Young urban Indians are upbeat about their freedom and see corruption as the most serious threat to it.
Twenty years after it was set in motion, what do liberalization's children think of their fast-changing country? A survey conducted exclusively for TOI sought to find out and its results shed light on four clear trends: young urban Indians greatly cherish the various freedoms our country offers; look forward to the many economic opportunities available; vehemently despise corruption; and, predictably, are patently cricket-mad.
TOI's survey of 18-25 year olds was conducted by Synovate, a global research agency, across eight of our biggest cities in young India's most favoured hubs, colleges and malls. Basking in the afterglow of freedom dawning at a famous 'midnight hour' 64 years ago, 75% of young Indians clearly felt that they enjoyed enough rights and freedoms today. But Mumbaikars disagreed; 56% in India's commercial capital felt they're not free. The response to the next question might explain why.
When asked what the most important right/freedom is, most respondents chose 'the right to live and work anywhere in India', with this pipping free speech, the 'right to vote' and 'freedom of religion'.
In Mumbai, on the other hand, 64% or nearly two-thirds plumped for the right to work anywhere. Perhaps some indication of disenchantment with the regional chauvinism and anti-outsider politics in Maharashtra.While 64% of respondents felt 'today's India offers great job opportunties', most Mumbaikars disagreed again.
Over 60% of respondents listed 'corruption' as the biggest threat facing India today, and 80% supported the Anna Hazare-led campaign to fight graft. Opinion is more divided on what they'd do if asked to pay a bribe. While 35% said they would not pay and 'walk away quietly', 34% stated they would lodge a complaint. But a sizeable 28% admitted they'd pay up. Only Bangalore, with 69% saying they'd pay a bribe, appeared to skew towards a majority tolerating corruption in some way.
But most young Indians agree on making corruption a serious offence. Almost two-thirds felt life imprisonment should be awarded to those found guilty.
Interestingly, when asked what India's greatest achievement in the last decade was, respondents, surprisingly, gave short shrift to the country's globally feted march to economic superstardom; just as they did to our much vaunted telecom revolution. The decade's big moment for them was clearly Team India's emphatic cricket World Cup victory, with 46% plumping for Dhoni's Devils' big night in Mumbai earlier this year.
Little surprise then that young urban India's biggest icon is Sachin Tendulkar; 31% pointed to him when asked who their role model was. Anna Hazare, who appears to have really caught young India's imagination, comes (a distant) second, with Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan next. Rahul Gandhi is fifth on the list.
TOI's survey of 18-25 year olds was conducted by Synovate, a global research agency, across eight of our biggest cities in young India's most favoured hubs, colleges and malls. Basking in the afterglow of freedom dawning at a famous 'midnight hour' 64 years ago, 75% of young Indians clearly felt that they enjoyed enough rights and freedoms today. But Mumbaikars disagreed; 56% in India's commercial capital felt they're not free. The response to the next question might explain why.
When asked what the most important right/freedom is, most respondents chose 'the right to live and work anywhere in India', with this pipping free speech, the 'right to vote' and 'freedom of religion'.
In Mumbai, on the other hand, 64% or nearly two-thirds plumped for the right to work anywhere. Perhaps some indication of disenchantment with the regional chauvinism and anti-outsider politics in Maharashtra.While 64% of respondents felt 'today's India offers great job opportunties', most Mumbaikars disagreed again.
Over 60% of respondents listed 'corruption' as the biggest threat facing India today, and 80% supported the Anna Hazare-led campaign to fight graft. Opinion is more divided on what they'd do if asked to pay a bribe. While 35% said they would not pay and 'walk away quietly', 34% stated they would lodge a complaint. But a sizeable 28% admitted they'd pay up. Only Bangalore, with 69% saying they'd pay a bribe, appeared to skew towards a majority tolerating corruption in some way.
But most young Indians agree on making corruption a serious offence. Almost two-thirds felt life imprisonment should be awarded to those found guilty.
Interestingly, when asked what India's greatest achievement in the last decade was, respondents, surprisingly, gave short shrift to the country's globally feted march to economic superstardom; just as they did to our much vaunted telecom revolution. The decade's big moment for them was clearly Team India's emphatic cricket World Cup victory, with 46% plumping for Dhoni's Devils' big night in Mumbai earlier this year.
Little surprise then that young urban India's biggest icon is Sachin Tendulkar; 31% pointed to him when asked who their role model was. Anna Hazare, who appears to have really caught young India's imagination, comes (a distant) second, with Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan next. Rahul Gandhi is fifth on the list.
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