India goes to polls:

As India is set to vote again a new twist can be seen in the campaigning. Leaving behind the age old tradition of addressing rallies and gatherings, the top notch politicians are busy clicking the mouse and keyboards. A step inside the 21st century and the computer revolution is now speaking for our leaders as they prefer blogs and text messages for their campaign. India the second most populous nation also has the world’s youngest population. With nearly 100 million voters in the age group of 18 to 24, the young India is no doubt where the political giants are focusing. For Indian democracy, political parties and our leaders, these are youth centric polls. Blogs and websites are perhaps the best way to reach the tech savvy generation that spends almost half of its day in the cyber world. But do these e-campaigns really motivate the young population to vote. Does our political system encourage or even tries to utilize the energy of the youth. Well, in a country with nearly 60 per cent of its population between 15 to 50 years of age, the average age of a Parliamentarian in India is 52 years. Since independence, the average age of our Prime Ministers has been 65 years, the youngest and exceptional being Rajiv Gandhi at 40. While the average age of an American President is 57 years while in UK it is 58. Our youngest minister in the 14th Lok Sabha was Mr Anbumani Ramadoss aged 40. The only other Minister below 50 was Mr A Raja. The difference is clear. While the US has 47 year old Barack Obama as its new President, we are looking forward for someone above 80 for the post. Our Parliament has come to age. While all government services have a retirement age, there is no age cap in politics. It is true that in democracy age limit can not be prioritized to popularity. However it should be ensured that the system does not crush the ability of the youth. Enthusiasm of youth is being crushed in the hierarchical structure which is as bad as following dynasty rule. So, is the Indian youth hopeless about its political system? Is the generation Y disapprovingly distanced from the whole process because it believes you have to be either a criminal or from a political family to survive in the field… Is it so that the youth think that we can not change anything so lets get aloof. Dreams are not manifested until we wake up and put thoughts in action. The youth wants development, education and employment. But we have no right to blame the system until we get included in it. While 30 percent of the voting base of India is constituted by its youth (aged 18-30) only 25 percent are registered to vote of which only 50 percent actually voted in the last Lok Sabha elections. Altogether hardly 12 per cent of Indian Youth actually voted in the last Lok Sabha elections. The recent Assembly elections took place in the shadow of Mumbai terror attacks. There was lot of protest against the ‘political system’ which could not ensure the safety of its citizens. Yet the polls in six states recorded an average 50 to 60 percent voting. How can we blame the system or the politicians when half of the citizens do not vote? On the d-day of assembly elections in Delhi, crowd could be seen at India Gate and Connaught Place while the polling booths were nearly empty. More over the lowest percentage of polling was recorded in the posh localities. It shows the urban educated class has little interest in political system. Even when we vote we are not really sure what we are voting for. Cast, religion or just a party our parents voted for. The problem is of quantity and quality as well. Or is it just the problem of lack of awareness. In a country with an independent media and over 250 news channels, availability of information is not the problem. The problem is lack of interest and responsibility. We do not understand how much each vote matters. Our voter i-cards have become just an identity card. If we need a bank account, or a pan card or a passport… we use it to prove we are Indian citizen. How do we call ourselves citizens without participating in the democratic process? How can we light candles at Jantar Mantar when we did not vote the day before? We are responsible, aren’t we? The youth today may not wear Khadi or spin the charkha. We love pizzas, adore nike sports gears and don’t mind being called ‘Mall mice’. At the same time we want to spin the wheel of development. We shout slogans protest and we also write blogs to show what we think. But what happens when the time comes to show the power of the masses. If we do not vote how can we complain about an overage Parliament? Perhaps the problem lies with the polling process as well. If you are out of our town on voting day, you can not vote. Seeing the present trends of migration, it is so obvious that the youth is mobile. We are in Delhi today, doing engineering in Bangalore next year, working in Mysore or Pune after four years. How does a person vote with the complicated and time taking process for getting your name in the electorate list? Change is needed, lets start it from ourselves. Let the polls for the 15th Lok Sabha be the true realization of the midsummer Indian dream of a nation waking up to manifest its dreams. Young blood matters, from every nook and corner of the nation, our votes will make us one setting an example for the continent and rest of the world.