HT Youth Survey: India’s young feel suffocated, want to break free

The battle of the youth against society rages on, as does the battle of generations. 84.1% of men in the HT Youth Survey say they want to rebel against society. Women are not far behind either: 80.8% say they want to break out and rebel.

The battle of the youth against society rages on, as does the battle of generations. An overwhelming 84.1% of the men in the latest Youth Survey by HT and MaRs say they want to rebel against society. The women are not to be left behind: 80.8% say they want to break out and rebel.

The Indian youth believes there are too many rules that curb their freedom. (Shutterstock)

The survey covered 5,460 respondents of 18 to 25 years, divided equally between men and women, in 15 cities and towns. Each respondent is an undergraduate student or higher, or employed with at least a bachelors degree. All of them use the mobile phone, internet, and social networking sites.

The respondents are not rebels without a cause. The largest number among them – nearly half of both men and women – believe there are too many rules that curb their freedom. More than half from each gender – 54.1% men and 56.3% women — think of society as someone to either compete with or ignore.

Not surprisingly, only about a quarter of the respondents believe society is run equally by the young and old. In a classic example of conflict in the mind, the survey shows the percentage believing society is run by adults is about the same as the percentage that says it is run by the youth. A quarter says it is run by both equally. To add to the conflict, nearly 60% of the men and more than 65% of women do not think that young people should take the lead in changing society.

Read more stories from HT MaRS Youth Survey here.