Raring to Grow

With two-thirds of the population under 35, the world's largest democracy can afford to dream. The average Indian is expected to be only 29 years old in 2020, as against 37 in China and the United States, 45 in western Europe and 48 in Japan. The dreams are taking concrete shape; it's what the world calls a demographic dividend.

Some facts  459 million is the number of Indians between 13 and 35 333 million is the number of literate young Indians 62 per cent of the literate youth live in villages 77 per cent of literate youth are interested in films and music, 72 per cent in news and current affairs, 59 per cent in religious and spiritual topics, 35 per cent in science and technology, and 34 per cent in environmental pollution 98 minutes is the time spent by youth on TV every day, 44 minutes on magazines, 32 minutes on newspapers and 70 minutes surfing the Internet 40 per cent of the literate youth are OBCs, 27 per cent are general castes, 23 per cent are SCs and 10 per cent are STs

In India, it translates into a growing number of literate youngsters, which is both a challenge and an opportunity. India has 459 million youngsters who were born after 1975, the year INDIA TODAY came into being, and just before 1997. These youngsters, from those who have just entered their teens to those about to pass into middle agedom, constitute the people who can and do lead the nation, in business, in arts, in politics and in society. Of these, 333 million are literate, which is 73 per cent of the total youth population. This population of literate youth has grown at 2.49 per cent between 2001 and 2009 which is good news for those who read, according to the National Youth Readership Survey (NYRS-2009) by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER). Television has not made a dent on newspapers as a source of information; being seen by 54 per cent as a source for entertainment and 22 per cent for news and current affairs; about 63 per cent of the youth read newspapers to gather news and information on current events; only 10 per cent read for entertainment. The Internet-accessed by only 3.7 per cent of the youth-is more of Entertainment Central than an information one-stop shop. It is used for entertainment 14 per cent of the time, for reading books 4 per cent of the time, and for searching for new book titles for 1.2 per cent of the time. It is accessed at Internet cafes in 46 per cent of the cases, at home in 23 per cent of the cases and at the workplace in 13 per cent of the cases. The interests of India's emerging leaders throw up a surprise. While 35 per cent care about science and technology, 34 per cent are concerned about environmental pollution. More expectedly, 77 per cent are interested in music and films, 72 per cent in news and current affairs, and 59 per cent in religion. "With 67 per cent of the literate youth agreeing to reservations for women in Parliament and local government, there is clearly a slow shift in attitudes in the next generation. The fact that so many were from villages and yet voiced opinions of this kind is very promising," says sociologist Dipankar Gupta.
This diversity is evident in the following pages where 35 achievers under 35 are profiled. From Mumbai's school dropout Ajjay Agarwal who began the fast-growing Maxx Mobiles as a Rs 5-lakh start-up to Krishna Mohan Reddy from Berhampur, Orissa, a selftaught dancer who started a group of mostly labourers to win the Colors reality show, India's Got Talent; from the talented, mint fresh National Award winning music composer Amit Trivedi to wrestling champion Sushil Kumar, they have shown determination, innovation and gumption to build their careers.
Many of their narratives echo what the survey shows, that there has been a general tendency on the part of the literate youth to move from rural to urban areas. Rural mobility for long has been confined to the working class but with the increase in demand for skills which require higher education, rural youth are no longer averse to moving out. This is apparent from 82 per cent of the literate youth in the villages being "matriculates or below" and only 6 per cent being graduates, driving them to look beyond the rural limits for their careers. The survey also shows that the average age of Indian youth completing their highest education level is around 15. Data shows that 76 per cent of the literate youth have not gone to college.
And more worryingly, the growth in the number of literate youngsters was more rapid in urban India at 3.15 per cent per annum than in rural at 2.11 per cent, which means that access to education inside India is still low. A clear rural-urban divide is also discernible, in that the proportion of youth with higher education attainments is relatively greater in towns than villages, and gender differences are stark. "The quality of the human resource is of paramount importance," points out Rajesh Shukla, senior fellow, NCAER, and author of the NYRS. The demographic dividend can become a liability unless the growth is made inclusive, notes Isher Judge Ahluwalia, chairperson, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations. "The current GDP growth rate cannot be termed sustainable as a large chunk of society is not able to reap the benefits," she adds. This can become both an economic and social problem. Economic, because an additional 110 million youngsters are to be added to the workforce by 2020. They will need jobs, good jobs. And social, because of the diverse composition of this force-for instance, 40 per cent of the literate youth are OBCs, 62 per cent live in rural areas, and the biggest chunk, 23 per cent, is from south India.
But then the stories of struggle and of success in the following pages seem to suggest that what India's youth dividend imagines, it also implements.
This article appeared in the India Today magazine dated August 23, 2010

Youth Pulse: What makes the younger crowd flock to sales?

