By Ravi Nitesh:
Since the ancient time till today, world witnessed many revolutions, movements and patterns of social changes led by people, however in many of them, one thing was common that these were affected with books including speeches, stories, slogans, poems, reports etc. Russian revolution said to be based on ‘thoughts’ of equality and ‘fraternity’; Indian freedom movement includes great importance of patriotic poems and stories. We have examples where written reports led the movement , and we also have reports where movements get written and documented to make it effect wider. Through all this way, we must accept that thought process is always in flow and it starts/supports social change and movements.
Now, in present world, we become more educated, we became busy, we became paperless and we moved towards kindles, e books, and internet systems. Because of this shiftment, our thoughts have got a new place. This place was internet. Yes, a place with a larger group of readers, a place that extended your family, a place that can be helpful in getting/sharing ideas/feedbacks etc. The shift was obvious, why will anyone deny to join this change? Is there any harm? Probably not. But it is not completely true, there is some harm.
One social activist complaints, “All these facebookians and blackberry users can not bring the change, they all are useless, they just talk on internet about the change, but they never come on streets to demand.” (sic) Now, in todays perspective, it is a real question upon us, upon the youths, because it is the youth who is representing the ‘generation of change’ and others have expectations from them. Youths are the most affected with these new inventions of gadgets. Hence, it becomes necessary to get views of them upon the claims of street activists.
A youth counters, “In fact, no change occurred by crying too. This is a time of internet and thus we must have to use the medium. Why will we leave anything that can help to bring some change? And even , if a person cannot come on street, atleast s/he is helping through this medium. We should not forget the jasmine revolution, we should not forget the arab springs and sensitive you tube videos of social change.”
Now, with these exchanges of arguments, the thing is some what clear, that is the requirement, target group and objective. If youths can spread awareness through e-ways , it is also necessary and helpful. The main objective is to ‘change the mindsets’ and when your thoughts can affect people in anyway, you must use that. It is just like present form of revolution that was previously sought from books, stories and poems. It may true that very few can get so effected with views and can help in real social change, but then it is also suspected that all who joins protest on streets can become a person of changed mindset or a person who read a book of revolution can become always a part of revolt internally or externally.
Hence, change is not with; show off’ instead, change is a matter of your internal feelings, matureness of thoughts and interest for change. A young activist who used to be active on social media and on streets both tells that even those who complaints about social media role in change, could not isolate themselves and we can see them advertising themselves on different groups and pages. At the same time, if we are fast enough to use these media as carriers of thoughts and we used to utilize it with our busy schedule of work then we must encourage the youths towards it. Those who want to take part in social change, may become e-activist along with their present occupation, business, family time etc.
E-activists may write a new phase of change that can be become a trend of generation.