Rethinking Youth Culture: A Traveller’s Reflection for Parents and Gen Z
✍️ By Rajan Kumar – A Night-Time Nomad for 25 Years
“Main ek traveller hoon – din ho ya raat, safar mera saathi hai.” For the past 25 years, my job has taken me across cities, towns, and highways—often without a fixed timeline. From metro cities to semi-metros and now even small towns, I’ve seen a silent shift in youth behavior that deserves attention.
Tea, Smoke, and Time Pass – A New Routine?
Early morning 3–4 AM, ya late night 12–2 AM, roadside tea stalls, snack points, and betel shops bustle with young boys and girls. Kuch log sach mein traveller hote hain—waiting for a bus or train. But many are just there for “fun,” sipping tea, smoking, chatting.
Pehle yeh scene sirf metro cities mein hota tha. Now, even small towns and bus stands have thela open all night. But the question is:
“Itna kaunsa busy schedule hai jo din mein fursat nahi milti?”
Time Management vs. Time Waste
A brilliant student knows the value of time.
Unka routine fixed hota hai—study, sleep, play, entertainment.
They don’t roam at odd hours unless it’s necessary. They understand competition, career, and discipline.
On the other hand, kuch yuva pidhi bas maze mein hai.
“Rat ko ghoomna, chai peena, smoke karna, time pass karna…”
Is this really freedom? Or just a way to waste their parents’ hard-earned money?
Same Class, Different Futures
Ek hi chhat ke neeche padhne wale students—some become doctors, engineers, lawyers, managers.
Aur kuch autorickshaw chalate hain, thela lagate hain, ya pvt jobs mein struggle karte hain.
Why? Because they chose “maza” over “maqsad” during their youth.
Example:
- Ravi studied hard, cracked UPSC, now a government officer.
- Sameer bunked classes, chilled at tea stalls, now drives a cab.
Both were classmates once. Their choices made the difference.
Parents – Passive or Powerful?
Kya parents ko nahi lagta ki unki jimmedari hai?
“Aapka beta ya beti rat ko ghoom raha hai, chai aur smoke kar raha hai…”
Is this independence or ignorance?
Parents must rethink their role—not just as providers but as guides.
- Talk to your children.
- Understand their routine.
- Set boundaries with love, not control.
Gen Z – Rethink Your Freedom
Dear Gen Z,
Freedom doesn’t mean wasting time.
It means choosing wisely, living purposefully.
Aapka future aapke decisions se banta hai—not your night-outs or chai breaks.
Ask yourself:
- Am I building my career or just killing time?
- Am I respecting my parents’ sacrifices?
- Am I using my youth to create a better tomorrow?
Conclusion: Let’s Rethink Together
As a traveller, I’ve seen thousands of faces, stories, and choices.
Jo yuva pidhi aaj maze mein hai, kal woh struggle karegi.
Jo aaj mehnat kar raha hai, kal woh shine karega.
Let’s rethink. Let’s realign.
Parents, guide with love. Gen Z, grow with purpose.
Because time once lost, never returns.
