TEDx Talks - Changing Ideas of Truth | Praveen Kumar Rajbhar | TEDxBHIS Kanpur Youth
The speaker reflects on the societal belief that academic success is the only path to a prosperous future, a notion he challenges by sharing his own experiences. He discusses the pressure to secure government jobs in India, highlighting the low success rate and questioning the societal push towards such careers. He emphasizes that success is subjective and personal, urging individuals to find their own truth and path. The speaker shares his journey from academic struggles to becoming a successful entrepreneur, stressing the importance of resilience and adaptability in a rapidly changing world. He encourages embracing mistakes as learning opportunities and highlights the need for continuous self-improvement and staying updated with new skills, especially in the context of technological advancements like AI. The speaker's mission is to provide rural students with the same educational opportunities as urban students, aiming to empower them to become employable and business-ready.
Key Points:
- Success is subjective; find your own path and truth.
- Government jobs are not the only measure of success; explore other opportunities.
- Embrace mistakes as learning opportunities; resilience is key.
- Stay updated with skills, especially in technology, to remain competitive.
- Empowerment through education is crucial, especially for rural communities.
Details:
1. ЁЯОУ The Value of Education and Rural Roots
- The proverb 'рдкрдврд╝реЛрдЧреЗ рд▓рд┐рдЦреЛрдЧреЗ рддреЛ рдмрдиреЛрдЧреЗ рдирд╡рд╛рдм, рдЦреЗрд▓реЛрдЧреЗ рдХреВрджреЗ рдХреЛ рддреЛ рдмрдиреЛрдЧреЗ рдЦрд░рд╛рдм' emphasizes the importance of education in achieving success, implying that focusing on studies leads to becoming a 'nawab' (a person of status), while neglecting it for play could lead to unfavorable outcomes.
- The cultural significance of education in rural areas is highlighted, where it is often seen as a pathway to social mobility and economic improvement.
- Examples of successful individuals from rural backgrounds who prioritized education are cited to demonstrate the tangible benefits of focusing on academics.
- The discussion also touches on the challenges faced by rural students, such as limited access to resources, and how overcoming these challenges further underscores the value of education.
2. ЁЯФН Searching for Personal Truth Amidst Societal Expectations
- The speaker represents 68% of rural India, highlighting the substantial influence of rural perspectives on personal identity formation.
- Societal expectations in rural communities significantly shape individual beliefs, highlighting the tension between personal truths and collective norms.
- Understanding personal truth requires navigating through deeply ingrained societal norms, showcasing the challenge of self-discovery amidst external pressures.
- Examples of societal influence include expectations around career choices, family roles, and community participation, which often conflict with personal aspirations.
3. ЁЯУЪ Overcoming Academic Setbacks
- Rural youth often face societal imposed truths that challenge their academic pursuits.
- Achieving significant milestones, like ranking in the Top 100, prompts them to question if perceived societal truths are real.
- The journey includes developing self-awareness and recognizing personal truths over societal narratives.
- Emphasizes practical strategies such as setting clear personal goals, seeking mentorship, and building supportive networks to overcome setbacks.
4. ЁЯТ╝ Navigating Job Aspirations and Societal Norms
4.1. Societal Influence on Career Choices
4.2. Personal Truths and Experiences
5. ЁЯПв The Reality of Government Jobs
- There is a cultural emphasis on securing government jobs in many families, particularly in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
- An anecdote highlights the pressure to pursue government jobs, sometimes leading families to consider options like the army despite personal preferences.
- From 2014 to 2022, approximately 220 million people applied for government jobs in India.
- Out of these, only 700,000 individuals were successful in securing a position.
- The success rate for obtaining a government job during this period is remarkably low, showcasing the intense competition and limited availability of positions.
6. ЁЯУИ Entrepreneurship and Redefining Success
- Many individuals spend nearly half their lives preparing for government jobs, only to find themselves unfit for either government or private sector roles later.
- The notion of being 'late' in achieving success is challenged by the speaker's entrepreneurship success, where they help over 500,000 students become employable and business-ready.
- Age is not a barrier to success, as evidenced by Colonel Sanders founding KFC at 62, Walton starting Llama at 44, Coca-Cola's founder starting at 41, and McDonald's founder launching at 52.
- The key insight is that others' realities do not have to define your own path to success.
- The speaker's work has significantly impacted students, with over 500,000 becoming employable, illustrating a practical application of redefining success beyond conventional career paths.
7. ЁЯФД Mistakes as Stepping Stones to Change
- 95% of founders lose their business in the first year, with only 5% surviving to the second year, highlighting the harsh realities of entrepreneurship.
- A very small percentage of businesses make it to the fourth and fifth year, emphasizing the importance of resilience and learning.
- Successful founders make numerous mistakes but continue evolving, illustrating the importance of adaptability and continuous improvement.
- Founders should not feel pressured or afraid of making mistakes, as these are essential steps in the learning process.
- Initiating efforts and continuously working leads to success over time, demonstrating persistence as a key factor in overcoming challenges.
8. ЁЯПЖ Personal Success: A Unique Journey
- Success is not one-size-fits-all; each person has a unique journey and definition of success.
- Learning from mistakes and real-world experiences is more valuable than formal education alone.
- Taking action, even if it leads to failure, is better than passive observation.
- The speaker started a second company, Skilling You, after losing 1.5 million in the first venture.
- Personal challenges included his mother's cancer and father's heart attack while building the business.
- Emphasizes owning one's truth and maintaining confidence despite failures.
- True resilience is about embracing and overcoming personal adversities without fear.
9. ЁЯМ▒ Empowering Rural Education and Growth
- The narrative highlights a transformative journey from low academic performance to a position of influence, underscoring the potential for personal growth.
- The speaker recounts initially scoring third division in high school and the associated stigma, reflecting societal pressures in rural education contexts.
- Despite initial lack of confidence, leading to missed opportunities, perseverance led to eventual success as a guest speaker at the same institution, indicating significant personal development and confidence-building.
- The story illustrates the importance of resilience and self-belief in overcoming educational barriers, especially in rural settings where resources may be limited.
10. ЁЯдЦ Embracing Technological Change
- Helping more than 500,000 students become employable and business-ready through programs.
- The 'Young Bharat Olympiad' has assisted over 150,000 students with more than 12,000 free courses in rural India.
- The mission is to provide city-level educational resources to rural children at affordable rates.
- Ranked among India's top 100 promising startups, incubated by AWS, Agora, and Tie Global.
- Courses are validated by AICTE.
- Recent partnership with Kanpur University to foster educational advancements.
- AI is projected to take over 85 million jobs but also create 97 million new ones.
- Adapting quickly to technological changes is crucial for survival in the evolving job market.
11. ЁЯФН Discovering Truth in a Rapidly Changing World
- The market is rapidly changing, and individuals must continuously update themselves to remain relevant.
- An average Indian youth spends 4-5 hours daily on social media, negatively impacting career growth and job opportunities. Reducing this time can lead to more meaningful engagements and personal development.
- Personal growth is emphasized as crucial, with a focus on discovering personal truths that align with individual values and aspirations, rather than relying solely on technology.
- Societal values are shifting, as seen in the growing acceptance and opportunities in fields like sports, which were previously undervalued. This highlights the importance of recognizing and seizing new career paths.
- Individuals are encouraged to pursue truths that empower themselves and their communities, fostering a mindset of continuous improvement and contribution to society.