Hailing from a small town in Patna, Bihar, Communication and Social Media Strategist Kumar Manish cannot emphasise enough the need for youth mentorship — something he never got – and something he says will help New India mould and exemplify the vast untapped youth potential in the country. Growing up away from a big city, the only career options before him were engineering or medicine, and Kumar didn’t want to pursue either. His father ran a small publication and that drew him towards the sheer joy that was the written word.
In Vibes of India’s exclusive segment ‘My Journey, My Vibes’, Kumar opens up about his life, struggles and career transition from journalism to development work.
He now actively works in youth advocacy, urban advocacy for sustainable transport initiatives.
“When I shifted from Patna to Delhi for further studies, I had a tough time as it felt like we are left alone in an ocean. I went to Jamia Milia, they asked me for my portfolio and I was like woh kya hota hai? I even applied for the Indian Institute Of Mass Communication but I couldn’t crack it. Eventually, I got into the Times Institute of Media Studies. Journalism changed my life. That was the toughest phase of my life. Most youngsters would feel the same if there are not enough avenues for them to get help. Government should chip in for youth mentorship. We will be wasting our youngsters’ talent if we don’t put their talent to good use. I have learnt it the hard way and I can’t emphasise enough how important mentorship is. There is also a need for youth policy in the state.” said Kumar.
The youngest of four siblings, he shifted to Delhi after Grade 12 to pursue literature from Shivaji College.
“I left journalism because I loved it! My learning curve had come to a standstill and I had to move on,” Kumar laughs. One of his friends in IIM inspired him to switch from journalism to development work.
He extensively covered sustainable mobility issues including BRTS and cycle sharing. Later, he worked with the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, a New York-based non-profit organization working on sustainable mobility issues.
Changing careers in your thirties can be a tough call for many but Kumar considers it a natural progression. He said, “Storytelling, communication and the ability to understand the issues of lower strata of society is required not just in journalism but also in development work. My skill set came in handy when I switched careers. Changing careers was a progression for me, one led to another and I’m so glad it happened to me.”
He was awarded the Connect Karo Award in the “Other” category by World Resources Institute(WRI), a non-profit organization. He is a fellow at Swedish Institute, Stockholm and a Professional Fellow of the US State Department.
Even a social media strategist burns out. “Oh yes, I have. Even though I love it, sometimes it gets to your head. There is pressure. I sometimes cut off from social media to retain my peace. Spending time with my daughter helps me calm down.”
On finding motivation for development work in a capitalist world, he says: “Look, I don’t know how to drive a car. I consciously choose to travel by BRTS. I want to give my daughter a future where she can walk on the roads and not hire a cab to cross the road – like it happens in Delhi. Working on issues makes you feel like you are contributing in your own way to make the world a better place.”
For this, Kumar began ‘Urban Voices’, a news and views platform dedicated to “cities for people”. It raises issues, amplifies the voices and documents best practices on urban issues at local, state and national levels. The platform is dedicated to urban art to culture, mobility to design, transport to sanitation, planning to governance, innovations to urban management initiatives.
“Recently, a family sent me a note with their ration requirements and their contact number. They might have got my reference from social media. It was so gut-wrenching to look at the helplessness of people. We helped the family in need through social media. Such incidents give you meaning in life and that keeps me inspired.” he adds.
One piece of advice to your younger self. “The moment you think you know it all, it’s the end of the story. You always have to keep yourself on the edge and keep updating, and updating and updating. There is no other way to be relevant in this world.”
