Youth is The Revolution Of The Village

[Imran]

During one-on-one SALT conversations with young individuals from the village, a key concern that repeatedly emerged was the excessive use of sound systems and the discomfort it causes in the community. On the other hand, some youth expressed a deep fondness for the village’s traditional culture, especially for playing the traditional Lezim dance during the Ganesh festival.

In light of the upcoming Ganesh festival, we organized a discussion with a group of young people. During this meeting, they fondly recalled memories of playing Lezim and expressed their willingness to participate again this year. Taking the initiative themselves, the youth invited their peers from the gym and even led the start of the meeting.

One special aspect of this meeting was the effort to bring young people and adult men together. This generational linkage enriched the conversations. The meeting began with introductions, followed by discussions centered on Lezim.

Emotionally, the youth shared how, in the past, the sound of the halgi/Lezim (traditional drum) would naturally draw all the friends together. They would put aside their mobile phones and immerse themselves in the rhythm of Lezim. Over time, however, work responsibilities increased, and the tradition slowly faded. Simultaneously, a trend of competing over sound systems began, leading not only to financial strain but also growing rivalry and division within the community.

We asked the youth, “Why do you come to the gym?”
They replied, “For fitness, good health, and happiness.”

We then asked, “Don’t you think it's equally important to maintain the health of your village?” To this, they firmly responded, “Yes, we must do something!”

During this discussion, the adult men also shared their views. They acknowledged that the youth have tremendous energy, and if directed properly, it could lead to real, positive change in the village. One of them remarked, “These young people are the future leaders of our village in both social and political spheres. That’s why they need proper guidance now.”

The youth also admitted that many of them get caught up in small jobs that bring immediate income, and in doing so, they miss out on long-term career opportunities. They emphasized the urgent need for career guidance.

In the latter half of the meeting, the discussion returned to restarting the Lezim tradition for the upcoming Ganesh festival. Many youth raised their hands to confirm their participation.

Additionally, they expressed the village’s other needs Proper waste bins, Clean and maintained drainage systems, A playground for children and youth. Regular discussions on such community issues. Then decided to form a youth group to work collectively on these matters and also agreed to bring more young people into the initiative. This meeting proved to be truly inspiring for all of us. A sense of responsibility was clearly visible among the youth. Given their ideas, energy, and willingness to act, we are confident that positive changes in the village are not only possible they are within reach.

Date: 26th July 2025
Time: 7:30 PM
Facilitated by: Imran and Shahrukh