What is stopping you from joining active politics?
Some of you would remember NDTV’s “Big Fight” from a few weeks back where the topic was “Younger politicians -Â time to take over“.
I had taken some notes while watching the programme and what struck me was that none of the participants (mainly leaders from mainstream political parties) identified what I felt were the *real* reasons why you dont see more “young politicians”…
While I was discussing this with a friend last week, he suggested taking a straw poll on my blog to find out why youngsters (or anyone else for that matter) do not consider politics as a conscious (or a realistic) career choice.
But before that, some quotes from the “Big Fight”:
Abhishek Singhvi: “(we)…need to change the system so that people with alternative talents can get into politics…we have to make politics somewhat of a meritocracy”
Rajiv Pratap Rudy: “…politics has become discredited…No one wants their son or daughter to become a politician today…
Shahid Sidiqui: “…stop demonising politics and politicians; media only shows (the) negative face…that is not true…there are good things in poliics…”
Tavleen Singh: “…we must have younger politicans…but young people who are interested in politics…in doing something for the country…we don’t have that yet…
I have maintained for a very long time that you will not see more people into politics unless you make it pay and it becomes less *risky* (in a real, physical danger sense of the word).
So one of the first challenges is to redefine the way “politics” is currently understood and practised in India…
To check that I am not living on another planet – and following my friend’s advice, here is a quick straw poll:
UPDATE: You can still participate in the poll by clicking this link:
http://www.polldaddy.com/p/969643/
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Poll continued on sidebar…It will remain open for a few more weeks (I have got about 80 responses already)
Please continued below.
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I will keep this open for a few weeks and then publish the results. Please actively participate and forward this link to your friends. Thanks.
Related Posts:
Fixing the “system†– getting down to the nuts and bolts
Lets come together to build a *new* and proud India
All: Thanks a lot for participating in this…I already have close to 40 responses…(in just over 12 hours!)
Please forward this link to your friends and others who may be interested in this…I am sure the results will be valuable.
There should be also a choice- Would you like to join politics?
Also, other important options is missing- a)Lack of resources- money b)Unfavorable System of elections based on money and muscle power
If I want to fight elections, how am I going to fight them? Who is going to support me. Many will come forward if there is a debate among all the candidates from one common platform.
To be active in politics today means
1.one has to take lot of time off from legitimate family responsibilities if one has a family to look after.
2.To be effective in public life one requires lot of money.Who will provide that without strings attached to it.
3.Once a free market economy comes in to play and there is effective decentralization and federalism money power will get reduced.
Dear Sh Kandpal and Prof Joseph: Thanks for sharing your thoughts…
Both of you mentioned lack of resources…I actually had this as a separate choice…I decided to replace it with inability to raise funds for campaigning (which as Preof Joseph has pointed out – is a problem – if we want it without any strings attached…)
Sh Kandpal: I am still working on the idea about getting many people on one platform…
More on this later.
Intersting..
From my personal oint of view,i am reluctant from entering politics,though i’ld like to chnage things they way they are..bcoz…
1.the current system is too rigid..
2.Maybe there are more chances opened up,once people of similar thoughts can join hands and work collectively .But as of today,I don’t have such a scope ..
3.Of course family responsibilities and conservative views about being a woman.
4.lack of resources..Not exactly funds as such,but resources of other types as manpower,land etc etc,and of course money too..
Err..I hope my rant made some sense 🙂
Dear Nimmy,
Let me assure you as a woman you can make a lot of difference. Women like Golda Meir, Margaret Thatcher, Rani Laxmibai, Indira Gandhi, Kasturba Gandhi have been the persons who have made a difference in each of their countries.
I totally believe in the saying, “Behind every successful man there is a Woman”.
If a pwerson has a difficult life at home the man will find it extrwemely difficult to succeed in life of any sort, business, or otherwise.
That is one of the major reasons that our forefathers in their wisdom gave the best of places to married woman and the role they play in a family.
A woman makes or breaks a family.
Indira Nooyi has made it in the political arena of the business world.
You can do it, if you have the mental resources.
Wish you all the best.
May be if we have more women legislators, we may have a more homily Bharat!
Regards,
vck
Nimmy: Thanks for leaving the comment….Like vck, I too would strongly encourage you not to get dis-heartened and get involved in at least some way or the other (discussing various issues on this blog can be a good starting point!)
On a more serious note, pl. do have a look at this post and please consider joining one or more of these groups:
Lets come together to build a *new* and proud India
That was great words from Krishnan and Shantanu..Thanks..Atleast I hope to make some difference to people around.
As said,there is a high need for rewriting the whole ‘politics package’..
Test Comment. Pl. Ignore.
