‘I Too' campaign seeks to instil empathy, social mindfulness among Tricity youth

Indian Express

7 days ago

Also by Amanpreet Thakur
A social awareness campaign, 'I Too' (I Think Of Others), has been launched in the Tricity to encourage empathy, compassion and a sense of moral responsibility among the youth. The initiative, led by social group Suvichar and supported by volunteers, is spearheaded by former IAS officer and TEDx motivational speaker Vivek Atray, who termed it 'a call to rise above self-interest and build a more mindful society'.
'In September and October, a lot of activity happens, so we are looking forward to doing a lot in the coming few months,' Atray said, outlining plans for the campaign's interactive sessions and outreach. 'The central theme is empathy. In today's world, we must rise above selfish motives and do something meaningful for others.'
Atray noted that many young people show emotional sensitivity towards animals, which he described as 'a beautiful thing', but stressed that compassion must also extend to the elderly, differently abled and others in need. 'Youth are nation-builders. If we make them aware and guide them to think of others, we can build an excellent nation,' he said.
The campaign's volunteers will visit schools, colleges, universities and organisations across the Tricity to engage with students and staff, urging them to adopt the 'I Too' mindset in everyday life. Though rooted locally, organisers emphasised that anyone, anywhere can use the slogan and symbol to spread awareness. 'Social media is both our friend and enemy,' Atray added. 'We must use it wisely to reach out and share positive messages.'
At the launch, Col D S Cheema spoke about the 'power of thought' and its influence on behaviour: 'Thinking is like the soul talking to itself. Our thoughts shape our actions, habits and character. You become what you think.' He emphasised that cultivating both the right mindset and skillset can help people share the 'fragrance' of their personality with others.
Calling the campaign timely, Saguna Jain said, 'Today, everyone is leading a personalised life, obsessed with individualism. Words like independence and happiness are being misunderstood. True happiness comes when we spread it to others. So many people live in isolation today. Campaigns like these can rebuild human connection.'
Hardeep Singh Chandpuri, recalling his student years in Australia, said empathy was once integral to social life. 'But now everyone just thinks about themselves. This campaign must reach people who really need help,' he said.
Explaining the name of the initiative, Charanjit Singh said: ''I Too' is not just a slogan. It's a commitment. Everyone should write it and put it on their wall — a daily reminder to care for others both personally and professionally.'
Closing the event, Col Cheema highlighted the concept of social mindfulness: 'It's about how you behave when no one is watching, except the Almighty. Most human behaviour is driven by punishment or reward. True mindfulness is what you do beyond that.' Citing research ranking Japan highest and India lowest in social mindfulness, he added, 'This needs to change.'
With a sustained outreach planned across educational institutions and a growing group of supporters, the 'I Too' campaign seeks to build a culture where empathy, moral values and social mindfulness become second nature. 'I THINK, YOU THINK, WE THINK — this is the ultimate goal of I Too: I Think Of Others,' Atray said.