Dear Narendrabhai,
It looks like you are set to be the next Prime Minister of India.
If you do, it would be clear that the singular mandate you have been given is the mandate to change the status quo.
Here is an idea that I believe can bring lasting change at the core of Indian society:
The Draft: A year of mandated and paid community service for all young people through internships with the various arms of the Government and the Services. To begin with we could start this program with all college graduates.
As soon as I put this idea down on paper I can hear the hue and cry rise from all side. "An impingement of individual rights" some will protest. Others will say it is impractical and too expensive to afford. In fact one of the themes you and your current election campaign is pushing is that of "Less Government. More Governance" and this idea seems to fly directly in the face of such a theme.
"Less Government More Governance" is an idea from the capitalist right, borrowed by your campaign, lock, stock and barrel, from the Republicans of US and the Tories of UK. India is a unique place and time where change will not come through borrowed ideas. Anyway what does "governance" mean? Wouldn't the involvement of the people directly and hands-on in projects of the government be "more and good governance"? Wouldn't the direct scrutiny by eager young minds of acts by the government be "less and better government"?
As for costs, yes the costs will be untenable if we put this army of young people on unproductive tasks. But surely we can avoid the MNREGA trap of putting people, figuratively speaking, to dig trenches and then refill them? Surely we can use the talents and the clear-eyed enthusiasm of India's educated young to productive use in sectors where the government has a role to play? If we do so, I can bet my bottom rupee that the money we spend on the Draft will be more than repaid in both qualitative and quantitative terms through impact on the quality of life as well as impact on GDP.
As for the rights of the individual, what good are rights without responsibilities? Total freedom is a contradiction in terms. Like Vivekananda says you cannot give up the world unless first you earn and have something to give up.
Narendrabhai I am told that you are a believer in the teachings of Vivekananda. As you would know, a central tenet of his teachings on education is "man-making". And a person is made in the first few years of working life. That is when he or she assimilates ideas and passions. A year in community service will give this assimilation a far greater scope and depth than landing straight into the rat race, which is what most young people currently do.
In community service a person is much more likely to imbibe the paradigm that what we give to our work is much more important than what we get. A paradigm that not only makes for greater productivity all through a person's life but for greater happiness too.
Finally, it is my belief that a year spent in public service will persuade a lot many brilliant and dynamic young people , for the right and informed reasons, to choose politics and public service as a profession.
With best regards
It looks like you are set to be the next Prime Minister of India.
If you do, it would be clear that the singular mandate you have been given is the mandate to change the status quo.
Here is an idea that I believe can bring lasting change at the core of Indian society:
The Draft: A year of mandated and paid community service for all young people through internships with the various arms of the Government and the Services. To begin with we could start this program with all college graduates.
As soon as I put this idea down on paper I can hear the hue and cry rise from all side. "An impingement of individual rights" some will protest. Others will say it is impractical and too expensive to afford. In fact one of the themes you and your current election campaign is pushing is that of "Less Government. More Governance" and this idea seems to fly directly in the face of such a theme.
"Less Government More Governance" is an idea from the capitalist right, borrowed by your campaign, lock, stock and barrel, from the Republicans of US and the Tories of UK. India is a unique place and time where change will not come through borrowed ideas. Anyway what does "governance" mean? Wouldn't the involvement of the people directly and hands-on in projects of the government be "more and good governance"? Wouldn't the direct scrutiny by eager young minds of acts by the government be "less and better government"?
As for costs, yes the costs will be untenable if we put this army of young people on unproductive tasks. But surely we can avoid the MNREGA trap of putting people, figuratively speaking, to dig trenches and then refill them? Surely we can use the talents and the clear-eyed enthusiasm of India's educated young to productive use in sectors where the government has a role to play? If we do so, I can bet my bottom rupee that the money we spend on the Draft will be more than repaid in both qualitative and quantitative terms through impact on the quality of life as well as impact on GDP.
As for the rights of the individual, what good are rights without responsibilities? Total freedom is a contradiction in terms. Like Vivekananda says you cannot give up the world unless first you earn and have something to give up.
Narendrabhai I am told that you are a believer in the teachings of Vivekananda. As you would know, a central tenet of his teachings on education is "man-making". And a person is made in the first few years of working life. That is when he or she assimilates ideas and passions. A year in community service will give this assimilation a far greater scope and depth than landing straight into the rat race, which is what most young people currently do.
In community service a person is much more likely to imbibe the paradigm that what we give to our work is much more important than what we get. A paradigm that not only makes for greater productivity all through a person's life but for greater happiness too.
Finally, it is my belief that a year spent in public service will persuade a lot many brilliant and dynamic young people , for the right and informed reasons, to choose politics and public service as a profession.
With best regards
2 comments:
An idea whose time has come in India. Countries like USA and Singapore have benefited from this idea. It will also enhance the confidence of these youngsters, who would have seen a bit of life before they start their jobs or businesses.
Ashoke,
This is dejavu to me - this is the principle on which IIMB our almamater was started. So we had the Social Involvement Project for all students in the second year December time frame and the students on Sectoral Programs did first year internships largely at Public Sector Firms and on graduating, went to work for the same or comparable Public Sector companies.
For starters, they can make the internship a part of graduation requirements and do it in the second year summer break at no cost to the exchequer. Engineering students are already required to do an internship and Medical students are required to do their House Surgency (Residency or Internship) at highly reduced salaries, as this is part of their graduation requirements.
This will be a good beginning and if college faculty and other mentors are established to manage the summer internship the agencies providing the opportunity will actually get some free consulting work.
See if you can get this back to IIMB for starters and then spread the word to local Governments and Universities and grow the movement. Let me know how I can help.
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