How RDB defined a generation

“The duty of youth is to challenge corruption.”

 -          Kurt Cobain 

The late Kurt Cobain will remain an icon for ages to come. Outspoken, misunderstood and an enigmatic personality, his words and thoughts will continue to inspire people forever. While browsing idly, I stumbled upon this quote from him on a Facebook page. Once again, by this quote, he has proved to be far wise for his age.

From our country’s total population of 1.25 billion, 65% of the total population consists of people up to the age of 35. This staggering youth demographic is unrivalled in the whole world!! India is set to become the youngest country by 2020 according to an article in ‘The Hindu’.  This is an unbeatable fact that India has great potential if the energy of the youth is properly harnessed.

And yet, India is at a not-so-surprising rank of 94 in a list of 177 nations in corruption. Corruption, like a parasite, is paralyzing the country. It is affecting the economy, GDP growth and other important factors that our slowing down the nation in its march to become a super power. Trillions of taxpayer’s rupees are being lost every year in bribes and other ill-activities. An article in the Times of India states that India suffered a total of Rs. 36,400 crores in total due to corruption in 2013!!!! This fact itself is disheartening and really makes us question the present situation.

What is going wrong? What is helping the growth of corruption in India? The answer is not definite and yet, there are factors that we can easily pinpoint;

1.      The system – The term ‘system’ is a generic term applied here to cover the political, judicial, constitutional, bureaucratic as well as the grass-root organizations. The system is designed in such a way that it empowers the corrupt by providing loopholes and workarounds to save time. Truly, the system has become so lethargic that it takes years for anyone to get justice but not a week to get bail. (More on this later)

2.      Individuals – There is a saying in Hindi “Taali do haath se bajti hain” (It requires both the hands to clap). If the system is corrupt, then it is we, at the individual level, which helps in its growth. Everyone sides in with corruption to escape and save themselves from the brunt of the system.

Both the above are two sides of the same coin. The system propagates corruption while the individual owns it. In this scheme of things, India as a whole is falling to keep pace with the world. 

The only way to end this dreadful cycle is by the power of the youth. This is where the youth has to step in and take charge.

The generation of today is in sync with the world than it was a decade ago. Globalization and the surge of social media have brought them in touch with the world. We have read arguments and counterpoints on how the youth is losing its touch with reality and the nation due to western influence. But is this true?

Let’s take a look at Bollywood for an insight…

 ‘Rang De Basanti’ a film released in 2006, pays tribute to the revolutionary spirit of the youth. The film portrays the different types of youth in a great and convincing manner. From the five aimless university lead characters to the political-ideologist brainwashed youth to the responsible citizen, the film has captured all the facets in a single frame. The movie highlights on how a single matter of corruption brings them together and take matters into their own hands when the system lauds a corrupt minister instead of justice for their deceased responsible friend. Along with this, the movie salutes the revolutionary leaders Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru and Chandrashekhar Azad.

The movie doesn’t glorify the use of violence as a means to end matters. There is a scene in which the group protest peacefully at the India Gate when the cops descend and crackdown on them. The entire witnessed the same in the real-life protests for Jessica Lal and Nirbhaya. Below is a montage of images from a movie and the actual protests that took place:

Candle march in the movie

Police attacking the protesters

Candle marches were conducted all over the nation for Jessica Lal

Police use water guns to attack the protesters (Delhi gang rape case)

A policeman attacking a protester in Delhi (Delhi gang rape case)

        These images are proof of how the movie awakened the youth from their slumber. The protests for Jessica Lal bore fruits which resulted in the conviction after a seven-year long trial. No longer does the youth keep quiet. It has realised what its power can do. It has realised that if the zeal is true, it can even challenge the government. This was visible in the protests for the Delhi gang rape victim and the police reaction by water guns, lathi-charge and tear gas!!
 

In a manner of speaking, the movie has inadvertently empowered the youth to stand up and do something. It has emboldened them to take action and speak up against injustice against them. The mass support of the country for anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare back in 2011 is a symbol and a mark of how the youth is against corruption and doesn’t want it to be a part of their lives! Social media, candlelight vigils and voicing of opinions are some of the means by which the youth is slowly but steadily changing the face of the nation. 

So, how can the youth finally end corruption? By merely protesting, change will not be delivered. We have to get in to the crux of the problem – the system – and bring about change. We have to challenge the predefined norms & rules and question the authority and not be blind anymore. We have to participate & be aware of the actions taken by the government machinery. We can no longer be a silent spectator to the things which concern us. The recent elections proved that people have started to own up to their responsibilities.

But, we should remember that it will take more than a Modi or a Hazare to bring a long-term change and development. If we truly wish our generations to live in a corruption-free nation, then it is WE who have to say no to it and bring out change.

We do not have to be dependent on a sole leader or a government to bring about change. All it takes is to decide between the right and wrong.

The father of the nation rightfully said,

“Be the change you wish to see in the world”

- Mahatma Gandhi