RE:RE:What should a young bright graduate do ?

[Chetna & Umesh Tiwari <chetna.umesh@usa.net>]

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Dear Sabyasachi,

Thanks for at least taking the interest to respond to my suggestion. Let me
try to answer a few of your questions. First to your point that I quote here
:

"..But you see, my dad is not a MP or minister, so in the firstplace who
will allow me to enter politics, moreover if they find me as a member of
decent, honest and dedicated species they why they should take interest in
me.."

I don't blame you for your this simplistic reasoning, which is so common among
educated people of India. But I am sure you know the very basic definition of
a true leadership, and that is believing in principles, ideals and not
necessarily looking for a beaten track to follow, but setting new standards by
becoming role models.

In any case, you don't have to be a son of a politician in order to be a
politician, or else how will you inspire someone like you in the next
generation to shoulder the responsibility of running our nation? Is it tough?
You bet, but otherwise nobody would look for tough, and bright individuals for
the job.

Moreover, believing that all politicians are relatives of some other past or
present politicians would mean ignoring those who have struggled for years and
sacrificed a lot to enter the world of politics compelled by their inner drive
to do public service and nothing else.

Also, sitting here 10,000 miles away from India I can locate more then a
handful of active politicians who are sincere and honest, and yet young bright
individuals of our land fail to notice them, or rather I should say, don't
bother to check out the facts before following general impressions of ignorant
public. If you want to be a leader, you should be judicious first. Follow the
facts, and say like you see it and don't form generic opinions about a class
of people, cuz character belongs to individuals and not classes, and you do
have good people in every sphere of life just as you have corrupt people in
all walks of life.

The reason corrupt people in public places are more often talked about is
because their actions effect masses in more ways then those of private
citizens. Therefore, I would suggest you to at least start looking at public
service from a new perspective, set common beliefs aside, yes do pay attention
to corrupt practices of politicians but don't ignore those who could still be
role models, and there are many if you dare to pay attention.

I gather it was not really a very attractive idea to suggest you to think
about politics for the following few reasons:

1. Parents don't encourage kids to even think about politics.
2. There are no clear roadmaps to enter politics in India.
3. There are practical difficulties because of popular mindset.
4. Good, clean politics rewards in ways that are not appreciated by many
   individuals in our society. Unless success in measured in smaller
   terms like measuring the process of democratic change even if in the
   minds of citizens if not in public policy making, rewards could be
   forthcoming rather extremely slowly with lot of frustration along the
   way.

It certainly is not a bed of roses, no wonder why only real leaders (or crooks
who have been taking advantage of the absense of real ideal driven leaders)
are attracted to it, while others prefer to either ignore it, or find an
excuse in pointing out the difficulties and the bad people involved.

Please remember, there still are good people in politics, and have been there
for the last fifty years, or else we won't be running a democracy.

Anyway, I don't want you to feel guilty for not wanting to even think about
politics, it certainly amounts to sacrificing ones dreams and aspirations and
I or nobody should have the right to ask you or anyone to do so.

If you like to join IAS, great. I am sure you will do good if your intentions
are good. On the other hand, not being an IAS or in any other position of
power should not stop you from doing good to our society. In my personal
opinion, you are not missing out on anything.

In my opinion, a farmer, a businessman, a police officer, an IAS, a
politician, a teacher all serve our society very well as long as they do their
duty honestly. All are needed for our, or any civilized society to function
well. One of the bad things that our society has inherited from old feudal
past, and that is making people big or small by the simple tasks they perform.


People who perform a very important and necessary job of cleaning our trash
and filth are not respected and cared for. Farmers are assumed to be
illiterate and unsophisticated even if the whole population depends on the
food they produce. IAS is accorded the respect of "Sahib"... I am sure you get
the point. This is one reason why kids in India either want to be either IAS
of Doctors or Engineers, for no other category brings them the "respect",
"power" or "money" that they seek.

If it were not so, there would be innovations, people would not ignore the
plight of formers or sweepers, they would invent better and more decent ways
to do the uncomfortable jobs rather then leaving such chores to the "lowly"
people. As a result, there would be business, commerce, enterprise,
productivity, equality, decency and progress rather then the perpetual talks
of succeeding in such and such exams and working as one or the other
government official.

I hope this gives you some ideas.

Thank You.

Umesh Tiwari


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