Youth make mistakes and learn, says former Miss World Manushi Chhillar

Manushi Chhillar, who made India proud by winning the Miss World crown 17 years after Priyanka Chopra won it in 2000. Today, the United Nations is observing International Youth Day and their 2020 theme is Youth Engagement for Global Action.

And Bollywood’s very own youth icon Manushi feels digitisation and technology advancement is a boon and a bane for the youth of our country.

Manushi says, “We, the youth of our country, are riding on the technology wave, and while there are massive advantages, there are disadvantages too. We are dealing with severe online toxicity and hate that one shouldn’t face growing up. Instead, the youth should feel free to be themselves, discover their identities, make mistakes and learn from them. I pray we are super strong to take on this much negativity that’s thrown at all of us on a daily basis and are able to distinguish between what matters and what doesn’t.”

Manushi is just 23 years old and she feels living through the coronavirus pandemic has definitely set new priorities for the youth, including her.

“Youth and children are also growing up in an environment where they are living through a pandemic today and that’s bound to impact the way we envision the future. Youth should not be shy to innovate and to lead life fearlessly as we are the explorers of our future,” she says.

Manushi welcomes the debate that the youth are maturing faster in an age of technology.

“All the innovations and all the predicaments that we have seen in such a quick time, will definitely have an impact. On International Youth Day, I wish that the youth of our country don’t succumb to these external pressures and continue to dream. These minds will shape up the future of this world and I’m most excited to see what they create for themselves and other generations,” she adds.