Reclaiming Voice, Reshaping Power: Sociological Reflections on Youth Agency in The Future is Ours by Sudhanshu Kaushik

International Journal of Research (IJR) e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Vol. 12 Issue 13 Special Issue October 2025 Received: 3 October 2025 1 Revised: 5 October 2025 Accepted: 8 October 2025 Copyright  authors 2025 DOI: HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.5281/ZENODO.17349045 Reclaiming Voice, Reshaping Power: Sociological Reflections on Youth Agency in The Future is Ours by Sudhanshu Kaushik George Mathews Doctoral Researcher, Department of English, Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady ABSTRACT In an era of shifting power dynamics and growing youth disillusionment with traditional politics, Sudhanshu Kaushik‟s The Future is Ours: The Political Promise of India’s Youth emerges as a timely and compelling narrative. This research paper examines the text through a sociological lens, highlighting how it positions youth not as passive recipients of legacy systems, but as dynamic agents of change. Drawing from key frameworks such as Structural Functionalism, Conflict Theory, Symbolic Interactionism, and Postcolonial Sociology, the study explores how Kaushik constructs youth identity, critiques systemic ageism, and foregrounds grassroots activism as a pathway to democratic renewal. Central to Kaushik‟s argument is a critique of gerontocracy and the exclusionary structures that marginalise young voices in Indian politics. His call for youth-led engagement and leadership reflects broader concerns around institutional representation and intergenerational equity. Additionally, his diasporic perspective introduces a transnational dimension to civic responsibility, bridging local action with global consciousness. By interrogating themes of political gatekeeping, social mobility, and generational dialogue, this paper situates The Future is Ours as both a sociopolitical manifesto and a visionary blueprint for participatory governance. Through a careful sociological reading, the research argues that Kaushik‟s work not only inspires but also theorises a model of youth citizenship that is immediate, informed, and essential to national transformation. Keywords: intergenerational political, civic engagement, youth representation, gerontocracy, intersectionality, participatory democracy and identity In a time when global uncertainties and social transformations challenge young people across the world, The Future is Ours by Sudhanshu Kaushik emerges as a resonant and timely work. International Journal of Research (IJR) e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Vol. 12 Issue 13 Special Issue October 2025 Received: 3 October 2025 2 Revised: 5 October 2025 Accepted: 8 October 2025 Copyright  authors 2025 DOI: HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.5281/ZENODO.17349045 More than just a call to action, the book offers a reflective roadmap shaped by personal experience, collective memory, and deep engagement with youth-led change. Kaushik, an Indian-American youth leader and founder of the Young India Foundation, speaks directly to a generation caught between inherited structures, the unemployment crisis and emerging possibilities. From the shaping of identity within diasporic communities to the role of activism, social volunteerism, leadership, and public participation, Kaushik‟s narrative opens space for examining how youth imagine and engage with the world. This paper treats Kaushik‟s work as a living dialogue and sociological document that mirrors the aspirations, struggles, and agency of young changemakers today. Before diving into the theoretical frameworks, it is essential to understand Kaushik's background and broader youth dynamics in India. Sudhanshu Kaushik (born 13 April 1995) is an Indian-American youth rights advocate, writer, and dynamic changemaker committed to empowering young voices in Indian politics and diaspora communities. As the founder of the Young India Foundation (YIF), established in 2015, Kaushik has been instrumental in championing the inclusion of youth in India's democratic processes, particularly by advocating for lowering the age barrier to political candidacy and amplifying youth-led initiatives across the country. Kaushik underscores the importance of a unified national vision in empowering young people to become active participants in societal transformation. Citing the National Youth Policy, 2003, he emphasises the state‟s role in nurturing holistic development among the youth. As he notes, “The National Youth Policy, 2003, reiterates the commitment of the entire nation to the composite and all-round development of the young sons and daughters of India and seeks to establish an All-India perspective to fulfil their legitimate aspirations so they are all strong of heart and strong of body and mind in accomplishing the challenging tasks of national reconstruction and social changes that lie ahead” (Kaushik 33). This statement highlights the foundational framework within which Kaushik situates his advocacy for youth-led change, linking personal agency with national responsibility. Youth equipped with scientific temper, ethical values, and