Bharat's Yuva Must Stay United as Attempts Underway to Divide Us on Caste, Religion Lines: BJP Leader Shehzad Poonawalla

Noida: In the second edition of the Republic Youth Summit, BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla highlighted the importance of unity among the youth on Friday.

Emphasizing the term “Yuva,” Poonawalla explained its deeper meaning. He stated that the first attribute of “Yuva” is inspired by “Vayu” (wind), which signifies constant movement. He elaborated that, as a nation, India has been moving forward in various sectors, including the economy, infrastructure, rail networks, and digital advancements. He also highlighted India’s economic progress, rising from the 11th to the 5th largest economy in the world.

Reiterating the first attribute of “Yuva”- the drive to move forward, he stressed that youth should always strive for progress.

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“Yuva” and “Vayu”—Staying Rooted and United

Poonawalla further connected “Yuva” with “Vayu,” stating that another key attribute of youth is staying together and remaining rooted.

Discussing the various attempts to divide the youth today, he remarked, “We were already divided once in 1947 on religious lines when our country was partitioned. But even today, several forces continue trying to divide us—some on linguistic lines.”

He cited ongoing language debates such as “Tamil vs Hindi,” “Gujarati vs Marathi,” and “Assamese vs Malayali” to illustrate how divisive elements attempt to create differences. He added that some forces try to pit people against each other based on caste, region, gender and other differences.

“The attempt is being made to divide us, but the defining characteristic of youth is to stay united as we move forward,” he emphasized.

To explain his point, he used a metaphor, “If you observe a small child and a grandparent, the first visible difference is the presence of wrinkles on the elderly person’s face. When skin is exposed to harsh sunlight and external elements, it starts to sag and weaken. But when it remains firm and intact, it looks youthful.”

He linked this to the idea that “isolation is a characteristic of aging, while unity and togetherness define youth.”

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Maha Kumbh : A Symbol of India’s Unity

Despite these divisions, Poonawalla pointed to the Maha Kumbh Mela as a powerful example of India’s unity in diversity. 

“The Maha Kumbh has just concluded, with around 66 crore people taking a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam. Yet, not once did we see anyone refusing to bathe because of caste, language, gender, or any other dividing factor. This is the power of unity and our deep connection to ‘Sanskriti’ (culture), which is also a defining trait of ‘Yuva.’”

He reinforced that the two main attributes of youth are: Mobility- the ability to move forward and Unity- staying together despite progress

“Yuva” as “Yodha”—The Warrior Spirit

Expanding on the concept of “Yuva,” Poonawalla linked it to “Yodha” (warrior). He described a warrior as someone who is assertive, aggressive when needed, willing to take risks, fearless to fight for their rights, and unwilling to back down.

He recalled an era when India frequently witnessed bomb blasts, stating, “There was a time when a bomb blast occurred every 2-3 weeks. From Jaipur to Lucknow, Coimbatore to Varanasi, people were warned to stay away from unattended bags in public places. Back then, we didn’t retaliate strongly. But in the last 10-11 years, India has realized its ‘Yuva Shakti’, the its warrior spirit.”

He added that while terrorism has not been completely eradicated, India’s response to attacks has transformed.

“Today, if someone even thinks of attacking us, we don’t sit idly. We strike back, whether it’s Uri or Pulwama. This fearless retaliation is also an attribute of ‘Yuva.’”

Poonawalla discussed another key characteristic of a warrior that is the ability to bow down with humility. He explained that true strength comes with patience and humbleness.

 “A tree laden with fruits always bends. Similarly, when we collect rainwater, we must lower our hands. Being patient and humble is the greatest sign of bravery.”

He cited Lord Hanuman as the ultimate example of controlled strength, explaining how Hanuman, despite his immense power, remained patient and humble.

Four Key Attributes of “Yuva”

Poonawalla concluded by summarizing the four essential attributes of youth:
    1.    Constant progress- The mobility to move forward
    2.    Unity- Staying together while moving forward
    3.    Warrior spirit- Being assertive, fearless, and standing up for what is right
    4.    Humility- True strength lies in patience and restraint

He urged India’s youth to embody these values and remain united in the face of forces trying to divide the nation.