International Youth Day And A Call For Global Youth – Dr. Ashish Tripathi

The former British Prime Minister and well-known thinker of his time, Benjamin Disraeli, said, "Almost everything that is great has been done by youth, and the youth of a nation are the trustees of posterity."

Yes, indeed, without a shadow of a doubt, youth are the epitome of their nation’s power. It is the younger generation that determines the speed of a country’s progress and its final outcome. They have the potential to bring about drastic changes across different spectrums of society and the country, reaching new heights of success and significance.

In consideration of the world's large youth population and its great aspirations, the United Nations observes 12th August as ‘International Youth Day’. The United Nations has been celebrating and convening this programme since 2000 with a wide range of objectives, paying close attention to the concerns of every young person and leading meaningful initiatives for their sake around the globe.

Among these, the key concerns include development, protection, education, employment, the environment, adolescent and young women, and intergenerational relationships. We know that the youth population holds a significant share of the total global population. According to the United Nations, there are 1.2 billion young people in the 15-to-24 age group, accounting for 16% of the global total. Furthermore, if we calculate the figure for youth between 18 and 35 years of age, it reaches approximately 2.2 to 2.4 billion, covering 27% to 29% of the world's population.

Therefore, significant opportunities must be generated to fulfil the aspirations and expectations of this massive population segment. We can ensure the proper channelisation of this immense power by creating equal opportunities. Talented and accomplished youth will then be able to open new doors of progress in education, health, trade and commerce, politics, and other areas of social interest.

To materialise all of this, we must ensure the availability of decent work for youth, providing dignified opportunities and meaningful participation. Taking this into account, the United Nations launched the theme ‘Different Contexts, Common Aspirations’ for the International Youth Day 2026 programme.

Today, changing global perspectives affect society, and this impact is reflected in the younger generation. On one hand, epidemics, global conflicts, and natural disasters have had ill effects, slowing down the progress of youth; on the other hand, systemic problems like corruption and drug addiction have created major obstacles to their upliftment.

Now, there is an urgent need for the world to come forward on a common platform to resolve these problems. Nations should formulate a world-class strategy to overcome contemporary challenges such as poverty, ecological changes, unequal economic opportunities, and the inadequate availability of digital technology.

Today, in the age of the information revolution, the active participation and open expressiveness of youth on various social media platforms enable us to better understand their emotions, aspirations, and vision.

Through these platforms, the voices and choices of Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha—encompassing youth from all age groups—reach us effortlessly. They actively share observations on surrounding events, and their outspokenness signals that systems and governments must listen intently to take the necessary steps for their welfare.

In his popular note, "India of My Dreams: A Call to Youth", Mahatma Gandhi says, ‘My hope lies in the youth of the country. They must realise the harm that it has done to them and society. They must understand, too, that nothing but a rigorously disciplined life will save them and the country from utter ruin.'

The spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, also addresses the youth in his teachings. He teaches them the message of compassion and inspires them to move away from selfishness and embrace benevolence. He calls this shift ‘wise selfishness’.

He says that benevolence and selfless service always bring divine peace and long-lasting happiness to our lives. This peace and pleasant experience can eradicate several mental illnesses like fear, anxiety, and depression. He offers advice to inspire the youth to lead a balanced and well-disciplined life by adopting great virtues like kindness, compassion, forgiveness, education, and patience to overcome hatred, jealousy, and other disorders.

Therefore, today's youth must reach their destination with discipline and an ethical nature because our education implores us to move forward with both intelligence and a strong moral character. By moving along this path with global solidarity, we will be able to find solutions to our shared challenges. The youth of this era are the real hope for change. As the renowned youth icon Swami Vivekananda said, "My faith is in the younger generation, the modern generation; out of them will come my workers. They will work out the whole problem, like lions."

About the Author: Dr. Ashish Tripathi is an Assistant Professor at Zakir Husain Delhi College, University of Delhi.

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