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On Tuesday, October 1st, India commemorated Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday with a national holiday, so it was quite an honor to be asked to speak on that day during the Guajarati government's webcast to 900 colleges across the state; particularly because these webcasts are a platform to address students on the subject of "Awakening the Leader in You."
Inspiring a New Generation of Citizen Leaders
I have no doubt this is a crucial generation: how India and her 1.2 billion people act is of global concern, particularly when 50% of them are under 30.
But what do you tell to thousands of 18 –21 year old Indians, stepping into the adult world in the fastest growing nation on earth, where the consumption-oriented modern world and ancient traditions of the indigenous world co-exist in surprising ways?
For me, in my role representing The Pachamama Alliance here, it was a truly golden opportunity to share a definition of leadership as the ability to bring solutions and/or assistance to any situation. This seems to be true everywhere, at home, in our families, with colleagues or friends. A leader is simply someone who can help improve the situation.
And so, given the world crises we face, active citizenship is a much-needed form of leadership today, and one available to all of us whatever our age. In the spirit of Gandhi, we can each rise up as leaders, in India and everywhere, to demand change and an end to injustice and oppression.
In partnership from beautiful India,
Jon Symes
Program Director, International and Alliances
