On August 12, Prime Minister Modi debuted as a guest on the popular wildlife show ‘Man Vs Wild with Bear Grylls’ and it was one of the most widely watched on world television ever, leaving the popular Super Bowl behind. Bear Grylls, in his article on opinion-website DailyO, called it a huge privilege to be on an adventure into an Indian forest with PM Modi.
He added that PM Modi’s vision for India’s future has reinforced his belief that it is the youngsters who are the truly the future of this world. “The country is home to a fifth of the world’s youth, and more than half of the country’s 1.3 billion people are below the age of 25 — that’s an extraordinary opportunity to enable the next generation of young leaders with the skills needed to build a more sustainable future,” he writes.
Grylls also said how spending time with PM Modi in the nature showed how beautiful and vibrant India really is. He added that despite the diverse ecosystem India is home to, like every other major country across the globe, India faces the challenges of the changing world. He added how as many as 3.7 million Bharat Scouts and Guides are working towards addressing the social, economic and environmental challenges faced by the earth and environment. They are trying to bring about a change by promoting peace, curbing plastic pollution and encouraging use of renewable source of energy and trying to provide access to drinking water and sanitation. Thus, India’s youth is already in the right direction when it comes to contributing towards sustainable development, he adds.
Stressing on the importance of scouting, Bear Grylls said that it equips the youth with necessary life and leadership skills. Over 50 million young people are benefitting from scouting educational youth programme and skill development activities, he said. Grylls, who is the Chief Ambassador of World Scouting, says that India has an amazing opportunity for the youth to get involved in scouting’s unique youth development programme. He added that for this, Skill India initiative of the Government of India has a huge potential.
“As global citizens, we have a responsibility to protect the environment, which is essential for economic growth and sustainable development. Young people are an essential part of that effort,” he writes. He added that he hopes to return to work on a more ambitious plan which could encourage scouting to the youth who could then help shape the future of the country.
He added that if the Man Vs Wild episode starring PM Modi is indeed world’s most watched show, then it only reinforces his belief that it is the youth in India that holds the key to India’s future.