Getting into Politics

Getting into Politics

It is good to know that we still have youngmen who want to serve our nation through politics inspite of the fact that it has been reduced to power politics and corruption. We have to admire the courage and conviction of Pavan Kumar to get into politics without any godfather or dynastic connection

We all should bless him to be a successful statesman rather a mere politician. Statesmen, they say, look at the next generation while politicians look to the next election. So, he should start from the begining. As Mahatma Gandhi said everything starts from one. Later you can add zeros and it multiplies. Journey always starts with the step in the right direction. That first step is to be among the most dispossed - unto the last. Work for them and work with them for their welfare. With a solid constructive work, he will find people coming to help him and support him. Then he can expand his sphere of work - the local body election and so on. He has build his credibility with the people.

This way, he need not go to any party but he can start his party or parties will com to him to join them. He has to have vision. Mahatma Gandhi had a vision - gram swaraj. Our leaders after indepndence had a different vision - industrialiization. Even now India still lives in the villages. Since villages were neglected, they all started coming to the cities and live in the slums. The Green Revolution was was for villages and agriculture. It was a brief interlude. We are back to square one. Agriculturists are committing suicide. Food-grains are not sufficient.

Our former President Abdul Kalam has a vision - providing urban facilities in villages. Villages do not have even primary health care centres or primary schools and if it there school teacher is missing. There are many problems. He has come up with practical sollutions and inspire others to join him. There is not short cut.

Is he up to the challenge ? He will have to confront vested interests and power brokers ? Is he ready to have a simple life ? He will have to aske these questions and then he has to plunge into politics.

His attitude should be one of nishkama karma - selfless service.Work itself is a reward. Otherwise he may be disaappointed. It is a long way.

Of course, there is a easier way - join one of the established political parties. They have all ready made solutions. He wil be a cog in the wheel. He may be able to tinker, not change anything.

Good luck to him.

Sent to karmayog.com on April 5,2008 in response to a young software professional's desire to join politics " to do something for India" and ' bring some radical change in the society'.


May 1, 2008

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