Children, like soft clay, are moulded by the society at large. As the Indian society is in constant flux so the reflection is on the younger generation. Now younger generation needs more support-guidance and motivation than decades before. Each of us has to pitch in to help them grow and grow with them. In a Children’s day special Orissadiary brings to its readers the first interview of a series of interviews and debates related to Young Generation: The Challenges and Opportunities.
In a detailed interaction with Sai Prasan, a senior journalist, John Dayal spoke on issues ranging from the Dalit Christian rights to the foreign funding of the RSS and VHP to pursue communal politics in Orissa. Excerpts:

Mr. Barendra Kumar is a Motivation Activist. As being involved in different educational environments, he has been a keen student of young minds for more than a decade. Coming from a simple background of Kandhamal in Orissa, Mr Barendra has seen all those years of trails and tribulations of young life in an education neglected rural society. Later his exposure to the challenges of the youngsters’ in city/urban life added much needed thrust to a holistic understanding of the issues and problems related to the younger generation. His commitment and constant effort to guide and motivate young minds for positive, productive, creative thought and ideas for national development emanates from his experience and conviction. Recently Mr. Kumar was in Delhi in connection of Children’s Day Celebration and a pre-release function of his path-breaking book “CAN is the word of Power”. He talks to Kamala Kanta Dash, of www.orissadiary.com on his concerns for the young children and his journey as a Motivation Activist.

Orissadiary: Welcome to Orissa Diary. Congratulations and Best wishes for the Children’s Day. How important is Children’s day for us?

Mr. Barendra Kumar: Thank you. I reciprocate the same. Accept my Children’s Day best wishes to all children of my country. Pandit Nehru’s birthday is celebrated as Children’s Day. This day reminds us the concern and love of Nehruji towards children. Children are the future of our country. The destiny or vision rests on their shoulder. The task is now to make them strong, confident, competent and healthy so that they can be a force of change for growth. Child is the father of the man, so says a popular maxim. I believe children are the agents of change. They are potential social engineers. This auspicious day reminds us to accept this and work towards that. Concern for Children is the core message of this Day.

Orissadiary: Where do you find the future of India in next 10 years?

Mr. Barendra Kumar: I am an optimist, in fact dedicated to teach and spread Confidence. So needless to say, that the future of India is very bright. The strength of a nation rests on its individuals and the hope lies with the young minds. Thus the future depends on their capacity to rearrange the variables on their way to reach their goal. ‘It is not enough to accept that we are doing our best but it is essential to have a drive to excel till we succeed,’ inspite of all odds which are inevitable.

Orissadiary: You have been working with young minds for last ten years. What are the challenges they do face?

Mr. Barendra Kumar: There are dominating de-motivational tales and talks, excessive academic and societal pressure owing to insufficient, inadequate or moderate facilities for holistic developments. May be for the reason that they have minimum or less career options with lucrative packages that brings the opportunities for less but challenges for the rest.

Mr. Barendra Kumar: Yes, true I have been interacting with young children for a few years which has kept me on the way to learn and grow as a motivational writer and speaker, committed for them.

Mr. Barendra Kumar: Education is a comprehensive concept. To put it in a single sentence is not easy. Still when we look at education as a process it can be viewed as a force “to draw out the faculties to make someone creative and inventive to face the problems of life in every department for self and society.” Education creates Concern.

Mr. Barendra Kumar: It is said ‘Necessity is the Mother invention’, if that be so why we have been lagging behind in discovering, inventing or in acquisition of creative ideas. Does it mean we do not have the necessities? Doesn’t it indicate the necessity to do something for the millions of children those who die every year? Does it mean there is no necessity to do anything to all the Dengues and Chikungunyas? Is it that we are waiting for Ronald Ross to come back? It is not just the necessity that gives birth to new thought, ideas and knowledge solutions. To me it is the Concern that drives us to acknowledge the necessity. Thus I strongly believe Concern is the Father of Invention where necessity is the Mother. There may be so much of necessities in you, your family, your society and your country but as long as you don’t have the concern the purpose of education remains unfulfilled.

