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Youth of India's lack of interest in politics

Prashant Solomon

Posted on November 19, 2003

Today's Indian youth is a generation full of hope and promise. I am talking about my generation, those born in the Indira Gandhi era (1966-1984). Now at the dawn of the Third Millennium, this generation is poised to become the new leaders, those that will carry forward the torch of our nation's politics, culture, business, sports, music, cinema, society and basically be the representatives of India in all fields.

Yet there seems to be a kind of paradox here. While the torch bearers of the new India are busy pursuing their careers in various fields either home or abroad there is a sort of non-chalance about our nation's politics.

How many young Indians today would list politics as their chosen field of interest? Very few. But why is this?

True, today's politics and politicians could not exactly be called the icons of truth, respectability and even morality. But even then, how many of our generation are even interested in this?

A citizen's involvement in politics seems to have been confined to the election day. Going to the polling booth, casting their vote and getting about their business. That is if you even bother to vote. Many of our citizens don't even bother doing that. These are the same people who then sit back and criticise the nation's leaders and at times the policies of these leaders as well. But why criticise? Be proactive!

If politics and politicians of the generation before us have degraded, then it is time for a change in the attitudes towards politics in our youth. People who are educated and full of fresh ideas are certainly needed to pull this off. It won't be an easy task, but we need to start somewhere.

Youth of our nation need to be aware of the problems facing the country at large and propose solutions to these problems. Our system is such that politics is really the only way to execute these new and fresh ideas and bring about change in the lives of one billion Indians.

The youth of India cannot afford to be distanced from politics. The facts are that it is the outcome of politics and political decisions that affect the lives of most people. It is our problem, even if one thinks it is not.

The youth should not listen to negative people who say, "Nothing will change" or "Politics is a dirty game" or "You are too nice to be a politician". These are the mindsets and ravings of negative minded people, who can never be productive unless they change these mindsets.

Each youth of India needs to examine the policies and manifestoes of major political parties like the Congress and BJP and see what they have to offer. They should vote according to their own conscience, but only according to what they feel is right.

The youth of India need to begin the first steps in these directions. Politics may not be considered an 'in-thing' today. But it has to become the in-thing amongst youth, for a better India of tomorrow.