaches them to remain connected with humanity. The youth of today should strive to bring together the inspiration of Swami Vivekananda, the questioning spirit of Socrates, the compassion of Mahatma Gandhi and the visionary dreams of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. It is easy to tell young people around the world to dream big. But simply encouraging them to dream is not enough. We must also create the opportunities, institutions and enabling environment through which those dreams can become reality.
The theme of International Youth Day 2026 reminds us of a profound truth: our circumstances may be different, but our aspirations are shared. Young people in India seek opportunity. Young people in Africa seek education and employment. Young people in conflict zones seek peace. Young people in island nations seek a secure and sustainable environment. Young people in the technology-driven world seek equal opportunities. In other words, the world’s young people may speak different languages and live within different cultures, but the language of their dreams has much in common. Therefore, the world today needs to do more than control or manage youth power—it needs to trust it. On this International Youth Day, let us not merely congratulate young people. Let us give them opportunities—opportunities to speak, to demonstrate their talent, to participate in decision-making and to play an active role in nation-building. Let governments listen to young people. Let families understand their dreams. Let educational institutions recognize their potential. Let society give them the freedom to experiment and innovate. And let young people themselves recognize the immense strength within them. Because the future of a nation is not written only in parliaments, government offices or policy files; it is written in the dreams that live in the eyes of its young people. |
