Youth v/s Experience

It’s a tricky proposition. If you are leading an initiative, who would you go for – youth or experience? Would you prefer someone who has been there and done that but with relatively lesser innovation capabilities? Or will it be someone young, innovative and eager to do something but with no experience of the initiative? Experience knows the usual pitfalls involved and possible work-around. Youth will bring in innovative and cost-effective ways to tackle pitfalls. 

For instance, experience will tell you how to make a bill payment, where to go, when to go (to avoid queue), whom to meet. Youth will simply open an app and 2-3 clicks later, bill payment’s done. Both have their own merits and demerits. And both are prevalent in our country. Your grandparents may not even know the meaning of “app” and will still prefer the traditional mode of payment. Your parents will be open to both, but deep down will prefer the traditional mode. You will obviously opt for the “app” mode and will always be in the lookout for faster options.

I was in Kerala this April. It’s usually very hot at this time of the year. Add to it the fact that the electricity runs on its own whims and fancies, you are at your "perspiring" best. Especially in my ancestral home, to get to that one line of network connection, you need to roam around your back yard and literally freeze at a place where you find that much needed line on your smart-phone to check your mails / WhatsApp messages. So, practically, there’s nothing much to do while in Kerala but to just sit anywhere and chit-chat with your family / relatives (now that I think of it, isn’t this how we were supposed to communicate in the first place? – direct and personal media rather than social media).

image courtesy - apsltd.com

One day in Kerala, I was sitting in the veranda with my grand-mom. We were discussing about the happenings in Kerala and the updates of our relatives from my grand-mom’s perspective. Then suddenly, she said it’s going to rain. I was sweating like hell. Just to be sure, I glanced towards the sky. The sun was beating down and there were no sign of clouds. How the hell is it going to rain, I wondered? I confidently told my grandma that it won’t rain. She remained adamant and suggested we go back in the house. My explanations were being rudely ignored. She went back in and I remained in the veranda sweating even more. After barely five minutes, I heard thunderstorms and before my brain could gather this new information, it started pouring. 

I ran back in and humbly sat beside my grandma whose face was filled with modest pride. I didn't ask for an explanation and she didn't initiate either. The moment passed. On that day (at least), youth lost!