Ruchi Chabra
If Lord Krishna were to walk among us today, he wouldn’t be seen riding a royal chariot or dressed in glowing celestial robes. Instead, we might find him sitting quietly under a tree on a college campus, gently listening to a student breaking under pressure, guiding a teenager battling self-doubt, or consoling a young adult trapped between expectations and exhaustion.
His words, once spoken to a troubled warrior on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, now speak to another kind of war-the silent battle raging inside our youth. India today is facing a crisis that is far deeper than just academic or economic.
The rising wave of student suicides, cases of depression and anxiety, and even violent crimes involving youth are all signs of a collective distress. According to recent data, India records one student suicide every 42 minutes. Each one is a life lost not due to incapability, but due to invisible emotional pain, unrealistic pressures, and a lack of support.
If Krishna were here, he wouldn’t blame them. He wouldn’t shame them for their mistakes or failures. He would sit beside them, remind them of their inner worth, and say, “You are not your marks. You are not your fears. You are much more than what the world tells you to be.” Today’s youth live in a world of constant comparison and digital overload. Dopamine-driven addictions-social media highs, gaming obsessions, vaping, and drug use-promise quick relief but lead to deeper despair. The pressure to “be someone” often replaces the joy of simply being. The mind becomes a noisy battlefield-of overthinking, peer pressure, body image issues, and the fear of not being enough.
This is where Krishna’s teachings become not ancient philosophy, but urgent medicine. His message of karma yoga-focusing on action without the anxiety of results-could ease the exam fear that steals sleep from lakhs of students. His lesson of swa-dharma-being true to one’s own path-could help young people choose careers and lifestyles aligned with their values, not societal pressure. Perhaps the biggest gift Krishna gives is the idea that you are not alone. Just as he stood by Arjuna when no one else could understand his turmoil, today’s youth too need someone who truly listens without judgment. They need schools that focus not only on marks but on mental wellness.
They need families that prioritise conversations over criticism. They need leaders who speak of values, not just victories. If Krishna were to walk among us today, he wouldn’t be distant or divine-he would be deeply human. He’d ask us not to worship him, but to walk with him-with clarity in our minds, strength in our actions, and peace in our hearts. As we prepare to celebrate Janmashtami, marking Krishna’s birth, let us remember that its true significance lies not just in midnight prayers, fasting, or decorating temples, but in bringing his wisdom into our daily lives.
Janmashtami is a reminder that Krishna was born in dark times to bring light-not only to the world, but to the minds and hearts of people lost in fear and confusion. If we can live even a fraction of his message-balancing action with peace, ambition with humility, and success with compassion-we will honour the God in the truest way.
(The writer is the Principal, DPS Jammu)
