Be The Change..!!

Imagine this.

Scene 1: An Indian goes to France on a tour. On returning he mentions how clean the cities of France are while peeing on the roadside and littering it with trash.

Scene 2: In conversation with a guy in a restaurant, a girl proclaims how she is a feminist who believes in equality. She asserts how she doesn’t want to be treated any differently than a male counterpart and slowly slides the cheque toward the guy.

Scene 3: In the recent elections not only did the country see a 30% increase in the youth population participating, but also did my Facebook wall. It saw a stupendous rise in the number of people who voted and posted their selfies as proof.

Has the youth really become responsible or was this entire fiasco just a trend upsurge?

The youth of India are high on adrenaline. They are looking for change and ever exhilarated to bring about a revolution. They want to be heard. They want to be treated with respect and thought of as individuals with wisdom. I’m neither a critic nor a judge, but do you remember when everyone was discussing Mr. Arvind Kejriwal and how AAP is going to bring about political modernization? And when the moment of truth came, the same people mocked him for his incompetence. This is how quick a turnaround he fickle minded youth of our nation provides. While there may have been several reasons, I believe that Rome wasn’t built in a day and we’ll be fools ignore the bigger picture here.

When for half the nation’s population it is difficult to decide which career path to take, how do you expect them to decide the fate of the country? Do you think that just because our generation has voted righteously, we’re responsible people now? Let me provide an example. In Jamshedpur two politicians had to be voted for. One was an ex IPS officer with a doctorate degree who had worked for many industrial giants. The other was a nobody whose name people had heard for the first time ever. The latter won the elections. Why you ask? It was because his party was representing a Prime Ministerial candidate in the Central. Food for thought, right?

Did you know that not all Punjabis enjoy a patiala peg? Or not every girl who wears red lipstick easy going? Or an individual working as an art/dance professional uneducated or dumb? It is the Gen Y who has created such stereotypes and when confronted act like hypocrites. The social attitude needs to change, the norms and paradigms need to change and we, ‘The Youth’ need to be the one to do it.

If we want our women to be safe anywhere she goes, we need to stand up for that girl being molested in public in broad daylight and not stand by as a mere spectator.

If we want equal opportunities for all, we need to reject any kind of favors we receive because of reservation.

If we want to help the society in some way, it shouldn’t be through donations to elite clubs that organize those fancy charity parties. Become a member of Greenpeace instead, join an NGO and donate to the ones who really need it.

The youth of today wears branded clothes and follows the motto of ‘Just do it’, only later. We participate, contribute and get involved but have no idea why. We have our values and principles, but until the situation demands otherwise.

It is high time that we removed the mask of these contrived pretenses and saw ourselves for who we really are. We have the tools to collaborate, brainstorm and reflect at our disposal. All we need to do is to take charge and speak for ourselves – with clarity in our thoughts and the right motive in our actions. Only then will our actions be more powerful and inspired. Something will definitely happen when we pull ourselves together – individually and collectively.

Friends, Indians, Countrymen;

Let us raise our words, not our voices, for it is the rain that grows flowers, not the thunder.

Crossroads Of Change..!!

I am a symbol of the youth of the nation who has a dream for change and needs the help of you all in turning that dream into reality. I am not here to sympathize, empathize or criticize. I just want you all to listen to me, question yourselves and think about what can be done.

For the past year or so I have seen our nation undergo a lot of change. I have seen the euphoric rallies against corruption that engulfed Delhi. The slogans of Women empowerment, banning child labour, making India a safer place are still ringing in my ears. Countless Facebook posts, Youtube videos and tweets on this Women’s Day drenched me with unbound hysteria. My heart was swelling with pride that the members of my generation were raising their voices.

A week up the timeline, I was on my way back home from somewhere. There was some issue at the traffic signal because of which the auto rickshaws were hurrying off without taking passengers. I somehow managed to stop one of the autos and sat behind. A girl stopped the auto and sat in front with the driver. Suddenly there was a guy trying to sit beside her, squeezing her between him and the driver. It was rather uncomfortable for her, so she choose to get down. Two guys replaced her seat. I stopped the vehicle and lectured them on morality for five odd minutes. Neither the auto driver nor the men blinked an eye. I went home wondering – Is this the same youth that had chanted slogans with great fervour and marched like a swarm of bees for one common goal – A corruption free India? A developed India? A free India? A safe India?

