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..!