How to be the change and make a difference by Anshul Tewari

10 Tips and Steps On How To Be The Change And Make A Difference

HOW TO BE THE CHANGE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Anshul Tewari Founder & Editor Youth Ki Awaaz: Mouthpiece for the Youth www.youthkiawaaz.com

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10 Tips and Steps On How To Be The Change And Make A Difference

Table of Contents Chapter 1: What Is Change?........................................page 3 Chapter 2: Be Alert, Aware and Vigilant……………………..page 5 Chapter 3: Having a Positive Perspective and Being Hopeful………………………………………………………page 7 Chapter 4: Be Logical and Practical………………………………page 9 Chapter 5: Do Not Discriminate…………………………………..page 10 Chapter 6: Practice Equality………………………………………..page 13 Chapter 7: Be Firm about Your Beliefs and Principles…………………………………………………………………….page 14 Chapter 8: Self Development and Improvement are the key ………………………………………………………………….page 15 Chapter 9: Spread The Word………………………………………..page 17 Chapter 10: Approach the Authorities………………………….page 18 Chapter 11: Do Your Bit, Be Vocal…………………………………page 20 Acknowledgement I would like to acknowledge my sincere regards and gratitude to my family, without whom nothing would have been possible; and also to my readers who play a major role in establishing your Youth Ki Awaaz.

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10 Tips and Steps On How To Be The Change And Make A Difference

Chapter 1: What Is Change

When we talk about change, what is the first thing that comes to our mind? A nation with no divisive politics? A sexier girlfriend? A dominant self? Or Barack Obama? Change has often been misinterpreted. When we talk of change, we must not consider an individual who is working towards it; we must consider all of us together. So, ever wondered what 'Change' means? Ever wondered how we can make a big difference by implementing small changes? Ever wondered how we can rebuild our nation? Ever wondered how we can lead others to a better future by being a voice for others? This eBook tries to tell you how to be the change by implementing small modulations in your daily life. According to the Oxford dictionary, Change means 1 make or become different. 2 exchange for another. 3 move from one to (another). 4 (change over) move from one system or situation to another. 5 exchange (a sum of money) for the same sum in a different currency or denomination. All in all, change means something different, something which is not present at this moment, something which is desirable. And to attain this desirable change, we have to work together and move slowly and steadily towards it. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” So what do we see in the world? The current situation of the world is something like this: Taliban has virtually taken over Afghanistan and will shortly take over Pakistan; Child and women trafficking is on an all time high; on an average, a distinct species of animal or plant goes extinct every 20 minutes or less; Global warming has already done the damage for the next 70 years, and is slowly making way for depletion of Earth, politicians and bureaucrats are making illegitimate use of their power and status; the United States of America is posing a big threat to the Asian countries; China and India are somewhat in the middle of a near cold war; emergence of nuclear powers; exploitation of the third world countries; and the list is never ending. All we can do is to channelize our efforts to reduce the effect. We have to tackle everything and that too in a pervasive manner. Talking about what we see as our future, there can be different versions. Some of us want to see peaceful coexistence of all human beings, some of us want to see our nation as the only super power, some of us see ourselves as leader being followed by the whole world, some of us see ourselves minting money without working for it, and many of us hardly care about the state of the world. This is the youth of today. There is a big © Youth Ki Awaaz: Mouthpiece for the Youth | www.youthkiawaaz.com

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10 Tips and Steps On How To Be The Change And Make A Difference

ideological divide amongst the youth. We can never reach consensus because we are a generation with huge ego problems, negative attitudes and the urge to fulfill our over‐ ambitious dreams – by hook or by crook. Interestingly, what binds us together is the fact that we are an energetic, young, unstoppable, vibrant, ambitious and impatient lot, and we are The Future. When 9/11 and 26/11 occurred, we cribbed, but we demanded change; and when the 2009 Indian elections took place, we came together as ONE to vote for the government we wanted. We have shown in the past that we can create a difference, but it is the collective strength and a likeminded nature that can lead us to a world of our dreams. This is the change we desire. This is the change we have to work for. We have to channelize our strength and energy towards this goal. This is the change we have to be and influence others in a way that they also contribute for the common goal. Don’t you want to be a part of the next big thing?

