Why are the young, honest and well-educated not coming forward to lead India?
TOPIC OF THE MONTH: In spite of having 65% of its 1.4 billion population below the age of 35 in India, why are young, honest, talented and well educated people not coming forward to lead our country?
This statistic holds promise for the future, as young people are often seen as the drivers of change, progress, and innovation. However, despite this significant demographic advantage, it is puzzling to see a lack of capable and talented young leaders emerging to guide the nation forward. One reason could be the lack of opportunities and resources available to the youth. Another reason could be the cultural and societal expectations placed on young individuals. Furthermore, corruption and nepotism within the political and social systems can also discourage young, honest and well-educated individuals from entering leadership positions. However, it is essential to recognize that there are also positive signs of change. With the rise of social media and technology, young Indians are increasingly finding platforms to express their views, engage in socio-political discourse, and advocate for change.
Sameedha P. Batthe (15)
School of Scholars, Wanadongri, Nagpur
Today, politics in India has become a dirty business. Almost all political parties are filled with dubious people with multiple criminal and civil cases. When any bright, honest person joins politics, he has to join a party, and as soon as he joins a party, he gets threats. An honest person cannot survive and flourish in a party without money support or support from other powerful leaders, and no parents would want their child to get threats.
Yuvraj Singh Rajput (12)
Notre Dame School, New Delhi
This youth bulge is often considered a valuable asset for the nation’s progress. However, despite the abundance of young, honest, talented, and well-educated individuals, there is a notable absence of their active participation in leadership roles.
Traditional Mindsets and Hierarchical Structures: One of the significant challenges hindering the ascent of young leaders in India is the prevalence of traditional mindsets and hierarchical structures within various spheres of society. Established norms often favour experience over innovation, leading to a reluctance to entrust leadership roles to the younger generation.
Political Landscape and Dynastic Politics: In the political arena, the influence of dynastic politics remains a prominent barrier to the rise of young leaders. By recognizing and nurturing the leadership capabilities of the younger generation, India can unlock its full potential and pave the way for a brighter, more dynamic future.
Priya Raj (14)
St Joseph’s Convent High School, Jethuli, Patna
Sometimes it can be puzzling why young, honest, talented, and well-educated individuals in India aren’t stepping up to lead the country, despite the fact that a large portion of the population is under the age of 35. It’s possible that limited opportunities and support for young leaders might be discouraging them. Additionally, the complexities and challenges of politics can be daunting for anyone, especially for those who are just starting their careers. It’s crucial to create an environment that nurtures and empowers young leaders.
Palak Roy (14)
Notre Dame School, Badarpur, New Delhi
The average age of MPs in India is 57, while the average age of an Indian is 28. This clearly suggests that the youth of our country are quite uninterested in politics. We have a general perception that states that one cannot get into politics without getting one’s hands dirty. Also, the current scenario depicts that it is actually the old political families who are governing our country. Nowadays, the youth lack the chief traits of leadership, which are, communication skills and effective campaigns. One needs to face a lot of challenges, travel constantly and put efforts on the ground level. Despite toiling so hard, there is no guarantee of being a familiar face to the public. Thus, most of the Indians, though ambitious, prefer not to lead our country.
Anwesha Ajay (13)
St Joseph’s Convent High School, Jethuli, Patna
The lack of young, talented, and well-educated individuals coming forward to lead our country in spite of India’s significant youth population is a complex issue. Possible reasons could include limited opportunities for political engagement, a lack of trust in the existing political system, or a preference for other career paths. It is crucial to address these barriers and create an environment that encourages and supports young leaders to step forward and contribute to the nation’s progress.
Babatto Baby (14)
St Michael’s Anglo Indian High School, Kannur, Kerala
Some of the reasons why good and educated people stay away from politics are:
- When good people enter politics with the intention of doing something good for their nation they are suppressed and oppressed by unscrupulous politicians.
- Politics is not everyone’s cup of tea. Educated people are very conscious about their image. Politics is risky, but they don’t want to take a risk.
- Politics require large amounts of money and not everyone is affluent.
- Politicians over-promise and lie to get elected. They have manipulative and deceitful skills. Nowadays, politics has become a haven for thugs and criminals. That’s the reason why educated people keep away from politics.
Sneha Sharma (15)
St Mary’s Convent Inter College, Prayagraj
Since our democracy has become riddled with casteism, nepotism, racism and criminalisation, young, honest, talented and well-educated people are not coming forward to join politics and lead our county. Lack of political consciousness and vouch for having leadership quality is another reason for this trend. Besides this, most of our youngsters belong to such economic class which compels them to secure life through jobs and refrain from choosing politics as a career.
Aditi Shekhar (14)
St Joseph’s Convent High School, Jethuli, Patna, Bihar
Today, young minds prefer to settle in other countries rather than getting engaged in political affairs. Social expectations and family obligations might steer young individuals toward more conventional and stable career paths rather than the unpredictable nature of politics. It is also very difficult for young and talented people to rise in the political conflict, as most Indians vote based only on religion and caste, which is not fruitful for our country. The existing political landscape might be perceived as challenging with complexities, corruption and bureaucracy deterring potential political leaders. Addressing these issues may lead to an improvement in our political system.
Aadya Kumar (13)
St Joseph’s Convent High School, Jethuli, Patna
Brain drain has been a very important issue for India in recent years; many talented Indian minds are working for other countries. India is losing its young population, drastically. This could be due to:
- Higher standard of living.
- Good employment opportunities and higher salary.
- Better medical, education and recreational facilities.
- Autonomy and liberty in dissemination of information.
- Advanced technology and hospitable working conditions.
- Less population and strain on social amenities.
- Secure economic and political conditions.
Sara Tamseel Khwaja (14)
St Joseph’s Convent High School, Bankipore, Patna