Students interested in politics yet intimidated by the system

Students in the city are interested in politics but they neither like it nor wish to pursue it as a career. Although the youth wings and students’ politics have emerged in various universities across the city, the perspective of the youth towards politics hasn’t changed.

Considering that politics has the power to make rules and the authority to bring about change, students said they felt intimidated by the whole political system. Aishwarya Patil, a student, said, “I would like to join politics but I still feel that every politician is either inherently corrupt or turns corrupt in due course of time. We know that politics is powerful but the negative side of politics overpowers our perception.”

To encourage politics, leadership and governance among students, the Maharashtra Institute of Technology-School of Government (MIT-SOG) wants to provide a platform for students to study politics. MITSOG at Pune has been training students in politics and providing access to political parties for the past 12 years.

At the end of a one year master’s programme or short term programmes, students are recommended to various political parties. Rahul Karad, Vice President of MIT-SOG, said, “We recommend students to various political parties but cannot guarantee them jobs. We can provide a platform for students to access the political parties and meet the leaders but it totally depends on students whether they wish to continue and grow in that field.”

Students have a mixed opinion about the need for a curriculum or school for politics.

Sainath Durge, core team member of Yuva Sena, said, “Politics cannot be taught in a school or within the four walls of a classroom. One should get involved in the actual work of public service on field to understand the ground reality.”