I am a young Indian and I have political opinions!
Why I am talking about it?
India has more than 50% of its population below the age of 25 and more than 65% below the age of 35. While we take pride in India’s youth population and our Prime Minister, in his heartiest voice, in almost every speech, mentions how India is the home to the world’s largest youth population, the young people of India are not converged in politics. Politics, as a subject, intimidates them but the groundwork is too scary. Not only are Indian youth scared of putting political opinions, but the Central leaves no stone unturned to ensure their feelings have meaning.
In the past years, young people have been dragged into jails and summoned for their political opinions. The reason? They tried to put up a subject that felt dissenting to the ruling government. Be it a notch of comedians such as Tanmay Bhatt, Veer Das, Munawar Faruqui who dared to speak about political onsets, Sharjeell Imam and Umar Khalid who were arrested for their active participation in politics while they were still students, the Indian government has loudly clenched the jaws of Indian youth who have a voice.
Youth immersiveness is the plinth to a refurbished democracy the future India will need, to say the least, it still does. Over the world college students, young employees, young authors, and young entrepreneurs stand affirming the government decisions. But sadly in India, young people can’t afford to do this. With people arrested under UAPA, thrashed and abashed by communal goons, the Indian youth do not feel safe.
I recently had a conversation with a colleague who is also an active participant in political debates in his local area, and what he stated raises questions. Questions that needs to be answered by not a single entity but the bodies that run the country. He told me he is often mocked for his age, the local leaders claim he does not understand the deep-rooted customs, the leverage he gets as he belongs to a higher middle class, and how long-running leaders will not accept him.
Contrary to taking pride, Indian youth meagre towards ‘too young to understand’ claims. While it should have been a collective responsibility of people in power to support them and listen to their political opinions, similar powers barred them. And, this obviously has no benefits.
In India, the political landscape is so thwarted that it can not be ignored and having fewer youth voices might limit the future we are all rooting for. “There are several examples across the globe that point to the active involvement of youth in governance. Gabriel Boric, the President of Chile is only 36 years old and Sanna Marin, the Prime Minister of Finland, was only 34 when she took charge. A glimpse at Netherlands, Italy, and Denmark, where youth enjoy active political participation tells us that age doesn’t mark ‘seniority’ and the young generation is capable enough to run the biggest democracy in this world.” Instead of looking at these examples where the young hold the power, we are choosing to walk away ignoring its condescendency. The youth voice is so unheard, that we call leaders around 40 years as young politicians(not in the way to be age-shamed).
While the alienation of youth towards politics uppers, a congenial shift is made in the Loksabh Elections 2024. Iqra Chaudhary, Sanjana Jatav, Priya Saroj, Gaurav Gogoi and several others who won in their constituencies mark the hope for the future of young Indians. They primarily set a base for the youth to demand more seats in power-holding positions.
The political views of young Indian people are important to building the India of our dreams and hopes. From the food you eat to the clothes you put on, the climate and the car you drive, politics define it all. When young is the future, the political views must align.
You should care because…
This post will aware the young Indians about the necesssity to have political opinions.