CHAPTER TWO

YOUTH AND THEIR EDUCATION

Youth are the special gift given by God to our society. I say this because of
their age, energy, enthusiasm, ebullience and the spirit of adventure. The prosperity
and growth of the nation always depended on the young due to their great ideas,
capacity to make good decision, innovation and they have more opportunity. 1 If they
join together they can really win over the race for example the protest at marina beach
in Chennai on the issue of jalikattu and if they join their hands together for the
development of India how it would be? That is why, I firm that it is they who hold the
key to the development of the society as well as of the nation. With all this let us step
in the situation of the youth in India.

2.1 Youth Situation in India

In India 70 percentage of the population are youth who are below the age of
35.2 These youth are varied from one state to the other and their environment is also
different. They face different group of people, sectors and problems and there are
rural youth, urban youth, educated and uneducated youth and moreover they face
language problem.3 To enlighten you I can give an example, A Tamil speaking
student is not able to manage to survive in other state. He or she find difficult to
communicate, study, accommodate oneself to their culture, food and language. Even
in that situation, there are some youngsters who have great goals and achieve them in
their lives whereas some are board of studying and stopping schooling and they are
going for daily wages. On the other hand some have great vision and work hard. To
make you understand I can give you an example, there is a boy named Dharma Raj
who is studying B.Com. Who goes to college during the day and works till night and
he manages his college fees which need to be admired. This is how the youth are, as
we precede let us see about the youth in rural community which tell us about their
life.

1
Subramanian,” An Overview of the Profile of Rural Youth” In Indian Youth. eds. P. S Nair,
Murali Phar Vemuri and Faujdar Ram (New Delhi: Mittal publications ,1989), 45-46.
2
Suparamaniam,” An Overview of the Profile of Rural Youth”, 53.
3
P. K. Sahoo, Youth Situation in India, 303.
2.2 Youth in rural community

The word rural means a particular place in a country yard or a remote area.
Through this we can understand that the people who live in particular remote area are
called as rural community. Now I would to specify the young in rural community. The
young are very energetic and brisk. They strongly believe that they have bright future.
We need to appreciate them for ignoring the values of their forefathers which is
nothing but clinging to caste discrimination and dowry system. We really need to
appreciate this.4
Since they are in remote place they are hidden from the sight of realities.
Many are left alone in the streets and they do not have the means of education. This is
what makes them completely a different from urban group. They are deprived not
only of education but also of awareness, guidance, organization of groups and health.
I feel that they do not have these opportunities because of the lack of facilities like
transport, education, current and so on.5 On the other hand, truly speaking they are
really blessed with good talents which are undeveloped, and their obstacles are larger
than their opportunities. They are also hidden due to their socio economic and
practical problems and majority of them are poor and under nourished.6
At the present era the young are able to realize their talent, energy and power.
They have more self-confidence on them and that makes them better informed and
unites them to go forward in their life.7 This also gives them knowledge to grow in
life. And how do we get knowledge? Yes, it is the Education that gives knowledge to
the young. So now let us see about the youth Education in India.

Subramaniam, “An Overview of the Profile of Rural Youth, 48.

4

Subramaniam, “An Overview of the Profile of Rural Youth, 50.

5
6
Amala Jaya Rajan, Pedagory of the Marginalized Youth In Education of the Young, eds. Jesu
Pudumai Doss,Sahayadas Fernando, Joseph sahayaraj and Jerome Vallabaraj (Chennai: Don Bosco
publications,2011) 12.
7
M. S. Gore, Indian Youth: Streams of Education (New Delhi: Vishwa Yuvak Kendra, 1977),
49.
2.3 Education in India

Mahatma Gandhi said, “By education I mean an all-round drawing out of the
best in child and mind, body and spirit.”8 By this we may understand that Education
helps the young to develop the innate body, mind and soul. Educations raise the life of
the young in the society and now let us see how it born and helps the young.

2.3.1 The Birth of the Education

In early days Education was organized in religious aspect especially the

Bahamians who learned the scripture and their generation were learning and studying.
After them were the high class people. The education that we have now is come about
an hundred years ago. It was brought by British government 19th century. The idea of
British bureaucracy was to rise above the regions and caste.9
The structure was manned by British officials and gradually Indians were
introduced and promoted to the higher responsibilities. There were two streams of
Education; one meant to train for occupation and other was white colour job. This
helped some young to get education and job.10 Even in this the poor young were able
to enter the vocational technical programme. Those who were brilliant in poor
background were financially helped to go for higher studies and the upper class and
the rich youth were sent for universities. This is how the Education got birth and
brought up amidst the different youth and now let us understands how it raises the
youth and their statues.