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10 Tips and Steps On How To Be The Change And Make A Difference

Chapter 2: Be Alert, Aware and Vigilant

Awareness is something a number of people and organizations are working for. If you look at the agenda of a number of the NGO’s you will find that spreading awareness about the cause that they support is an essential part of it. Awareness is the need of the hour. It will not only help us in knowing everything about our surroundings but would also help us in being a better person emotionally. We will know what we are talking about and will be intelligent enough to support our points and ideology. We must always know about the happenings of our surroundings, be it the neighboring country or the state, the city next to ours, the road in front of our house, the building we live in and our neighbors. Who is your MP, MLA, or even District Magistrate? Be aware of what those who are related to you feel? What are their needs and aspirations? This certainly does not mean that we violate someone else’s personal domain. A person must always have the right to do anything as long as it does not affect the public. Thus, being aware means that we must know what is the status of the world, of our nation, of our state and city, of our locality and of our neighborhood, and that’s it. Alertness and vigilance is the key to being aware. We don’t want you to be awake all night and guard your house or your neighborhood. What we mean here is that alertness when you are on the road, at a traffic light, walking down to the market. Alertness when you see a man beat his wife or children, alertness when you see a theft happening, alertness when you see a man dying on the road and no one stopping by even to call an ambulance. This also does not mean that you give up your normal daily routine. To become alert in a context of heightened vigilance is one thing, to remain alert is another. In the immediate shock of attack, adrenaline rushes through our bodies, fuel‐ injecting awareness. Our senses process information at an accelerated rate. But after we calm down, our scanning apparatus returns to its default position. We filter out those thousands of impressions that seem irrelevant to daily survival. In our day to day life, being alert will always help us. Alertness will then empower us. Empower us with the strength to be the change. Empower us with the strength to understand, influence and cast an impact others. I recall a CEO who heard about empowerment and called his employees together to announce, "You're empowered!" then went back to his office. Of course, in the absence of structures to generate, train, and sustain empowered employees, nothing happened. Most of his employees were confused as to what he really meant. © Youth Ki Awaaz: Mouthpiece for the Youth | www.youthkiawaaz.com

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10 Tips and Steps On How To Be The Change And Make A Difference

But when we talk of changing the society, empowerment means having the strength and belief that you are capable of creating that change. And trust me; being alert will help you a lot. Can you expect a slouchy person to be the change? No. So, awareness, alertness and vigilance are the initial qualities that a change agent must possess. Like an author once said, “Alertness and courage are life’s shields.”

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10 Tips and Steps On How To Be The Change And Make A Difference

Chapter 3: Having a Positive Perspective and Being Hopeful Thought is creative. All thought, good and bad, is creative and tends to become a material thing. That is why we must learn to be more positive. Our environment and all the experiences in our life are the result of our habitual and predominant thoughts. Negative thoughts can tell us about something that needs our attention. Our job is to discover what needs to be done and take care of it. Many people fail to see a negative occurrence as a learning experience and continue to feel victimized and helpless, ultimately blaming others for what they drew to themselves. You are not alone. You are not hopeless. You are alive, and you are what you want to be. Talking of change, a positive attitude is a must. If you do not have a positive and open mindset, you cannot create a change, no matter how hard you try. If you believe that you can be a good lawyer or a good writer or good doctor or a journalist or a politician, you could certainly become one. It is just the belief and the positive attitude that matters, and the will to work towards achieving your goals. So how can one develop a positive attitude, we present small and easy steps: 1. If you have a problem, admit it. You can't change if you don't admit your faults. Accept the fact that you are being negative. This will make it easier for you to overcome your own problems and become positive! 2. Have goals. Goals give you a more positive outlook on life. Those who are bored with their lives and feel stuck usually feel depressed. Achievable short term and long term goal setting is a must. Say "I can!" more often than "I can't!" 3. Surround yourself with positive people! Our lives are shaped by the company we keep. This step is very important. Negative people will just weigh you down and hold you back from your goal. Let go of any friend whose behavior is giving you more and more stress. It could simply be the time to make new friends. 4. Realize that it is all really there in our minds! What goes on in your mind can really determine your actions and the course your life is going to take. It is better to have positive thoughts by indulging into creative and productive activities. 5. Find an optimistic quote or saying and keep it in your wallet or pocket at all times for a quick reference. 6. Focus your imagination and efforts on becoming that new changed person. It is much easier to affect change in yourself if you just put your mind to it and © Youth Ki Awaaz: Mouthpiece for the Youth | www.youthkiawaaz.com

