Space for youth who smile amidst tears

by Anushka Nanayakkara

"Society must alternate between revolution and consolidation. It is the function of youth to supply this dynamic element" - Jawaharlal Nehru.

Children or old men and women generally are the dependents of society. There is however a marked difference of youth being dependents. Nevertheless, years back or even in the present society youth is being counted as the sailor or the energy of a family and of a nation.

In any case if the so called "youth" fail to meet with their challenges (not due to their incapabilities), the society itself would kick them off the ground. The youth can be taken from the age of 16 to 28 (officially its up to 40), one might say it's the time period of enjoyment, excitement, experiments, challenges etc.

How ever the other side of it is, very much hidden or rather buried due to million reasons. The youth without differentiating from village to cities do struggle to move ahead in the society and make their ultimate effort not to drown.

While attempting to capture the view and needs of a society, youth gets to face many hurdles such as economic stagnancy, material poverty, unemployment, educational disfunction and social alienation. Several reasons have prompted me to bring out and show the necessary aspects and facts of how the youth are being attacked or crushed in to the ground.

In a society where the majority is youth, it is a must to highlight and analyse the short comings of the past and to correct them with a different approach.

I find, however that this task cannot be completed or fulfilled by one person or a set of people. The massive dissatisfaction of the youth, tortured everyday by the society and the undying effort by youth, is yet to be completed.

I will be discussing in detail with a veteran journalist Sunandha Deshapriya about the students and later on with time how they get involved in insurrection to give an enlarged view for the readers and the necessity to create "space for youth who are smiling amidst tears".

Journalist Sunandha Deshapriya said the main problem we are facing with the youth is the battle between the generations. The present parents of society does not like to accept the changes the world is facing. For that reason itself the relationship between the youth and parents collapse with tension.

Further the journalist said it is pathetic to comprehend that the media is backing off with these kind of subjects, thinking that their ratings would go down. What is needed is for deliberate deep subjects and to make it savory for the audience, that's where the real talents appear. He also said that it can create a mature society.

Deshapriya also pointed that if the society ignore facing changes, the battle will continue and the youth will have to go in to deep tension which might lead them to leave homes, commit suicide etc.

Journalist said if adult society refuses to accept the social needs and views, the youth might become more belligerent to society. Most of the time adults tend to forget their own youth, falling in love, hanging out with friends etc. Deshapriya said what the youth is craving for is to explore society but if the restrictions are made then the only option what their left is to do things secretly. Adding he said the space is not available for the youth to persist in society.

Further journalist said in our society the freedom is being gripped for the youth and has not even provided the environment to have open conversations on subjects like sex education, inconsistencies, educational disfunction in society etc.

Deshapriya also said that the youth fails to have confidence to overcome their challenges and as a result they either leave the country or may turn unproductive to themselves, family or the community. He said its like we turn our own mankind to devils.

Deshapriya said that we cannot expect all the youth to walk into clubs, where they could relax or get some entertainment. He said as a responsible citizen our liability is to give space for them to enjoy life in a simple manner where no one will be offended.

Adding he said, nowadays we rarely get to see the youth are occupied with extra activities or to improve their insight. He said according to society what's been shown as the necessity for the youth is only education. Deshapriya said, what can be seen more is that due to the endless pressure exerted by society, the youth tries to take revenge.

Deshapriya said according to research done by the Unicef on the local university students, they have shown that the tension they go through is been taken off either by having sexual activity and the tragedy is that they are not being educated of the healthy side or the consequences.

He said the print and electronic media should take the responsibility to educate society. Finally, Sunandha Deshapriya said "Youth are like flowers and the world belongs to them, it is the duty of society to make their expectations come true".

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