political awareness are pivotal to national growth. India, the most populous country in the world, is abundant in its youth and International Journal of Research (IJR) e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Vol. 12 Issue 13 Special Issue October 2025 Received: 3 October 2025 3 Revised: 5 October 2025 Accepted: 8 October 2025 Copyright  authors 2025 DOI: HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.5281/ZENODO.17349045 can rightly be referred to as a youth superpower. More than 65% of India‟s population is below the age of 35. Remarkably, India‟s youth make up nearly one-third of the world‟s entire youth demographic. In other words, social problems such as unemployment, climate change, economic downturns, and rising social tensions disproportionately impact Indian youth. As Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said, “The destiny of any nation, at any given time, depends on the opinions of its young men and women under five and twenty-five” (1). International Journal of Research (IJR) e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Vol. 12 Issue 13 Special Issue October 2025 Received: 3 October 2025 4 Revised: 5 October 2025 Accepted: 8 October 2025 Copyright  authors 2025 DOI: HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.5281/ZENODO.17349045 Fig. 1: Kaushik, Sudhanshu. The Future is Ours. p. 28 From a structural-functionalist standpoint, The Future is Ours situates youth as essential agents in the maintenance and advancement of social equilibrium. Kaushik views young people not merely as future citizens but as active contributors to present-day national development. He aligns with Emile Durkheim‟s idea that individuals derive meaning and purpose through integration into social institutions. By promoting civic engagement, leadership, and policy literacy, the book underscores how youth participation stabilises democratic values and strengthens institutional trust. Kaushik‟s emphasis on grassroots mobilisation reflects a belief in societal interdependence, where the empowerment of young individuals directly contributes to broader national progress. The UN Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs estimates the number of young people in 2023 between the ages of fifteen and twenty-four as 1.2 billion around the world and 250 million in India (Kaushik 9). It reflects that more than twenty per cent of the global youth live in India. This massive youth population presents both an opportunity and a challenge, particularly in a nation grappling with issues like unemployment, gender-based violence, and corruption. “YOUTH is best understood as a period of transition from the dependence of childhood to adulthood‟s independence. That‟s why, as a category, youth is more fluid than other fixed age groups. Yet, age is the easiest way to define this group, particularly in relation to education and employment, because „youth‟ is often referred to as a person between the ages of leaving compulsory education and finding their first job”. (Kaushik 21) One of the most powerful undercurrents in The Future is Ours is its explicit challenge to the status quo, a theme best understood through the lens of Conflict Theory. Rooted in the foundational works of Karl Marx, this theory posits that society is inherently divided by competing interests, where dominant groups maintain control by limiting access to power and resources. Sudhanshu Kaushik‟s call for youth-led political participation directly confronts these entrenched systems. He identifies a stark disconnect between governance and grassroots needs, particularly highlighting how youth, despite being one of the largest demographic International Journal of Research (IJR) e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Vol. 12 Issue 13 Special Issue October 2025 Received: 3 October 2025 5 Revised: 5 October 2025 Accepted: 8 October 2025 Copyright  authors 2025 DOI: HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.5281/ZENODO.17349045 groups in India, remain largely excluded from decision-making structures. This political imbalance reflects C. Wright Mills‟ concept of the 'power elite'—a ruling minority that centralises authority and restricts democratic participation. Kaushik counters this by advocating for youth inclusion in local governance, campus leadership, and civil society— thereby redistributing power across age hierarchies. His narrative serves not only as a motivational call but as a critical intervention against symbolic and institutional violence, where youth aspirations are often dismissed or co-opted. Furthermore, the book resonates with Antonio Gramsci‟s idea of cultural hegemony—the notion that dominant ideologies subtly shape public consciousness to maintain the existing order. Kaushik subverts this by equipping young readers with counter-narratives, tools for critical thinking, and stories of resistance that reframe the youth not as passive recipients but as conscious agents of change. Through grassroots organising, independent policy research, and youth-led campaigns, the book reflects a bottom-up model of social transformation, where dissent is not just acknowledged but celebrated as essential to democratic renewal. Through the