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10 Tips and Steps On How To Be The Change And Make A Difference

change your thoughts. We can't always control things that happen in our lives, but we can, with some effort, control what we goes on in our minds. 7. If you want to achieve more success, focus on the things (areas) that you are already successful in. If you want to be loved more, focus on all the people that already care about you and the abundance of love you have for others. Believe in yourself! 8. Always be hopeful and love your life. Remember that happiness is a state of mind! 9. Volunteer to help others. Helping others to lead a happier life will make you feel satisfied and happy at the end of every day. 10. Look for the benefit of all in every situation. There are pros and cons to most situations (actions) and you get to choose which one to focus on. Try and derive the best possible result out of every situation. Lao Tzu once said, “What the caterpillar calls the end, the rest of the world calls a butterfly.”

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10 Tips and Steps On How To Be The Change And Make A Difference

Chapter 4: Be Logical and Practical Logical thinking is the process in which one uses reasoning consistently to come to a conclusion. Problems or situations that involve logical thinking call for structure, for relationships between facts, and for chains of reasoning that “make sense.” In his book Brain Building, Dr. Karl Albrecht says that the basis of all logical thinking is sequential thought. This process involves taking the important ideas, facts, and conclusions involved in a problem and arranging them in a chain‐like progression that takes on a meaning in and of it. To think logically is to think in steps. It has been proven that logical thinking can make people “smarter.” Logical thinking allows a child to reject quick answers, such as “I don’t know,” or “this is too difficult,” by empowering them to delve deeper into their thinking processes and understand better the methods used to arrive at a solution. Logical thinking is also an important foundational skill of life. Learning how to live is a highly sequential process. “If you don’t grasp a certain concept, fact, or procedure, you can never hope to grasp others that come later, which depend upon it. For example, to understand fractions you must first understand division. To understand simple equations in algebra requires that you understand fractions. Solving ‘word problems’ depends on knowing how to set up and manipulate equations, and so on" says Dr. Albrecht. Logical thinking is not a magical process or a matter of genetic endowment, but a learned mental process. Looking at things from a sentimental perspective might help in a million cases, but there are a billion cases which need to be dealt with logic and practicality. For instance, when 26/11 occurred, many in our country, out of outrage, demanded an immediate attack on Pakistan. This was a demand out of angry emotions but was not logical. Pakistan, being a nuclear state could have done equal, if not more, damage to us. And, the decision would not have been in our national interest. So, being logical and thinking out of the box (unlike a mob) is essential for your development. When we talk of change, we cannot let our sentiments govern us. I agree that sentiments matter a lot when it comes to social causes, and it is extremely important to have sentiments while dealing with the society, but there are times which require us to think practically so that we help the society and the nation as a whole achieve its goals.

