Caged youths still remember how to fly

“We stand in an unprecedented time, so does our youth, considered as the country’s future. With education evolving in the last few months and turning completely online, life has changed for many, especially the youth. Their lives now revolve around laptops, smart phones and computers, be it in the domain of education or entertainment, even sports and other skill development activities. The youth community like the ‘caged’ birds in the confines of the home, were sometimes on the receiving end.

Learning for some was a fun activity but for others it was tedious, making them screen-fatigued and sedentary. Their physical movement has been largely restricted. Today’s youth in the time of COVID19 pandemic reminds us of Maya Angelou’s ‘Caged Bird’, with a different perspective. They resemble the bird physically confined inside the cage, but their indomitable spirit soars high.

 “…a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and 
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.”

Noble Laureate Rabindranath Tagore also wrote The caged bird whispers, “Come hither, let us both live in the cage.” ... The caged bird says, “Alas for me, I know not the songs of the woodlands.” Their love is intense with longing, but they never can fly wing to wing. Through the bars of the cage they look, and vain is their wish to know each other. It is now just a matter of time that the birds will again fly in the clear and unending sky. But till the normalcy is restored the youths claim that they did not forget to puff their wings even indoors.

Learning for some was a fun activity but for others it was tedious, making them screen-fatigued and sedentary. Their physical movement has been largely restricted. Today’s youth in the time of COVID19 pandemic reminds us of Maya Angelou’s ‘Caged Bird’, with a different perspective. They resemble the bird physically confined inside the cage, but their indomitable spirit soars high.

However, almost ten months after the Covid19 pandemic, the youth have emerged as more patient fighters and turmoil of the youth has subsided for the better. Adapting to the new scenario, they have hooked themselves to newer hobbies and new adjustment techniques-be it food, exercise or education.

Let us peep into the minds of the youth of this era