The values which are predominant in the society from the middle of 19th Century to the beginning of 20th Century are now under question mark . If we look at the Euro-centric history for the last 200 years we find that a cycle of hopes and despair to change the system is completed. To the end of 19th Century it was commonly believed that free from feudal and other obstacles general wealth will increase by free market economy. The 19th Century was the century of disillusionment from Capitalism which is an off suits of market economy and people were being attracted towards various experiments of socialism. The first half of 20th Century is the period of solid experiments in the name of socialism such as co-operative and welfare state of Sweden, most powerful state of Soviet Union in the name of proletariat democracy, partial nationalization and welfare state of Labour Party of Britain, community ownership in the industrially backward state of China. The 2nd half of 20th Century was the period of disillusionment of their experiments. From this set back the pendulum of thoughts have tilted towards the free market economy whose limitations in the past not only were well know but also can be seen even now.
Due to adoption of consumerism based western model of development problem of India particularly rural India is deepening. Agriculture and rural economy are in deep crisis. condition of farmers are pitiable. Government corporate friendly and anti-farmer policy has transformed agriculture a loss making activities. Even after toiling hard for 24 hours farmers are unable to meet out their bare necessities of day to day life. Trapped in the net of debt,farmers are forced to commit suicide. In last two decades more than three lakh farmers are forces to commit suicide. This exposes the tall claim of our successive governments that India is transforming into a super power. The gap between the rich and the poor is increasing day by day and has gone out of proportion. The share of agriculture in GDP is less than 14% but more than 50% population is dependent on it. Increase is economic inequality results in poverty, unemployment, hunger and malnutrition. Nearly 25 percentage of population are suffering from hunger and 47 percentage from malnutrition. This is most disturbing symptom of the present so called development model.
Economic inequalities gives birth to regional imbalances resulting in social tension, violence and terrorism. This affects social harmony, unity and national integration. Therefore, it is high time to reconsider this model of development. Why development has become synonymous of big industries, metros and big cities, big dams, malls and multiplexes. India is a country of villages. Without development of villages how the development of country possible. India needs a model of development in which development of village and the last man of our society should be a central theme. Without the development of 5 Lakh 38 thousand villages, development of India is not possible in right earnest, poverty, hunger, equal education to all, crisis of agriculture and rural India, sky rocketing economic inequalities and all types of discrimination are main challenges before the country.
India is a country of diversity. Unity in diversity is the uniqueness of this country. This is the birth place of four religions. People having faith in all major religions of the world are living here. Many languages and dialects are spoken here. According to the study of Institution of Languages studies 1652 languages and dialects are spoken here. In tune with this Indian Constitution recognized 18 languages.Amongst the countries of old civilisation of the world India is the only country where impact of high human values of old civilization can be witnessed in its masses. It is deeply rooted in the psyche of the mass. In this way we see a continuity of culture in India enabling her to preserve the essence of it,the ethos and values.
There are two reasons for this continuity. First, special type of relationship amongst its different communities and second the selection of ideal which has been main driving force of inspiration of the masses. First reason includes the inter-relationships of different tribes and communities which is different from Europe and other parts of the world. In Europe when a group of tribes traveled from one place to another places, they have eliminated or driven the original inhabitants out of their place. Contrary to this, different tribes had been coming to India since thousand years and they established a special type of relationship,say caste system with local inhabitants and settled here. Kol, Dravid, Arya, Shuk, Hun, Pathan, Turk,Arab etc different tribes came in India and become part and parts of the society. This had enabled them to understand and bear the rituals, worship, God-Goddess of one-another. This is the social base on which the India tradition of co-existence and tolerance evolved. In the long run a tradition developed in which differences in religious matter was resolved through debate and dialogue instead of by means of force . This is the most important aspect of Bharatiyata (India). The second important aspect is the selections of ideals of life. In Indian culture emphasis is on internal upliftment and not in the quest of material world. That is why, in Indian philosophy and religion Santosh (self-satisfaction), Sanyam (self-control), Niswarth Seva (selfless-service) and Aprigraha (abnegation) have become core values of religion and philosophy. This type of teachings where found in Upanishad and Puarns, Buddhisn and Jainism also. The same thing we found in Sufism which developed in India with the fusion of Islam and Hindu religion. This we found in the couplet of Sufi Saint Farid:
Rukgi-sukhi khayake thandha pani piv
Farid dekh parayi chopadi n tarsave jiv
(रूखी-सुखी खाय के, ठंढा पानी पीव
फरीद देखी परायी चोपड़ी, न तरसावे जीव)
Similar ideas we found in the teachings of other Sufi Saints also.
Now a days, communal, divisive and fascist forces are on rise. Causing serious threat to Indian culture, tradition, unity and social harmony of the country. History has thought us that youths have always been the vehicle of change in any society. Youths have always stepped in and lead from the front in the crisis. The most important aspect of the youths is their ideals which are growing high with the growth of their bodies . Youth lives for ideals and can die for it. The greatest scientist of last century Albert Einstein had discovered the Theory of Relativity which has revolutionized the scientific world at the age twenty five. Karl Marks had presented his first research paper which is known as the Communist Manifesto at the age of twenty eight. Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment at the age of thirty five and Bhagat Singh has made supreme sacrifice for the country at the age of twenty three. The non-violent way to fight against injustice called Satyagraha was invented by Mahatma Gandhi at the edge 36 years in South Africa.
The population of youths in India is more than half of the total population, but they are direction less and frustration is prevalent in them.
Absence of national youth policy is one of the major reason of it. Their constructive role in nation development has not been defined properly. As a result youth force which is supposed to be driving force of development of a country is being spent in violence and destructive work. Therefore, it is high time to make concrete efforts to channelize youth power in constructive and nation building activities. So that their capacity and energy could be utilized for transforming a new society.
In this background a meeting of senior Gandhian, social activists, journalist, writer, peace and youth worker held on 15th May 2015 at Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi. In this meeting it has been decided to launch a campaign amongst youth named Yuva Samvad Abhiyan. Abhiyan will focus on the following points.
1. To promote and strengthen Indian culture based on simplicity, sacrifice, self controlled, tolerance and peaceful co existence.
2. Take the truth to the youth and clear doubts in their mind which is being poisoned in the name of history.
3. To develop proper understanding of right type of development and protect and conserve the natural heritage Land, Water, Forest which are essential for our survival.
First workshop of Yuva Samvad Abhiyan took place on 12-13 August 2015 at Panipat. More than 125 people from 13 states participated in this workshop. A good number of students from three universities of Haryana had participated in it. It has been decided to continue this campaign upto 2019 which is happen to be 150th birth anniversary of father of nation Mahatma Gandhi .It is worthy to mention that this campaign was started in 2015 which was centenary year of Mahatma Gandhi return to India from South Africa.
For this a national campaign team was formed. Abhiyan aspires to contact lakhs of youths during this period. For this Abhiyan is organizing camps, workshop, seminar, and youth conference and also uses social media.
Yuva Samvad Abhiyan makes fervent appeal to the people in general and youths in particular to join this mission to fulfill the cherished goal of our freedom movement. This will be a real tribute to the heros of our national movement and father of our nation mahatma Gandhi to make India free from inequalities, imbalances, all shorts of exploitations and sufferings.