Many Macrons waiting to lead India if you know where to look

Austria recently elected Sebastian Kurz in its national elections. At 31, he is the youngest head of a democratically elected government, and succeeds Christian Kern, 51, the retiring chancellor. His rightwing politics aside, the trend towards younger politicians is happening all over Europe, and comes at a time when the status quo, read older politicians, is being questioned.

Though 61-year-old Angela Merkel is still Germany’s chancellor, Christian Linder, 34, of the Free Democratic Party is bringing into politics personalities from media, culture, the arts and sciences. One-time banker Emmanuel Macron’s election as president at 39 was the largest electoral victory France had seen since Charles de Gaulle in 1958. While moving into the Elysees Palace, he too brought young ministers to the new parliament, leaving barely a handful above 70. Part of his appeal is the clear move away from the stagnant political scene of his predecessors, into an era of intellectual innovation, Euro Zone reform, and digital disruption — all ideas supported by the younger generation. Even if you leave out North Korea’s Kim Jong-un at 34, elsewhere too there is a similar turn. Estonia elected Juri Ratas, 38; Belgium’s

Charles Michel

is 41. Jacinda Ardern, 37, New Zealand’s youngest PM, is a woman, while Ireland’s

Leo Varadkar

, 38, is gay and the son of an Indian immigrant. Barack Obama became president at 47.

Look at the average age of Indian politicians. Prime Minister Modi is 67, Manmohan Singh was 79 when he occupied the office, Sheila Dixit was Delhi CM at 75. Name anyone young — Sachin Pilot, Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, Milind Deora, Supriya Sule among others — and you will find an older family link. A young country ruled by old people and their relatives. Isn’t it time to ask the all-important question: who are these people and what have they really done to resolve chronic unemployment, unlivable cities, polluted and silted rivers, rising illiteracy and malnutrition? Even the old problems of famine, Kashmir, and religious divide seem as intractable as ever. The perennially catastrophic statistics never seem to affect a leadership that has grown to accept the country in constant decline.

Obviously the demands on an older leadership are strenuous, mentally and physically. But age aside, the real test of performance calls for a radical shift in thinking. More than ever now the country needs a direction that is formed out of an altogether new stimulus — entirely out of reach of the older set. If India is truly changing then it must begin to reflect — like Europe’s young politicians — in real life, by opening up politics beyond oppressive family domination and providing opportunities to new and unlikely potential.

Among the possible contenders for the next election, three professions should be ruled out: cricket, film and current politics. Tainted by big money and overwhelmingly self-centred, any association with the three would be detrimental to the country. But once you leave the delusional politics of the big city and stray into real life, it is hard to be pessimistic. There are enough young people — potential politicians — at work on projects they have initiated for the larger good. Amongst the almost 1.2 billion people to choose from, here are six extraordinary candidates.

Piyush Ghosh, 20, the youngest aspirant, is not formally a journalist, but started India’s first newspaper with a positive slant to every story. The Optimist Citizen examines good governance, reticent heroes, and highlights only the best of India.
Aniket Deogar, 26 started a platform to inform illiterate citizens of their eligibility for government schemes. In a country with mounting, but unimplemented, do-good ideas and political promises, he ensures the benefits reach the poor.

Arjun Gupta, 30, has created indigenous models for reducing electricity consumption in buildings — the country’s heaviest drain on energy resource. With Indian cities expected to be the most populous, his future applications will be indispensable.

Anuradha Acharya, 44, is the founder of a genomics diagnostic company based in Hyderabad. Her work puts her at the forefront of bio-technology and the sort of advanced medical research so far lacking in India.

Shaheen Mistri, 46, is an educator and CEO of Teach for India. Trying to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor in education, she directs young professionals to teach at low-income schools for two years.

Meanwhile, Kamla, 27, is a resident of a village in Almora. She wakes up every day at 5am to scour the hillside for fodder for her two cows. After feeding them and preparing food for the family, she departs for another few hours to fetch water. After completing her home chores she searches for firewood. At night she is often beaten by her husband. Kamla represents India’s largest silent majority.

* The writer is a Delhi-based architect