The rise of C Joseph Vijay from child artiste to superstar to chief minister of Tamil Nadu is part of a national transformation and renewal by young Indians, says OSWALD PEREIRA, author of the bestselling book, The Vijay Revolution: People Power & the Politics of Hope. Inspired by ideals of courage and integrity, young Indians are emerging as powerful agents of innovation and change
More than hundred years ago, Swami Vivekananda said, “Give me one hundred energetic young men and I shall transform India.”
Vivekananda was a yogi and a sage. Many Indians, including our youth and older political leaders have immense faith in Vivekananda, who emphasised the role of youth in national transformation. Vivekananda regarded the youth as the primary force capable of rebuilding India spiritually, morally, and intellectually.
His speeches consistently called upon young Indians to cultivate strength, fearlessness, discipline, and service to humanity. For Vivekananda, youth was not merely a matter of age; it was a state of courage, idealism, and dynamism.
Vivekananda believed that a nation could rise only when its youth possessed both moral character and self-confidence. He warned against mental slavery and social passivity, urging Indians to combine spiritual wisdom with practical action.
His message continues to resonate strongly in contemporary India, where millions of young people are striving to create change through entrepreneurship, technology, activism, and public service. The extraordinary growth of India’s start-up ecosystem, digital innovation, and youth-led civic engagement reflects the continued relevance of Vivekananda’s ideals.
India today stands at a historic crossroad. With one of the world’s youngest populations, the country is increasingly witnessing the rise of a new generation eager to redefine politics, governance, culture, and national identity.
The emergence of younger leaders and youth-driven political movements reflects not merely a demographic reality, but a deeper transformation in the Indian psyche. The rise of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay—from child artiste to cinema superstar to political leader—symbolises this changing era.
Though Vijay himself is 51 years old and cannot strictly be classified as “youth,” his political ascent embodies the aspirations, energy, and impatience of a younger generation seeking change.
Many young supporters did not admire him only as an actor. They saw him as a role model and a source of stability and guidance in an uncertain world.
The book The Vijay Revolution: People Power & the Politics of Hope shows how youth mobilisation was central to Vijay’s rise in politics. Many young people saw in Vijay a reflection of their hopes, dreams, and concerns. Faced with unemployment, educational pressures, economic uncertainty, and growing disappointment with traditional politics and institutions, they looked to Vijay as a source of hope. For them, supporting Vijay was not just a political decision but also a way of expressing the identity and aspirations of their generation.
Vijay’s screen persona—disciplined, compassionate, fearless, and morally upright—resonated deeply with young audiences seeking certainty in unstable times.
For decades after independence, Indian politics remained dominated by ageing leadership structures, dynastic traditions, and entrenched bureaucratic systems. However, in recent years, young Indians have become increasingly vocal about issues such as corruption, unemployment, education reform, social justice, and transparency, observes the book, The Vijay Revolution: People Power & the Politics of Hope.
Political and social movements led or powered by younger citizens have demonstrated that India’s youth are no longer passive observers of democracy but active participants in shaping its future.
The rapid rise of Vijay in Tamil Nadu politics illustrates this phenomenon. His transformation from beloved film icon to chief minister reflects the ability of charismatic figures to mobilise young voters who seek relatable leadership and a break from conventional political patterns.
His appeal rests not merely on celebrity status but on his ability to connect emotionally with younger citizens frustrated with corruption, inequality, and the stagnation of traditional politics. In many ways, his success signals the arrival of a generation that values direct communication, emotional authenticity, and decisive leadership.
Similarly, the growing popularity of reform-oriented movements—such as the Cockroach Janata Party, which has become associated with anti-corruption activism and criticism of the decay in educational institutions—demonstrates the power of youth mobilisation in contemporary India.
While unconventional in name and style, such movements reflect a deeper dissatisfaction among young Indians with institutional inefficiency and moral decline. Their rise indicates that India’s younger generation is increasingly unwilling to tolerate corruption or mediocrity in public life.
India’s younger generation also possesses significant economic potential. According to demographic studies, India is expected to remain one of the world’s youngest major economies for several decades. This “demographic dividend” offers immense opportunities for economic growth, technological innovation, and global competitiveness. However, the true success of this demographic advantage will depend on the quality of education, employment opportunities, and ethical leadership available to young citizens.
The challenge before India is therefore not merely to celebrate youth, but to empower it meaningfully. Education systems must encourage creativity rather than rote learning. Political systems must create space for younger leadership. Economic policies must generate jobs and support innovation. Above all, India must nurture moral and civic values that prevent development from becoming purely materialistic.
The rise of leaders like Vijay and the growing influence of youth-driven movements indicate that India may indeed be entering a new phase of generational transformation.
Younger Indians are increasingly questioning inherited structures and demanding accountability, efficiency, and justice. If guided by wisdom, ethical vision, and national purpose, this youthful energy could lift India to greater economic, social, and moral heights.
The burden before Vijay is not simply electoral success. It is the far more difficult task of translating symbolic trust into durable governance—of demonstrating that the faith placed in him was not misplaced, and that cinema’s promise of justice can, when properly grounded in institutional reality, produce something beyond the three-hour resolution that audiences always know is imaginary.
Cinema had given him visibility. The people have given him faith. History will judge whether he will really transform that faith into lasting political substance. For in democratic life, symbols may inspire revolutions, but only governance can sustain them.
A younger generation shaped by globalisation, digital media, economic aspiration, and frustration with corruption increasingly seeks political identities that are less rigidly ideological and more performance-oriented. In this environment, Vijay represents not merely a film star entering politics but a symbol of generational transition.
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) led government in Tamil Nadu, headed by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, shows a historic generational transition in the composition of its cabinet.
The Proportion of Young Ministers
The cabinet has a remarkably young profile, especially when contrasted with previous Tamil Nadu state ministries. The average age of the ministers is 44.6 years, compared to an average of 61.3 years in the previous 2021 DMK cabinet, and 51.8 years in the 2011 AIADMK cabinet led by J Jayalalithaa.
Out of the 35 ministers in the total cabinet, 22 ministers are under 50 years old—two in their twenties, nine in their thirties and eleven in their forties. This means that younger leaders make up roughly 63 per cent, nearly two-thirds of the entire cabinet.
Exactly How Young Are They?
The cabinet features exactly two ministers in their twenties—28-year-old S Kamali from Avinashi constituency and 29-year-old S Keerthana from Sivakasi. There are nine ministers in their thirties, including A Rajmohan, R Vinoth and others. A total of 11 ministers are in their forties such as Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjuna and Energy Minister C T R Nirmalkumar.
Eight ministers are in their fifties, including the 51-year-old Chief Minister Vijay himself and four ministers are in their sixties.
There is only one minister above 70—the 78-year-old former AIADMK veteran K A Sengottaiyan, who serves as the Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management.
S Kamali is the youngest minister among all the three governments—DMK, AIADMK and TVK.
The ascent of Vijay and his ‘young’ team in the Tamil Nadu government comes with good tidings—that the future of India may well depend on its younger generation. But a lot depends on whether the younger generation can combine ambition with integrity, innovation with compassion, and power with responsibility.
As Vivekananda foresaw—the destiny of India ultimately lies in the hands of its youth.
Oswald Pereira, a senior journalist, has written ten books, including The Vijay Revolution: People Power & the Politics of Hope, Beyond Autobiography of a Yogi, The Newsroom Mafia, Chaddi Buddies, The Krishna-Christ Connexion, How to Create Miracles in Our Daily Life and Crime Patrol: The Most Thrilling Stories. Oswald is a disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda, and practises Kriya Yoga.
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Some images are AI generated