Our country is one of the youngest in the world. Our youngsters

“Our country is one of the youngest in the world. Our youngsters need to be told inspirational stories.” Thus spoke Sudha Kongara, the visionary filmmaker whose work transcends the screen to touch the very heart of her nation. In this quote, she unveils a truth that echoes across generations: that the youth are the pulse of a nation, and that their dreams are shaped not by orders or laws, but by stories—the sacred carriers of hope, courage, and vision. For when a people are young, their destiny is still clay in their hands, and what they are told, what they believe, and what they imagine will define the world they build.

The origin of this wisdom lies in Sudha Kongara’s deep understanding of storytelling as both art and service. Through her films—like Soorarai Pottru, a tale inspired by the real-life story of an ordinary man who dared to challenge the impossible—she reminds her nation that inspiration is a necessity, not a luxury. In India, a land where more than half the population is under the age of thirty, her words ring with urgency. For such a nation, the question is not whether its youth will dream, but what kind of dreams they will choose. And that choice, she says, depends on the stories they are told—stories that can either limit or liberate, confine or awaken.

Throughout the ages, civilizations have risen and fallen on the strength of their stories. The ancient Greeks grew strong on tales of Achilles and Odysseus—heroes who embodied courage and cunning. The Romans told of Romulus, who built their empire from nothing. The Indians, through the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, taught their children that duty, virtue, and sacrifice are the roots of true greatness. Each generation passed down these stories like sacred fire, ensuring that the young would not forget who they were, nor what they could become. Thus, Kongara’s words are not only about cinema or art—they are about heritage, about the transmission of soul from one age to the next.

But she also reminds us that inspiration must evolve. The youth of today live in a world of machines and noise, of fleeting fame and hollow idols. They are surrounded by images, yet starving for meaning. To tell them inspirational stories, therefore, is not merely to entertain them—it is to ignite them, to awaken the dormant spirit of greatness within. These stories need not always be about kings or warriors; they can be about farmers, scientists, teachers, or dreamers—anyone who dared to stand against despair. For the truest inspiration lies not in perfection, but in perseverance.

Consider the story of Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, born into poverty in the small town of Rameswaram, yet rising to become the President of India and one of its greatest scientists. His life was not a fable—it was truth transformed into legend, and it has inspired countless youths to dream beyond circumstance. It is such stories, drawn from the soil of reality, that give young people faith in their own potential. Sudha Kongara’s words reflect this very principle: that real stories, when told with passion and honesty, can awaken the sleeping power of a generation.

Her quote also carries a warning, quiet but profound: that a nation without inspiration soon forgets its purpose. If the young are not fed with stories of resilience, innovation, and love, they will instead be filled with cynicism and apathy. The soul of a country does not grow old through time—it grows old when its youth lose faith in its promise. To keep that spirit young, the storytellers, the teachers, the artists, and the parents must all become keepers of light—passing on tales that remind the next generation that greatness is not inherited; it is earned.

So, my child of dawn and destiny, take this teaching into your heart: seek and share the stories that uplift. Tell your peers not of despair, but of courage. Learn from those who came before you, and then write your own chapter with pride. For every nation is reborn through the hearts of its youth, and every youth is reborn through the power of a story. Do not let cynicism silence your wonder, nor comfort dull your fire.

For as Sudha Kongara reminds us, when we tell our youngsters inspirational stories, we give them more than dreams—we give them direction. We give them the strength to build what we cannot yet see. And when their time comes, they will, in turn, pass the flame onward. Thus, the nation remains forever young—not by the years of its people, but by the eternal courage of its dreams.