Dr. JP Meets His Orkut Friends

Orkut is a social networking site popular amongst youth in India. Youth discovered it is a great way of being connected. One can find long lost friends, stay connected with current friends, and make new friends. One can create communities of their own on any topic of their liking or join existing ones.

Many communities have been created by earnest Orkutters on political topics. The communities have become hotbeds for emerging trends in political thought amongst Indian youth. Youth discuss here wide-ranging political ideas and thoughts. Youth discuss the state of the existing political culture and the need for a change and how we can bring about the change. They discuss the pressing need to combat the menace of corruption in our governance and politics.

Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan and Lok Satta Party are popular among young Orkutters. There are more than 110 communities in Orkut dedicated to Lok Satta Party and Dr. JP. Thousands of youth are members of these communities.

They drum up support for Lok Satta Party and discuss the importance of ensuring to all equal opportunities for growth and ending any discrimination based on birth. They discuss the novel measures introduced by Lok Satta Party that stand testimonial to the party’s commitment to transparency and democracy. Many earnest, erudite youth desiring change participate in these discussions. They have been advocating the need for a New Political Culture in the cyber world.

LSP provided the virtual world Lok Satta Party activists a chance to get involved in the activities of LSP in real.

Dr. JP met his Orkut friends at the party head office at 1:30 pm on Sunday, 9th March and had an interaction with them. There was a lively discussion on the current political scenario in Andhra Pradesh. Dr. JP emphasized the need for youth to take an active part in politics. The youth expressed their support to Lok Satta Party and wished to participate in its activities.

The active members of the party then guided them on how they can get involved in the activities of LSP in their locality.

The meet concluded with the youth taking a pledge for a corruption-free, developed India.
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I organized this meet and wrote the press release.  It was a success.  Young orkutters who had Dr. JP as their Orkut friend got to meet Dr. JP in person and interact with him.  TV channels covered the meet and took some bytes from the youth.

Yuva Satta

Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive,

But to be young was very heaven

                                                            ---- said Wordsworth about the joy of being young at the dawn of one of the epoch-making moments in history that shaped world’s destiny.  We are now at the dawn of a similar moment.  And we, the young, are blessed with this opportunity to take part in and lead the movement that will shape India's destiny.

This year marks the completion of 150 years of the 1857 Revolt and 60 years of our Independence.  On this occasion, we need to spare a moment to look back at 60 years of our self-rule.  We need to identify and correct the mistakes committed.

It is true that we have achieved tremendous progress in many fields, but many are left as bystanders of the moving procession called Developing India.  There is darkness cast over the lives of many.  Opportunities for growth are not available equally.  Education, the only means of progress for the poor, is increasingly getting out of their reach.  The cancer of corruption in politics and bureaucracy is snuffing out the little that is intended for the relief and uplift of the poor.

We need a polity that aims to ensure a life of dignity for everyone.  We need an administrative machinery that is corruption-free, accountable, transparent, and efficient to smoothly turn any noble intentions into tangible reality.

We need to wage a Second Freedom Struggle.  While our forefathers had only foreign rule to fight against, we have many demons to vanquish to achieve an India of our dreams.  It is time we rise out of our own individualistic concerns and contribute our mite to a larger cause.  We, the young, need to respond to this clarion call.

Yuva Satta is conducting this campaign to identify talent in youth and provide them a platform to showcase their skills/talents.  We will guide you on how to utilize your skills to realize your vision for a better Hyderabad and India.

The future is ours, of the youth.

Youth can lead!

You can lead!

Wake up the leader in you.  Let us change Hyderabad.  Let us change India!

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This was a pamphlet I wrote for Yuva Satta in the year 2007, that marked 60 years of Indian Independence.  It was initial days for Yuva Satta as well.  We distributed the pamphlets when we visited colleges and such other occasions when Yuva Satta volunteers chanced upon meeting youth in groups.  I thought it turned out well, though it might have gone straight over the heads of people and youth in particular.....:)