‘Being hopeful biggest weapon’
Asutosh Pattanayak
BHUBANESWAR: A 20-year-old Puri native, who currently lives in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and has been chosen as the United Nations IIMSAM Goodwill Youth Ambassador, said being hopeful is the biggest weapon before the youth in the current distressing situation of the pandemic.
He is Asutosh Pattanayak of Baliapanda locality in Puri town. While talking to TOI, he said hope is the key to life. “Voices from different people can help youths empower their minds, which can help them cope with the current situation. Many youths are facing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after losing their obs, business and other failures during the pandemic. But we have to be hopeful for the future despite the odds,” the youth ambassador, who is on a personal visit to Odisha, said.
Pattanayak, son of a doctor and healthcare businessman in the UAE, said Covid-19 will remain until a vaccine is invented. “It is not the only pandemic that has affected us. The human race has witnessed several pandemics before. This kind of a situation may come up in the future again. We know how to fight back and our hope of a better future will guide us in this endeavour. Youths need to play a bigger role in this. Instead of finding fault in everything and spreading pessimism, we should volunteer and bring some positive changes,” he added.
He suggested the youths to stay positive and prepare themselves to fight the situation successfully. “If the youths help society in this difficult situation and keep themselves busy in different projects or initiatives, they will not only help the people but also get themselves off PTSD-like stress disorders. Let’s fight against the misinformation and stigma attached with Covid-19,” he added.
Pattanayak, who studied in KIIT International School Bhubaneswar till Class VII and in a Mumbai school till Class X, completed his Plus II in China in 2017. He co-founded the United Youth Circuit, a youth organisation which currently has members from more than 70 different countries.
After working with several international organisations, one day the secretary general of UN IIMSAM invited him to join as the Goodwill Youth Ambassador. “I have been working since October last year. I also work as advisor to the Prime Minister of the State of African Diaspora,” he added.
The youth leader has attended several summits, including diplomatic bilateral meetings in different countries, and has argued for human rights and youth abuses in the world.