Nearly half of our parliament is past retirement age. And most of the 2nd half will get there in the coming term. Paradoxically, we are also the world's youngest democracy. But how can we call ourselves democratic when youth are so under-represented in our parliament? As curtains come down on 15th Lok Sabha elections, we see 34 young faces making strides in parliament. And they have in front myriad problems of under development.
People of India have invested faith in them and voted them to power. But the most vital question whether they will be able to stand up to people's expectations? Whether they will be able to change the face India? Youngs in parliament might seem to be inexperienced and novice. But they cannot be taken at their face value. They have a strong vision of putting India on the map of a superpower. And concomitant with it is promising vigor, strength and sincere commitment to work for the upliftment of the masses and bring a change.
Rahul Gandhi's charisma mixed with serious effort has helped to reinvent the Congress party in Uttar Pradesh. Moreover, his style of shunning AC room policies and coming out to people and talking about their problems have made him a star icon not only with rural dwellers but also have won hearts in urban cities. His style of method was later emulated by our veterans of staying connected to people. History is a witness, when the youngest prime minister of the country Rajeev Gandhi pioneered IT revolution, thus heralding a novel method of modernization. And today we stand, staring in the eyes of developed countries as an invincible software developer.
With young faces, come new ideas and new ways of tackling vices inflicting in the country. This will result not only in tangible fruits of modern infrastructure, rising growth and income but will also bring modernization in the thought processes. India might be importing ideas of wearing jeans, using latest and advanced technology. But with female infanticide, sati, casteism still rampant, we have to acknowledge that we are still conservative in our mindset.
The 'simple living and high thinking" lifestyle of these young leaders will set an example in society and will soon be role models of every hues. Seeds of tolerance, respect for women, secularism, scientific thinking, stress on consensus and compromise will surely be sown. There's lot to learn from Meenakshi Natarajan's simplicity when she commuted to parliament on her first working day in an auto rickshaw. Young women like her and Agatha Sangama will inspire young women to come out of closet and assert their identity.
We can thus notice hopes and optimism pinned on our young leaders. But one has to be cautious from those who bank on anti social politics to make their way to parliament. Rhetoric of Varun Gandhi during election rally is a case in point. Such tactics can only be termed as retrograde politics which will strain the hard earned fruits of peace and prosperity. Also, governance is a complicated process and placing huge governmental responsibility on novice shoulders evokes a mixed response.
Rahul Gandhi admitted that "inexperience is my biggest handicap". So young need to be trained and nurtured under the able guidance of our veterans. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was right in saying that the young needs to learn and experience initially with smaller portfolios. This is a sign of maturing of our accommodative democracy. Is n't it paradoxical again, that walking along with young, we move ahead in maturity ladder?
By
Mithila Bagai
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