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Chapter 5: Do Not Discriminate Now this is extremely important. India is world’s largest democracy and the world’s fastest growing free market economy, but is also a country where discrimination is still observed and practiced, a country where one voice raised leads to one voice less. A few weeks back, I saw a small kid selling ‘channa masala’ (an Indian snack) near my college premises. Though, the fact that a child was doing it bothered me, but what bothered me more was a young lady buyer calling him ‘cham**r’. A lot of us are unaware of the fact that calling anyone by that name is a non‐bailable offence. A few months back a Delhi University teacher was jailed for calling a colleague by that name. These are only two of the millions of incidents. From time immemorial, India has been witnessing caste system practices. In this practice, many castes have faced discrimination. ‘Dalits’ or out‐castes have been treated as a sub‐human class of untouchables. ‘Dalit’ literally means “broken or crushed” or downtrodden. On 26th December ’04, when India witnessed one of the worst natural calamities ‐ Tsunami, the Government of India had mobilized relief operations in all the affected states of the country. It did not know that these operations were being carried out in some areas with caste as a determining factor. Villages like Kadapakuppam and Pattipulam of Kachipuram in Tamil Nadu, which are homes to the so called ‘untouchables’, received no immediate relief whatsoever as, unfortunately, many rescue workers happened to be from the so called ‘Upper Caste’. 175 families in Kadapakuppam and 280 in Pattipulam have suffered immensely because of this. Despite complaints no government official had gone to their aid. And it’s not happening in south alone. In a Government school in Uttar Pradesh, students of lower caste were given inhuman treatment by some teachers. These teachers were later handed over to the police when a local government official made a surprise visit to the school. In some parts of our country, even after so many years of independence, people from certain castes are not allowed to draw water from the community well.

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10 Tips and Steps On How To Be The Change And Make A Difference

These incidents are indicative of the persistent caste discrimination throughout the country. It is a sad reality that even in times of extreme necessity, caste prejudices dominate social exchanges. In India, the caste system is a powerful tool for social segregation and has implications in our everyday life. It destroys the social fabric and weakens the human urge to excel and liberate. Though the Constitution provides certain safeguards against such discrimination but the constitutional remedies are often inaccessible to the lower castes. On June 20th, 2008, another shameful incident by a well known private school in Delhi gave us a reality check of where our humanitarian behavior really stands. A school on Pusa Road refused to admit seven rag pickers out of fear that they might carry diseases. This is not it; Indians from North Eastern states face a high level of discrimination and abuse; be it of a mental or a physical nature, which makes them feel alienated in their own motherland. When a foreign tourist undergoes the trauma of rape, it takes our judiciary only about a month to solve that case because these are handled by fast‐track courts, but even today there are thousands of rape cases of Indian women which are pending. We are not saying that the cases of foreigners must not be solved; all we are saying is that if the cases of foreigners can be solved expeditiously, why can’t the Indian cases be solved at a similar pace? Here a small boy who is HIV positive is treated like an untouchable. It feels irritating to see, read or hear about such incidents. Muslims find it hard to be trusted by others, why? Not only this, the politicians take advantage of this and play their vote bank politics. When will we realize that we are all the same? We all deserve the same. Please open up your eyes and treat everyone, if not like your brother/sister, at least like a HUMAN BEING. All this won’t stop until we take charge. These incidents will always be made a part of the filthy politics and will be played with. One must open up their eyes and feel the brunt that others go through when they are discriminated in their own motherland. © Youth Ki Awaaz: Mouthpiece for the Youth | www.youthkiawaaz.com

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10 Tips and Steps On How To Be The Change And Make A Difference

If we talk of international incidents, the first thing that would come to our minds would be Indians being discriminated in Australia. This is true and a worrying factor, but we request you not to indulge in reverse racism. It is the humane behaviour which defines our character, not sex, caste or the religion we are born in.

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Chapter 6: Practice Equality Although Chapter 5 covers most of this, I will still tell you about this one. When I say ‘change’, a quality or practice that holds utmost importance is equality ‐ Equality in terms of public good. A person cannot be the change if he/she does not think of the public good. What is good for the society on the whole will ultimately be good for you. If you are out there doing good for the society, then remember, society consists not only of your friends and relatives, the rickshaw pullers, the beggars, the laundry boy, the maid, all hold equal importance. They must be provided with equal opportunities. Personal gains shall never take over the feeling of doing good to others. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and weakest man (woman) whom you may have seen and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him/her; will he/she gain anything by it? Will it restore him/her to a control over his/her life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to Swaraj for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and yourself melt away.” This challenging statement inspires me to think more about the choices I make on a daily basis. And this statement very well describes what I wish to convey from this chapter. Whatever you do, think about others, the society at large and especially those who are living an unprivileged life. If you have been wondering how you can cast a positive impact on someone’s life try this. Start with something small like teaching basic skills to your household helper, or maybe by imparting education to him/her. You might find this time consuming in the beginning, but aren’t you trying to bring about a change in the life of that person? Bringing a change is a long process. All this will seem difficult in the beginning, but patience my friend, is virtue. © Youth Ki Awaaz: Mouthpiece for the Youth | www.youthkiawaaz.com

