The fate of a city is paved by the aspirations of its citizens, especially of the youth. This is particularly true for a young nation like India where youths comprise more than a quarter of the country’s total population. Therefore, to understand where Nagpur is headed, ‘The Hitavada’ conversed with the city’s young blood to learn about their ambitions. “I wish to go in defense services,” revealed Hritvik, a student at Hislop College, when asked about his long-term goals. “I have always been fascinated by their lifestyle. The adventures they embark on are second to none. Plus, you get to serve your motherland,” he said. His short-term goals aligned with the same. He added, “Currently, I want to focus on my Combined Defense Services (CDS) Exam. I did appear for the National Defence Academy (NDA) Exam, but I couldn’t crack it. I hope it would be different this time.”

 

He also highlighted the significance of the city in his preparations. He said that he was quite impressed by the prevailing infrastructure for the preparation of entrance exams, wherein people from around Vidarbha come to Nagpur for their preparations. Another respondent, Vidhi, also a college student, commented, “I am currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Management Studies. I want to go abroad for further studies. I’m planning to pursue MBA from a reputed institution. My dad owns an advertising agency and I would probably love to come back after my studies and help him grow the company.” This highlights the emerging trend that was seen among several students who wanted to challenge themselves and further their expertise by studying abroad. This also shows that youths do not fear to venture out of their home, their comfort zone, for the sake of their career.

 

As India aims to further climb the ranking ladder at the Olympics, the participation of youths across various sports becomes vital. ‘The Hitavada’ reached out to several ambitious local sportsmen who dream of representing the tri-coloured flag one day. In the conversations, it was generally observed that the sportsmen were happy about the recent rise in standards and infrastructure of their respective sports.

 

They did, however, highlight that a lot more work needs to be done. “I’m happy to see so many (cricket) clubs with proper grass and even floodlights,” commented Shivam, an Ambedkar Cricket Club player. When asked about his short-term and long-term goals, he said, “Long-term goal is, obviously, to represent India in tests. Umesh Yadav (Indian cricketer from Nagpur) is one of my idols. As far as my short-term goal is concerned, my aim is to get selected for Ranji Trophy next year.” 28.4 years - this is the average age of citizens in India, and the case of Nagpur is no different. The conversations suffice for the fact that younglings of the city are prudent, vibrant, and eager to prove themselves. It would, therefore, not be wrong to say that the city holds a promising future. And if at all the talent could be organically retained, so shall the city prosper.