2.3.2 Raise the Lives of the Youth

We know that the Education gives life to the young. I say this because the
differences between the educated and uneducated have been exaggerated due to
massive population. Above all, half of the percentages of the population of India are

8
Amala Jaya Rajan, Education of the Young, 31.
9
M. S. Gore, Indian Youth, 49.
10
M. S. Gore, Indian Youth, 51.
youth and most of them do not have education and those who studied has gone up in
their life and got close to the political and economic power.11
On the other hand, the factor that separate the educated and uneducated youth
is the language.12 For example, if a youth want to work in IT Company, he needs to
know the common and the local language. This is where our Indian youth fail to pick
up in life. Especially in India, English is the common language and all the big
companies want their employers to know and able to communicate well in English
and that is what they are expecting at. So at present the youngsters are flocking to
English coaching centres eagerly to learn the language and excel in their life and
reaching the peak of the mountain. Through this we can realize that the language is a
tool to raise the lives of the young. And it is true that the Education promote the
growth of the nation. Where there is lack of education, there arise problems and where
there are problems, the Education helps them to solve them. Not only that but it also
raised their status in the society economically, socially and politically. 13 We realised
that Education raise the young and empower them. Now let us analyse how our youth
are empowered.

2.3.3 Empowerment of the Young

Swami Vivekananda, the patron of Indian youth insisted saying, “We want
that education by which character is formed, strength of the mind is increased that
intellect is expanded and by which one stands on one’s feet”. 14 So Education is life
building which frame the character of youth and assimilating ideas. It is not a person
alone receives Education but behind him there is a society that receives Education.
In India, each society needs to lift up their status and thus happen, only when they are
empowered. And it is the Education that empowers the society. Education helps them
to choose their way of life, their goal and their purpose of living.

11
M. S. Gore, Indian youth, 55.
12
M. S. Gore, Indian youth, 56.
13
Amala Jaya Rajan, Education of the Young, 12.
14
Amala Jaya Rajan, Education of the Young, 31.
2.3.4 Methods of Education

The education consists of basic method and there he or she learns to know
what education is and the next level he or she learn to livelihood and vocational skills
which help them to specifies their studies. And they enter into the field to live their
life well and they fight for better living and begin to raise their status in the society.15
We have elaborately seen about how the Education plays an essential role in the life
of the youth. The government has realised the need of the young and they work for
their welfare that is why the Indian constitution tells that the education should be
compulsory for the young till the age of 1416. This age comes under basic education
where they know the value of the education. India has a systematic way of giving
education to the young like schools for basic education, college for livelihood and
universities for technical studies. They involve not only in education but also in their
growth through policy. Now let us see about the youth policy in India.

2.3.5 Youth Policy in India

Youth policy in India consists the age 13 to 35. Among 28 states and 6 union
territories, the Indian youth policy alive in 5 states and 1 union territory like in
Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and
Pondicherry. The government is so keen on this because this is important investment
of the future of the young. It meets the need of the youth like training, coordination
and so on.17
The Human Resources Development is created in the year 1985 to deal with
five areas concerned with youth namely agriculture, education, youth affairs, sports
and women’s welfare.18 The present youth policy aims at empowering the youth of
the nation and it targets are student at urban, rural youth, migrant youth, youth at risk,
for homeless, HIV and AIDS and youth in observation.19 Today youth in under

15
Amala Jaya Rajan, Education of the Young, 37.
16
Casmir Raj, Youth Situation in India in Education of the Young, eds. Jesu Pudumai
Doss,Sahayadas Fernando, Joseph sahayaraj and Jerome Vallabaraj (Chennai: Don Bosco
publications,2011) 49.
17
Casmir Raj, National Youth Policy, 52.
18
Casmir Raj, National Youth Policy, 47.
19
P. K. Sahoo, Youth Policy in India, 301.
observation need more of our attention and guidance. I can give you an example, the
boy name is Nantha kumar who is staying in Don Bosco Anbu Illam, salem. He was
caught for steeling and put in remand home for a number of months and then he was
sent to Don Bosco Anbu Illam, salem. He is there for some month. Under the good
guidance, now he is studying 12 standards and his aim is to become a good advocate.
That is why I say that when they are given more guidance and awareness. It will help
them to realise the value of life and to come up in life. In that way our government is
doing a great wonderful mission in our country for the young and we need to
encourage our government for their initiatives. Thus, the policy plays a good role in
the lives of the young.

2.6 Conclusion

Youth are really special gift from God. They can excel in their life if they
realise their power, energy and willpower. But their situation are always a big block
for them but it can be dealt with. To come up in life they need to be given good
education which raise them and empower them to set goal and proceed to it with
strength. They too receive special support from the government through youth policy.
All are for them to grow and bloom in life and it is up to them whether to utilize or to
waste it. As we know that the youth of today are facing big challenges and problems.
It does not allow them to grow. We say that they are backbone of our country but we
do not either help them to come out or worry about their future and in the following
passage, let us briefly know about their struggle. And let us try to help them.
 CHAPTER THREE

YOUTH CHALLENGES IN INDIA

The flower has bloomed and it is beautiful than anything else and it is blessed
with good fatal. As it grows it is being plucked, stamped, crushed and why even plant
itself is uprooted by some who says that it is not what I wanted or I do not like this
flower or even it is not of my garden. It can very well compare to the Indian youth.
Though they are blessed with multi-talented, there are many stumbling blocks which
do not allow them to excel in their life. They face many difficulties and problems. The
difficulties start right from their birth to till they reach their grave. You may wonder
or think how I am saying this. If you want to understand this journey with me in
chapter.

