Prayagraj, 15 Aug (HS): On the morning of August 15, when

the tricolor flutters in the sky, the nation does not only get an occasion to

remember the past; it is also time to reflect on what freedom means for our new

generation. India won liberation from foreign rule in 1947, but the freedom

today's youth dream of is one of education, employment, dignity, equal

opportunity and the freedom to determine their own future.

Today India’s youth are full of dreams, but the road to

those dreams is not easy. From small towns and villages, millions of students

prepare for competitive exams. They study for years with limited resources;

families cut back on their own needs to support that preparation; and a job is

seen not just as employment but as the social and economic stability of the

entire family. So when allegations of paper leaks, irregularities or lack of

transparency arise in the examination system, the hurt does not fall only on

one candidate’s dream but affects the hopes of the whole family standing behind

them.

Recent actions by young people are an important sign of this

restlessness. It is not necessary that every young person who takes to the

streets represents a political ideology. Often they simply want a fair

assessment of years of hard work. Their question is straightforward—“If I have

worked honestly, then why shouldn’t the decision about my future also be

honest?”

This is the point where the role of government and

institutions becomes crucial. Questioning the government’s intentions is part of

democracy, but even more important is that the government builds trust among

youth through its actions. Transparency in examinations, security of question

papers, timely evaluation, action against the guilty and justice for affected

candidates—these are not merely administrative procedures but issues connected

to the future of young India.

Seeing young voices only as protests does not solve the

problem. Dissent is a part of democratic participation. If young people are

asking questions, they must be heard; if they point out flaws in the system,

attempts should be made to fix those flaws. Sticks, barricades or

administrative pressure may stop a movement for a while, but they cannot answer

the questions that have arisen in young minds.

Today’s youth do not only dream of government jobs. Some

want to be researchers, some teachers, some journalists, some scientists, some

entrepreneurs, and some want to bring change through their creative talents.

Therefore education should not be limited to degrees and exams. It must be

linked to skills, research, entrepreneurship, technology and creativity.

In this era of AI and digital technology a new world of

opportunities is opening up for India’s youth. But opportunities will become

real only when students from villages and small towns also gain access to

digital resources, quality education and guidance. What is needed today is

education that does not only teach a young person to pass exams but also

teaches them to think, to question, to create new things and to be responsible

toward society.

Social media has given young people a new platform to speak.

But along with it the dangers of fake news, rumors and unverified information

have also increased. So an important meaning of today’s freedom is independent

thinking. Young people must develop the ability to decide what information is

fact and what is mere illusion. Media literacy and critical thinking are no

longer optional subjects but necessities of democratic citizenship.

The greatest strength of India’s youth is its diversity. If

young people from different religions, languages, regions and social

backgrounds stand together on shared goals of education, employment and

nation-building, that diversity can become India’s greatest power. If youth

energy is spent on social division the country will weaken, but if that same

energy is invested in education, research, employment, innovation and social

service, India’s development journey will gain new momentum.

When India celebrates the centenary of its independence in

2047, today’s students will be the teachers, scientists, journalists,

administrators, entrepreneurs and policymakers of that India. So the India of

2047 will not be built only by government schemes; its foundation is being laid

in today’s classrooms, libraries, universities and in the dreams of youth who

are trying to move forward despite difficult circumstances.

On this Independence Day we should therefore not only call

on youth to build the nation but also resolve to create a country for them

where hard work is respected, exams are fair, recruitment is transparent,

education is accessible to all and talent receives opportunity.

The generation of 1947 achieved political freedom. Today’s

generation faces the challenge of converting that freedom into equal opportunity,

social justice, quality education and a dignified life.

The young person standing under the tricolor is not only

remembering the nation’s past. In their eyes is also the India of their future.

They want an India where they must struggle for their dreams, but not against

the uncertainty of the system—rather against the limits of their own abilities.

And that is both the biggest question and the greatest resolve of this 79th

morning of freedom. The youth are dreaming; now it is our responsibility to

ensure the path to those dreams is honest, equal and just.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi