On a recent afternoon outside a library in Kashmir, a brief exchange between a student preparing for one of India’s most competitive examinations and three migrant balloon sellers from Rajasthan offered a quiet illustration of the economic realities that continue to drive internal migration across the country.

The scene unfolded near the library entrance, where three young men sat beside a cluster of balloons they were attempting to sell. Their presence was not unusual. Seasonal and temporary migration from economically vulnerable regions to other parts of India remains a common livelihood strategy for thousands of families seeking work opportunities unavailable in their home districts.

Among those leaving the library that day was Fawad, a student preparing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), the entrance examination for medical education in India. According to witnesses present at the scene, Fawad paused after noticing the three balloon sellers and began speaking with them.

The conversation initially appeared routine. Fawad asked the young men where they had come from and how long they had been in Kashmir. The sellers responded that they had travelled from Rajasthan in search of income opportunities. They described economic hardship, limited resources and difficult living conditions as factors that had pushed them to leave home and seek work elsewhere.

The interaction drew attention because Fawad showed interest in their circumstances beyond a simple commercial transaction. Although he had no apparent need for balloons, he asked to purchase three of them. Witnesses said he paid more than the asking price and encouraged the young men to use the additional money to buy food.

From a purely financial perspective, the amount involved was modest. Yet the exchange highlighted a larger question about how individuals respond to visible signs of economic vulnerability in public spaces.

After the sellers left, an observer who had watched the interaction asked Fawad why he felt compelled to help strangers he did not know.His response was measured rather than sentimental.

“I am relatively well off,” he said. “I can skip one meal. They struggle for every meal. The matter is not always hunger.”

The remark shifted the discussion away from charity alone and toward a broader consideration of economic insecurity. For many informal workers, particularly migrants engaged in street vending and seasonal employment, the challenge extends beyond immediate food needs. Income uncertainty affects access to shelter, healthcare, education and social mobility. Small disruptions in earnings can have disproportionate consequences.

India’s internal migration patterns have long reflected these realities. Workers frequently move across states in search of seasonal employment in construction, agriculture, tourism, retail trade and informal services. Street vending, including the sale of balloons, toys and other low-cost items, often requires little capital investment but offers highly unpredictable earnings.

Daily income can depend on weather conditions, tourist activity, local demand and competition.The encounter in Kashmir illustrated these dynamics at an individual level. The three balloon sellers were not engaged in a formal employment arrangement. Their livelihood depended on persuading passers-by to purchase inexpensive products, making every interaction a potential source of income.

The image of brightly coloured balloons against the backdrop of economic hardship also carries a symbolic dimension that has long appeared in South Asian literature and poetry.

Balloons are often associated with celebration, childhood and temporary joy.

Yet their existence is inherently fragile, lasting only as long as the air within them remains contained.

That contrast finds resonance in a famous couplet by the eighteenth-century Urdu poet Mir Taqi Mir:

“Hasti apni hubab ki si hai,

Ye numaish saraab ki si hai.”

A commonly accepted English rendering is:

“Our existence is like a bubble;This spectacle of life is like a mirage.”

The couplet reflects Mir’s recurring meditation on impermanence. A bubble appears briefly before disappearing. A mirage seems real from a distance but vanishes upon closer examination. Together, the images suggest the transient nature of worldly status, possessions and human circumstances.

Viewed through that lens, the encounter between the student and the balloon sellers acquires a wider significance. The balloons themselves become a metaphor for lives shaped by uncertainty. Economic security, educational opportunity and social standing often appear stable, yet they can be fragile and unevenly distributed.

Fawad’s decision to buy three balloons did not alter the structural conditions that had brought the sellers from Rajasthan to Kashmir. Nor did it address the broader economic factors influencing migration and informal labour. What it did reveal was an awareness of the asymmetry between those who can absorb temporary hardship and those whose daily survival depends on continuous earnings.

The transaction lasted only a few minutes. The balloons changed hands, a small amount of money was exchanged, and the sellers continued on their route. Yet the conversation that accompanied the purchase left a stronger impression than the sale itself.

In public discussions about poverty, attention often focuses on statistics, government programmes and economic indicators. Those measures remain essential for understanding the scale of deprivation. At the same time, individual encounters continue to shape how people perceive inequality in everyday life.

Outside the library that day, three migrant balloon sellers were attempting to earn a living far from home. A student preparing for a future in medicine paused long enough to ask where they had come from and why.

The answers were simple: poverty, migration and the search for opportunity. The response was equally simple: the purchase of three balloons and a recognition that need is not measured solely by hunger, but also by the human desire to be seen.

Amid growing concerns among younger generations about housing affordability, economic insecurity, social relationships and climate change, one writer argues that disengagement is neither a practical solution nor an effective form of self-preservation.

Addressing readers grappling with uncertainty about their future, the author contends that meaningful relief comes not from avoiding difficult realities but from engaging with them collectively. Rather than retreating from social, economic or environmental challenges, the piece advocates confronting them through community involvement, activism and shared action.

The argument centers on the idea that individuals often experience a sense of helplessness when facing large-scale problems alone. Concerns about declining home ownership opportunities, changing relationship dynamics, workplace pressures and environmental risks can appear overwhelming when viewed solely through a personal lens.

According to the author, participation in groups that analyze, discuss and address such issues can provide a different experience. Working alongside others who share similar concerns may not eliminate the underlying problems, but it can reduce feelings of isolation and create a stronger sense of agency.