Stores scream ‘Sale’ all the time. What makes the younger crowd flock to sales?

The youth and sales?

There are two kinds of young buyers — the ones who look for only brands, and the ones for whom price is the key buying trigger. The former will never compromise on their core preferences and buy a product just because it’s on sale, while for the latter a discount definitely makes a difference. That said, for the second set, nothing sub-standard would go, even if it’s on sale. ‘Sale’ could also bring to mind ‘clearing of old things’, ‘low quality’ and ‘desperate measures to make us buy’.

Do I wait for it?

For the first set of buyers, a sale isn’t something they would wait for. Their purchase is more impulsive. But the second wait with anticipation for a good deal or a range of options to get their wishlist fulfilled.

Is it cool?

The youth are definitely excited when it comes to clinching the best deals as it makes great conversation with peer groups. But it gets even better if they get a great deal on an aspirational brand, and that is usually when it becomes a purchase of some importance.

How to sell a sale?

The negative values that a young customer attaches to a sale could be addressed by making it an earned privilege. For example, if a sale is packaged in a way that makes it available only for a select few, youngsters would look forward to the purchase and their concerns regarding product quality and the store’s intentions would vanish. Even if such exclusivity is notional, it would be a sure shot winner.


Methodology: A network of ‘student transmitters’ across campuses that act as insight seekers and conversation seeders. The network reaches six metro cities and connects with over 10,000 students. The network has been created by Concrea, a youth marketing & communications agency, part of the Electronic Youth Media Group.

Age Group: 18 - 22 years Want to peek into the mind of the youth? Send us your queries at brand.equity@timesgroup.com

Nepal: Taboo-breaking radio show makes waves among youth

Nepal News, 2010-09-08

KATHMANDU: In a Kathmandu recording studio, young workers sift through piles of letters from Nepalese teenagers seeking advice on everything from unrequited love and homosexuality to drug abuse and HIV.

Two presenters in their early twenties talk animatedly into microphones as they record the latest episode of “Chatting with my Best Friend” or Saathi Sanga Manka Kura (SSMK), one of Nepal’s most listened-to radio shows.

The programme, a blend of discussion, drama and music, was launched nine years ago as part of a project funded by the UN children’s agency UNICEF to spread awareness among Nepalese teenagers about the dangers of HIV and AIDS.  Since then it has become required listening for young people across Nepal, a deeply conservative, majority-Hindu country where teenage sex and drug abuse are usually taboo subjects.

The show — the first to be produced by and for young Nepalese people — began as a half-hour slot on national radio, considered the most effective medium in a country where around a third of the population is illiterate.  Its no-holds-barred approach to sexual health quickly won it a loyal following among young people and within months, so many letters were coming in that it had to double its running time to an hour.

“Before SSMK started, there was no tradition of talking about such problems in Nepal,” said Kaustuv Pokhrel, a former presenter on the show who now works behind the scenes.

“The show was designed in such a way that it felt like your friend talking to you in a non-judgemental way. The hosts talk about anything under the sun — sexual and reproductive health, career or study concerns, family problems, whatever.”

Now, SSMK draws six million listeners a week, is the winner of several international awards, and has even featured “Pirates of the Caribbean” star Orlando Bloom, a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, in one of its dramas.

Gillian Mellsop, UNICEF’s Nepal representative, said the mainstream media gave little attention to the issues facing young people before SSMK came along.

“This lack of guidance and information on issues that were important to young people left them feeling a little neglected and also increased their vulnerability to risky behaviour,” she added.

But SSMK’s willingness to tackle any subject has also brought criticism and, on one occasion, the threat of removal from the airwaves after a particularly controversial early episode about masturbation.

