Youth in Contemporary India

This book explores how in contemporary India the emerging sense of individuality in youth is seeking its own balance of relationality with parental figures and cohesion with social order. It provides psychological perspectives on the dynamics of social change.

This book endeavors to be a study of identity in Indian urban youth. It is concerned with understanding the psychological themes of conformity, rebellion, individuation, relatedness, initiative and ideological values which pervade youths' search for identity within the Indian cultural milieu, specifically the Indian family. In its essence, the book attempts to explore how in contemporary India the emerging sense of individuality in youth is seeking its own balance of relationality with parental figures and cohesion with social order. The research questions are addressed to two groups of young men and women in the age group of 20-29 years-Youth in Corporate sector and Youth in Non Profit sector. Methodologically, the study is a psychoanalytically informed, process oriented, context sensitive work that proceeds via narrations, conversations and in-depth life stories of young men and women. Overall, the text reflects on the nature of inter-generational continuity and shifts in India.

One of its kind as a non reductionist, experiential enquiry on youth lives in India which exemplifies the application of psychoanalytic method and theory in research context Provides psychological perspective on the dynamics of social change and contributes to developmental, clinical and cultural psychology as well as to educational policy for youth Looks at two divergent groups of young people (corporate and socio-politically active) who are engaged in different kinds of vocational and ideological pursuits

Inhalt
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.- PART 1: FOUNDATIONS.- Introduction.- Identity in Youth: Conceptual and Methodological Underpinnings.- PART 2: NARRATIVES, CONVERSATIONS AND LIFESTORIES OF CORPORATE YOUTH.- Introductory note.- Reflections on Corporate Youth.- PART 3: NARRATIVES, CONVERSATIONS AND LIFESTORIES OF HUMANIST YOUTH.- Introductory note.- Reflections on Humanist Youth.- PART 4: SUMMING UP.- Youth in India: Identity and Social Change.- References.