“Youth and the Tasks Ahead” is a speech by Karan Singh that urges the youth to embrace their responsibilities as citizens of India. Singh emphasizes the importance of active participation in nation-building and the development of moral and ethical values. Read More English Summaries.
Youth and the Tasks Ahead Summary
Youth and the Tasks Ahead by Dr. Karan Singh Introduction
This essay is an exhortation to the youth of India. The author urges to the youth to develop physical, ‘intellectual, patriotic and spiritual qualities to fulfill their responsibilities towards the nation.
Youth and the Tasks Ahead Summary in English
Giving a message to the youth of our country, a renowned politician and author Dr. Karan Singh says that our freedom was won after a long struggle and sacrifice. More effort and strength is required to keep it intact. In his view, in any nation, the youths are the most vital part for they are energetic. If their strength is mobilized properly, they can prove to be a source of great power to the nation. They must train themselves to fulfill the future responsibilities with the distinction.
The author addresses a few words to the young men and women with a view to inspire them for the service of the’ nation as he thinks that our youths can equip themselves with several distinct dimensions. The first of them is physical, which is the first need to win any battle. Building a great democracy and defending it from the outer attacks need a young generation with physical strength, iron muscles and steel nerves. A proper training for them is also needed, so that they don’t use their strength in wrong direction. Some institutions like NCC and Physical Fitness Scheme are doing well in this field.
The second dimension is intellectual. As we are living in a highly competitive age of science and technology, our youths need to be intellectually far more alert and competent than their predecessors. The young men and women who are getting higher education, are the privileged elite. They must not lose even a single moment during the time of education for they can serve India with great efficiency.
The third dimension is patriotism. It creates in our youth a deep urge for national unity and progress and only this can eradicate corruption and nepotism from our country. It can make the whole process of economic development strong. The youths of a nation must have full realization that they are the fountainhead of its idealism and can provide a new moral impetus to India. Here, the author quotes a high moral from Sri Aurobindo Ghosh’s thoughts where Sri Ghosh urges the students to do anything, only for the sake of nation and to work that she may prosper.
Youth and the Tasks Ahead
Spiritual dimension, the last dimension, is the main faculty that distinguishes human beings from myriad forms even in the time of crisis. Here ‘spirituality’ doesn’t mean only religious zeal but the unity, peace and harmony that unite the whole humanity in a single thread, cutting across all narrow barriers and distinctions. It alone can give us the courage to fight for our freedom and integrity with undying valour and the wisdom to do so without hatred.
Summarizing his views, Dr Singh says that the physical, intellectual, patriotic and spiritual are the dimensions in which our young generations must equip themselves in order to serve the nation in a proper way. It is a continuous process. However, the actual need on the part of our youth is the keen sense of participation in the great advent of nation building, since for every youth there is no dearth of avenues for national service.
The important thing is the question of opportunity that we must provide to our young people for serving the nation at this crucial junction. There is so much to be done. So, the younger generation today faces challenges graver than with which their forefathers had confronted. Our youth will have to tackle the situation and the author is confident that Indian young generations will overcome all the challenges.