POLITICS AS A CAREER INDIA NEEDS YOUNG POLITICIANS

Dwarka City News

Its a profession with a difference. A career in politics comes with the opportunity to create an impact and build a network at the highest level. The youth have tremendous power in shaping a country’s political landscape. The involvement of young people in politics is crucial for developing a nation. As for the age requirements, the minimum age to contest elections for Lok Sabha is 25 years, and for Rajya Sabha is 30 years. One must be a registered voter in any Indian parliamentary constituency. For nomination, a candidate from a recognised political party must have one proposer from their constituency.

Education should not be limited to one-dimensional academic teaching; instead, follow a holistic approach that develops critical thinking abilities as much as other faculties of knowledge. This is particularly important in politics, where the ability to think critically and engage in constructive dialogue is essential. People coming from non-political backgrounds face steep challenges in their journey. Political training and education gives them the framework and direction to take key decisions and helps them build their skills to excel as politicians. Political education is an upcoming domain in India. Leadership, Politics and Governance, Management, Democracy and Public Policy skills and training is very much essential for making this career a success.

Because of the reputation of ‘dirty politics’, people with the potential to be good leaders avoid joining politics. There is a clear and distinctive value gap when you compare the politicians of the 1947s with the 2023s. The former politicians were driven by a passion for making the country independent. Another reason why young people are not interested in politics is that they need to see more role models in this field.

Many young people are not interested in politics, because they would instead opt for jobs in information technology or other corporate sector jobs, films, journalism, and many other fields. While this may be understandable to some extent, the youth need to take an active interest in politics and public affairs, especially given our country’s complex and diverse issues; they ought to be at the forefront of shaping the future of a young country like India. There is a dire need to have committed, sincere, and sensitive leaders with higher levels of morality and sound ethical values. There is an urgent need to train students to pursue a career in politics and government through professional programs. By bringing politically active students from across the country together on a single platform, we can inspire them to get involved in public life and take up leadership roles in the future by educating them about governance, democracy, and leadership. It is time we change the perception that politics is not a viable career option. 

This is what Dwarkaites too believe-

To fortify India's democratic fabric, it is imperative to inspire, motivate, and empower young individuals to embrace politics as a career option, fostering a culture of healthy and ethical participation in governance as mandated in National Youth Policy, 2014. It is essential to encourage youth from diverse backgrounds, including the middle class, to engage in politics. Both in positions of power and in opposition, there is a need for ethical politicians who prioritize the nation's welfare over personal gain.

We must dispel the notion that politics is inherently corrupt or reserved for those lacking other career options. The proliferation of regional parties often stems from the reluctance of educated middle-class individuals to enter politics. Thus, it is vital to infuse Indian politics with professionals who bring diverse skills and perspectives to the table.

The skills of economic governance can be developed by adopting Gita-based needonomics including needo- consumption, needo- production, needo-distribution and needo-trade including exports through practical

as a group activity. Decision making skills should be improved by all means. The relationship between politicians and administrators need to be improved by adopting humanistic behavior. To become an able administrator one need to learn to say yes and the politician need to say no to certain demands of the voters. Elementary qualities of an administrator among politicians can be harnessed by training them for the benefit of the national development. One needs to learn the qualities of head and heart to say same thing which can be through training. One should learn the skill of saying sorry and apologize for the mistakes and amend the behaviour after the confession of the mistake. The skills of a brilliant youth include understanding, analyzing, interpreting and adopting alternative remedies for the problems prevailing in the society. We need to learn to handle the people who are mishandling the political economy of Indian democracy.

The ideal politician, whether in power or opposition, must embrace ethical principles rooted in texts like the Gita and Anu Gita, thereby elevating the discourse and conduct of Indian politics. By prioritizing ethical behavior over caste, creed, and financial influence, we can usher in a new era of integrity and accountability in governance. To encourage youth for developing their interest in politics as a career, we have to motivate them for taking risk in the uncertain world of unemployment. The politicians have to be trained to become street SMART (simple, moral, action oriented, responsive and transparent ) and SIMPLE (spiritual quotient development, intuition development, mental level development, physical development, love oneself attitude development and emotional quotient development) with spiritual input as justified in the book ‘Economics of Human Resource Development in India, published in 2011’ for good governance of Indian economy.