We are not here because our destiny was programmed to be so and to do so. We are a generation at the crossroads of time, crossroads of change and crossroads of being a part of a revolution. We are enthusiastic and exuberant, but we are pretentious too. We want to do things, in fact too many things but we have no clue how to do it. Whatever comes our way, we run headlong into it. We often patronize others – Be yourself, follow your heart, aspire for your dreams. Little do we realize that does the heart know what it wants? Do you know how to be yourself in this hypocrite society? Even Google will fail to answer these questions!

To quote Arundhati Roy, “There’s really no such thing as the ‘voiceless’. There are only the deliberately silenced or the preferable unheard”. So which category do We, the youth belong to? Is it justified to say that the youth today has awakened from their deep and long social hibernation? Are we not being fed with pompous words just to portray a picture where we come out looking all vibrant and socially aware? Do we really feel and believe what we say, and if we feel do we express it eloquently?

Let me give you answers to all the above questions. The truth is that in a nation where the average life expectancy in 65 years, a 40 year old is tagged as a youth icon. It is not that we are very happy with it, but nevertheless we accept it because we lack the zeal to do anything about it. The youth today are leading a nomadic life. A life which is a conflict between the existing social norms that are receding and the new ideas that are emerging. Our myopic eyes fail to see anything beyond the Facebook-Twitter world of the metros.

For 50 years, India has been a developing nation; it is high time we became a developed nation. What is it that developed nations have and we don’t – Is it money? Or resources? Or brains? Aren’t we patriotic enough? A nation with endless variety, India has the best engineers, doctors, industrialist, scientists and businessmen offering global expertise in their areas of development. So, what are we waiting for?

On behalf of the entire youth fraternity of India, I pledge;

To never surrender my idealism for social approval - Yes, I am single and unmarried. And NO. There is nothing wrong with me.

To change the way the society perceives us and challenge its outdated mores - Just because I have colored my hair and wear jeans doesn't mean I have no sense of culture or am morally wrong.

To not become so involved with my techno savvy world that I forget to dream - Read a book. Feel the emotion around you. Dance in the rain.

To battle the thought process of the way things are supposed to be - Don't force your children to take up engineering or medical studies. Culinary science, arts, sports, drama, fashion are as good a profession.

To respect everyone’s individuality - Not every man is a criminal, sexist or rapist. Not every woman is a sati savitri or damsel in distress. Never be prejudiced by the opinions made by the society. You have your own brain, use it!

We are not the reasons behind the ills of the society, rather we are messengers of change who should be empowered and encouraged. We aren’t only the future of the nation, but also its present. We need an environment where our voices are heard and our actions are impactful. With the current scenario of our nations, it is imperative for the youth to be involved in all the spheres of society – and not just tall claims and unproductive debates – but also actions. We have to joins hands in channelizing the energy and enthusiasm in the correct direction to achieve the herculean task of nations building.

Nuclear Disarmament Good Or Bad..!!

Nuclear weapons are the most powerful fighting tools that the world has ever known and they are made possible when nuclear fission, fusion, or a combination of the two release energy and cause an explosion. Since the destruction caused from the bombing of Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, the world became aware of the strength and ability to cause great damage that these weapons possess.

Nuclear weaponry is the outcome of 10,000 years of human experimentation outside the circle of life. The institutions we've built, the logic we've adhered to, lead us nowhere, except to more of the same. Desperate as we are to keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons, we devote billions of dollars annually to upgrading our own. There are still nearly 16,000 nuclear weapons on the planet, some 1,800 on Cold War-era hair-trigger alert. We've been on the brink of self-annihilation for 70 years. What sanity can we access to save ourselves?

Now question arise that is- nuclear disarmament is good or bad?

I think it is Good..!

There is two things that i always think, these are-

FIRST- Nuclear weapons are primarily "offensive" weapons. Not "defensive" weapons..!

SECOND- Why buy a car if you never intend to drive..!

45 core reasons of Nuclear Disarmament, According to Me are-

1.      because nuclear weapons threaten humankind. Let's get rid of them for good.

2.    I believe we now have a real opportunity to make a change - we should seize it.

3.          I believe there would be no winners in a nuclear war.

4.          because we have to prevent terrorists getting nuclear weapons.

5.       because it will make the world safer for our children and grandchildren.

6.       because the resources it will free up could be used for other global challenges.

7.       because the resources it will free up could fight global food insecurity.

8.       because the world will be more secure and stable without nuclear weapons.

9.     because disarmament and non-proliferation are inextricably linked to development, human rights and peace.

10.       because banning nuclear tests would greatly contribute to global efforts to curb the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

11.        because nuclear proliferation hangs like the sword of Damocles over our heads.

