YOUTH AND MORAL VALUES

SHIVALI PAI

2006

How does one define youth? And what exactly do we mean by “moral values”? What have they to do with each other? “Youth” is often called the golden period, the best years in a man’s life when he or she is most, physically and mentally, capable of learning things (either good or bad) and implementing them. “Youth” is a source of boundless energy and vitality and is therefore, the greatest asset of any society. But just as the waters of a mighty river need to be controlled and channelised wisely by using dams, so that we can make beneficial use of these waters similarly the dynamic energy possessed by the youth needs to be channelised in the proper direction for the advancement and well being of the society. Otherwise this priceless energy would be wasted and may even cause destruction. This channelisation of energy can and must be done by using the most powerful tool that society has at its disposal: moral values. It is therefore the sacred duty of every section of the society to nurture, to guide, and govern its youth and in doing so there should be no blame game. It is rightly said that:

Politics without principles,

Education without character;

Science without humanity and,

Commerce without morality;

Is not only useless, but also positively dangerous.

History has borne witness to how the blood of millions has been shed just to fulfill the selfish and ignoble ambitions of a few misguided men in power. In our own nation dirty politics has always been the biggest setback to our country’s social as well as economic development.

Money comes and goes,

But morality comes and grows….

Still most men live merely to earn wealth and status, which do not constitute a meaningful life. Technological advancements have overcome the barriers of time, distance, and nationality but they have done precious little to create or develop a better understanding between man and man, or even between man and Nature. Science on one hand while improving and enriching our lifestyles has taken away the life of millions of innocent people who have fallen victim to war and terrorism, both of which have become horrible and horrifying threats which are endangering the very survival of life on our planet. Everyday the life of countless consumers are put to risk due to sale of harmful products in our markets, be it colas or junk foods, cigarettes or even drugs, only to serve selfish interests of a handful of producers.

Lust for power and greed for money overrules the human mind to such an extent that the very essence of a human i.e. rationality appears to be vanishing. We are destroying our souls by living like the very animals we have evolved from. We are governed by basic animal instincts: we fight for survival, for space; we crave for materialistic pleasures and in the process we forget ignore and lose our basic good qualities and humaneness.

Today with everybody around us being selfish, egotistic and greedy including the leaders of our nations, we are all working like robots programmed to seek money and power at any cost and by any means. The honour of our nation lies in the hands of its leaders, and its greatness lies in the moral calibre of its citizens. Unfortunately most of the leaders today fail to inspire or even set a decent example fro the youth. Even the guardians of society’s conscience – the media often fail to transform or reform the masses as the information they provide is inane and is by no means edifying. The education system although it does make a feeble attempt to inculcate moral values, it has made no significant inroads into the moral psyche of the young minds. It infact has turned our schools and colleges into battlegrounds where children slog to score more marks, and in the process the nobler aims of seeking knowledge and developing character are left far behind. If this is the type of environment we provide to any child, the child’s mind being like a sponge has nothing good to absorb. Yet we constantly blame the youth for being restless and violent, but it is the society as a whole that is responsible, for not creating an environment in which peace and love prevail.

In order to have peace in the world,

There should be order in every nation;

To have order in every nation,

We need harmony in every home;

There is harmony in every home only when there is beauty in the character of its residents;

and this beauty arises only if there righteousness in the heart.

Peace within will lead to peace around. How can we achieve this peace? We are not Miss/ Mr. Universe to say,“I wish for world peace” for, if you say “I want world peace” the “I” shows ego and “want” shows desire and greed. But it is only when you conquer your ego and curb your desires that you get true, inner peace and thereafter “world peace”. But our very attitudes today are antithetical to peace and harmony.

Every newborn child, is the purest soul one can find on this earth. And it is the experiences the child attains from his environment that will make the adult he becomes. So isn’t it incorrect of us to accuse today’s youth for all their shortcomings. Let us not forget, they are diamonds! Will you not search for them? Fight for them? Polish them? Or will you blame them to be dirty and lost in mines? It is the duty of society to polish these diamonds into priceless gems with the aid of certain ideals and values which will enhance the glow of their hearts, minds and souls. Today’s youth may appear to be lost but inside them is a hidden treasure. Once they are guided to realize this, they will not only find their own way but will also show the world the right way. But all they need is the proper guidance to help them develop the right vision and perspective built on love, truth, righteousness, non-violence, and selflessness.

The answers to most of the questions we face today, lie within ourselves. But sadly, most men today are ruled by their minds and not their hearts. So, it is only if our minds are pure and refined that we can hope to reform the world. If not all our efforts to change this world for the better, will be futile. It is only when each of us transforms our greed into love for all, it is only when we learn to put others before self that we can hope for a better tomorrow. A tomorrow in which peace and love will reign supreme.