I never put the things i consider 'work' here, but this was something hopeful that i wrote after ages, and i guess there's nothing wrong with spreading a little hope as the new year begins...
Come
mothers and fathers
Throughout
the land
And
don’t criticise
What
you can’t understand
Your
sons and your daughters
Are
beyond your command
Your
old road is
Rapidly
agin’
Please
get out of the new one
If
you can’t lend your hand
For
the times they are a-changin’.
So sang Bob Dylan in his 1964 hit song, The Times They Are a-Changin’. It is
strange how, after all these years, the lyrics still reverberate through time.
If one is to place these words in the context of India, the world’s largest
democracy having the largest group of youngest people, it rings truer than any
other nation. As the fear and hoopla around the Mayan prophesy passes, the old
order gives way to a new age and one thing becomes clear — the future belongs
to the youth. Information technology breakthroughs, innovative
entrepreneurship, incubating startups — aren’t just accomplishments of the old
and wise, the young guns of our country now continue to persevere in such
fields. The internet, a phenomena mirroring the various possibilities of the
future, has helped the GenNext erase boundaries of religion, caste, creed and
colour and connect like never before. Painters, poets, new age artists playing
around with digital codes and algorithms, continue to pour out their ideas,
their thoughts — their very souls — on the worldwide web. Thanks to the same,
people have come together, no matter how burdened the times may be. The
conscience of the youth has awakened a fervent spirit in India and the
youngsters know staying silent would be cowardice, so they are making their
voices heard. Not surrendering to the rigid, iron will of those who don’t want
to change, the youngsters have ensured the future shall not be quiet — it will
comprise of voices speaking as one. Man may have affirmed his carbon footprint
on the planet thousands of years ago, but now our digital footprints fill the
landscape of our lives like a river making its way through time. There is,
undoubtedly, a humbling feeling as we traverse through time, one where we tend
to feel small and sometimes, a little uncertain. Letting go of anchors is never
easy, as one is left to paddle aimless, but we have learnt to find our own way.
The waves never rest and our little vessel traverses through troubled waters —
a little shaken and stirred, learning important lessons, growing stronger and
more aware of the tides and giving back what it can on the way. But never
before have we felt so alive, never have we had such an ability to break old
shackles and shape our lives to make them the one we always wanted to have. We
have conquered unimaginable grief and now its time to break the mould and carve
all the knowledge we have gained in the contour of tomorrows. And as our
humanity strives forward, looking beyond the horizon, knowing it’s always dark
before the coming of dawn, there are a few lines we can go forth with:
Flower
wither not
Brave
the flames of the sun
Take
the spears of the rain
Spread
your roots and shine.