“We were accused of putting out vulgar content on the radio, so we invited the station managers in to see the letters we received to show we were not making it up — this really was an issue that concerned young people.

“Eventually they were persuaded, but for a while we had to send them scripts for approval. They said we couldn’t use the word ‘condom’ on the radio, for example, which was problematic.”

The format of the show has barely changed over the years — two young presenters, the “best friends” of the show’s title, discuss listeners’ problems before introducing a short drama in which solutions are found.

But the content has evolved to reflect the changing concerns of its listeners, many of whom were caught up in the civil war between Maoist guerrillas and the state that ended in 2006.

“After a couple of years we began receiving letters complaining that we were focusing on small issues when they country was in such a bad situation,” said Pokhrel.

“We had letters from young people who had joined the Maoists and were afraid to leave, and even from girls who had been raped and were too afraid to tell anyone because of the stigma.”

The letters are all read and answered, usually with a stock reply giving expert advice on the particular issue the writer is interested in, and a few are chosen to be featured on the programme.

Much of the correspondence comes from young people in rural areas of Nepal, where discrimination on caste, ethnic and gender lines is rife, and where most of the violence took place during the 10-year conflict.

The show used to receive between 1,500 and 2,000 letters a month, but Nepal has seen a dramatic increase in mobile phone usage in recent years and they are increasingly being replaced by text messaging.

Equal Access, the international non-profit organisation that makes the show, has exported the idea to other developing countries including Cambodia, Laos and most recently Yemen.

In Nepal, a new generation of young presenters who themselves listened to SSMK as teenagers have recently taken over on the show.

“I loved listening to SSMK but I never imagined I would one day be presenting it,” said SSMK host Swarnima Shrestha, 22.

“It’s hard work, and we’re under constant pressure because people take what we say so seriously. But to be able to touch even one young life feels great.”

Spot the lecturer in this class

Keerat Kaur’s Facebook profile looks like any other 22-year old’s, till you notice that she’s a degree college lecturer. Kaur, who recently completed her mass communications’ course from Symbiosis, Pune, has been teaching at Wilson College’s Bachelor of Mass Media course for the past three months.
She’s just a year or two senior to her students and it’s fun to play ‘spot the professor’ in the classroom while she’s in huddled discussions with her students, often involving them in tasks which include interpreting a variety of paintings, music and short films.
It’s a similar sight sometimes at Juhu beach, where students of Rizvi College of Architecture gather with their lecturer, 29-year old Farzan Khatri. Just 7-8 years older than most of his students, Khatri recently spent an afternoon with them on the beach, helping them practise architecture of a different kind — building sand castles.
Meanwhile, at IIT-Powai’s Industrial Design Centre, Girish Dalvi, 28, teaches typography in Devanagiri script, specialising in the use of the script for the web. His passion: to get students thinking. “In India, for long, teachers were considered Gods, truly righteous, and information purveyors of the highest order. The result was that teachers started trying to form an army of their own clones, through their students. That guru-shishya parampara has come in for a change now,” he says, impassionately.
Meet India’s next breed of teaching talent, who, with the blessings of their grey-haired senior counterparts are bridging the generation gap with students. They’re more easily absorbed in courses that lend itself to creativity. Their big promise: youth, enthusiasm, approachability, and the ability to relate to their students better. The stereotypical image of a teacher as someone who was kind yet stern, a mother/ fatherly figure, is seeing a transition. Today, ‘friendly’ is the new cool.
“Earlier, people would be apprehensive about talking casually with their teachers, now they treat them as friends,” says Sushma Pandit, 34, a primary school teacher at Kapol Vidyanidhi
International School, Kandivli. Having been in the profession for the last ten years, Pandit feels the trend of young teachers is a good one. “Because of them, today, even senior teachers are keeping themselves updated with new ideas. They are open to change and are trying to get more involved,” she says.
It doesn’t mean that young enthusiasm is a substitute for experience. Mary Gonsalves, a counsellor at Maneckji Cooper High School, Juhu, who has been a teacher for the last 35 years, points out: “If you believe in the adage that experience is the best teacher, then these youngsters fall short,” she says, adding that a healthy mix of teachers from different age groups is the best and most needed combination of the hour.
“The younger teachers are more in touch with current trends and culture. At the same time, school children like the older teachers, as they are more understanding and patient.” Professor Sudhakar Solomon Raj of Wilson College, who was responsible for hiring Keerat Kaur, himself began teaching at the young age of 21. “What one looks for in a teacher is passion for the subject and great communication skills. So the inflow of young professors into the educational system is nothing new. It’s always been the case in schools and colleges — there will be some professors who are young and some who are very senior.”
Professor Joseph Campana, who teaches at Xaviers Institute of Communication and American School of Bombay, agrees, and is amused to know that his students think of him as someone who is young though he’s in his early 40s. He laughs, “I don’t think being effective as a teacher has anything to do with age. It is more a function of enthusiasm about your job.There’s a general view that students like teachers who are more technology savvy; but in my experience, there are actually mixed reactions. I’m not on social networking sites like Facebook myself.”