Prof. M.M. Goel, Prabha Apartment, Sector 23

Every party in India has leadership with age of 50 plus or some parties with age of 60 plus. It is very

important that we bring forward the youth leaders (30-40 age) to the front. 50 plus can be at the policy level, mentor level. In a nation as diverse and dynamic as India, the active participation of youth in politics is not just a desirable aspect but a necessity. The youth of India represent a vast and vibrant demographic, and their involvement in politics is crucial for the nation’s development and progress. India is often described as the world’s largest democracy, and it boasts a youthful population with a median age of around 28 years. Despite this, the political landscape has been dominated by older leaders and established parties for decades. This underrepresentation of young voices can lead to a disconnect between government policies and the aspirations of the youth.  Young leaders bring fresh ideas and perspectives to the table. Young minds are often more innovative and adaptable. Political parties can create dedicated youth wings that actively involve young people in party activities, decision-making processes, and election campaigns. Encouraging and supporting independent young candidates can diversify the political landscape and break away from traditional party politics.    

Sanjeev Kumar Bindlish

Secretary, Rotary Club of Delhi Govinda

I am into politics for the last 20 years. I want to convey to the young children, particularly who is passing out, 12th exam, that they should look for an option in politics. Also, because politics is an integral part of the country and is a very important for the future of any country. These days, we have always seen that parents discourage their students in participating in the political scenario, but they must realize that without politics, nothing works. The most of the policies are made into Parliament and who are in the Parliament. They are certainly the politicians. So if you want to become an IAS officer, civil servant, at the same time, you should vie for the political career, because by getting into politics, you should contribute directly to the policy making of the society or the country. I request parents to encourage the children, who are bright, intelligent and dedicated and patriot toward the country. They should think about joining politics and take a proper, training and understand what is politics is all about, and encourage, and get into politics for the benefit of the country.

Rtn. Mukesh Sinha, President Elect

Rotary Club of Govinda

Time has come to give a serious thought to the induction of younger candidates in our democratic set-up since the average age of politicians is moving upwards with the passage of successive elections. A combination of forty-sixty, with higher percentage initially allotted to seniors would reasonably be an ideal proposition. Whereas the younger candidates would bring energy, creativity and a breath of fresh air to the Indian political system, seniors would contribute their experience, expertise and strategies. There had been efforts on the part of a few political parties to bring in younger generation with higher educational qualifications who are holding diplomas and degrees and others, who have exceled in their respective fields to volunteer for revamped political scenario in the country. Even lateral entry into politics by retired judges, superannuated public servants, diplomats and dignitaries from forces is seen as a welcome step but the entrants are very few and selective. Most may not publicly admit that the present political system is overdue for overhauling but it's an unpronounced compulsion. Younger spokesperson handling debates on news channels can also be brighter prospects. The pool of talented youngers our country possesses can very well augment this prestigious field and can contribute to achieve the goal of becoming the global leader in the years to come. What needed is a committed support from the senior politicians and a gentle push.

P. K. Chopra, Ex- Banker

India, with a population nearing 1.4 billion, has 65% of its people under the age of 35. Yet, only 6% of India's leaders and ministers are under 35, and just 12% of the current Lok Sabha are youth leaders. In contrast, countries like Chile and Finland have demonstrated that younger leaders, such as Gabriel Boric and Sanna Marin, can hold high office. 

Traditionally, Indian youth viewed politics as a less favorable career, but the rise of social entrepreneurship is changing that perception. To encourage greater youth participation, established politicians must set positive examples and actively promote a new political discourse. 

India's political system is at risk of stagnation after 72 years of repetitive trends. Involving youth could be the catalyst for change, leading to improved communication between the general populace and leaders. Given that 65% of the population is young, youth participation in politics is not only desirable but necessary to revitalize the political landscape.

Dr. Anil Sethi

Motivational Speaker & Life Coach