Channelizing the Youth Energy - The Lessons from Campus Onam!

Some thoughts post the campus hooliganism as part of Onam! 

Yes, let's welcome Onam festival! Onam is a traditional festival of Kerala and is celebrated in a traditional style wearing traditional "kasavu" clothings, having sadya and yes most of all , being with family . In campuses of Kerala, traditionally Onam is celebrated in a good manner. During my college days, we used to wear the traditional attire, have food, conduct small competitions, decorate the "Athappookkalam" (Floral decorette) and then disperse off wishing everyone a holiday. With limited resources we had a peaceful celebration. 

But today, the festival has become an avenue for speed, arranging grand processions, spending money lavishly , license to engage in risky behaviour  and alcoholism. Most of the college campuses, especially the Engineering colleges in the State  are using the occasion for trying out various modes of publicity stunts and hooliganism. 

Its sad to hear that most of these celebrations are conducted without the consent of the authorities and one recent incident led to the sad death of a girl in the accident during one such procession.  Paying due homage to the lost dreams of the girl and her family, I also sympathise for the boy who is now in police custody, who is also a student of the same college and rode the vehicle rashly. 

Now, there are many many discussions going on in social media supporting or opposing the students. One such discussion is the influence of Cinema / media which promotes such rash behavior as heroic. A recent movie "Premam" which was a superhit in campus has portrayed the hero engaging in semi -gunda act and alcoholism which somehow got a great acceptance amongst the students. When the DGP commented that the students engaged in these kinds of behaviour because of the influence of this movies like these, the film maker community retorted saying that cinema cannot be blamed for such behaviour. 

In this scenario, I thought of sharing some of my observations on why students engage in these kinds of behaviour and the root causes. 

1. In the case of Engg colleges in the state (esp Govt colleges), it is politics that reigns more than academics. Most of the students enter political parties and end up getting beaten up for political issues.  Please see the below news about a Strict academician and a person whom I respect a lot for his tireless striving for improving the education system. 

2. Keeping aside Politics, why do students engage in hooliganism ? Let's explore the psychology behind this. 

• Firstly,  the students in their teenage /early adulthood are full of physical and sexual energy (as Freud fondly calls "libido") . Unless this energy is rightly channelised to positive avenues, its possible that they use it negatively, because they cannot stop themselves! 

• Secondly , when the youth energy joins together- they simply follow the leader. A mob , if controlled by a wrong leader , can do the worst harm. In the case of students, any control by others is also resisted. Mob psychology is entirely different from individual psychology. Extraordinary power is gained by becoming a mob. 

• Thirdly , looking at the current statistics of college students (especially in Kerala), most of the students lack an orientation towards life and career. The sad part is that a vast majority of the youngsters enrolling for Engg pgm do not know why they are doing the course..and end up as the hero in a recent malayalam movie "Oru Vadakkan Selfie". They also lack self image and believe that my imitating a film hero they gain confidence. The underlying low - self esteem is the real culprit.

• Fourthly, deteriorating self discipline and student discipline. Uncontrolled mob and rash behaviour cannot be justified in any manner even if they are the best in their studies. With so much of diversions possible, it's the responsibility of the society and family to show a better role model. Unfortunately, the right role models are not highlighted or given necessary support by media.

• Fifth , the lack of proper parenting. Parents today ensure that their kids get the best of resources but do not ensure that their kids behave properly in public. Most parents buy luxurious goods, give money lavishly and do not check what is the money utilised for! 

• Sixth , Lack of good teachers / mentors . Ofcourse our teachers strive hard to complete the syllabus. But do our teachers act as a counselor or mentor to them ? giving right directions and moral values? Gone are the days , when these kind of "heroic" acts were reserved for boys. Now , girls are equals! Ofcourse, I am an advocate for empowerment, but there is only a narrow line between empowerment and unruly behaviour! 

As a concluding note, I am also pasting the newspaper cutting from today's TOI and yes , "Rules won't end Campus hooliganism" .The youth energy needs to be channelised positively and not politically or by media. The role of Trainers / mentors /counselors is of utmost importance in the coming decade. 

Now, how do we channelise the youth positively? 

1. Start from home - As parents , let's inculcate and educate our children about right things and wrong things . Lets teach them our culture and stories of courage and good manners. 

2. Every teenager needs an outsider as a mentor /coach to help him orient towards career and life. But unfortunately, our parents still think about spending money on that , whereas they reserve the money to be given as capitation fees for getting admissions in colleges! 

3. Engage the students in positive and social activities apart from academics. Students who have underutilized time end up using it in unwanted activities.  Utilise the youth energy towards nation building activities. Art, culture and literature are also avenues for using the youth energy. But again, caution here (The so called youth cinema is also a matter of concern!) 

4. The most important of all, educational institutions should be a place where they have the freedom to express , develop confidence and skills and along with that develop good behavior and discipline. Every teacher should become a Personality development trainer / mentor in future. Yes, that should be the focus, since the knowledge part is easily available at the click of a button. 

5. Let us highlight and bring out students / young leaders who can become role models and promote them. (I am currently working on a similar project and am looking for sponsoring agencies and volunteers ) 

Regards

CeeVee

Aug 25, 2015 

P.S: all are my personal opinions only