Anxieties & Aspirations of an Emerging Young India - A Talk by Prof. Sandeep Shastri

On the afternoon of August 13, 2022, Prof. Dr. Sandeep Shastri, Vice Chancellor of Jagran Lakecity University, Bhopal, addressed the students of Loreto College in an enriching online session. An illustrious Political Scientist and author, he helped draft the Karnataka Youth Policy by serving as Chairman of its drafting committee. Through personal anecdotes and statistics obtained through rigorous survey, he outlined the 'Anxieties and Aspirations of an Emerging Young India', describing those between the ages of 15 and 34 as "anxious, aspirational and increasingly aloof", meticulously explaining each level in an easily comprehensible manner. He shed light on the issues faced by today's youth, highlighting the need for a hope- filled environment which, when coupled with practical education, would help elevate their quality of life. In a bid to advocate for humane bonding in a society increasingly dependent on technology, especially in the post- Covid scenario, Dr. Shastri urged the students to campaign for "Physical Distancing" rather than the popularised "Social Distancing", for he hoped this would remind the young ones about the value of real connections over digital ones. The illuminating session ended with a round of questions from the students, each of which was patiently answered by Dr. Shastri with unmistakable depth and clarity.