Today's young politicians inspire Bollywood stars

NEW DELHI: Call it a reflection of changing times or a desire to be real, young Indian leaders like Milind Deora, Sachin Pilot and Priyanka Gandhi are defining the image of on-screen politicians in Bollywood.

Till recently, politicians had been portrayed as old, potbellied and often sleazy. That has now changed.

Abhishek Bachchan, who played a young politician in R Balakrishnan's 'Paa' says he modelled his look on young leaders like Sachin Pilot and Milind Deora.

"I modelled my look after Sachine Pilot and Milind Deora in the film. There were no special effects taken for my look in the movie because we wanted to keep the character as normal as possible," Bachchan had said about his role.

The actor will be playing a young leader once again in Ashutosh Gowarikar's 'Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Se', where he portray's the role of communist activist Surya Sen, who was hanged by the British. Based on Manini Chatterjee's 'Do And Die', the film tells the story of 1930 Chittagong uprising.

Similarly, 24-year-old Deepika Padukone, who is famous for her glamourous roles, has opted for cotton sarees and a no make-up look to play Sen's comrade Kalpana Datta.

Katrina Kaif, in the latest Prakash Jha hit 'Raajneeti' picked up pointers for her character from Priyanka Gandhi. Kaif said she watched Priyanka's election videos to get her body language and look right.

"Priyanka is a young, strong, independent and modern leader with the right blend of values. Though my character is not based on her, I watched her campaign videos to observe her body language and how she campaigns and interacts with the crowd," Kaif said.
Earlier, reports had said Katrina's character in 'Raajneeti' was modelled on Sonia Gandhi and that had landed the film in trouble with the censors. But Katrina's admission that Priyanka was her inspiration, quelled the controversy.

Jha, who mixed epic Mahabharata and 'The Godfather' to make his blockbuster, said his film was a reflection of the changing face of Indian politics.

"The Gandhi-topi and dhoti-kurta wearing politician is a thing of past. Today politicians are young have studied in foreign universities. They are from the urban milieu," Jha said.

Other Bollywood hits focusing on the youth politics in India are Mani Ratnam's 'Yuva', Varma's 'Sarkar' and 'Sarkar Raj', Anurag Kashyap's 'Gulal', Madhur Bhandarkar's 'Satta', Tigmanshu Dhulia's 'Haasil' and Gulzar's 1975 classic 'Aandhi' and 'Maachis'. 

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/Todays-young-politicians-inspire-Bollywood-stars/articleshow/6498137.cms 

Ties that bind

This Independence Day, youth clubs renew their commitment to the country

Tricolour kites in hand, the Shivalik range in the background and an open ground to themselves, a group of 30 happily “reaches out to the sky”. “This is our way of expressing our free spirit and celebrating our love for India this Independence Day,” says Rahul of Global Environment Concern, set to celebrate the day at Leisure Valley, Sector 10, with a kite-flying event.

Other youth clubs in the city have come up with their own plans for the day. “We are going to celebrate the day with the students of Hamari Kaksha in an effort to give back to society,” says Saloni Bajaj of Youth United. “We want to make the children aware of the history of India’s independence in an interesting way. To that end, we have organised a quiz on topics like freedom fighters, know your country and know your leaders,” she says. Other events include patriotic poem recitation competition and games like ‘Blow the Balloon’. Elsewhere, AIESEC Chandigarh plans to give international interns a feel of real India by instructing them on the development the country has witnessed in the 63 years since Independence. Participants are expected to wear ethnic Indian clothes for the event that will also include a short film on Indian freedom struggle and a skit on Indian culture and heritage.

