Indian Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, addressed a significant gathering of students at the University of Texas at Dallas, which boasts over 2,500 Indian students. In his speech, Gandhi emphasized the pivotal role of the youth in shaping India’s future.
“India’s future lies in the hands of its youth. Engage, participate, and work towards building a better country,” Gandhi urged, encouraging both students and professionals residing abroad to bring forward ideas that could transform India’s future.
He described the students as “a bridge between India and the rest of the world,” stressing how values such as equality, prevalent in American society, can serve as inspiration for positive changes back home.
Role of Opposition
Gandhi discussed his role as Leader of the Opposition and elaborated on the complexities of his political journey, especially following his Bharat Jodo Yatra. This movement played a crucial role in his party’s resurgence in the recent general elections in India.
He explained that the opposition’s duty extends beyond merely challenging the government; it involves highlighting issues faced by various groups across India, including farmers, industries, and individuals. “Listening is much more important than speaking,” Gandhi noted, underscoring the importance of understanding these issues thoroughly.
Reflecting on his political development, Gandhi shared insights on how his approach to governance and policy has evolved since the yatra. “When I started, I thought I knew the issues, but I’ve learned that going deeper, understanding the lived experience of people, is where the real understanding lies.”
He also recounted the origin of the slogan “Nafrat ke bazaar mein, mohabbat ki dukaan” (In the market of hate, open a shop of love), which emerged spontaneously during the yatra. “It was not my slogan; it came from the people,” Gandhi said. He highlighted how this march introduced the concept of love into Indian political discourse, a rarity compared to the prevalent focus on hate and anger in political discussions. “In many countries, including India, you will find words like hate, anger, and corruption in political discussions, but rarely will you hear about love.”
Gandhi further discussed the notion of ‘love’ in politics, pointing out how leaders like Mahatma Gandhi exemplified this concept by prioritizing others’ voices over their own ambitions. “Indian leaders, unlike their Western counterparts, attack themselves, their egos, and their ambitions,” he said, framing this as a core aspect of Indian political philosophy.
Youth Employment and Economic Challenges
Addressing concerns about youth employment, Gandhi recognized the challenges facing India but emphasized that the core issue lies in the country’s reduced focus on production. “You’re never going to employ India using consumption; India has to think about the act of production.”
He criticized India’s dependence on China for manufacturing, urging the youth to challenge conventional thinking and drive innovation to resolve the employment crisis. “India has handed over its manufacturing to China, and we must bring it back if we want to solve the employment crisis,” he stated.
Gandhi also expressed his views on India’s economic difficulties, particularly the disconnect between the education system and the business environment. “India doesn’t have a skills problem; it has a skills respect problem. Our education system doesn’t connect with the business system. We need to bridge that gap and focus on vocational training,” he remarked.
He highlighted India’s potential to become a global manufacturing hub but noted that progress is still nascent. “India can take on China, but only if we start respecting skills and aligning the country for production,” Gandhi said, adding that states like Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have already made significant advancements in this direction.
Encouraging Youth and Social Equity
In response to questions about creating jobs for blue-collar workers, Gandhi stated, “You simply cannot solve the jobs problem by continuing on the current path. You need production. Our current policies, like GST, punish production and reward consumption, which is detrimental to growth.”
When asked about how Indian youth could contribute to public service and nation-building, Gandhi encouraged active engagement, acknowledging that it might be challenging. “We run internships and training programs for people interested in contributing to public service. But realize it can be hard and sometimes unpleasant,” he said.
Gandhi also addressed the issue of social equity, advocating for more inclusive policies. “There are two Indias: one benefiting from economic growth, and the other left behind. A large portion of our population is being bypassed, and we cannot ignore that.”
He stressed the importance of valuing and empowering individuals with traditional skills, such as carpenters and shoemakers, to unlock India’s true economic potential. “There’s no shortage of skills in India, just a shortage of respect for those skills. You can find the best carpenters in the world here, but we aren’t using their potential effectively,” he asserted.
Gandhi urged the students to question, resist, and drive change wherever possible, reinforcing their crucial role in shaping India’s future.
