Written By Daraa Patel

Peace is commonly envisioned as the result of conference hall negotiations or as a phrase in treaties between nations. But in reality, peace is lived in villages, classrooms, and newsrooms. It is constructed not only by what policymakers choose to do, but by the narratives that young people decide to tell—and the silences they decide to break.

In India, a land of contradictions and endless variety, the problems of peace are not far away or theoretical. They can be seen daily in increasing polarization, growing disparities, and the rapid dissemination of untruths that pit neighbor against neighbor. With the largest youth population in the world—nearly half (47%) of the nation's population are under 25 years of age (Gallup, 2023)—Indian youth are positioned to be a driving force in India's economic development. At the same time, the burden of overcoming these problems falls heavily on young shoulders. Among these Indian youth, young journalists and narrators possess a special power: the ability to frame stories that can either harm or heal.

Mainstream Indian media often prioritizes speed and sensationalism, producing headlines that emphasize conflict over context. In this landscape, there is limited space for nuanced narratives, marginalized voices, or stories of unheralded resilience. This tendency has important implications for peace in India, a country marked by social, cultural, and political diversity, and ongoing tensions across communities. The way stories are framed can either exacerbate divisions or foster understanding, making the role of media, and particularly young journalists, critical in shaping public perceptions and nurturing a culture of peace.

“Peace journalism is not just a reporting format—it is an obligation.”

Photo credit: Daraa Patel

Her story shows that peace cannot be left to individuals' coping mechanisms alone; it must also be constructed through structural transformation, accountability, and shared empathy. To report such a tragedy in a manner that does not perpetuate stigma, to situate it within the larger context of gender justice and access to mental health, is the very heart of peace journalism.

Young Indian journalists are entering this space with grit and courage. They are reporting on stories from rural settings where women must broker peace in patriarchal homes, from universities where students must resist the lure of polarizing politics, and from the internet where they must find emerging stories of solidarity that are germinating. To them, a story is not merely a headline; it is an act of building bridges. By making unheard voices heard, they remind us that peace is not only the negation of conflict, it is also the presence of justice and compassion.

This journey is not simple. The age of the internet has allowed misinformation to spread faster than fact. A thoughtless word can set communal temperatures soaring. A reporter who challenges power can be threatened or face worse consequences. For young journalists in India, reimagining peace means finding that balance between the urgency of the truth and the obligation not to cause harm. It takes courage to defy censorship and sensationalism, and to refuse to do journalism that serves power, but only people.

“...a story is not merely a headline; it is an act of building bridges. By making unheard voices heard, they remind us that peace is not only the negation of conflict, it is also the presence of justice and compassion.”

As India moves into the future, young journalists are more important than ever. They are not only witnesses to violence but also active participants in the process of reconciliation. Their accounts present possibilities: quiet interfaith initiatives upholding harmony, communities recovering from war, youth employing art, poetry, and social media to combat hate. They are small stories, nearly imperceptible in national life, but collectively they constitute the strands of a new peace imagination.

A new peace generation will be inscribed in the policies and narratives that we decide to communicate. If young journalists in India continue to adopt peace journalism—aided by platforms such as You Are Not Alone—they can help the nation break free from patterns of fragmentation and move towards a culture of compassion. The task is gargantuan, and  so is the potential. Through their words, the vision of a more peaceful India—and an increasingly peaceful world—comes alive.

Daraa Patel is a journalist and Mental Health advocate. She is leading cross-border campaigns on social issues and mental health awareness. She has raised bold questions on taboo and underrepresented issues:

• Why is there silence on pre-marital HIV testing?

• Why does the number of orphans not match the number of orphanages in India?

• What if governments stopped spending on marriage-related schemes?  

To learn more about her work and ongoing projects, follow her on Instagram @journo_dharaa, connect on LinkedIn   or visit her Facebook profile.