The beginning of changing society: A pledge to give children a new vision
“The first condition for changing society is that we give our children a new vision to see the world.
Vision that teaches not only to see, but also to understand, test, and improve.”
The most difficult, longest, and most important journey of social change always begins at its core with those tiny seeds we call children. No revolution in the world—be it of ideas, morality, technology, or human values—can be lasting unless it takes root in the life philosophy of future generations. This is why thinkers like Buddha, Vivekananda, Gandhi, Tagore, and Nelson Mandela considered education, values, and the development of children’s minds as the most important foundations for any lasting change in human civilization. Today, when society is facing challenges of value crisis, violence, intolerance, consumerism, fanaticism, and social disintegration at many levels, the question becomes even more acute: are we able to give our children the vision they need to build a future better than the present?
Children’s perspectives on society are shaped not just by textbooks, but by their families, surroundings, ideas, conversations, examples, and—most importantly—the behavior of adults. A child is, in fact, society’s most sensitive mirror. The language, thinking, coexistence, social behavior, sensitivity, and vision they observe around them gradually become imprinted within them like an unwritten book. This is why, if we want to change society, we must first change our own behavior, our family environment, and our social conduct—because a child becomes what they see, not what they hear.
Today, children have two major sources of understanding society—one is their family and the other is the digital world. Unfortunately, neither provides the clear and balanced perspective they need. Family communication has diminished, time has shrunk, and the culture of socializing is almost disappearing. The digital world, meanwhile, provides children with a limitless ocean of information, but lacks the light of wisdom and direction. In this context, children gain a wealth of information, but due to a lack of understanding, this information creates confusion, insecurity, and a chaotic perspective.
That’s why it’s essential to give children a perspective on society that is sensitive, rational, scientific, ethical, and—most of all—humanistic. If a child learns that society is not just a crowd, but a vibrant web of personalities; that every person has their own story of struggle; that every decision has a context; and that empathy is the foundation of any civilization—they will not only become better citizens but also give society a better direction.
This seed of social change can only grow when we teach our children to ask questions. In many countries around the world, including India, children are conditioned to memorize answers rather than ask questions. However, true knowledge, true thinking, and true progress are born only where there is freedom to question. If a child feels, in their home, school, and society, that they can fearlessly question, express their opinions, disagree, and learn from mistakes, creativity and originality develop within them. This creativity is what drives society forward.
Children will gain a new perspective on society only when we teach them to embrace diversity. In today’s world, division, polarization, and narrow-mindedness are widening the divide within society. Children study and play together in schools, but as they grow up, they often internalize the walls society has erected. Therefore, we must teach children that diversity is not a weakness of society, but its greatest strength. If they understand that every culture, every language, every tradition, every idea, and every person is part of society’s collective identity, they will not only become better citizens but will also be able to break down the walls that create hatred and narrow-mindedness.
The education system plays a crucial role in this process of societal transformation. Education cannot simply be a means to pass exams; it must also teach children the art of understanding life and society. They must be taught that success is measured not only by marks, but also by humanity, integrity, cooperation, courage, and sensitivity. They must also be explained that society is not just something to be taken, but also a responsibility to give. Only when a child understands the sense of duty in their lives do they resolve to do something for society.
The first step to giving children a new perspective is to provide them with the right role models. Role models don’t just mean great personalities, but also include small examples from everyday life that have a profound impact on their behavior. Examples include feeding the hungry, helping the elderly, protecting nature, keeping public places clean, speaking the truth, recognizing gender equality, eliminating caste discrimination, and respecting the law. When a child sees these examples vividly in their home and society, they develop similar character traits.
To develop this vision in children, the most important thing is to let them think for themselves, experience for themselves, and learn for themselves. Imposing our own thinking on children is not the path to social change, but rather a way to force society into stagnancy. If a child realizes that society has problems and that it is possible to change them, then an understanding of reality and the courage to change are born within them.
Giving children a new perspective doesn’t mean letting them live in idealistic fantasies. Rather, it means teaching them that society is complex, that problems are real, but solutions are also possible. It means teaching them to embrace challenges. It means showing them that the path to progress lies through struggle, and that even their small efforts can lead to big changes.
If we can make future generations understand that society is not an external system, but the collective consciousness of all of us, then this journey to transform society can be powerful and successful. Children will create the society we sow within them today. If we sow the seeds of truth, justice, compassion, equality, science, wisdom, and human values within them today, they will reap the harvest of that society tomorrow.
Ultimately, it boils down to the same principle—to transform society, we must first provide our children with a new perspective. This perspective will not only illuminate their future but also elevate the collective consciousness of our society to new horizons. Because a child is not just the hope of a family or the future of a nation—they are the lamp whose light illuminates the path to the future.
