(TOI)
What's the S-word again? Not sex, style, six-packs or six-figure salaries. For the young, educated Indian, it's soul, spirituality and solace. Most college students in India's metros have faith in God — and family — firmly in place, an exclusive Speaking Tree-IMRB survey across Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Chennai and Hyderabad has found. An overwhelming majority of respondents — 91% — are practising believers, i.e. they have faith and regularly visit a place of worship, especially during stressful times like exam week. More than two-thirds admit to praying at least once a week and 26% say they pray, but only on special occasions.
What's more, 95% seek their parents' blessings before embarking on a new and important task. Most prefer to follow the religion they were born into and only 6% would like to explore other faiths. Unsurprisingly, the family is acknowledged as the biggest influence in matters of faith by 91% of respondents, with friends considered important by just 5% and the Internet ranked high by just 1%.
In response to the question " How spiritual are you?", 16% said very, 49% said moderately, 28% said slightly and a mere 7% responded not at all. Three-fourths (77%) preferred to call themselves spiritual rather than religious. Feeding the poor is rated high among 77% as a spiritual activity. Most question the relevance of rituals and 67% say they wouldnt 'fast for religious reasons'.
Interestingly, the majority do not see sex as an expression of spirituality and only 18% connected the two.
So who's wearing their spirituality on their sleeve? Equal numbers (40% and 41% respectively) preferred to keep it hidden from peers than discuss it openly.
(But young people in the national capital are exceptions with a massive 74% admitting they freely discuss their spiritual life with others.)
The poll was conducted among 757 students, of which 490 were from elite and 267 from middle-rung colleges in the six metros where The Speaking Tree on Sunday newspaper is published.
What's the S-word again? Not sex, style, six-packs or six-figure salaries. For the young, educated Indian, it's soul, spirituality and solace. Most college students in India's metros have faith in God — and family — firmly in place, an exclusive Speaking Tree-IMRB survey across Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Chennai and Hyderabad has found. An overwhelming majority of respondents — 91% — are practising believers, i.e. they have faith and regularly visit a place of worship, especially during stressful times like exam week. More than two-thirds admit to praying at least once a week and 26% say they pray, but only on special occasions.
What's more, 95% seek their parents' blessings before embarking on a new and important task. Most prefer to follow the religion they were born into and only 6% would like to explore other faiths. Unsurprisingly, the family is acknowledged as the biggest influence in matters of faith by 91% of respondents, with friends considered important by just 5% and the Internet ranked high by just 1%.
In response to the question " How spiritual are you?", 16% said very, 49% said moderately, 28% said slightly and a mere 7% responded not at all. Three-fourths (77%) preferred to call themselves spiritual rather than religious. Feeding the poor is rated high among 77% as a spiritual activity. Most question the relevance of rituals and 67% say they wouldnt 'fast for religious reasons'.
Interestingly, the majority do not see sex as an expression of spirituality and only 18% connected the two.
So who's wearing their spirituality on their sleeve? Equal numbers (40% and 41% respectively) preferred to keep it hidden from peers than discuss it openly.
(But young people in the national capital are exceptions with a massive 74% admitting they freely discuss their spiritual life with others.)
The poll was conducted among 757 students, of which 490 were from elite and 267 from middle-rung colleges in the six metros where The Speaking Tree on Sunday newspaper is published.
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