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10 Tips and Steps On How To Be The Change And Make A Difference

Chapter 7: Be Firm about Your Beliefs and Principles When we do something, be it big or small, we usually tend to consult people around us ‐ our parents, teachers and friends, etc. We feel the need to do so to reduce the probability of a failure. When we do something, we create certain guidelines, rules and regulations for ourselves. Not all of us do this, but if you don’t you must. In life we come across a number of people with different skills, interests, mindsets, etc. but it is up to us as to how much do we let these people influence us. I had a friend who used to live close to my house. Later, he went on to study business management in Pune. A month back, I met him at a business seminar, where I saw him smoking. It was a shock to see him smoke because, not very long ago, he used to be the one who would encourage and help others to quit the habit. On discussing about this further, he said that his work and peer pressure made him take to smoking. He added that he found smoking as a very good vent to his stress and anger. A guy like him saying all this was really disappointing. He had vowed never to smoke, but he broke his own promise ‐ a promise he had made to himself. This is a sign of being weak. Those who are firm can tackle different situations. I do not intend to say that all those who smoke are weak in character, all I wish to say ‐ no matter what, never allow your own rules to be broken. If you think you should not do something, then don’t do it. People tend to change with situations because it is good to adapt. But change is only good if it is for the betterment. Do not compromise with your own principles. Another example of not being firm as regards one’s belief is, when at the time of elections, people tend to change their votes after hearing that their friends and/or relatives are voting for someone else. This is something I personally dislike. Why do we have a voting system? Because you have the right to choose representative of your choice and not on someone else’s advice. Do not get influenced and let your vote go waste. © Youth Ki Awaaz: Mouthpiece for the Youth | www.youthkiawaaz.com

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Chapter 8: Self Development and Improvement are The Key

Self development will not only help yourself but also the people around you. If this keeps happening with all of us and becomes a chain‐reaction then we will be able contribute even more towards the desirable change. We are listing below 25 points which are essential for this process: 1. Accept personal responsibility for your own growth; no one can do it for you. What you do today will determine your readiness for tomorrow. 2. The world is changing rapidly and you must learn to manage change to avoid obsolescence. As Will Rogers puts this "Even if you are on the right track, if you just sit there you will get run over." 3. Never look back to the past; you can have control only over your present actions. So, what should you be doing right now – controlling your present and planning for the future. 4. Learn from other people's experience. It shortens the time needed to learn. 5. Dealing with a problem helps you learn patience and strengthens your management skills; it is a good mental exercise. 6. Analyze, in a non‐judgmental way, your own mistakes. It will help you to prevent these in the future. 7. Reward yourself when you catch yourself working on the most important priorities. 8. Never say something ‘can't’ / ‘won't’ be done. Keep looking for ways to do it. 9. For all learning experiences, whether it is reading, seeing, thinking or attending, apply this formula: Recognize, Relate, Assimilate, and Apply. These actions will help you grow in the direction of your goals. 10. Read at least a book or two in a month. 11. Be hungry for what life has to offer and go for it. 12. Decide what you really desire to do and then go ahead with it. 13. Develop yourself as a resource for others by networking. Find out who does what, when, and for whom. You may find excellent contacts for your future needs and for the needs of others you meet. 14. Work for maintaining balance in your life’s goals: family, financial, professional, social, spiritual, and recreational. 15. Always keep your goals in mind as you start a new activity.

