Youth is a beautiful, enchanting, delicate, and fluid phase of life—an age that faces a thousand new challenges. The wings of youth hold the strength to conquer the skies, which is why it is considered the most powerful stage of life. In truth, all dreams of tomorrow and the seeds of imagination are born in this phase. Youth is that intoxicated, restless moment when one seeks to glimpse the rising sun of the future.
Youth is not an age of silent acceptance. Across the world, young people have been writing history, ushering in change, revolutions, and progress. We see youth in many forms: walking on the moon, exploring space, conducting massive experiments to uncover the mysteries of Earth, or hoisting victory flags at the Olympics.
Youth means love, bravery, courage, adventure, and valor. It is an age of questioning the system, rebelling against injustice, raising voices against what is wrong, and sparking movements to overthrow oppressive power. Youth does not merely dwell in dreams but dares to confront harsh realities. Whether by staging protests, shaking the very foundations of tyranny, or laying down life for change, this has always been the hallmark of youth.
History offers countless examples. Shankaracharya, at just 31, spread Hindu philosophy. Plato and Aristotle, who laid the foundation of human thought, were young. Buddha delivered his profound teachings in his youth. The revolutions in France and America were led by the young. Even in India’s freedom struggle, youth played the central role. Nehru was only 26 when he came under Gandhi’s influence, Maulana Azad was 35, Patel was 40, Ambedkar spearheaded reform in his younger days, and Bhagat Singh laid down his life at 23. The Indian freedom struggle was essentially a struggle of youth.
Time and again, whenever youth have taken to the streets, they have shaken the roots of oppressive regimes—the Jasmine Revolution in Egypt, the hijab protests in Iran, the Tiananmen Square massacre in China, student movements in Bangladesh, and now the uprising in Nepal. Just this Monday, the streets of Kathmandu witnessed a powerful sight as Generation Z marched in protest, holding banners reading: “We will not let corruption sell the future of youth.” When the authoritarian government imposed restrictions on social media, Generation Z in Nepal rose in defiance. The protests have now turned bloody, with reports of casualties emerging.
But this is not the first such struggle. Time and again, youth have blown the bugle of revolution, echoing China and Bangladesh’s student movements. Let us revisit some of the most significant youth uprisings that shook the world:
Tunisia’s Jasmine Revolution (2011): This mass uprising laid the foundation of the Arab Spring. Tunisians, angered by corruption, unemployment, and rising prices, erupted in protest after the tragic self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi, a young street vendor harassed by police. His sacrifice sparked nationwide outrage, ultimately forcing President Ben Ali to resign.
Hong Kong Protests (2019–2020): Among the largest youth-led protests in recent decades, these demonstrations opposed the extradition bill and growing Chinese interference. Students and youth mobilized on a massive scale, demanding freedom and autonomy.
Egyptian Youth Revolution (2011): Young protesters brought down Hosni Mubarak, who had ruled for 30 years. Millions of youth filled Cairo’s Tahrir Square and other cities, protesting corruption, unemployment, poverty, and lack of freedom. Mubarak was finally forced to step down on January 25, 2011.
Iran’s Hijab Protest (2022): Triggered by the death of a young woman beaten for not wearing the hijab, young women and men rose in defiance. Images of women cutting their hair and burning hijabs went viral on social media. This movement soon transformed into a larger struggle against dictatorship, religious extremism, and the suppression of women’s rights.
Tiananmen Square Massacre (1989): The world still trembles recalling the night of June 3–4, 1989, when China’s People’s Liberation Army used tanks to crush student protests demanding democracy. While official figures spoke of 200 deaths, independent estimates suggest nearly 10,000 students were killed in this brutal crackdown.
Bangladesh Student Movement (2024): On August 5, 2024, violent student protests brought down Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government. Youth-led demonstrations against corruption and authoritarianism swept the nation, paving the way for a new government under Muhammad Yunus.
From philosophy to politics, from revolutions to reforms, one fact has been proven time and again: it is the youth who drive change. Youth is not just about dreamy illusions or romantic memories; it is about leading movements, overthrowing governments, and rewriting history. Whether it was challenging Russia’s Iron Curtain or facing down tanks in Tiananmen Square, it has always been the youth who dared to stand on the frontlines.
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