At a time when elections are in progress, and political parties are vying with each other to oust their rivals and emerge as victors for top positions in the country — including using the India-Pakistan air strikes as propaganda, and apportioning blame for failed policies, rampant unemployment, and so on — there is a need for leaders with clearer and more balanced policy-making abilities. This is what the Maharashtra Institute of Technology’s School of Government’s (MITSG) course on politics and political process is aiming at. Rahul Karad, founder and dean, explains how India needs dynamic, proactive, capable and knowledgeable leaders to handle political challenges.
While most other professions such as medicine, engineering, management, law, and so on, have dedicated graduate and postgraduate programmes to churn out educated and skilled professionals, there is a need for similar courses for politics too, more so as it concerns the well-being of a nation and its populace at large.
“India is one of the world’s youngest democracies, not because it attained freedom seven decades ago, but because of its demographic divide — we have young entrepreneurs, technocrats, and scientists, but few young leaders who can steer the nation towards becoming a global superpower,” elaborates Karad. “It is imperative to have some understanding on various policies of the government, how elections are conducted, India’s foreign policy, and so on. With the objective of providing leadership training to the youth for a career in politics, MIT School of Government was initiated in 2005.”
So, what makes the politics and political process course stand out from other similar courses across India and the world? “Master’s in political science is a theoretical course where there is optimal exposure given to students towards practical aspects of the functioning of the government. Our course, on the other hand, focuses on the experiential, facilitative and case-study method of learning, where students are exposed to a participative mode of learning,” Karad is quick to clarify.
Heady mix
“There is a healthy balance between theory and practical experience,” he explains. “All subjects in semesters I, II and III are to be compulsorily studied by all students, irrespective of their specialisation. They are designed so as to give them a general understanding of the different verticals such as political strategist, NGO, analyst, electoral politics, international relations, media and PR. The two-year postgraduate programme in political leadership and government comprises interactions with eminent political leaders, social activists, civil servants, classroom lectures, and field visits to the state assembly, municipal corporation, zilla parishad and gram panchayat, study tours to Parliament House, Rashtrapati Bhavan and secretariats, and an optional two-week international study tour to gain global exposure towards functioning of foreign parliament and offices, besides others.” Apart from this, second-year PG students also have to complete internships and attachments (up to a 10-month period) with political parties and leaders.
Options
Karad sheds light on how today’s political environment demands knowledge and skills such as foreign policy, political economy, international relations, public policy, Constitution, grassroot politics, and more, to win elections. “Political leaders, in their active public life, are concerned with developmental work, focusing on betterment of the masses. Thus, they require trained/skilled manpower to assist them in many of these endeavours. Thereby, students have opportunities to work in different capacities such as policy associates, legislative researchers, political analysts or strategists, election consultants, constituency or campaign managers, and so on — the possibilities are endless.”
Naturally, such positions require effective analytical skills, research aptitude, managerial expertise, leadership and communication skills, coupled with adept decision-making abilities. “Many professionals work for various government offices/projects, earn well, and enjoy security in their positions. Think tanks and private firms also provide job opportunities, and these professionals represent the country in international forums, indulging in debates of grave importance, having meetings with international leaders, passing bills in the parliament, and so on,” he affirms.
He further explains how students with different educational backgrounds have varied roles to play, in the vastness of politics as a sector and as a profession. “Politics offers careers in two ways — electoral politics and functional politics,” explains Karad. “Electoral politics is one’s own initiative. So, by virtue of constitution, one can contest elections at any level — from gram panchayat to parliament. Functional politics, on the other hand, provides ample opportunities to students, based on their educational qualification and exposure to the world of politics, in varied ways. Graduates and postgraduates benefit more based on their inclination, skill sets, and so on.”
Need of the hour
Karad believes, “When we look at the present political scenario, India needs leaders who have a fair idea about what is happening and what they must do when they take over the mantle. But how do they go about it? Some ways include getting proper guidance and knowledge where they can form their perspectives, and give better guidance when leading the country and its citizens. Just as professionals strive for a corporate organisation to enhance its brand equity, maintain a healthy balance sheet, and derive good customer feedback, politicians do so for their respective political parties and constituency. Thus, the role of education in politics will determine the quality of our future political leaders.”
