Over 10,000 youth from 75 colleges attend the interactive meet
Delhi, 25th Feb, 2012: “Take ownership for the country” was the message from the Art of Living Founder to the thousands of Delhi NCR youth who had gathered at the Hindu college premises for a youth initiative titled ‘Own the Future and the Present’. This initiative registered and witnessed a huge turnout of over 10,000 students from 75 colleges including Hindu, St Stephens, SRCC, Delhi school of Economics, Gargi, Bhagat Singh, NIFT, TERI University, Kamala Nehru, IP, Appeejay, among others.
Urging the youth to take the lead in shaping a better India Gurudev said, “This country, this world belongs to you so take ownership for it right away. Have a vision for a country that is free from crime, corruption and inhumane behavior. Have a dream of increasing the happiness quotient of the country.”
Serving as a platform to bring together students, academicians, entrepreneurs, professionals, and corporates for a collaborative effort towards Nation building, participants interacted with Gurudev on a variety of topical issues that face them today including corruption, career, relationships, addictions, spirituality, politics and environment.
Answering various questions on politics, Gurudev said, “I urge all 18 plus youth to wake up and vote, and vote for candidate who is honest. Nothing is dirty, it is some people who make it so. But if youth with the right attitude enter politics we can bring in sweeping reforms in the country.” He also advised the youth to have confidence and faith and advised that techniques like pranayama, yoga, meditation can help them find solutions for all problems.
“It is not everyday that you have somebody willing to take all your emotional garbage. When I saw the vision behind this initiative, I was sure this meet was for me,” said Anshika Bansal, Kamla Nehru College.
Gurudev was felicitated by the Principal of Hindu college, Prof. Vinay Kr. Shrivastav, and VC Sri Sri University, Orissa, Dr. K.C Mishra. Addressing the youth, Principal of Hindu college said, “His Holiness has infused a new meaning to life and existence, endowing peace and happiness on all around us. The message of the unity of universe that flows from his teachings and practices will go a long way in creating international amity and cooperation.”
“I wanted to attend this event because I wanted to be an agent of change in the society and I believe that Gurudev can show me the right path,” said Saral from Hansraj College at the youth interaction for Delhi University students with Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Spiritual leader and Humanitarian and Founder, Art of Living. The initiative was hosted by World Alliance for Youth Empowerment, the youth wing of Art of Living and Hindu College, Delhi University.
With a message to promote awareness and accountability relating to social and national issues, Gurudev also addressed the youth on their role for individual and societal transformation, their involvement in promoting peace, dedication to Community Service, and responsibility in the protection and preservation of the environment, arts and culture.
This initiative is in continuance to Art of Living youth programs that have been ongoing for over a decade including the Youth March against Corruption and Terrorism, Meri Delhi Meri Yamuna, Clean Delhi NCR Drive, Street plays and Tree plantation drives, among others. The Art of Living capacity building and life skills program - Youth Empowerment and Skills workshop (YES!+) has transformed lives of more than 1.5 lac youth in the past 5 years in India alone. Gurudev has also been invited by a majority of the IIT’s and IIM’s and international universities like Berkley, Yale, Stanford and Cornell, among others, to address and inspire their students to be architects of a better world.
