E-Paper
A slow transformation is taking place in Indian politics
More professionals, many IITians, like Arvind Kejriwal himself, are entering politics. It has been very long in coming but is proving to be a real game changer.
'Be the change that you want to see in the world'. Mahatma Gandhi's words seem to have been taken to heart by many who are flocking to the fledgling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), attracted by its promise of a new kind of issue-based, clean politics.
Many IITians, Arvind Kejriwal himself is from IIT, have joined the fold to usher in what they say will be a new era in politics. This is possibly the best thing that could happen to our politics which has for far too long been in the grip of 'career' politicians for want of a better term.
In the US and Britain, for example, we see professionals coming into politics and after their terms are over, going back to their professions.
Examples are Bill Clinton, Condoleezza Rice and so on. In India, we have had professionals entering politics, but they are few and far between.
Once in politics, people tend to hang in there by hook or by crook, even installing family members in their place if they are caught on the wrong side of the law. There is nothing wrong with sons and daughters of politicians joining politics but merit should be the criterion and not the surname alone.
Today's younger generation seems to be once again taking an interest in politics and we can only hope that more of them from different professions join the fray. This way, new ideas come into politics along with enthusiasm and innovation. We set much store by merit in the private and public sector. The same should apply in politics which should really lead the way.
Until now, politics has been looked down upon slightly by the professional classes, especially women. This is changing in recent times and the triumph of the AAP is a sign of this.
If a person has a profession to fall back on, chances are that he or she will not try to cling to power after having overstayed his or her welcome in the manner we have seen among career politicians.
Professionals who have willingly given up their careers to join politics are also more likely to take it seriously.
Today, we see both in Parliament and state assemblies the tendency to substitute disruption and noise for reasoned argument and debate.
The kind of people who are coming in now have also no use for the trappings of power like beacons on cars, instantly giving them a greater people connect. The trends suggest that a slow transformation is taking place in politics. It has been very long in coming but is proving to be a real game changer.
