Dreamers: How Young Indians are changing their world by Snighda poonam is a very good read, especially if you want to keep up with the pulse of our youthful population. This book captures the larger narrative of young and vibrant India, under a charismatic leader, who will take us to the Promised Land. There are three sections, under which different lives are coherently weaved.
The writer has a fluid narration technique telling the stories of various characters through her thematically arranged chapters which in many ways encapsulates the journey of Today’s youth and their aspirations. How young entrepreneurs are setting their base camp in tier-2 cities enabled by the Communication revolution and not necessarily inhabiting the concrete jungle of Metro cities per se. The Interesting strand of thought, on how companies can be a good example of efficiency and how similarly, a country should also be run. Thus Modi, an icon and how Democracy (Thinking) and Plurality can be a hurdle. One of the best things about this book is that the writer has extensive engagement, thus the crisp insights on how happen on the top floor of our building (Brain) and conversations
At a time, when polarization is a reality, this is a noble effort to understand the other perspective. This is very evident in the chapter of angry young men, wherein the writer does a deep dive into the subconscious of Gau rakshaks, IT cell folks, Hindu Vahini workers and tries to decipher what prompts such behavior. The quest for “IZZAT” Self-importance and relevance in many cases, drilled hate in the midst of absence of governance, jobs really is an important facet and also tells, the story of victimhood of themselves, who are pulping, smashing alien Muslim, Dalit and Women and other marginalized sections. The Story of Richa Singh, the First Female President of Allahabad University also instills hope and optimism, that all is not lost, or never is. If you stand for Values, inclusivity, Diversity, it will ask for courage, Bravery, Conviction and most importantly heart. The Chapter on English and the world It has built requires a separate discussion on how it has created a special class, and it is not just a language, but a lifestyle and the silver bullet for all ills. These are stories of engagement with the bureaucracy, struggles of aspirational actors. Finding jobs in the desert of Barren lands, the scammers of call centers operating as IRS and FBI, the ideal principled Politician to aspiring rabble-rousers to pragmatic workers, the stories we must hear to understand the pulse of our youthful exuberance, idealism, Pragmatism, contradiction and in between, shades of sobriety.
This book is a critical narration of stories of aspirational young and shining India, through journeys of individuals trying to make a name in the business to politics to acting to Class of English language speakers. It also covers the Modi wave and youthful resonance and meaning of being Muslim, women, etc.. and also shades of hope. This book also does a deep dive into the psyche of gau- rakshaks and ultra-vigilante tendencies and exposes, what is cooking, a sense of pride, izzat and hate. The rising populism, Authoritarianism, and impact of the subsequent rise of Right have been in essence captured in the manifestation of different stories. Finally on the conundrum of unemployment, underemployment, thus leading to the racket of fraud, scam and hypocrisy of jumla in rhetoric and action. A must-read to make sense of complex, cluttered minds of present youngistaan.
