Youthful Nation

The nation is always young and has many of us in transition. Like the young who are working to a better world, the nations must evolve and keep up with the needs and aspirations of the youth. Youth development is really the crux of nation building, the country that takes care of the young people develops and goes on to become not only rich in wealth and culture but evolves as a real welfare state.

India's rise in economic terms is closely linked to the youth power, and all investments in building youth capital will help the young equip for life. Yes, inclusive growth the mantra of governments is enshrined on building up the quality of life for the young people, and we all need to partner to help the young achieve their true potential. How do we do this?

Education many a times is touted and promoted as literacy, promotes the need to read and write for a better future, this is not enough. We need thinking and understanding and that is really the bottom line for a better future. There is the growing need for mentors to help the young; empower them to live in harmony with nature, encourage them to serve the community and more so be better skilled than simply educated in the read and write way. We all have to work to equip for life the young, challenge them to achieve their true potential and keep the nation young, dynamic and on the growth path always.

Let us invest in our youth and improve our own life.

Interview at Junior Round Square Conference, Gwalior

Interview of Mr. Sandeep Dutt with Niket Jain
via Award India by The Studio on 2/16/11


Niket: Your Biodata mentions your profession as brewing knowledge, what do you mean by that?

Mr. Sandeep: It’s very interesting. This always happens to be the first question that is asked of me in every interview. I always ask what is life. It is like a pot in which we put in and take out information. So essentially what we do in our life is create a knowledge base. Whether you study, teach or do anything else in life. This is the key and when I say brewing knowledge, it essentially means what we do everyday. It’s your job whether you are giving, taking or learning each moment you are brewing knowledge. This I feel is the most important thing to do as an entrepreneur.

Niket: Being a Doon School product do you think residential school students have an edge over day school students.

Mr. Sandeep: There is a very simple answer to that. A residential school gives an opportunity to a person to find himself, understand himself and see the world with an advantage which an average young child does not have. And as residential schools focus on real front, on the ground work and training or delivery, they are much better than the others. This is the way it helps the students to learn and lead ahead.

Niket : How did you discover your love for adventure, mountaineering in particular?

Mr. Sandeep: To me life is an adventure itself and is a journey with ups and downs which come in our way. I feel mountains personify a leader. They are high, strong and have value. They give a lot to us and take very little in return which is what a good leader does. And that is why in adventure, mountains have always played the role of a mystic. They symbolize the ultimate for an adventurer. Lot of challenge today is based on mountains. The height of a mountain helps us to reach personal heights as an individual.

Niket: You have won many awards. One of them is the ‘Himalayas Clean Prize. How do you try to create environmental awareness in people?

Mr. Sandeep: What is the most important thing when you talk about environment? You must accept that the only reality in life is the environment around you. To make this comfortable, you have to be in harmony with it. So when we say ‘keep clean’ it doesn’t really mean picking up a broom and ensuring there is no litter around. Litter is only the surface, it’s not the answer. Litter is just what is visible but there is so much more that defiles the environment. When we look at cleanliness we have to work out a way that we leave nature untouched and don’t disturb its pristine beauty. My philosophy of going to nature is just leaving it as it is. That’s what I mean by cleanliness. A very simple thing, when you put up a camp side please restore it to as close as possible. That’s just a small message about keeping a place clean.

Niket: Sir, can you tell us how you are associated with the Duke of Edinburgh awards?

Mr. Sandeep: Essentially, I see my role today as primarily to raise the profile of the awards programme. We have been in India for almost 48 years now. So my job is to promote the award authority, our first task is to promote. Our second task is to provide, which means every young person who is of the age minimum 14 and maximum 25 should have access to the award program and third is to make the award more precious to young people. To make young people live the award and not just wear it.

 Kind courtesy Editor of The Review, Scindia School at Gwalior, India

The Leader is within you

Leadership is nothing but finding yourself, look in to the mirror and see what it says.

We must have the courage to follow our heart and choose our paths, the mind and the heart in unison will help us find ourselves. Young people need to be given the opportunity to be heard, seen and even act. Often the leader within is stifled due to circumstance. Young people think fresh and this too is nothing but leadership. Look at yourself like a spring, and more our push yourself the energy will do a rebound and even stronger. It is all within you and we all have to work to make it happen.

When young and the old (grown ups of age) coexist there is often the pressure to respect age and this is indeed the challenge. The world has seen fresh and new ideas emanate from the young and this is where the leaders are. Young people are able to see all the colours in the prism and will be better leaders. There is the need to let every colour and shade be present to make white light. Yes, the white light is the brightest and that is what the leadership is about.

We have to offer the best possible opportunity, environment and create the energy for the young to reflect within and find the leader in themselves. The leaders are within and must be given the rightful place. Learning is  two-way, the young and the old must work to find the leader within. Wake up...find the leader in yourself, this will strengthen you, enhance your self esteem and will make your dreams come true.

Cheers for the young and let us follow them for a better tomorrow.