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10 Tips and Steps On How To Be The Change And Make A Difference

16. Do not be afraid of trying something new for the fear of failing. You can learn and change as a result of it. Such failures, if any, may become stepping stones for success 17. The most difficult projects are opportunities for bigger successes just as the most difficult people could become your strongest allies. 18. Put up pictures of your dreams and goals where you will see them frequently. They will remind you and aid you in focusing and visualizing your goal. 19. Manage your time more efficiently. We all have the same 24 hours in a day. Learn from people who get more out of it than you do. 20. Find a non‐judgmental mentor/friend who will help you by providing feedback, suggestions, challenges and support. 21. Maintain a daily diary for recording your thoughts, ideas, feelings and personal progress. 22. Ask questions, seek answers and then ask more questions. You will learn as well as help others learn. 23. Do interactive things with someone you respect. They will be supportive of you and you will learn from their experience. 24. Seek new information on projects for which you have responsibility. Look for new "ah ha!" ideas for implementing all the time. 25. Work on overcoming personal unproductive habits. © Youth Ki Awaaz: Mouthpiece for the Youth | www.youthkiawaaz.com

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Chapter 9: Spread the Word and Persuade Others

Spreading the word means spreading awareness. Trust me, it feels so good to talk to others about an issue you know very well about. But before talking to others, make sure you are well versed with what you are talking about. There is no better way of creating a change than by spreading awareness and sensitizing people. A majority of people hardly care about what is happening around them. They give stupid reasons why they do not bother. They do not realize that everything happening around us will affect us all – directly or indirectly. If you persuade 3 such people to join you for spreading awareness among people about their rights – and their responsibilities, then you are on your way to be a big part of that next big thing ‐ ‘change’. Let others know of their rights. Most of our friends and relatives are not aware of their rights. They do not know that it is their right to ask for a bill, it is their right to voice their opinion; it is their right to seek redressal. Moreover, they should also be made aware that they are responsible for their actions, and if they do not take up the responsibility then have no right to demand their rights. Help your peers, relatives and acquaintances think practically. Like we discussed earlier, being practical and logical in various tough situations can help us change the way people think. Let everyone know about the above points and tell them how they can make a change and how cool it is to do so. Moreover, sensitize them over the fact that WHY they should make a change? © Youth Ki Awaaz: Mouthpiece for the Youth | www.youthkiawaaz.com

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Chapter 10: Feel Free To Approach the Authorities

Don’t you think that if you had followed the above points closely, you would have become a responsible agent for change? The next step is to make the authorities accountable for their actions and inactions. How many of us have seen our local MP or MLA or the District Magistrate, or even know their names? I feel only about 10% of us do ‐ and this is shameful. Why have we been loaded with fundamental rights? Our right to vote, right to freedom of speech and expression, and now, Right to Information (RTI); all have been given to us so that we can make use of them. If there is an electricity problem in our locality, or there is no sanitation facility or lacks of safe drinking water ‐ then what do we do? We generally crib. But how many of us take the initiative of visiting the office of the local civic authorities? Question them about the problems and what all is being done to solve them. Ask them whether they are even aware of the problems we face? Do we ever visit the MP’s office to know the progress of our city? When is the road in your locality going to be repaired? When will the basic facilities like water, electricity and policing etc improve? We don’t. Why? Because we are crippled. Right? No. It is just the lack of initiative and the fear that we might get into trouble. But this is all a misconception. We often stay silent when we see an accident or a theft. But why? We must dial police or any other local helpline and inform the local authorities. We should not be afraid of calling the police. According to a Supreme Court ruling, the police cannot hold the caller responsible for anything and cannot interrogate him/her forcefully unless the call is hoax. This also implies in the case of broken‐down roads, traffic woes, water supply, sanitation, housing and many other problems. Do not feel awkward in making the local MP or the municipality accountable. You can very well approach the court if you get into trouble for something you have not done. Remember, you can always hold a public servant responsible if he/she does not work properly, but again, approaching the authority just for the sake of it will not do. There are many ways by which you can reach out to the Government and other authorities. If you are facing a problem, take to the correct path in approaching them. File a report, give them a call, fix up a meeting, but do not enter a lion’s den without informing your friends or family about it, and never by illegal means. File an RTI application, go in for PIL

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(Public Interest Litigation), there are several ways by which you can seek information and hold the authorities responsible for their misdeeds.