lens of Conflict Theory, Kaushik‟s work can be read as a blueprint for structural disruption, where youth agency confronts systems of exclusion and reimagines new pathways for justice, equity, and institutional accountability. The shaping of youth identity, as discussed in The Future is Ours, can be insightfully interpreted using Symbolic Interactionism. This micro-level theory, developed by George Herbert Mead and Herbert Blumer, focuses on how individuals create meaning through social interaction. Kaushik draws attention to how young people internalise and negotiate the meanings attached to citizenship, leadership, and social responsibility. Through peer networks, educational spaces, and online platforms, youth construct their self-concept not in isolation but through collective social meaning. Kaushik‟s journey, rooted in cross-cultural experiences, exemplifies how identity is fluid, socially constructed, and deeply embedded in shared symbols and language. Kaushik‟s diasporic identity adds a transnational lens to the construction of youth agency. His reflections resonate with themes from transnational sociology and postcolonial theory, which examine how identities and social practices transcend national boundaries. Scholars like Arjun Appadurai and Steven Vertovec have International Journal of Research (IJR) e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Vol. 12 Issue 13 Special Issue October 2025 Received: 3 October 2025 6 Revised: 5 October 2025 Accepted: 8 October 2025 Copyright  authors 2025 DOI: HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.5281/ZENODO.17349045 emphasised the concept of „diasporic public spheres,‟ where individuals engage in sociopolitical issues across borders. In this context, Kaushik‟s commitment to India‟s youth despite his American upbringing exemplifies diasporic responsibility and global citizenship. These challenges narrow nationalistic models and instead advocate for a borderless solidarity rooted in shared democratic values and civic engagement. This ideological tension between tradition and transformation can be further illuminated by Tagore‟s vision in The Home and the World. This autobiographical novel demonstrates Tagore's internal conflict between Western cultural ideals and a quest for revolution against them. Sandip, who will stop at nothing to achieve his objectives, and Nikhilesh, who is logical and against violence, are two of the primary characters who embody these two concepts. The country isn‟t the earth beneath our feet; it is the people. In The Future is Ours, Kaushik indirectly critiques the systemic ageism and gerontocracy embedded within India‟s political and institutional structures. Ageism, the stereotyping and marginalisation of individuals based on age, often portrays youth as inexperienced and unqualified, thereby denying them meaningful participation in governance. This bias sustains a gerontocratic order, where decision-making power is concentrated in the hands of older generations, often disconnected from the aspirations and realities of the young. Kaushik proposes dismantling this hierarchy by promoting intergenerational dialogue and equitable representation. He traces the origins of gerontocracy across different nations and, through charts, illustrates how it has impacted India as a republic. He presents the distribution of age groups among Members of Parliament (Fig. 2) over a span of five years. Furthermore, he highlights the ages of administrative officials in the country, including the heads of political parties, chief ministers, and administrators of union territories. International Journal of Research (IJR) e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Vol. 12 Issue 13 Special Issue October 2025 Received: 3 October 2025 7 Revised: 5 October 2025 Accepted: 8 October 2025 Copyright  authors 2025 DOI: HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.5281/ZENODO.17349045 (Fig. 2: Kaushik, Sudhanshu. The Future is Ours. p. 28) Kaushik draws attention to the widening generational gap in Indian politics, citing data that illustrates the rise in average age across successive Lok Sabhas. India‟s elected officials are the age of grandparents. Ever since the first general and assembly elections that followed the set of elections in 1951-52, India‟s average age of a parliamentarian and assembly member has got increasingly older. With each Lok Sabha elected, there has been an increase in the number of members above the age of 50. The first Lok Sabha had an average age of 46.5, and the average age of a member of the Lok Sabha now is 58. The Rajya Sabha is worse, with an average of 65, aptly referred to as the „House of Elders‟. In 2023, the average age of an MLA in five of the largest states in India was 58 (Rajasthan), 55 (Madhya Pradesh), 56 (Maharashtra), 59 (Uttar Pradesh) and 55 (Gujarat). (Kaushik 49, 50) International Journal of Research (IJR) e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Vol. 12 Issue 13 Special Issue October 2025 Received: 3 October 2025 8 Revised: 5 October 2025 Accepted: 8 October 2025 Copyright  authors 2025 DOI: HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.5281/ZENODO.17349045 Sudhanshu Kaushik delves into the historical