Youth today and politics

Let’s Participate In POLITICS

Akanksha Tiwari


Today, Indian politics seems to be going astray from the path laid for it by yesteryear statesmen like Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru. Most of the politicians appear insignificant compared to these magnanimous personalities. We all seem to be wary of their promises and assurances, and tired of their constant use of religion and caste to garner votes.
But don’t we have a habit to blame everything, right from the terrorist attacks to bad roads and lighting on the government on the government? Have we ever realized that it is the common man who chooses the government? How many of us think of elections as a day off work and college, and don’t bother voting?
After the reservation was announced in educational institutions the youth came all out criticizing the government and complaining of having lost faith in the system. But why not be an active part of the system itself?  Most of us are too content with lives at IITs and IIMs to look beyond. But it is very heartening to see that there are a bunch of young graduates who are willing to step out of their corporate boardrooms and take up leadership, responsibility and join active politics.
Five IITians have formed a new political party in India- Paritrana; Bharat Punarnirman Dal, a party started by twenty alumni from IIT has fielded two candidates for the Delhi polls; many medicos in places like Chandigarh have floated an anti – reservation party; apart from these there are a growing number of graduates from top B-schools who are joining politics. These young guns have decided to give up the comfort of lavish offices and air conditioned boardrooms to step up and invest efforts in the betterment of the society. Not only that, they also derive creative satisfaction from their work as the management principles apply equally to political parties and one can do a lot more for people by joining politics. For many politics is similar to entrepreneurship which is dynamic and where one has to take risks.
Nevertheless these young politicians have set an example for the youth. They are moving out of drawing room and coffee house discussions and are plunging themselves wholeheartedly into the democracy called India.
The youth is a source of dynamic energy and untapped power, which, if channeled in the right direction can do wonders to the current political setup. If not active politics, it is definitely our duty to just spare a couple of minutes and go and vote, rather than just sit and criticize the current political situation in the country.
It is high time that we take into account the bigger view rather than being content with our own small world. We must first get rid of our ‘chalta hai’ approach and start looking at taking active part in the system itself. The leading, bright young minds can be aptly used for the progress and development of the nation.
In Mahatma Gandhi’s words- ‘You must be the change you wish to see in the world’. It’s high time the youth stops criticizing and start leading.

Politics As A Career
Aarshi Dua
‘Politics as a career’?
‘Have you gone insane’?
‘You have lost your mind’?

These are the most common reactions given by the people of India as Politics is considered as an unfavorable career choice. Sometimes the youth don’t bother or the family forbids them from entering into politics or they simply don’t care. These are the attitudes of people towards politics as a career.
But are they really true? Is politics as a career actually bad? Is it only a money game for politicians?
The answer to the above questions is no. Politics is not a bad career choice. Rather it is one of the most challenging and hardworking career options, which not only tests one’s strength but one’s personality and aura as well. It is one of those career options, which provides a platform for the people to not only voice their opinion but also to be in the power to make that voice into a change. Mostly when a person tries to enter politics, family and friends pull him back stating the fact that politics is nothing but a dirty power game, yet strangely when one questions them, they complain about the youth that this young, so-called ‘facebook generation’ is very self-centered and they worry more about their gadgets and parties rather than the conditions of the country. Some have gone a step further by stating that the youth today are nothing but offshoots of Britisher’s (angrez chale Gaye, yeh chod Gaye).
Today, people view politics as a game of power surrounded by corruption, scams, terrorism, communalism and rigorous laws implemented by gnarled politicians. However, can we, as a youngsters, comment or complain that all the politicians are corrupt when we ourselves are not far behind. What I want to state is that neither all politicians are devils nor all are saints and same goes for every person in our country. Yet when youth wants something and decides to bring a change they are an unstoppable force. It was actually the youth who voiced their opinion and accelerated the process of justice in the Jessica Lal murder case, it was the youth which came on the streets of Mumbai after the blasts and spread the word of help via social networking sites. Another very apparent example of youth being a part of change and politics is ‘Chhavi Rajawat’ who despite having an MBA degree and job portfolio willingly went into her village Panchayat elections in early 2010 and emerged victorious. Rahul Gandhi, Sachin Pilot, Miland Deora, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Akhilesh Yadav, Omar Abdullah etc. are some of the best examples of how people look up to these young politicians and how they have in away become the young voice of India.
The problem in today’s time is that we have a nation that lack’s charismatic leadership like that of Nehru or the utmost strength of Mrs. Indira Gandhi. As people we have to think of India as our nation rather than just a politicians’ nation and politics as a career can be the first basic step to be the part of the wave of change because we can only change a system by being in that system. In the end I can only conclude by saying that that in the present turbulent times where people are slowly losing faith in politicians, we need people with courage and strength to step up and take the reins of the leadership and be the voice and face of India. So to the readers I can only say if you have strength to fight and courage to win with honesty in your heart, politics is the career where people really need you and will in future look up to you.
(Source: The Viewspaper)