India as said by Rajiv Gandhi in 1985 is an old country but a young nation, although the question here is does a country like India see young people or the youth playing an active role in politics and specially in electoral politics?
India is the world’s largest democracy and also has the world’s largest youth population. However, when we think of a politician why does a 50-60 year old man dressed in a white kurta and a Gandhi cap comes to our mind. Clearly something is wrong when the young people aren’t interested in politics and why is it that people below 50 years are considered as minors in politics? Young people are often left out when it comes to the selection of political candidates.
Youth in politics has a slightly different meaning, it means a person between 25-45 years of age, because a person younger than that might not have adequate level of political experience.
In the UK, Tony Blair former PM retires at 58 while in our country the top public offices are mostly occupied by the politicians above 50 years of age, leaving the younger generation with no outlet to assume leadership.
The youth, since pre-independence, has played an active role in the country’s political transformation by participating in several reforms and movements. Though this involvement majorly has been informal. There is a need of young people in politics, they can be creative, dynamic, a source of innovation, energetic and incorporate enthusiasm. The presence of young people in decision-making positions benefits all citizens and not just the youth. Politics needs to open up to the youth and political veterans in the domain should promote the younger generation into mainstream politics.
On the other hand the active participation of youth in politics doesn’t mean the role of senior veteran politicians in politics is reduced. There should be a well balanced mixture of energy and experience in politics.
Young men and women are traditionally active politically in universities. The atmosphere is full of political rivalries near the elections. There is canvassing campaign among the students presenting the qualities and plans of the respective candidates. The university elections have assumed huge importance as national parties like Congress, BJP and others have started taking active part in these elections. These parties have their individual student wings, some of them are NSUI ( INC ), ABVP ( BJP ), CYSS (AAP) and SFI ( CPIM ).
Most of the youth leaders in politics are there because they come from highly influential political families. If you search young politicians of India on Google you’ll find that a high majority of them come from big political families.
There is a need for a more active and formal participation in politics by the youth to change the negative image of politics and help restore the public trust in the political system of India. A democracy is incomplete without the equal and full participation of everyone, especially women and youth.
The percentage of young members in the Parliament of India is at a shocking 12%, although Prashant kishor a famous political strategist has created a first of its kind platform In India named ‘’Youth in Politics’’. Set up with a vision to transform Indian political landscape through mentoring next gen leaders at grassroots and helping them join electoral politics in India.
‘’The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow.’’ – Nelson Mandela
Parth Shokeen 