3rd Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad

erment of the country and the world. Convenors Desk

Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad (Indian Student Parliament) – A Seed Thought

India is the largest democracy in the world and certainly amongst the more mature ones. If India has to change, we need politics of development. To bring in this change, we need youth who are committed to politics. The criminalization factor in politics has to end. Criminals and corrupt people should not be allowed in politics. We need to develop an interest among youth for embracing public life and politics as a profession, with a view to strengthen the democratic fabric of our nation. Yes, social activism is there among youth, but they have developed a hatred for politicians, political offices and politics. But all political parties are not bad. It is imperative to change the image of politics among youth. To have healthy democracy, it is important to have good politics in the country. Good politics can facilitate healthy democracy in our country. In our country, we have various NGOs and social activists like Anna Hazare who can play a major role to create awareness about healthy democracy. But they can't be at its core, the institution has to be democracy. I need not stress separately that democracy is one of the best forms of government, where the rule is of the people, by the people and for the people. In 2005, under the mentorship of Mr. Seshan, former Chief Election Commissioner of India, we started MIT School of Government (MIT-SOG), which is an institute to train the youth for a career in politics and government. Many people did not appreciate the concept. In 2005, we had completed nearly 58 years of our country's independence and it was high time that we thought of good governance. However, we were very sure it could only come through educated and trained young men and women. Today, it is a matter of pride for us that nearly 250 alumni of MIT-SOG, who are trained in the functioning of various democratic institutions of the country and who are aware of different political ideologies, are working in various political parties and will have a very crucial role to play in the politics of the country in the near future. To further this noble mission, the Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad was launched in 2011. It is an extension of MITSOG, wherein we can reach a larger fraternity in India to sensitize them, provide knowledge & training and also a proper platform to enter politics. Student politics is not new to India. In the early years of India's independence, most leaders who came forward were from the freedom struggle. But in later years, many leaders who came into limelight were the product of student movements. In fact, the first non-Congress government that came to power at the centre in 1977 was the result of the 'Navnirman Movement', which was initiated in a students' hostel in Gujarat under the guidance of Jai Prakash Narayan, and which later turned into a nationwide movement during the period of National Emergency. It was this movement which later resulted into the formation of the Janata Party, which formed the first non-Congress government in India. Today, many Chief Ministers of the various Indian states like Mamata Bannerjee of West Bengal, Nitish Kumar of Bihar, Shivraj Chauhan of Madhya Pradesh, Narendra Modi of Gujarat are the result of student political movements. Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad aims to ignite this very spirit of student politics in the youth of today. The time is ripe for the youth to come forward to shoulder the responsibility of public life and leadership. The Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad is a unique platform created for the youth of India, which makes them aware of the realities facing the nation. Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad also gives the youth a platform to voice their opinions and question eminent personalities who have made a mark in their respective fields. Thus, it provides them the first lessons on the functioning of a parliamentary democracy. During their formative years, the youth can decide on any political ideology that they think would best serve the country and follow it. BCS is not a slave to any political ideology or party. Instead, BCS promotes the ideology of developmental politics. The Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad, in a way, is a classroom that provides political coaching to nearly 8-10 thousand students at a time. It provides lessons on the functioning of a democracy by allowing the participants to take part in discussions and vote on resolutions. In the age group of 18-25, when the students are morally and ethically sensitive, Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad provides them lessons not just on the issues facing the country, but on how to face these issues in a morally and ethically sensitive way. We have conducted two student parliaments in 2011 & 2012 respectively. The idea of Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad is now gathering momentum. It has only completed the second year and it will take 4 to 5 years to get matured. The various governing bodies will then take better cognizance of the various resolutions that are passed in the Sansad. As the first step towards convening state-wise students' parliaments, we are organizing the Haryana Chapter of Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad on 17th & 18th of March 2012. The day is not far when this idea will travel beyond the borders of India. We have a vision to have Chapters of the Indian Student Parliament or the Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad in all States of India, facilitated by the respective Legislative Assemblies of India. Even a country like USA, which has nearly 1500-2000 universities, does not have a common single platform on which the students can come together to discuss the real issues facing their country. It is so in many other countries also. I envisage that Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad and the manner in which it is conducted can lead the way for other countries to emulate. In conclusion, let me say that we cannot do without Good Governance. There is no place for corrupt and criminal people in the polity of our country. We need to bring in rapid changes in the way our country is governed. I feel there are NGOs and other institutions, which have their own roles to play and they are doing it well by serving as a political wheel. But the only way things can change at the top is through politics. I urge you all to please rise above regional and sectarian considerations, look at our country as a single entity and come forward to lead it! JAI HIND! JAI BHARAT! Rahul V. Karad
Founder Convenor, Indian Student Parliament
Chief Initiator & Dean, MIT-SOG
Executive Director, MAEER's MIT Group of Institutions