'PIONEERA'

Pioneera

- the forefront of progress and change. 

 Ramakrishna Paramahansa studied only till middle school before leaving formal education. But leaving school doesn’t mean abandoning the pursuit of Knowledge. He believed that true education lay beyond books and degrees—in the depths of spiritual awakening and self-realization. Why am I talking about him? Because he was the one who transformed a young boy named Narendranath Datta into the legendary Swami Vivekananda, one of the most inspiring figures in Indian History. 

We all know the immense impact Swami Vivekananda left on the world—a leader, thinker, and spiritual icon who redefined the potential of human strength and intellect. But behind his wisdom and courage stood his guru, Ramakrishna Paramahansa, whose teachings shaped him into a symbol of inner resilience and clarity. It was this unique bond of mentorship that gifted the world a visionary like Vivekananda.

Swami Vivekananda once wisely said, "To understand the future of a nation, observe its youth." This statement is not just a reflection, but a mirror held up to the soul of a country. When I ponder over these words, I am struck by a wave of frustration. Take the ongoing Mahakumbh, for example—a spiritual gathering that draws millions of devotees in search of peace and enlightenment. Yet, disturbingly, the focus of many is not on the divine, but on disturbing the ascetics who have forsaken the material world. These monks, having shed the chains of worldly desires, seek only spiritual peace. And in the heart of this sacred journey, there are people like Abhay Singh, an IITian from Bombay, who set out on this pilgrimage in search of truth and moksha. And here we stand, prisoners of maya (illusion), unable to break free from the distractions that cloud our minds.

I came across a reel where a guy asked random youths to name three songs by Honey Singh, and they answered in seconds. But when asked to name three freedom fighters who fought against the British, they were stumped. "Oh, I’m weak in history," one said casually. Seriously? A wave of frustration surged through me, like a storm churning in the ocean—intense, consuming, and impossible to ignore. It wasn’t just anger; it was a deep sense of disillusionment, watching the youth, the future of our nation, so disconnected from their roots and history. It made me question—how can we move forward when we’re so far removed from the past that built us?

In my quest for understanding, I turned to Google: Why do we celebrate Republic Day? What does "Republic" mean? It said - "A republic is a system of governance where the people elect representatives, and the head of state is not a hereditary monarch." Republic Day, celebrated on 26th January, marks the adoption of India’s Constitution in 1950—a celebration of self-governance and equality.

I typed again “So, it’s simply about adopting the Constitution and governing ourselves by it... That’s the essence of this day?” And yes, that’s part of it. But when I read the last line again—self-governance and equality—it left me pondering: What kind of self-governance is this? A self-governance where we, the youth, support people like Munawar Faruqui, whose actions are controversial?

I overheard a conversation among 17-18-year-olds recently. They were upset that their idol didn’t win in some competition. When I asked who their idol was, they replied, "Rajat Dalal" from Bigg Boss OTT. I was dumbfounded and felt utterly lost. These are the role models they look up to? At least we, in our childhood, had Shaktimaan, a hero who helped people. But now, the youth don’t even know who to idolize or promote.

While our country has had so many victories in various fields—be it sports or other domains—many of our youth remain unaware. They know nothing beyond cricket, a game imported from Britain. But what about the true heroes? A girl from Kashmir, born with a rare condition called Phocomelia, trained herself to shoot archery with her legs and won gold for India in the Olympics. She's none other than Sheetal Devi and this is the kind of person we should be idolizing.

It’s not that we lack heroes. The problem lies in the fact that we continue to promote the wrong ones. Over the past 75 years since adopting the Constitution, our nation has made undeniable progress. We’ve moved forward in many ways—culturally, economically, and socially. Yet, despite this progress, there are still many who fail to truly understand the ideals that the Constitution represents. While Dr. B. R. Ambedkar is widely idolized, there remains a deep misunderstanding of the true meaning of his struggle. Ambedkar fought tirelessly for the unity of our nation and for the principles of equality. He envisioned a society where all individuals, irrespective of their caste, religion, or background, could coexist in peace and dignity.

However, instead of honoring his legacy to unite the people, some individuals are using his name to further divide us along caste lines. They are missing the point of his struggle. Ambedkar’s fight wasn’t just for individual rights—it was for a collective future, where everyone had an equal place at the table. The divisions that continue to persist today are a betrayal of his vision. His life’s work was about bringing us together, but some still choose to build walls rather than bridges.

Even though we have adopted the Constitution, it seems that we have not yet fully grasped its essence. It is more than just a set of laws; it is a moral compass, guiding us toward a future based on justice, equality, and fraternity. But we are still far from realizing its full potential. The original purpose behind the Constitution—of a united, just society—is too often overlooked or misunderstood. We are missing the very spirit that was meant to guide us.

Despite all this, I hold on to hope. I believe that, as time moves forward, we will begin to understand the true significance of these values and start to live by them more fully. There is still time to correct our course. I hope that we will begin to embrace the core principles of equality, unity, and justice, which are the foundation of our Constitution. Only then will we be able to build a nation that is truly strong, united, and just, as Ambedkar envisioned—a future where his ideals are not just remembered, but practiced.