Bharatiya youth proud to be Indian

New Delhi: The Indian youth might look like a defiant, aggressive, young individual with little respect for tradition and societal values.

But get up close and personal, and he bares a very conservative heart. He still religiously idolises Mahatma Gandhi, he feels parents should take the decision about marriage and he firmly believes that after marriage, the son should stay with his parents.

These were the surprise findings of the CNN-IBN-Hindu 'State of the Nation Survey' with a special focus on youth.

According to the survey, almost half of those (47 per cent) polled in favour of discouraging dating and only 42 per cent believe in having a friend from the opposite sex.

The Indian youth also emerged to be very strongly rooted in family values with an overwhelming 77 per cent saying that it's the duty of every child to look after his/her old parents.

There also happens to be a crowd of optimists (59 per cent) who firmly believe that India is soon going to be a global super power and that India will continue to remain a secular country (55 per cent).

As many as 48 per cent of those polled would fume at the mention of any possibility of India breaking up into many countries and they would also strongly disagree that India will remain one of the poorest countries in the world.

The survey polled a sample of 3,254 youths across 883 localities in 19 states during August 1 to 6. Over 74 per cent of those polled happened to be from rural areas while 44 per cent were women.

It was also found in the survey that more youths (62 per cent) today watch news on television that entertainment or sports (44 per cent) and over half of them (55 per cent) read a newspaper regularly.

As for education level, over 34 per cent of those polled were found to be graduates, 30 per cent matriculate and 19 per cent happen to be school dropouts. Only 17 per cent were found to be illiterate.

As for the overall economic conditions of the youth, as many as 18 per cent own a mobile phone and a two-wheeler while a measly 3 per cent have an Internet connection.

However, there is a huge urban-rural gulf when it comes to material possession with as high as 41 per cent urban youth flaunting mobile phones as against just 4 per cent in the rural areas.

Similarly, 36 per cent urban youth today own a two-wheeler as against 4 per cent of their rural counterparts. The rural youth was also found to be completely out of loop when it comes to Internet connectivity.

The Indian youth is also very practical when it comes to expectation, or so it seems. In the CNN-IBN-Hindu survey, as many as 19 per cent of all youth (27 per cent among rural poor and 12 per cent among urban rich) quoted up to Rs 2,500 as their desired monthly income while 38 per cent (47 per cent among rural poor and 8 per cent among urban rich) asked for anything between Rs 2,500 and Rs 5,000.

As many as 30 per cent youth from among urban rich (and 21 per cent from rural poor) desire to earn something between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 per month while 11 per cent over all (4 per cent among rural poor and 35 per cent among urban rich) quoted something in between Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000.

About 15 per cent of urban rich (1 per cent of rural poor) asked for Rs 20,000-plus in monthly earnings.

The survey found political activism to be dwindling among the youth with over 64 per cent saying they have never participated in any political protest or demonstration.

However, 48 per cent said they overwhelmingly support democrat and discuss politics with friends.

When asked to list their preferences for an idol, over 76 per cent voted for Mahatma Gandhi, among others, while 67 per cent named both APJ Abdul Kalam and Indira Gandhi as their idol.

Sixty-five per cent also named Mother Teresa, 61 per cent named Bhagat Singh, 60 per cent cited BR Ambedkar, 39 per cent named Dhirubhai Ambani, 37 per cent mentioned Amartya Sen, 36 per cent rooted for Veer Savarkar and 31 per cent cited Medha Patkar.

Total sample	3254
States	19
Localities	883
Dates	August 1-6

Sample profile of the Youths
Rural	74%
Women	44%
Hindu	80%
Muslim	12%
Dalit	20%
Adivasi	9%

Education levels
Non Literate	17%
Primary School	19%
Matric (Class 10th)	30%
Graduates	34%

Exposure to media
	Regularly*
Watch Cinema	14%
Watch entertainment and sports on T.V	44%
Watch news on television	62%
Read newspaper	55%
Use Internet	7%
Read book other than syllabus	19%
* Includes daily and weekly

Level of awareness of Indian Youth
Those who know
Independence Day (August 15th)	69%
Which year India got independence	60%
Heard About Emergency	27%
Aware of Valentine day	43 %

Their possessions
Those who personally own	All	Rural Poor	Urban Rich
Mobile phone	18%	4 %	41 %
Two Wheeler	18%	4 %	36 %
Internet connection	3%	0%	14 %

Desired monthly income of the Youth to meet their daily needs
Those who desire for a monthly income of Rs.	All Youths	Rural Poor	Urban Rich
Up to 2500	19 %	27 %	12 %
2501- 5000	38 %	47 %	8 %
5001-10,000	29 %	21 %	30 %
10001-20,000	11 %	4 %	35 %
20,000 +	3 %	1 %	15 %

Aspirations of Indian Youths
	All	Rural Poor	Urban Rich
Would like to settle in a city*	--	56 %	--
Willing to work outside own state	49%	46 %	54 %
Willing to work in a foreign country	38 %	29 %	56 %
Willing to give up Indian citizenship for US citizenship	12 %	10 %	29 %
* Question asked only in rural areas

Friendships
	All
Having friends from opposite sex	42 %
All friends from same caste community	66 %

Family Values
	All
Decision about marriage to be taken by parents	58%
After marriage son should stay with parents	64%
Dating should be discouraged	47%
Support for inter caste marriage	24%
Children’s duty to look after old parents	77%

	Agree	Disagree
Globalisation is threat to our culture economy and freedom	32 %	15%
Nothing wrong in being ambitious and successful	39 %	14%
Old values and simplicity are redundant in present world	37 %	19%
Rest No Opinion

Political Opinions
	Yes	No
Participated in Political protest, demonstration etc	16%	64%
Support democracy	48%	6%
Discuss politics with friends	47%	33%
Rest No Opinion

Expectations about the future of India
	Agree	Disagree
Economic condition of family will improve	61 %	5 %
India likely to become global super power	59 %	7 %
Economic condition of country will improve	58 %	5 %
India likely to remain a secular country	55 %	9 %
Indian and Pakistanis will travel in each other country without visa restriction	20 %	36 %
India to remain one of the poorest country in the world	15 %	51 %
India likely to break up into many countries	13 %	48 %
Rest No Opinion

Anxieties of Indian Youth
	Yes
Employment and career	65 %
Health	63 %
Family and social pressure	52 %
Prospects of marriage	42 %

Who is your idol?
	Yes
10.Medha Patkar	31%
9. Veer Savarkar	36%
8. Amartya Sen	37%
7. Dhirubhai Ambani	39%
6.Ambedkar	60%
5. Bhagat Singh	61%
4. Mother Teresa	65%
3. Abdul Kalam	67%
2. Indira Gandhi	67%
1. Mahatma Gandhi	76%