Young lawmakers, politicians need mentoring in India

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Ahinsa Kumari

17 September, 2009

For our political system to flourish, our older generation must realise that their younger counterparts must be educated in politics: why it exists, why it is important and what they can do. Soon enough, it will be their turn to lead.

MORE AND more youth are entering Indian politics nowadays. The recent Lok Sabha elections saw this happening on a large scale.

“If Barack Obama could be the President of US, at the age of 44, then why should Indians hold back? We are citizens of a young country, where youth comprise a large facet of the population. I am not surprised that our youth voters are impatient to change the old ways of doing politics”, said Meenakshi Natrajan,36, a newly elected lawmaker from the Congress Party, who has defeated an 82-year-old, eight term incumbent.

“I got a lot of support from the young, first time voters in my constituency. They want me to work on improving education and employment opportunities.” she adds.

Of the 543 elected members of the Parliament's lower house, the Lok Sabha, 147 are 45 years-old or even younger. The growing number of young faces in Indian politics marks a gradual but definite generational shift in the country at large.

Rahul Gandhi, can be given the credit of opening the doors of politics for the youth. The lawmaker in his second term is expected to be nominated for the Prime Minister's post in the next national election in 2014. He has focused on transforming the idiom of the 124-year-old Congress party into the language of the young.

In the past two years, he launched a massive online membership drive and set up a call centre for young people wanting to direct questions to the party. He also visited college campuses and twittered actively even as he travelled to remote, impoverished villages to better understand the problem of caste discrimination.

The Parliament's other youth members include Rajesh Pilot's son Sachin Pilot, Madhav Rao Scindia's son Jyotiraditya Scindhia, Jatin Prasad , Union minister Murli Deora , Sunil Dutt's daughter Priya Dutt, former Andhra Pradesh CM NT Ramarao's daughter D Purandeshwari, former Lok Sabha PA Sangma's daughter Agatha Sangma, M Karunanidhi's daughter Konimozhi, NCP president Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule etc.

For our political system to flourish, our older generations must realise that their younger counterparts must be educated in politics: why it exists, why it is important and what they can do. Soon enough, it will be their turn to lead. Let us hope the young generation will bring about radical changes in Independent India.

Ambedkar once said, “Every generation is a new nation”. Yes, India can be changed by the new generation. We need an alternation, which has to be through the youth. Who knows, the changes we apply to Indian politics may give rise to another Obama, this time for India!

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COMMENTS (3)

Ankita Sharma

.A good review of the young Indian politicians depicted through the article. Very lucid language used. In fact, in a way itâs high time now that a fixed retirement age even in politics should be introduced and young and capable ones be given more opportunities of handling affairs of the country.

Anurag shah

.complete review of present political scenario with continues flow of writing.Good use of quotes !!

priyanka shalini

.There is really need of youngsters to involve in the Indian politics.This is the main reason where our country is lacking.Young politician will really help in infusing fresh idea in economy of country. Good effort to make aware youngsters of the country's political conditon. waiting for the same next time.