Author: Vani Tripathi
Publication: Tehelka
Date: July 4, 2009
URL: http://www.tehelka.com/story_main42.asp?filename=Ne040709proscons.asp
Introduction: A youth revolution only for
the scions of political dynasties is a hollow one
Yes! This does seem to be the new 'it' word
or 'now' word of Indian politics. 'Youngistan' seems to define India and also
the new parliament that has been sworn in. However, I wonder if we are actually
referring to the real 'youngistan' when we speak of these brand new squeaky
clean twenty-somethings and thirty-somethings who are sitting on the treasury
benches of the Lok Sabha.
Your rational mind would think that since
they are new and buzzing with energy and ideas, it would be great to have
the youth brigade taking policy-making into their hands. That does sound interesting,
but does this cheery proposition reflect the truth?
Our history is full of instances of scions
of politically influential families and corporations crafting policy. Some
may argue that this is a situation analogous to Akbar the Great, who, against
his wishes, was crowned emperor at the impressionable age of 16. So what if
the titles are no longer around? Isn't it wonderful, some argue, to see so
many modern- day emperors and kings sitting pretty?
A pretty situation only if they had been given
nothing but a fair chance. Imagine a commoner, a karyakarta who spends around
10 years in the party rank and file, doing zindabad-murdabad, only to find
out that mantriji does not even bestow on him a look of recognition. By the
time this person even comes close to finding the confidence to make an attempt
to ask for a ticket, he's already past his 'youth', perhaps 40 years old or
more. Can parties that are cadre-based be compared even remotely to parties
that are family enterprises?
And do these baba logs really come armed with
enough knowledge of the length and the breadth of the country? Only time will
tell if the criticism that actors and celebrities bear for not having enough
experience also applies to the children of ministers. Does being born in a
minister's family automatically qualify the child for the post of a minister
in Parliament?
This is something the country needs to ponder
on and decide. What qualifications for public office are necessary in order
to bring about a progressive democracy?
In a country where almost 40 percent of its
vast electorate is below the age of 35, I do feel elated at the thought of
having the youth manning the structures of power. However, I only wish that
we also saw those who have felt the bare earth under their feet and have come
up the hard way elevated in the same manner.
Quite a few of the new breed argue that a
famous surname can only ease the initiation and that it is difficult to nurture
a constituency.
Yes, this is so, but for others, years of
toil and difficulty might turn out to be their initiation to higher office
- or more often, may just remain years of toil and difficulty.
Our netas will also have to understand that
the India that is moving towards a youth revolution isn't just made up of
urban centres where, by the time one is a twenty-something, one may be earning
thousands of rupees from working in a BPO or as a consultant. A major part
of this youth revolution is, in fact, taking place at the rural level. Can
the baba log actually reflect the aspirations of the rural youth - of, say,
a guy from a remote village in Latur or Marathwada?
If God was in Gucci then our Prada and Prado
MPs would probably succeed. I wish them the very best and hope they remember
the blood and sweat of the thousands who tried and tried and perhaps came
close to getting there - but devoid of a surname, never got close enough.
Tripathi is National Secretary, BJP Youth
Wing