12.        because the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is central to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

13.        because there is a rising chorus demanding action on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

14.        because the resources it will free up could fight global.

15.        because we are serious about the future of humankind.

16.        because nuclear weapons are more dangerous than any problem they seek to solve.

17.        because radiation released by nuclear weapons is passed on from generation to generation.

18.        because we cannot afford 20,000+ nuclear weapons.

19.        because we want to avoid regional nuclear arms races.

20.        because while nuclear weapons exist, accidents can happen.

21.        because nuclear weapons could kill millions in one go.

22.        because the $12 trillion spent on nuclear weapons since 1945 could have eliminated poverty and other social problems.

23.        because 7 billion people are at risk.

24.        because it would be a turning point in human history.

25.        because imagining a world without nuclear weapons is no longer a dream but an actual possibility.

26.        because 113 countries are already part of Nuclear Weapon Free Zones.

27.        because after 5 decades of talks it's time for nuclear testing to be banned.

28.        because bold steps now will hasten the possibility of a nuclear weapons free world.

29.        because nuclear weapon’s very existence = more chance of use in war, terrorism or by accident.

30.        because in addition to killing millions, a nuclear war would cause an environmental crisis of epic proportions.

31.        because while many nuclear stocks are safeguarded, others are vulnerable to theft.

32.        because we cannot wait for a perfect security environment to come along, rather advancing disarmament will promote security.

33.        because the opportunity for nuclear non-proliferation is now.

34.        because many nuclear weapons today would explode with up to 100 times the force of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

35.        because nuclear weapons have so far made 104 million m³ of radioactive waste.

36.        because using nuclear weapons against another nuclear weapons state is suicidal and immoral against a non- nuclear weapons state.

37.        because as long as there are weapons there is conflict and as long as there is conflict, the human race suffers.

38.        because love, empathy, collaboration, understanding, generosity, unity, forgiveness, goodwill, kindness, caring, reason, and compassion are answers, not weapons of mass destruction.

39.        because without nuclear weapons, there can be no nuclear war.

40.        because we must make it possible for future generations to live in PEACE.

41.        because the future of our world depends on sustainable development for the preservation of lives and families, not building nuclear weapons.

42.        because life is worth more than weapons; one can replace a weapon but can’t replace a human life that is lost.

43.        because more than 3 billion young people in the world are under 25 – they deserve a fresh start in a safer world without nuclear weapons.

44.        because our past is reason enough.

45.        because wars are the most inhuman thing that exist on Earth and there is no convincing reason why they still exist.

I ask: If not us, who? If not now, when? These are the questions asked by those who have no choice. That means all of us should be asking them..!

Meeting The Prime Minister Of India at 7 RCR

On 1st of July along with the launch of revolutionary Digital India project, PM Narendra Modi Ji had shown desire to meet some of the social media influencers along with active participants of My Gov.

I was one of the Social Media influencers who had an opportunity to meet PM Narendra Modi Ji at PM House, 7 RCR, New Delhi.

It was my second meet with Honorable Narendra Modi Ji, First time i met him on 9 jan 2014 at New Delhi. It was a meeting of Mission272+ and only 40 people were in that meeting. That time Modi ji was Chief Minister of Gujrat, on 1 July, it was the first meeting with him after becoming PM.

I received email from My Gov inviting me for the meet and was asked to confirm the required details. We were asked to report at Electronic Niketan, Electronics Ministry at 9am. When I entered the hall where we were asked to report I was expecting to see familiar faces but i saw only 5-6 similar faces. Rest all were unknown but when i talked to each i come to know that i know almost all through Twitter.

After registration, we were taken to 7RCR by Buses after security check-up, We were asked to seat in hall. Probably there were some 100 people in the hall. While we were patiently waiting for PM Narendra Modi Ji to enter the hall, we were shown film on mygov.in in which the journey of My Gov was shown.

At 12.30pm, security personnel started moving and all our heads turned towards the door in front of us. As soon as door opened, we saw PM Narendra Modi Ji walking in and there was huge round of applause with standing ovation. For a person, meeting him was nothing less than dream come true. And My Dream Come True Once Again..!!

PM Modi ji addressed us and guided us about various things and when i got chance to meet him personally then first all i gave my intro and i told him that i met him on 9 jan in mission272+ meeting. Suddenly Modi ji smiled big and said “I remember that Meeting, keep working for Nation”.

I think i have done some great noble works in my Past life so i got a chance to meet person like Modi ji again. I will keep working for Nation, it was my promise to Modi ji. For Me, Its Nation First, Self Last..!!