Making blogs, taking out processions, performing skits and sporting the national colours — all this has become a way of expressing a sense of belongingness to the country. At YuvShaala, “it is the freedom to study that we want to celebrate,” says Kshitij Mehra, who tells us how they collect old books and distribute them to under-privileged children in Himachal Pradesh. “We have asked students to donate books on any subject, including those for preparation of entrance examinations. People can either send the books to House No 1519/1, Sector 43 B or can contact us on facebook or our website www.yuvshaala.com. We have also planned to hold career-guidance seminars in various school,” he says. The club has also floated a project Marg 2010 after they got permission from Himachal Board of Higher Education to hold counseling sessions in 12 districts of the state.

Meera Sharma, coordinator of Spirit India, another youth organisation, says “We have organised an introductory session for the students of SD College, Sector 32 through which we want to motivate the youth to involve themselves in various projects designed to channelise their resources in a productive manner, arousing a spirit of nationalism and patriotism”.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Ties-that-bind/660458

64th Independence Day: India and the MTV Generation!

“You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind.” - Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.

We are celebrating the 64th Independence Day today. But unlike the past, the youth of today look back with cynical eyes wondering what Independence Day is all about.



A s a survey carried out in various cities of India has revealed that today’s youths have forgotten its history and have no idea about what happened in the year 1857. For some, it signifies a car’s number plate; while for others, it’s a year when riots took place.



Independence is the freedom of the soul, a perception of the mind and a feeling understood by the heart. This freedom, perception and more importantly, this feeling is that of liberation, patriotism, self-dependence and other such things.



When all such terms are put together and imposed upon the majority, it is a big responsibility on the youth of that nation and on those who create it. That nation is India.



So when India celebrates its 64th Independence Day, what does it mean to its people and the MTV generation at large? The sad part is that today, a majority of masses get enthusiastic about Independence Day/Republic Day as it has been declared as national holiday by the government. Gone are the days when people were very eager to attend Independence Day functions and were proud of being the part of the celebration.



When Breaking News Online asked a youth about the importance of freedom to him, quick came the reply, “India is a great country! Maoists and terrorists are also enjoying freedom in this great country.



Maoists are free to derail any train at any time and in any route. Terrorists are free to plant bombs anywhere in this country. There is no bar on Ministers regarding quantum of corruption. We need an overhaul.”



As the tri-color unfurls in its full splendor on the 15th day of this August, let’s introspect on to how we can together make a positive difference for the nation - whether through eco-friendly practices, energy-efficient measures, community service participation, financial contribution, fighting corruption or cost-effective innovation.



P.S.: On a lighter note, we are mentioning names of few good patriotic movies: ‘Lakshya’, ‘Rang De Basanti’ and ‘Border’. Happy Independence Day!

An Arrogant Young Man

Now that Youth Day is here, once again the time comes to be told how great it is to be a youth (in the 15-25 age bracket) in India.

But this year, I thought I would do something radical. I will not tell you what you could or should be doing. Instead let me share with you what I, a middle-class, 23-year-old urban youth working with an international company in a major Indian city, think of myself.

There are plenty of ‘me’ in this country and considering the contribution by ‘my’ kind to the GDP, I think what I think is food for thought.

I was 13 when the new millennium began, and as I remember, we were heralded as the phoenix that would bring a new India out of it own ashes. Ten years later, I take a quick look at my own report card. All things considered, I think I get 66%.

I am arrogant, completely devoid of unnecessary obligations, free in my love, smug in my sense of how modern/liberal I am, strangely reluctant to let go of religion, confident in my abilities to reach any goal I choose, uncaring about anything that doesn’t affect me directly, still following politicians my grandfather’s age, easily roused to anger, don’t believe in government interference and have a good job in an air-conditioned office that is making me richer than my dad.

The list under “Things you have done to 'change the world'” is rather small. In fact, personally, managing to pay my postpaid cell phone bill before the due date can be classified as a major social achievement.