evolution of youth-centric policies in India, tracing the establishment of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and its key initiatives such as the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), National Youth Corps (NYC), National Programme for Youth and Adolescent Development (NPYAD), and the National Youth Leadership Programme (NYLP). These programs, alongside traditional platforms like the Bharat Scouts and Guides, are emblematic of India's institutional efforts to empower its young population. However, Kaushik critiques the disproportionately low budget allocation for youth development in comparison to other ministries, highlighting a systemic neglect of a demographic that comprises the majority of the nation. This economic marginalisation, he argues, reflects a lack of prioritisation of youth-related concerns in policy-making spheres. He calls for a re-evaluation of legal age requirements for candidacy in line with India‟s progressive constitutional ethos. Through a series of data-driven illustrations and charts, Kaushik brings to light the glaring generational imbalance in Indian governance. He presents the age profile of past and present Ministers of Youth Affairs, revealing a paradox where individuals far removed from youth realities are entrusted with shaping youth policies. Further, he illustrates the distribution of voting age thresholds across global democracies, indirectly questioning the rigidity of India‟s candidacy age requirement. By juxtaposing these visuals with constitutional analysis, Kaushik positions the Indian Constitution as a progressive and inclusive document that empowers the marginalised. Yet, he asserts that certain legal frameworks—especially those concerning the minimum age for contesting elections—need urgent revision to reflect contemporary demographic dynamics. Beyond policy and data, Kaushik enriches his sociological critique with compelling biographical narratives of young change-makers who have redefined youth engagement in India. These life stories serve as counterpoints to a political system that often sidelines youthful voices. By chronicling the transformative work of these individuals, Kaushik not only pays homage to their contributions but also emphasises the untapped potential that lies within India‟s youth. His call for lowering the age of candidacy is not just a demand for International Journal of Research (IJR) e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Vol. 12 Issue 13 Special Issue October 2025 Received: 3 October 2025 9 Revised: 5 October 2025 Accepted: 8 October 2025 Copyright  authors 2025 DOI: HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.5281/ZENODO.17349045 numerical change but a deeper appeal for inclusive representation, participatory democracy, and intergenerational equity in leadership. Sudhanshu Kaushik's The Future is Ours positions youth not merely as future citizens but as present-day changemakers with the potential to reshape India's sociopolitical landscape. By chronicling stories of young individuals from diverse geographies and social strata, Kaushik offers a grounded yet aspirational account of youth-led movements, community initiatives, and civic participation. His narrative challenges the stereotype of apathetic youth, instead emphasising how agency, awareness, and activism converge to create a visible impact. In sociological terms, the book reasserts the concept of „generational consciousness‟ — the idea that youth collectively recognise their potential to bring systemic change, especially in the context of a rapidly globalising and digitally interconnected India. The book intricately weaves in themes of caste, gender, class, and regional disparities through the lived experiences of young changemakers. Kaushik's work aligns with the sociological framework of intersectionality by showcasing how these overlapping identities inform one‟s access to opportunities, rights, and platforms for expression. By highlighting Dalit students asserting their space in academia, queer youth reclaiming their narratives, or women challenging patriarchy through political representation, the book serves as a microcosm of India's socio-cultural complexities. Kaushik does not romanticise struggle; rather, he analytically presents how young individuals confront, negotiate, and resist structural inequalities. A crucial sociological lens in The Future is Ours is the emphasis on participatory democracy and civic empowerment. Through initiatives like youth manifestos, grassroots campaigns, and independent political candidacy, Kaushik illustrates how young citizens are reclaiming the democratic space beyond conventional party politics. The narrative champions decentralisation and highlights the need for structural reform that includes and amplifies youth voices, especially in decision-making processes. This aligns with theories of new social movements, where the focus is not just on material gains but also on cultural assertion, identity, and rights-based advocacy. His legacy of youth empowerment, Kaushik upholds, draws deeply from visionary leaders like Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Through powerful works like Wings of Fire, Ignited Minds, and