YUVA SAMVAD
Yuva Samvad-1: युवाओं की नजर में समाज, देश और दुनिया
The first major initiative was on 28 January 2024. Nineteen organisations, including the Foundation, came together to organise the First Sarita-Mahesh Yuva Samvad. It was held at Jagjivan Ram Institute of Parliamentary Studies and Political Research, Patna.
Yuva Samvad has been conceptualised as a platform for the youth to express themselves creatively. The theme of this Yuva Samvad (in English, “dialogue with the youth”) was “Society, Country and the World from Youth’s Point of View” (“युवाओं की नजर में समाज, देश और दुनिया”).
A total number of 130 youths, aged between 15 to 30, participated in the programme. They came from rural as well as urban areas of Patna and other districts of the state. They were from marginalised communities; some were former child labourers. A total number of 70 youth submitted their short videos and reels in response to a call by the organisers, out of which 17 videos were displayed during the programme. A discussion with the video-makers followed up. In another session, youth participants expressed their opinions on the challenges youth are facing today. An open session allowed many boys and girls to express their life experiences, work, and concerns. A highlight of the Yuva Samvad was that the youth participants conducted it themselves. A booklet entitled “सामाजिक, आर्थिक और सांस्कृतिक बदलाव के अनूठे प्रयोग” focusing on the life and works of Sarita and Mahesh was released on this occasion. The booklet was jointly published by Xavier Institute of Social Research (XISR) and the Foundation. Mr. Anil Chamadia, a Delhi based senior journalist and editor of the Mass Media, addressed the participants. He lamented 4 the lack of communication among the youth and the gradual disappearance of societal concerns from their discourse, increasingly making them alienated and self-centred. Platforms like Yuva Samvad can enhance dialogue amongst them and with them. Prerna staged a play. Vrati Kumar, a Trustee of the Sarita-Mahesh Foundation, spoke about the newly formed family Trust and its future programmes to fulfil the dreams of Sarita and Mahesh.
Yuva Samvad-2: Masterclass on Ambedkar’s Writings
The second major programme under the platform of Yuva Samvad was celebrating the 133rd Ambedkar Jayanti, for which the Foundation collaborated with 20 organisations. Patna Women’s College hosted the programme and picked up part of the cost of the programme. More than 220 youth participated in the programme. The programme began with paying tributes to Babasaheb Ambedkar and an oath taking of the Preamble of the Constitution. A youth group staged a play while others presented songs and dances. For this occasion, Action Aid India Association and the Sarita-Mahesh Study Centre of the Xavier Institute of Social Research printed a 116-page booklet entitled “डॉ. भीमराव आंबेडकर की वैचारिक धरोहर” comprising six articles by Ambedkar and some material on his life and works and distributed amongst the participants. The highlight of this programme was the masterclass on two key writings of Baba Saheb Ambedkar – “Annihilation of Caste” and “Basic Features of the Indian Constitution”. Prof. Pushpendra, a Trustee of the Foundation took the master class. The objective of the masterclass was to encourage the youth to read Ambedkar’s writings and help them understand his two important writings. A 30-minute video, a collection of clips taken from films and documentaries on key moments of Ambedkar’s life, was shown to the participants. The participants
Yuva Samvad-3: न्याय, शांति और बंधुत्व के लिए युवा
The third Yuva Samvad was held on 9 February 2025. Bihar Vidyapeeth hosted it at it's Teachers’ Training College premises in Kurji, Patna. The programme was jointly organised by 22 organisations, including the Foundation, and attended by around 150 youth from Patna and a few other districts, from rural as well as urban areas.The theme of this Yuva Samvad was “ न्याय, शांति और बंधुत्व के लिए युवा”. On this occasion, Prerna Natya Manch staged a play, “Sawa Ser Genhu”, based on Premchand’s story.The participants were asked to send their entries on the three themes of the Yuva Samvad in any of the following art forms: story, poetry, sketch, painting, poster, play, script, dance,article, singing, and video/reel. Amongst a large number of entries, some of them performed their plays, songs, and dances. Some recited poetry and read their article. Sketches, posters and paintings were displayed at the venue. A few videos were also displayed. Some youth participated in four separate panel discussions which were held on: a) Concerns of the youth in rural areas; b) youth for justice; c) youth for peace; and d) youth for fraternity. In a brief opensession, some youth expressed their views on the theme of the Yuva Samvad. Towards the end of the programme, Prof. Pushpendra, a Trustee of the Foundation, delivered a brief orientation lecture on “counter-culture”.