Let’s face the truth. The wings I soar upon were not made by me. My English-medium school, B.A Degree, Internet, 32-inch flat screen TV, microwave, washing machine, daily newspapers, jeans, pens, fruits and a million different material things, along with most of my outlook on life, were given to me by my parents.

I don’t think I have flown above the past; I think I was pulled onto the top of a high tower, strapped to glider and shoved off. Gliding higher up was more or less involuntary.

Among social and work-related circles, a disdain for the past has become rather fashionable. No one wants to know about the License Raj, about the struggles for freedom or even about the Emergency.

Talk about Mahatma Gandhi and I am generally met with scorn along the lines of " oh who him? It’s just a picture on a wall! He didn't do ALL that much you know". This comes from the same class of people who can't seem to stop anyone from even jaywalking.

But such is the way. The past is not so important to me. I prefer the unseen future which I will be making myself.

But there are other things of which I am proud. I am a somewhat moral and reasonably law-abiding citizen who speaks four languages, pays my taxes, has a steady job and am not quite as ready as my forefathers to urinate on every vertical surface I find. I am devoid of any ideals of not letting the evil capitalists win. What I really want to know is how I can steal their jobs faster and when that shopping mall will open, since I got my salary yesterday.

I am sure that my opinion counts and if anyone tells me that it doesn’t they better be ready to fight me. The world is a place that needs to be taken over and I believe I know how to do it.

And if anyone looks at me and sneers "Indian" you can be damn sure that I will sneer back with the words "and what miserable little shack to you come from? What’s that? 3% yearly growths...are you serious? Didn’t you lose your job to me last year? Unemployed are you? That’s right. Keep walking!"

As a young man, I may not have done much. I may not even be much to look at, maybe too many pizzas and Coca-Cola have made me ‘healthy’. But I know that I have done enough to ensure that I am on a path that will allow me to do anything.

I am not a ‘somebody’, but I could become ‘anybody’. I am confident about tomorrow knowing that.

http://sify.com/news/an-arrogant-young-man-news-columns-kimlPfidcac.html

It's always show time for youth

Whether they're checking out Leonardo DiCaprio or enjoying the rib-tickling `3 Idiots', Youngistan is keeping its date with movies. They're such avid movie-goers that they often watch at least five a week.

And there's no more rushing to catch the first day, first show. GenY goes by the cast and prefers to read several reviews before deciding which one to watch. "I don't want to waste money on movies considering it's so expensive in Bangalore. Hence, I only go for movies that get killer reviews,'' says Aditi Gaitonde, first-year Mass Communication student, Christ University.

Aditi is a movie buff and loves foreign films, specially those from Hollywood. "But foreign language films are more touching and experimental such as `Amelie' and `City of God'. Going to theatres is expensive now and so I download some movies from internet. There are some good sites which provide all information -- from cast and crew to synopsis... Our college also has a movie club called Transtalkies, where we screen movies and analyse them," she adds.

If some prefer experimental cinema, others don't mind shelling out money if it's their favourite director. "I see who is the director and then read the reviews. I like to watch movies by Anurag Kashyap or Madhur Bhandarkar. I never go by the trailers which is just a publicity stunt,'' says Avanish Tiwary, first-year print journalism, Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media (IIJNM). Avanish too prefers foreign films, specially from Iran. He either sees them on DVDs or downloads them.

While Sumana Sri, a BA student from Christ College, loves to watch movies first day, first show, her college timings make this impossible. However, she still manages to catch five movies a week. Though she prefers English and Hindi movies, she takes out time for Kannada and Telugu films with her family. "I watch Hindi movies mainly because of the script. When it comes to regional films, I have no other choice but to watch what my parents prefer,'' she says.

She adores films starring Leonardo DiCaprio. "I haven't been disappointed by his movies as yet,'' says Sumana. She's an ardent fan of action and thriller movies, but detests horror flicks. "I really can't watch brainless comedies,'' she adds.

Snigdha Bose, final-year MBA student from Symbosis, Bangalore, goes largely by the reviews. "I don't want to spend much on movies and due to my packed schedules, I hardly get time. So, I download them and see them on my laptop where I can fast-forward songs and scenes I don't like,'' she explains.