Mr. Barendra Kumar: Aiming high and dreaming big are the first steps in the ventures of success. One can opt for traditional or conventional paths to succeed but to achieve greater, astonishing and miraculous goals one has to shape the dream what in fact emerges from the thought; a Concern, that makes someone sensitive to be curious then creative, innovative and inventive that gradually is shaped as a dream. Dreams and goals are shaped up by the ideas. The essential ingredients- courage, commitment, enthusiasm and optimism when put in a disciplined way helps to develop competence which when put in to action persistently, makes you achieve the goal.

Orissadiary: Children face difficult situations as they go through the different phases of life during their studies; Childhood to Adolescence. How to tackle these difficult situations?

Mr. Barendra Kumar: Understanding a child is not easy as long as we remain as adults! One has to be a child to understand a child. As a child grows she becomes curious and sensitive. She depends on her parents for information. This requires us to understand the child by being there as a support system and not by isolating her. Along with that inspiration and motivation is must to instil confidence. Unfortunately, in most of the cases the blame game is on between and amongst teachers-parents and society. What do we need to be concerned to build? Houses bungalows or people to live inside?

Mr. Barendra Kumar: Stress comes out of fear, anxiety and lack of emotional control. Younger generation should be more equipped with emotional intelligence. It does not matter what happens to you but it matters how you respond to it.

Mr. Barendra Kumar: Parents are the first window to the child’s outer world. ‘Children do not listen, they see and follow.’ So the parents have to be involved in the child’s life and set examples to be followed. The talking- at is to be replaced by talking-to. If they are expected to do something worth while, they are to be encouraged and enlightened. Parents are the part of the society to decide the future of the nation. When the formative years of life is misused or ill spent it is not only the loss of the child and the family but also the loss of the entire nation as well. The teachers are second parents. They shape and influence life hence generations. They have to instil pride of self esteem and develop strength to handle problems of life and of nation by inspiring and motivating. The teachers are entrusted to educate, enrich and equip them to enact. This will only be possible when the dim can be dragged to dull, then dull to bright and bright to the brilliant. Only a Teacher can make them grow to glow.

Orissadiary: You are here in connection with your book to be released for nation wide readership. It is dubbed as a path-breaking effort. What is special in your book? Why do you think that a book of this type is required?

Mr. Barendra Kumar: This initiative is first of its kind in the country. Most of the books in the self-help genre are written keeping in mind the management professionals and grown ups for enhancing productivity and achieving success. There are very few books which exclusively focus on children, and issues, challenges and prospects related to them. My book is an attempt to combine the major issues that children face and the solutions thereof. It is path breaking in the sense that it bans inferiority complex and gives massive confidence to the reader. Written in a simple style, this book is targeted towards all those who are involved in education; children, parents, teachers, child-activists, social workers and decision makers. Based on the individualised action oriented approach, the book promises greater results both in studies and in life. As the young generation is dynamic and fast changing a book of this type would keep them alert about their needs both tangible and intangible.

Orissadiary: What do you expect out of your effort?

Mr. Barendra Kumar:

Orissadiary: What would be your message to the younger generation of the country?

Mr. Barendra Kumar: My message for children comes from my personal experience and conviction. What I have learnt through my life, I would like to share with all youngsters. Each child is a unique creation of the God. So Inferiority Complex is banned. “Just Aim high and Dream big. Today’s action can fruit tomorrow’s destiny. Let not the circumstances frighten you-it is the ruler of the weak. Let not trifles disturb you- life is too precious to spend on it. Let not others pull you-it is not the pull of gravity. Believe in the wonders of life and the dignity of human birth. Live a life to the fullest.” You Can…CAN is the Word of POWER.

Love and Best Wishes
Author can be contacted at: barendrakumar@gmail.com