The article challenges common advice that encourages people to avoid distressing topics or focus exclusively on circumstances within their immediate control. Instead, the writer suggests that expanding the scope of what individuals attempt to influence can be both psychologically and socially beneficial.

Drawing a parallel with task management, the piece argues that taking action often produces a greater sense of confidence than avoidance. While acknowledging that engagement does not guarantee success or immediate emotional rewards, the author maintains that participation itself can foster resilience and purpose.Housing affordability serves as one example.

The writer notes that younger people may not achieve milestones traditionally associated with economic stability, such as home ownership. However, the article argues that involvement in broader efforts to address housing, labor or social issues can provide a sense of connection and awareness that offsets some of the frustration associated with those challenges.

The same reasoning is applied to personal relationships. Rather than accepting situations in which companionship comes at the expense of self-respect, the author suggests that solidarity with others who share similar experiences can offer validation and support.

To reinforce the argument, the article references the American philosopher John Dewey, who argued that the solution to shortcomings in democratic systems is greater democratic participation. Adapting that principle, the writer proposes that the response to struggle is often deeper engagement rather than withdrawal.

The article does not portray activism or civic engagement as emotionally easy. It acknowledges what it describes as a “despair tax” associated with seriously confronting major societal problems. Increased awareness of inequality, political dysfunction or environmental threats can intensify feelings of anxiety and frustration, particularly among younger people who expect to live with the consequences for decades.

At the same time, the writer cautions against assuming a direct relationship between effort and emotional well-being. Greater involvement in difficult issues does not necessarily produce immediate satisfaction or optimism. Campaigns can fail, reforms can stall, and progress can be slow.

Nevertheless, the piece argues that insulating oneself from reality carries its own costs. Avoiding difficult subjects may temporarily reduce discomfort, but it does little to address the underlying conditions that generate concern. The author rejects the notion that people must choose between protecting their mental well-being and remaining informed about major social issues.

Instead, the article presents engagement as a form of self-care rooted in participation rather than avoidance. By joining others in examining problems and pursuing solutions, individuals may find a greater sense of purpose and connection even when outcomes remain uncertain.

The central message is that meaningful relief is more likely to emerge from collective action and sustained involvement than from disengagement.

While acknowledging the emotional burden associated with confronting major societal challenges, the author argues that facing those challenges directly offers a more durable response than attempting to ignore them.

Michael Arizanti

The youth of Saudi Arabia are a vital asset in the country’s journey towards a more diversified and prosperous economy

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is leveraging its young population’s energy to combat an entrenched Islamist opposition that previously limited social and economic opportunities in the country. It is crucial for policymakers in the West to recognize that the future of nations lies in the hands of their young citizens, who are often overlooked.

Most Western countries such as Italy, Germany, and Portugal face aging populations and low birth rates, leading to limited opportunities for future generations. In contrast, many countries worldwide have a different demographic reality. Approximately 42% of the global population is under the age of 25, with about 525 million people located in Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, based on data from the World Bank. Muslim populations are growing at almost double the rate of non-Muslim populations, increasing by roughly 1.5% annually relative to 0.7%.

For leaders of countries with young and expanding populations, the future could be either promising or frightening. Such youthful nations can either nurture innovation, inclusion, and personal and economic growth or repress the aspirations of their young citizens through force. The world’s fate for decades to come largely depends on the path chosen by the Western world to support the youthful population of these countries.

Saudi Arabia, which has a young population with a median age of 27, is capitalizing on its demographic advantage to drive socio-economic development in the country. The government has launched multiple initiatives to empower its youth, such as the National Transformation Program (NTP) and the Vision 2030 plan, which aims to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on oil revenue. This shift towards a knowledge-based economy requires skilled workers, which is why the government has invested heavily in education and training programs for its young citizens.

Moreover, the government is also promoting entrepreneurship and innovation, recognizing that the youth can contribute to the country’s development by creating new businesses and technologies. In 2019, the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) launched the “Invest Saudi” campaign to attract international investors and provide opportunities for young entrepreneurs to establish startups in the country. The country’s burgeoning tech startup ecosystem is providing jobs for young Saudis and diversifying the country’s economy.

However, Saudi Arabia also faces challenges in enabling its youth to realize their full potential. The country’s conservative social norms and gender biases have traditionally hindered the participation of women in the workforce and social activities. The government is working to address this issue by promoting female education and lifting restrictions.

The Western world has a role to play in supporting the youth of countries like Saudi Arabia. By offering educational and employment opportunities, Western countries can equip young Saudis with the skills and knowledge necessary to drive economic growth and innovation in their country. Furthermore, by advocating for human rights and freedoms, Western countries can help create a more inclusive and open society in Saudi Arabia, where the youth can fully participate in shaping their country’s future.

At the same time, Western countries could also learn from Saudi Arabia’s emphasis on investing in youth development. In many Western countries, the aging population poses a threat to economic growth and sustainability, and there is a growing need for skilled workers in fields such as technology and healthcare. By investing in education and training programs for young people, Western countries can help ensure a sustainable future for their economies.

In conclusion, the youth of Saudi Arabia are a vital asset in the country’s journey towards a more diversified and prosperous economy. The government’s focus on youth empowerment and entrepreneurship is commendable, but it must also address issues to enable all young Saudis to fully participate in their country’s development. Western countries can play a constructive role in supporting the youth of Saudi Arabia, while also learning from their successes in youth development.

Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not reflect Milli Chronicle’s point-of-view.