Some youngsters such as Hitha Gujjar, a third-year journalism student of Mount Carmel College, doesn't mind watching any film. "I watch movies of all languages -- Kannada, Hindi, English, Spanish and French. Sometimes, we choose movies by others' feedback. I read reviews before going to the theatre,'' she admits. The cast, crew, script and acting are other essential factors which Hitha considers.

Her friend, Tanu Kulkarni is majorly into movies and but she loves the less predictable one and those which give value for money. "I enjoy Hindi and English the most but make it a point to read several reviews before going," she added.

If some things haven't changed with students over the years, it's their passion for the silver screen.

Read more: It's always show time for youth - Bangalore - City - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Its-always-show-time-for-youth/articleshow/6295460.cms#ixzz0wLgkcy8k

Net-worked youth lose sleep

For 19-year-old mass communication student Anshu Sharma, it is common to wake up suddenly in the night to check if there is any new mail or to see the latest update of her other social networking partners. Sharma, according to psychiatrists, is among a growing number of Indians aged between 15 and 30 years who suffer from ‘techno-anxiety’.

The increase in the number of social networking websites and growing instances of its overuse have led to habits in many young people, which are causing neurological disorders, restlessness, hostility, irritation and distancing from family members.

‘‘Yes, it happens to me. Be it in the classroom or at home, I am always online, either through the computer or on my phone. There is always an anxiety to know what others are doing. I update my facebook status and tweet almost every few minutes and wait for others to comment on them. When people do not comment, I feel restless,’’ said Gaurav Saxena, who studies at a private engineering college in Delhi.

He says that the anxiety is more when he is alone. Software professional Vivek Trikha says that he spends most of his free time in office in checking mails and other social networking sites.

According to psychiatrist Jitender Nagpal, even nine-year-old children come to him with parents. They feel restless if they are not able to check their mails constantly or if their parents try to monitor their use of internet. ‘‘They get irritated and often this techno-anxiety leads to aggressive behaviour. It causes mood swings and leads to lack of concentration in studies or work,’’ said Nagpal. He said many children find communicating through social networking websites easier than having personal interaction.

He added, ‘‘There is every possibility that such children may become introverts when they grow up. They may not perform well in seminars, recitations and group discussions.’’

India has more than 50 million internet users and the number is increasing fast. A major section of internet users (85%) are between the age-group of 19-40 years.

Five to six years ago, there were mails, then came the option to chat and now there is a flurry of social networking sites Psychiatrists say they receive more than five to six cases of psychological problems caused by the overuse of internet almost every day.

The problems include lack of attention or focus, difficulty in processing real time information, anxiety and mood swings.

It leads to irregular sleeping habits, which can cause other health problems. ‘‘Parents should monitor the use of internet by children and help them communicate real time as much as possible. For grown-ups, there is a need to first identify the problem and accept it. Self-assessment can help and in extreme cases counselling may be required,’’ said another expert.

Read more: Net-worked youth lose sleep - Delhi - City - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Net-worked-youth-lose-sleep/articleshow/6273319.cms#ixzz0wGdc7WwF

Each youth should cast vote: Navin Chawla

More youths should come forward and cast their votes as 'each vote counts', former chief election commissioner (CEC) Navin Chawla said Friday. 'Every single vote counts in an election. Many times a single vote can change the total election result, so more youngsters should come up and vote,' he said while addressing students in a lecture session on 'General Election, 2009' at the Jamia Millia Islamia University. Marking the importance of a single vote, he said Rajasthan Congress president C.P. Joshi lost by a single vote in December 2008 elections in the state. Chawla said youngsters, apart from concentrating on college elections, should become brand ambassadors of election commission and report incidents like booth capturing. 'When I was delivering a lecture in a law school in Orissa, one of the students asked there is only male and female option in registering why not for transgenders. Taking this idea the Election Commission of India in 2009 allowed eunuchs and transsexuals to register under the 'others' category, which empowered a million of transgenders to vote,' he said. 'Come up with new ideas and post it to me, if it's out of the box I would definitely take it up with the election commission,' Chawla assured and shared his email id with the students.  http://sify.com/news/each-youth-should-cast-vote-navin-chawla-news-national-kigvkdbghgi.html