The young and the restless
Divya Unny
College youth in Mumbai are identified either by winning prominent college
fests, sprawling in pubs and discotheques or trying to make their way
through countless talent hunts on television. However, one sees a small
brigade of young visionaries trying to establish a more meaningful identity.
Many collegians today are stepping forward to help solve certain grave
issues plaguing society. Says Professor Avkash Jadhav from St Xavier’s
College, who initiated the group SAVE (Students Against Violation and
Exploitation), “Through SAVE, we try and identify various social problems
and help people solve them.” The group participated in relief operations
after the floods and the train blasts this year.
“We also went to an ashram where we made young girls aware of ill effects of child marriage. My students then began to realise that there is so much to do,” adds Avkash.
‘Salaame – Thought Awakens’, a management festival by the KC College of
Management Studies, reflects on social issues concerning Mumbaiites. “If
this festivval provokes even 10 percent of the 40 collegians participating,
we will be successful,” says KC student Areeb Khalifa.
With organisations such as the Indian International Model Nations comprising
teenagers brainstorming on Indo-Pak issues, the thought process goes way
beyond the surface level chatter. “Some time ago my friends and I started an
NGO to rehabilitate street kids around our college. It was not something
major, but it made us feel good,” says Anand Naik from SIES College.
Nevertheless, while positive inspiration is always encouraged, some feel
that these young Samaritans should be cautious. Says social activist Nafisa
Ali, “Being socially aware is good, but being intellectually influenced by
people with their own agendas could be dangerous. The youth today should
work towards a secular and impartial system.”
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