'Young India cannot be hostage to the past'
New Delhi – March 7, 2014: Actor Ranveer Singh burst onto stage dancing to the tune of
‘Yahan ke hum sikandar’ from the film Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar. That pretty much
set the tune of the session ‘Young and Restless: How to Be Bold and Brave at
India Today Conclave 2014. Hindustan Powerprojects Private Limited Chairman
Ratul Puri, who described himself as not young and restless but one who
believed that the country was indeed so, defined the circumstance in India
quite succinctly. “More than 60 per cent of India is under the age of 40. They
are definitely young, and their restlessness has been caused by the rise of
social media and the resulting increased awareness which creates aspirations,”
he said. The challenges in front of India, he outlined, lie in creating
infrastructure, opportunity and skill for this generation. Young actor-turned
politician Chirag Paswan, son of Lok Janshakti Party leader Ram Vilas Paswan,
said the urge to do something for Bihar’s youth was what drove him into
politics. “I want to bring Bihar’s samman (pride) back,” he said. Quizzed about
his party’s recent pre-poll alliance with BJP, Chirag said the nation couldn’t
be hostage to the past—in a veiled reference to the 2002 Gujarat riots.”
