INDIA: Hope for Humanity in the Biggest School in The World

India is going through a horrendous time because of Covid-19 and there’s nothing but terrible news from there. I have lost several family and friends myself, and my days are often spent condoling people on the phone. But anyone who thinks the country is doomed is wrong. 50% of the country is below 25 and 65% are younger than 35. But it’s not the relative youth of the country, but also the quality of young citizens who will shape its future that gives me hope.

On my last visit to the country, I was invited to be the “chief guest” at City Montessori School, in my hometown of Lucknow, and address its 2,000 older students. The visit renewed my faith in young India.

Started by educators Drs. Bharat and Jagdish Gandhi in 1959, CMS is now the biggest school in the world with 18 branches and 52,000 enrollments in Lucknow alone. Among its many honors, it has received the “Hope for Humanity” award from the Dalai Lama. I’m not surprised. Its students are brilliant, eager to learn, and well mannered. It was a joy to spend the morning with them.

After my 20-min talk, titled “A Life of Purpose,” my daughter, Laila, and I were invited to a Q&A. A dozen bright high schoolers asked us thoughtful, well-researched questions about media, career-building, inspiration, the role of pop culture in change-making, and the future. They inspired me more than I could have them. The Principals, Ms. Manjit Batra and Mrs. Sangeeta Bannerjee have done a great job developing a fine batch of young citizens.

Being amongst these unspoiled, earnest students was very moving. It reminded me of the great responsibility we have as adults to not taint our youth with the bitterness of our own discontent, our disillusions, and prejudices. It reminded me of the need to protect ALL our children, especially the most vulnerable, from intolerance and violence and the consequences of our mistakes. It brought to mind the children suffering right now because of inequality, war, and oppression.

I left the future leaders of India with the message that we must think about kindness, compassion, and tolerance as we think about tomorrow. We must believe in the principles of secularism our great democracy was founded upon, which treats all its citizens as equals. We should consider a life of purpose and believe in something greater than ourselves, stand up for the weak, the oppressed, the less fortunate, and speak for those whose voices are being silenced.

As I looked at their smiling sunflower faces, the children of CMS filled me with possibility and love- the core of humanity. There is a seed of love in every child, a hope for humanity that we must nourish instead of killing it with the poison of hate.

 It was a good day.

Let's do everything we can to help India through its current despair. Its people, and especially its beautiful children deserve the best.