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The Indian political sector is growing faster than any other sector in the world. This sector has been fully liberalised. Political career in India is open to any age group starting from 25 plus to 90 plus; people with any educational background, even an illiterate person can contest election in India. An old man or woman with multiple organ failure can become leader of a political party; they can control party workers from the hospital bed also. Social status, physical and mental ability seldom stand in the way of a political leader. Advanced age is not an issue which can be reversed with effortless ease.
Advanced photo editing software with artificial intelligence rejuvenates the politicians; it makes them look handsome, young and energetic in the photos. Computer generated images reduce the age by 30 to 40 years with a simple mouse click. The will of politicians to rule triumphs over their old age and sickness. The lure of power works like an elixir which can instill life into a dying leader. There are scores of instances where sick old politicians leave behind their old age and chronic ailments in pursuit of power. It is a positive mindset. But, this trend has let the truly educated young leaders become extinct and it has created a leadership vacuum in every field of activities.
Talented youth are reluctant to join politics; those who remain in politics, don’t grow in the shadow of the ageing Supremos. Only those who are sons, daughters and relatives of political leaders keep their hope alive and wait for the old patriarch or matriarch to retire. But, they seldom retire from politics. Indian democracy is facing the problems of having too many old leaders in their 70s or 80s and too few talented leaders in their 40s or 50s. The survival of democracy in India in fact largely depends on the sensible, physically, intellectually and morally strong youth.
The question is how an honest and efficient youth can pursue a political career. In the last two decades no student leader has flourished in India. Aggressive populism, vote bank politics, money and muscle power continue to block talented young leaders. Who will give them the election ticket to contest? Who will create a healthy democratic environment when the majority of the intellectuals and the educated people commit the gravest crime of turning themselves into silent spectators?
The question is how an honest and efficient youth can pursue a political career. In the last two decades no student leader has flourished in India. Aggressive populism, vote bank politics, money and muscle power continue to block talented young leaders. Who will give them the election ticket to contest? Who will create a healthy democratic environment when the majority of the intellectuals and the educated people commit the gravest crime of turning themselves into silent spectators?
The British government with their ill motivated education policy hammered the DNA of the Indians to behave like yes men. They created many generations of yes men whose chromosomal characters are still active even today. There is too much knowledge, analysis and endless debates over different issues but very little visible action at the ground level. Education is a meaningless endeavor and a sheer waste of time if the person does not have the courage to question the wrong, come to the street and carry the social responsibility. Everything begins to rot from this point.
In the recent past, many student leaders have withered in the bud; they were under the illusion that their newly acquired oratorical power would propel them to the status of leaders. They were disillusioned because they failed to develop the leadership skill which is not a loud rhetoric only. The young political aspirants should develop intellectual capacity, ability to go deep into the social and economic issue, the power of conviction, an ability to choose ideology and the moral courage to reform the ideology within. The youth should acquire enormous physical and mental strength, moral courage and stamina to survive in the political field.
It is quite natural that an aspiring youth won’t get an MP or MLA ticket of top political parties without having the capacity to spend crores of rupees on the election campaign. But they can start their career as a Sarpanch or a Councilor with less expenditure. It is not necessary that the youth should start their leadership career in politics. They can take over the leadership of a bank union, a co-operative society, a club, educational institution, religious organization and an NGO etc ; the journey to become a powerful leader begins from a small lane only.
A person who lives and breathes with the people, experiences their day today’s problems, eats and lives like them, gathers immense power to become a leader. If he or she learns to speak the language of the common man and reaches the root of the social and economic issues affecting the life and livelihood of people, nobody can stop him from becoming a popular leader. He will not purchase votes but will win hearts and friends who will work for him selflessly. No power on earth can stop the march of a young leader who clings to truth, purity and integrity. He will be automatically propelled to become a leader; his speech will acquire magic and his look will create fear in the minds of the dishonest political opponents.
In the recent past, many student leaders have withered in the bud; they were under the illusion that their newly acquired oratorical power would propel them to the status of leaders. They were disillusioned because they failed to develop the leadership skill which is not a loud rhetoric only. The young political aspirants should develop intellectual capacity, ability to go deep into the social and economic issue, the power of conviction, an ability to choose ideology and the moral courage to reform the ideology within. The youth should acquire enormous physical and mental strength, moral courage and stamina to survive in the political field.
It is quite natural that an aspiring youth won’t get an MP or MLA ticket of top political parties without having the capacity to spend crores of rupees on the election campaign. But they can start their career as a Sarpanch or a Councilor with less expenditure. It is not necessary that the youth should start their leadership career in politics. They can take over the leadership of a bank union, a co-operative society, a club, educational institution, religious organization and an NGO etc ; the journey to become a powerful leader begins from a small lane only.
A person who lives and breathes with the people, experiences their day today’s problems, eats and lives like them, gathers immense power to become a leader. If he or she learns to speak the language of the common man and reaches the root of the social and economic issues affecting the life and livelihood of people, nobody can stop him from becoming a popular leader. He will not purchase votes but will win hearts and friends who will work for him selflessly. No power on earth can stop the march of a young leader who clings to truth, purity and integrity. He will be automatically propelled to become a leader; his speech will acquire magic and his look will create fear in the minds of the dishonest political opponents.
In the recent past, the simplicity, honesty and integrity of the veteran social activist, Magsaysay Awardee, Anna Hazare had created the first ever mass movement over the Jan Lokpal bill after Jay Prakash Narain’s Sampurna Kranti in the 70s. Anna Hazare is not a rhetorician but his simple words have magic which motivated people into action. Pad Yatra, Hunger strike, door to door campaign, strategy, hard work and Jan Seva if done honestly will build a strong leader which is badly needed in every field of human activity. The Indian political field offers abundant opportunities to the really educated young generation.
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