GenNext indifferent

India has really moved since 1992, when the disputed structure was brought down at Ayodhya, as was evident when Deccan Herald spoke to some young Hind

The youngsters were almost unanimous in stating that the issue of temple and mosque was of little interest to them as they had more pressing issues at hand to bother about. “I have to focus on my studies as I have to appear in some of the forthcoming competitive examinations”, quipped 17 year old Manoj, who is taking coaching classes in Lucknow for gaining entry to the IIT.

“We are more bothered about employment and our career...after all what difference will it make if a temple or a mosque comes up at Ayodhya”, said Manoj.

Similar sentiments were echoed by 19-year old Amit Pandey, who is pursuing studies at a coaching centre for admission to some prestigious medical college in the country. “The competition is so tough these days...to qualify one has to study hard...we have no time to even think about our families, forget about the temple or mosque”, Pandey said.

“Today employment and career are the issues the younger generation is more concerned about...the temple and mosque issue is for the older people,” says 23-year-old Prateek Srivastava, a student of Mass Communication.

Young Shazia was a little child when the Babri Masjid was demolished at Ayodhya on December 6, 1992. “For me it does not matter much whether a Ram Temple or a mosque is constructed at Ayodhya,” she said, holding out hope that the people would maintain peace and harmony in the country after the verdict.

Even in Ayodhya, the reaction of the GenNext is one of indifference. “Kya mil jaeyga humko agar wahan madir ya masjid ban jaye” (What will the students get by temple or the mosque), said Dharmendra Singh, a student at a college in Ayodhya.