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Youth For Peace is a caravan of students with a dream to build a secular nation. R. UMA MAHESHWARI reports
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THESE ARE the voices of some young people - in the age group of 14 to 20 years - from across the country. These young people set out on a caravan with "a dream to build a secular, just and democratic nation where all citizens have equal rights" with a "pledge to work towards the fulfilment of this dream."
Braving the heat and the discomfort of the road journey ( covering 6000 kilometers) starting from Delhi, youngsters of the Youth for Peace stopped at Hyderabad on April 18 and 19. Their immediate purpose is to urge youth of the country to vote for a secular, democratic, government.
Youth For Peace, a group launched under the banner of ANHAD, is a group of students from Delhi and other states, who have been working for communal harmony for the last one year. Swapnil, a 17-year-old from Delhi says, "the Youth Aman Karwan basically came about after we saw the happenings in Gujarat. We felt something should be done to let people know what happened in Gujarat."
Kandala - 17 years old, Delhi, says "I gave my 12th board exams. I went to Gujarat last year. We talked to youth of our own age. We decided we needed a platform like Youth for Peace. All experiences so far have been positive.
Everyone felt more committed to continue no matter what. Nobody wanted to go back. It has worked wonders strengthening us as we move along. I don't know electorally how much it can change." Yaseen, from Dayalul village in Gujarat is one of the victims of the riots that happened two years ago.
"I have just given my X std exams. Two years ago, my father, grandmother and brother-in-law were murdered in the riots. We still cannot go to my village. They threaten us that they will kill us if we return. But whatever happened to me, should not happen to any one else in the country. That is why I joined in this Karvan. We want to live in peace and harmony."
Manan, member, ANHAD, Gujarat says, "After the riots, I decided to work on this issue. We have seen riots in Gujarat earlier, but this time it was something the society gave acceptance to and justified. That is frightening. So I decided to work on this. We should not lose our democracy. There is an urgency to appeal to youth and defeat communal forces. When I was beaten up in Baroda, I wondered that despite my family working for the country for 50 years (his father was a Gandhian and his mother a Gandhian educationist) I was called a terrorist, Taliban-vaadi and anti-national. I have hope on this group and their commitment".
Adil, 20-years-old, from the old city, Hyderabad says, "I have gone for the first time from Hyderabad on a political mission. I feel the power of youth is much stronger than any other. In Gujarat in the dalit basti in Nadiad many people came forward and listened to us. They said it was nice to see us since youth are generally interested only in MTV and discos. We had good interaction and debates. Some young people got angry and aggressive. But they changed their minds when we spoke to them about the facts.
When they attacked us I was frightened. But I have become more confident now - it is very essential to fight these forces - like second freedom struggle..."
Sibi, from Chennai, says, "My parents told me to join the Karvan. I wasn't expecting anything before I came. People here are not sons and daughters of political activists. They are from various backgrounds. I don't think this kind of thing happens very often. We are travelling across the country. It's adventurous and fun too."
Shabnam Hashmi, sporting a bandaged forehead and bruised face, says, " The idea is political - we very strongly felt there is need to appeal to young voters to defeat communal fascist forces. Our schedule is such that we reach each place before polling day.
After the elections, students who still have few months before entering college plan to spend ten days in each state setting up YFP groups in every city. In every state, we are signing pledges and developing and evolving new ideas to continue our mission."
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