Want to be a politician? Here’s a PG course for you

The programme is targeted at students and young professionals who wish to make a career in the field of politics, governance, public affairs, and leadership

Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday addressed the convocation ceremony of Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership (IIDL) at the Constitution Club. She distributed degrees to students who have successfully completed the one year post-graduate diploma in leadership and governance. The institute is affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

While addressing the gathering, Ms Sitharaman said, “The Prabodhini has come up with a good course for young minds in this open democratic system. It has evolved as a rigorous training and methodology for political leadership. A vacuum existed in terms of learning about political and public participation in democratic system. In order to participate in democracy, a curriculum like this is a big service to public policy.”

The programme is targeted at students and young professionals who wish to make a career in the field of politics, governance, public affairs, and leadership. The institute aspires to play a proactive role in the process of democracy as the democratic process has become much more engaging and participative than ever. The youth is more aware of their rights and duties.

“There was no institute of democracy in India. This is India’s first democratic leadership institution. Deliverance of democracy is critical and is dependent on leadership. Hence, to expose the younger generation of the country to leadership and show them what it takes to deliver good governance, the program was started,” said Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, the BJP MP and vice-chairman of RMP.

“For the first time in India, a structured post graduate course to comprehensively understand leadership science, politics, and governance was launched last year by IIDL. The nine-month residential post graduate programme in leadership, politics, and governance course entails creating skills and competencies needed for leadership in politics, governance, and public affairs,” he added.

IIDL was set up by Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini (RMP), which is a Mumbai based research and training academy working for capacity building of people, representatives, political party workers, and voluntary social workers.

The second batch of IIDL, the nine-month programme launched by IIDL, include class lectures as well as field training that will be conducted in Gujarat and Delhi.