By – Dr Birbal Jha
Every generation inherits both the challenges and opportunities of its time. But the youth of today stand at a unique crossroads—where the pace of change is lightning fast, and the demands of the future are knocking louder than ever. In such a time, what can guide the youth to not just survive but thrive? The answer lies in a powerful threefold formula: English for livelihood, Indian culture for identity, and ethics for social progress.
As I often say, let English be your ladder to livelihood, Indian culture your root of identity, and ethics your compass for social progress. In a globalised world, English is no longer just a subject in schools—it is the passport to opportunities, the bridge that connects dreams to reality. Mastering it can open the doors to jobs, entrepreneurship, and international networks. Master English to open global doors, embrace Indian culture to know who you are, and uphold ethics to lead the world forward.
Yet, career success without cultural grounding can leave one rootless. Indian culture is more than tradition; it is a living heritage of values, resilience, and unity. Knowing where you come from gives you the confidence to face where you’re going. That’s why I believe, A prosperous youth is one who earns with skill, stands tall in cultural pride, and walks straight on the path of ethics.
But there’s a third and perhaps most vital pillar—ethics. Skills can get you a job; culture can give you identity; but ethics will decide how you use both. Without ethics, power can be dangerous, success can be hollow, and progress can be unsustainable. As I often remind the young, English equips your career, culture enriches your soul, and ethics empower your society—grow in all three, and you’ll never shrink in life.
On International Youth Day, this message becomes even more important: Your words in English can earn you bread, your cultural values can earn you respect, and your ethics can earn you immortality. Youth is the golden hour to set the course of your life, to learn the skills that will sustain you, to nurture the cultural values that will shape you, and to practice the ethics that will define you.
The future belongs to those who are globally competent yet culturally proud, ambitious yet ethical. As I often put it, “Be a youth who speaks the language of the world, carries the culture of India, and lives by the principles of humanity.” Because, while fluency in English may make you employable, fluency in ethics will make you unforgettable.
And when youth combine skills with culture and ethics, they don’t just create careers—they create history. They don’t just build lives—they build nations. As I sum it up: English can take you to the world, Indian culture can keep you grounded, and ethics can take you beyond yourself.
So, dear youth—learn with passion, live with pride, and lead with integrity. The world is waiting for your light.