The period between childhood and
adult can be explained as the period of youth. World Bank has explained
that those belonging to the age group of 15 to 24 are termed as youth.
United Nations has a similar description that explains 15 to 24 as the
age of youth. Nepal has explained the age of youths from 16 to 40 while
in Brazil, youth refer to both sexes from 15 or 18 to 25-years-old.
Youth in Nigeria includes that of 18-35 year of age.The situation looks something similar in the case of South Asia as well and this definition of age group varies depending on countries. Bhutan defines youth as between 13-24 years of age while that of Pakistan as between 15-29, Afghanistan has categorized into two groups - youths being from 18-35 years while adolescents between 12 to 18 years. India explained this to be of 15-29 years of age group. However, youths can be explained as that group of peoples who have energy for almost anything and everything, are dynamic in nature; innovative, critical revolutionary with hot blood, updated and striving for change.
The World Bank has stated that one fifth of the population in South Asia is between the age of 15-24 with India having some 200 million young people. This is the largest number of young people ever to transition into adulthood, both in South Asia and in the world as a whole as stated by World Bank. We can see the situation of youth bulge in these countries, and youth bulge is that factor for any country, which can lead to rapid development of the country if they are properly utilized. Once in almost an era, there appears youth bulge for any country.
Economic downfall
Countries like Japan, Korea, and Germany made the best use of that period of youth bulge, and they are up high. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar are in the process to make best utilization of this bulge, and hence they are likely to be high too. Again, there are similar proportion of population of the age 0-15 that clarifies next mass of youths presence in days to come. That is a large number again.
It was youth led movement in China that ended in brutal Government crackdown that was later termed as massacre in 1989. It was frustrations shown by youths towards the economic downfall towards their leaders, naming ‘Spanish Revolution Camp’ that created huge impact on the election there few years back. Massive Arab Spring can be taken as another example where the initiation of youths led to such a huge impact in Arabian countries few years back. There are lots of examples worldwide where youth’s movement has made impact from Americas Revolutionary Youth Movement to Hungarian Revolution. Use of social media was brought into practice for today’s revolution.
On tracing the South Asian history, we can conclude that from very early days, those involved people who brought change was youths. Be it in freedom of India and Pakistan, or be it separation of East and West Pakistan; be it in Islamic Movement of Afghanistan or Peoples Movement in Nepal, be it in New Maldives campaign in Maldives or removal of Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka or during establishment of Bhutanese democracy in Bhutan - youths have made significant contribution for the political change throughout South Asia. I visualized youths’ active involvement in rehabilitation and relief work during Nepal's massive earthquake along with Chennai flood. The zeal and energy they had had something for change.
Youth wings
It can therefore be regarded that youths are the power for change. Why every political party keeps their youth wings? They know that these are the youths, who has the power, and who can bring change! These youth wings add energy to those political parties, and help them to show their strength. They have the strength to rebuild Nepal.
But, where lies South Asian youths? The qualified youths, who are
actually the requirement of the country for holding top level, making
strategies fly abroad in the name of ‘better education’. Gulf countries
must be having South Asian youths as cheap labour force, while United
States and Australia must be having South Asian youths as source of
income in their relevant universities. Certain number of youths is into
drug addiction.Out of those existing, one portion is planning to fly abroad, and other half and others existing are hunting for job opportunities. Where is the responsibility of the youths? The responsibility of the youths after the devastating earthquake seems a contribution, but again another part of youths want to fly abroad making this a reason too.
In the Anti-Corruption Camp, that was held in India, Union Minister of Agriculture, Consumer affairs and Food and Public Distribution, Sharad Pawar was slapped by a youth in New Delhi for corruption and price rise. This incident shows the actual power of youth! The new record was created, where the human flag was created in Nepal or Pakistan - it was youth! It is not that youths are not united.
Youth have all the powers; they have all the power to be an achiever. They have enthusiasm, desire to achieve, and above all, they have the physical energy within them. When these youths can drop down to street to decrease Rs 5 in petroleum products, they can drop down to protest against this bureaucratic rule.
There are large numbers of youths who have not registered their name into any political parties; they can drop down into any form. Not always can youths live with frustrations. Once their hot blood boils, they will certainly get out of their patience. Not always can youths forgive leaders for their sins. Not making effective utilization of SAARC can lead to next youth thunder. Arab Spring was all outcome of one reason. They can bring revolution, and their silence should not be misunderstood, it is the patience of youth with optimistic view towards the country.
They must be properly utilized and taken care of for the reconstruction and rebuilding process. They can give wonder if properly guided, or else they can do huge blunders!
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