My reply in points,
1. Platform: Just like how rockets need launch pad the present generation, including me, are unable to find a professional political party to start a career in politics.
2. Confusion: looking after many political parties sprouting like mushrooms in Andhra Pradesh I am in a state of high confusion. I see the same with my friends.
3. Confidence: after seeing many political parties, ex: congress, which has a very rich history failing in many ways, governance corrupted dynasty-politics, I have lack of confidence to join mainstream politics.
4. Hope: Parties like congress are once constituted by great patriots, freedom fighters of India. Now congress party is completely different. If people like those are unable to awaken the masses of this country what is that I can do?
5. Love: Finally after seeing many negatives around me, including the recent satyam fraud, sometimes I feel like getting out of this country. I hated active politics in India. I couldn’t find any love for politics in India.
Regards
Rajesh,Hyd
@ Rajesh: Thanks for your comment…Here are my thoughts:
1. There are at least a few options now (“platforms”) to consider if you are serious about this. I am sure you are aware about Loksatta in AP…What do you think of them?
2. Confusion: I am aware of Chiranjeevi’s party, other than Loksatta but no one else…Can you please update us on the other parties in AP?
3. Rajesh, we cannot give up…It is up to us to try and change things…The fact that you are thinking of these things makes me believe that you are committed to this…and serious about it.
4. What makes you believe that political leaders today are necessarily better qualified or experienced than you (barring a few exceptions)? What you need to awaken the masses is not “greatness” but sincerity and passion…
5. I do not blame you for thinking of leaving India…In many ways, that may be a good option, depending on how young/old you are…If you are young and have no commitments, I would say, take a good job abroad, settle yourself financially, learn about the world around us…then come back…We will still be around!
Thanks.
@ Mr.Shantanu: Thanks for your prompt response. Here is my response,
1. I am a very big fan of loksatta. As I voted for it in 2008 by-elections of khairatabad (largest constituency in AP), it bagged 15% of the total votes, and came second to congress. Even TRS (Telangana Rashtra Samithi), the powerful party for separate Telangana state came third.
But the point to be noted is neither TDP (Telugu desam party) nor BJP contested the by-elections. I am interested to see what will happens to loksatta if both of them contest.
2. a) Congress= Is in power for 40yrs or so since independence. Don’t like it very much.
b) TDP (Telugu desam party) = Formed in 1982 by Legendary actor NTR (Nandamuri Taraka Ramarao) as an alternative to congress. To whom I has soft corner and voted for first time in 2004.But they lost the elections.
c) Communists= CPI, CPI (M)
d) BJP = loved it. Voted for it in 2004.But it lost the elections then. BJP is not a huge party in AP because of its alliance with TDP until 2004. Should see how it goes in 2009.
e) TRS (Telangana Rashtra Samithi) = Its main aim is the formation of a Telangana state out of AP.K.Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) was a member of the Telugu Desam Party until he quit the party and formed the TRS in 2001 at Siddipet. This is actually the plot created by congress by re-creating Telangana sentiment to fight TDP. Remember TDP was elected twice then in alliance with BJP.
Had a good hold in Telangana. Recently formed alliance with TDP and CPI,CPI(M) to defeat congress.
f) NTPP (Nava Telangana Praja Party) = Devender Goud is the founding president. Previously with TDP and held prominent positions like Home,Revenue. Got bugged by Telangana sentiment and founded on July,2008.
g) PRP (Praja Rajyam Party) = It was founded by Telugu cinema actor Chiranjeevi on August 26, 2008. I don’t see any hope in this party. He talks very high. Builds castles in air, always delivers cinema dialogue. In fact chiranjeevi himself is not that inspiring. His actions are not speaking louder that words.
h) Loksatta= Finally the grand party. I hoped PRP will join hands with loksatta. But it didn’t happen.
3. Thanks for the kind words. I promise you that I will work my level best to serve this sacred land.
4. Look at the huge following for them. Even a sycophant has an astonishing following. Some politician’s heads are not even worth of a penny.
Yes, what you told are correct. To awaken the masses what you need to have is sincerity and passion not “greatnessâ€.
5. /we will still be around/
I don’t have any words for this Mr.Shantanu. Your commitment is moving me a lot and forcing me to do something which is leading me to a state of uncertainty.
By the way my age is 23. I don’t have plans of going abroad now. I now have some huge money making ideas. I have started an entrepreneurial journey. If it works may be I will bring a huge change for this country. In the mean time I will do what ever I can to bring change in India.
Thanks,
Rajesh
Rajesh: All the best in your entrepreneurial ventures…and I do hope that you will continue visiting and writing on this blog.
Thanks/