'Shock and Awe' - the Aussies did just that to the Indians and the cricketing world in the World Cup Finals - they were just brilliant !  Yet its the youth in our team that keeps our hopes for excellence alive ... ok ... they had an off-day at the finals yesterday but they're here to stay. And we're behind them all the way ! 

'Shock and Awe' - this is the new generation Indian Youth - they work hard, play hard - you can see them enjoying each game, and they can be ruthless in their desire to succeed. They have brought in new values that were sadly lacking in our team - aggression, competition, a 'never-say-die' attitude, energy, vitality and team spirit. 

These emergent youth values are evident not just in our young cricketers but among all Indian Youth.  Having studied the youth for over 14 years, what excites me the most is their ability in bringing about very real, enduring and welcome changes  - there's a new 'lingo' in the making, slowly yet surely forging a new cultural paradigm. 

And technology seems to be their window to this new world - Nehra in his comments after winning the Man of the Match Award against England at the ICC World Cup, with a six wicket haul, gave all the credit to his fitness program and trainer.  We could extend this to the whole area of fitness ... there's so much awareness about fitness today .... propelled by youngsters, and being adopted by older persons too.  In a recent study i did on fitness - i heard this comment from 40 year old mum's so often ... "My children tell me that i should do something about my weight.  I feel bad then ... yet they are right.  Its not good for me"  

Another example -  here's an extract from my comments on a recent Chautaqua at groupjazz - a discussion with Howard Rheingold ... on how tech in the context of SMS specifically, but in a broader sense as well, is changing the socio-cultural paradigm in India :

"In India, which is so driven by  prescribed social norms, taboo and sanction, people are forced to wear masks as there is no personal space that allows one to 'be'... and the educated urban youth has felt so trapped. There is a subtle change today however ... technology has allowed for a certain respect from parents for their kids.  Parents know technology is a good thing, the future path, although they have little idea of the mechanics of how it works. In this context, while there is an emergent thumb tribe among the youth, they are carrying the older generation with them.  Today, the parent has begun to believe that her child knows more than she does, and she's willing to learn from the child.   Technology has made this possible. So rather than exclusivity becoming a dominant theme, it is in some ways paving the way for a new relationship and new parent-child stereotypes, that may be far healthier than the 'authoritative' role parents had earlier.  The industry too is recognizing this....SMS is forming an integral part of a marketer's plan"

A number of links on how SMS seems to be taking off, with serious cultural impacts on multiple cultures in India - blogged by Howard Rheingold at Smart Mobs.