3.1 Social Background

The society depends on youth for their potential growth. Youth role is
important for a developing country and the nation looks at the innovative idea of
youth for the welfare of the country.20 The young are much ahead of the present time
and the want to a new modern world, but the society is against them. They are forcing
them to live in a generation of old culture and tradition which irritates them or in
which they find uncomfortable. By cling to this old culture they are not able to put
forth their talents and they force to hide their initiatives. The present society is hinders
to their time.
On the other hand the poor do not even get admission in schools due of their
economic and social status. Very few manage to work hard to come in their life but
they are pushed down. The reason is they are from backward caste, for example there
is a man named Palavesam from backward class, he worked hard and put up a shop.
There came people from other denomination and threaten him to close the shop. And
there is the end of his hard work. These are the things that affect the growth of the
young. The current youth live in society where social, economic and religion are

20
Lakshminarayana, College Youth Challenges and Response: Social Background (New
Delhi: Mittal Publications, 1987) 250
prevalent and block their future.21 Now let us see how caste plays with life of the
young.

3.2 Caste System in India

Cast is not a word but a virus that kills youth. The prevalent problem among
young face today is caste discrimination. In the yearly days the low caste people are
not given Education and it has brought by the British government that education is for
all.22 Even in this the parents of high caste motivate their son or daughter to have
wrong opinion about the low caste people right from their schooling onwards. The
saddest thing is that the young is prohibited to choose his or her life partners and
many young lost their good friends.

3.3 Unemployment in India

The youngsters are studying hard to live a good life but their hard work is used
for walking up and down in the stair of the companies for the job and still they are
walking. It the most serious problem in today’s youth and 67 percentage of the youth
do not have jobs.it is prevalent among both community.23 The unemployment is seen
68 percentages in rural community and 41 percentage in urban youth; the youth in
rural are standing in the middle of the river one side they do not receive proper
education on the other hand they do not have job; 24 they become migrant due to lack
of job opportunities and they work for less income and it is the cause for the
unemployment for the local youth. change has grasped by these migrants. The stress
and frustrate lead them to bad habits like steeling, alcohol, drug and so on. Now let us
see how drug spoils them.

3.4 Drugs

Drugs are more used by youngsters, many of them are aware that it kills them
but their age and situation does not allow them. There are several reasons for taking

21
Gopa Kothuri, Indian Youth, 257.
22
H. D Lakshminarayana, Caste, 6
23
24
drugs, some of them are as follows, in the beginning the youth have taken alcohol and
now it is changed to drugs.25 The other reasons are like they want show that they are
college going student, for experiences, kick, feeling insecure, stress and frustration
and so on.26 This is how they are lead to drugs and they are spoiling their life. These
drugs bring problems in the family, society, between good friends and change the
person’s behaviour completely.27

3.5 Conclusion

The young are really in a difficult situation. They face problems from all the
sides and fields like we mentions drugs, caste, unemployment and so on. It can be
solved only if they realise the value of their life. Not only realising but also work hard
and becoming prudent till they come up in life. Every day they need to be aware of
what they are doing. This may help them, with this let us see the conclusion.

25
26
27
 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

The beauty of the flower is the fatal. I compare this fatal to the youth of today who
always add colour to everything. They are the future leaders of our country that is way
they are denoted as the pillars of our country, it is the pillar that hold the whole
building and it the youth who are going to the country. We all know that the beautiful
country is India and In a special way we are going to see about the youth in India.

1.1 The Reason for Choosing this Topic

As a youth, I journey in this world for quite 22 years. I see some young are very
happy, enjoying their life to the full and some others are always sad. As a youth
worker in the society of Saint Francis De Sales, I also see some young are having
different issues like caste, migrant boys, and boys in observation home and on the
other hand some are running to achieve their goal in life. All this make me to think,
what is happening to the young and I would to know about my own fellow young who
are equal to my age. This gives me the thirst to know more about them and their
situation which will also help me to strengthen my own call to serve the young.

1.2 Relevance of the Topic

We know the word ‘youth’ consists the age of 14 to 30. There is no one on this
world that does not cross this stage of life called ‘youth’. The government has brought
many schemes for the welfare of the young and they are all are equal and it supposed
to equal. We analyse from the society that the young are separated in groups and they
live in a hidden life. How many of us are aware of this? We can come to an
conclusion only if we understand the life and struggle of Indian youth. Thus I feel that
Indian Youth is a relevant topic to study and help them.
1.3 Structure of Paper

The chapter has divided into four parts. The first chapter speak about the general
introduction; the reason for