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Chapter 11: Do Your Bit, Be Vocal

The best and the most powerful rights bestowed upon us by the founding fathers of our Constitution are the right to speech and the right to freedom of expression. We have complete right to voice ourselves over anything and everything that concerns us. This is what Youth Ki Awaaz stands for. Try it once. If you have a view about an issue or a situation, find a way to express yourself. Write a status message on Facebook or mail your friends, drop a message at Twitter or scrap your friends at Orkut. Start a blog to vent your thoughts, or join one. There are many ways by which you can voice yourself. And trust me, the pleasure of voicing yourself and then receiving views on the same is amazing. Make use of it. Let your voice be heard. Be vocal when addressing your problem. If you have an issue or a grievance, you must address the right person, at the right time and in the right manner. Do not develop cold feet fearing that nobody would ever help you. But this certainly does not mean giving hate speeches. If you have a problem, an issue of concern, an issue close to your heart and you want the world to know about it, then why keep quiet? Other ways of letting your views out can be, by joining forums, communities, contacting the MP's and leaders (who now have websites and blogs) and posting comments on articles, videos, newspapers, channels, and letting them know what you feel. Write a letter to the editor, drop a comment at Youth Ki Awaaz, start calling the radio, and attend TV programs. Make a difference, take charge. But do it, don’t just talk about it. If you want an example, consider Youth Ki Awaaz. Youth Ki Awaaz was launched as a small platform by which we wanted to give vent to our feelings and expressions about youth and social issues at large. And today, Youth Ki Awaaz is amongst the power blogs of India focusing on and showcasing the strong views of the youth. You will come across several ways to express yourself; all you have to do is to look for the opportunity. And trust me, it is very easy. Being the change means voicing yourself. Not only will you be creating a difference, you will also be providing voice to millions of voiceless individuals. Just feel the freedom. It’s amazing. ☺

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Final words…

This eBook is a humble attempt to make you believe that there is a hero inside all of us. All we have to do is work towards finding that hero. . It is quite possible that some of you might already be practicing some or all of the afore‐said points. The above points might not be the best or the only ones by which you can be the change, but these are the few initial points which would help you believe that you can create a difference and be a catalyst for change. I would also like to say that being self motivated and having self respect is of utmost importance. You are free to distribute this book within your social and professional circle as long as you do not edit or re‐write this book. Please do not change any chapter in this book as this would mean infringement of our copyright policy.

Bibliography

A lot of research has gone into the creation of this piece. The sources that helped us were: • • • •

Ehow.com Wikihow.com Quotegarden.com YouthKiAwaaz.com

Vote of Thanks

I would like to thank all our readers without whom this book has no relevance. I would also like to thank my team, without which Youth Ki Awaaz would not be possible, and last but not the least, my family, for providing me unconditional support. Thank you all! ☺

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10 Tips and Steps On How To Be The Change And Make A Difference

About Anshul Tewari

Anshul Tewari is a social entrepreneur who has founded Youth Ki Awaaz, one of India’s few online platforms dedicated towards bringing forward the voice of the youth. A student of Journalism at Delhi University, Anshul launched Youth Ki Awaaz in March 2008 as a vent to his opinions and views about social and political issues. As months passed, Youth Ki Awaaz developed. Today it has around 45 registered and around 100 unregistered writers and contributors globally, and over a thousand regular readers. Youth Ki Awaaz also boasts of launching HOPE, India’s first ever social network dedicated towards the cause of social change and development; and a few of India’s most comprehensive online campaigns on issues like drug abuse, child abuse and rural development, in collaboration with NGO’s like Foundation for a Drug‐Free World and Global March Against Child Labour. Earlier in 2009, Youth Ki Awaaz was ranked 3rd amongst the blogs with the most comprehensive Lok Sabha election coverage by BlogAdda.com, a subsidiary of BigAdda.com. Anshul has also interviewed prominent personalities like Mallika Sarabhai, 2009 Lok Sabha contestant from Gandhinagar, Raghu Ram and Rajiv Lakshman, the popular duo from MTV Roadies. Anshul Tewari has also worked with the Indian Express and the Financial Express newspapers, and his startup has often been featured in the media, which include Ode, an international magazine, Times of India, Zee News, DNA, IndiaInfo.com, VoteReportIndia.com, etc.

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