Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.
The Road Not Taken (1916)
Young people of the Valley must choose to take a path less trodden. The young men and women are the essence of any society. A safe, healthy passage from adolescence into adulthood is the right of every child. To fulfil this right, families and society need to ensure that youth acquire the knowledge and skill required to lead productive and fulfilling lives. But in any conflict zone too many young people grapple with under development, violence and moreover carry a burden of history as perceived by them or as made to understand to them which prevents them from reaching their personal and collective potential.
We know that healthy, educated and productive young people can help break the cycle of intergenerational poverty and are more resilient in the face of individual & societal challenges. No doubt, largely due to the spread of information & technology, today’s youth nonetheless have higher expectations than the generations before them, with a stronger grasp of their rights and a clearer view of what they are capable of accomplishing, should they receive proper tools and opportunities. But unfortunately, the same social networking is being used to spread misinformation and hatred. It has assisted in selling fake glory & anti government stances to the young impressionable minds who get corrupted easily. This benefits the people/groups/ nations to maintain status quo in the region. Girls and young women are the worst off in such regions, in terms of not only education and employment but also vulnerable to human rights violations. Easy availability of drugs is another menace and it’s discussion opens another Pandora’s box of troubles.So in an environment, where it is more convenient to perish and move into oblivion, a few infidels break the shackles; one is chained in, off load the baggage of the past and emerges as winners. It is a win- win situation for everyone as when someone out of the young stock of men and women decide to live and progress. This week two names are echoing in the valley, one is of 18 year old girl Absaar Aeijaz of Bemina who scored 100% in SAT, thereby achieving a rare feat of scoring full in all the three science subjects worldwide and second is of a boy named Basit Bilal Khan of Pulwama who topped the NEET exam scoring 695 out of 720 marks. Their success is infectious as they radiate positive energy in their peer group. To quote another example, Neha Pandita , a Kashmiri Pandit staying in a refugee camp cracked civil services and refused to carry any burden of past atrocities on her shoulders. There are innumerable examples like these to quote who do not identify with the majority and choose a path less travelled with panache. It is also true that not all students are brilliant in studies but all are unique in their own way. A few may show interest in sports while some are skilled in any art form. A few young men may have the inborn knack of excelling in business. It’s just that the potential in them is nurtured timely and channelized properly. The onus lies on the entire Awaam(People), their own parents- teachers and apparently the administration including the security forces as a sustainable future depends on having resilient population which cannot be achieved without investing in young souls.
By Robert Frost