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NDTV इंटरव्यू, IIT दिल्ली || आचार्य प्रशांत (2024)
253.4K views
1 year ago
Youth Empowerment
Purpose of Life
Education
Leadership
Voting
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
Loneliness
Description

Acharya Prashant addresses the concerns of students at IIT Delhi, beginning with the anxiety surrounding placements. He states that for students from premier institutions like IIT or IIM, worrying about getting a job is a very low-level concern. This kind of worry is for those who lack power, who are compelled to follow the herd like sheep. He quotes Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, saying, "Education is the lioness's milk; he who drinks it will roar." He asserts that IITians are not sheep but lions, and their concern should not be whether they will get a job, but what they will do with the powerful resource of their degree. He likens using an IIT degree merely for a job to using a tank to kill mosquitoes. The real concern, he suggests, should be whether one can fight the right battle, like Arjun did. Responding to a question about loneliness and student suicides, Acharya Prashant points out that while students may be away from home for the first time, they have access to numerous new facilities and opportunities on campus, such as sports courts, clubs, and a large library. He humorously recounts his own experience of not using the squash court during his time at IIT and only learning the sport at age 37. He emphasizes that with so many creative avenues available, one should not have the leisure to feel lonely. He advises students to utilize the resources and opportunities provided by the campus to grow, rather than getting caught up in loneliness, as these four years are precious and will pass quickly. On the topic of friendship, Acharya Prashant explains that while friendships are natural, the crucial question is with whom one forms them. He cautions against forming groups with people who only reinforce one's weaknesses, such as those who do not engage in sports, studies, or other productive activities and prefer to just stay in their rooms. Such company, he implies, hinders personal growth. Finally, addressing a question about the upcoming elections and advice for first-time voters, Acharya Prashant highlights the age gap between young voters and political candidates. He notes that the decisions made by older leaders will impact the youth for the next 50 years. Therefore, young voters should have a long-term perspective. He advises them to support leaders and parties that address major, long-term issues like biodiversity and climate change. A true leader, he explains, shows the right path to the people rather than just following them, and possesses inner integrity. In contrast, a deceitful leader appeals to the lowest level of consciousness by focusing on petty, meaningless, and gossip-level issues to secure votes.