In politics, dynasty = destiny?

The non-dynastic entrants to politics, especially thosewho���ve come up the student politics route, say that it���s much moredifficult for them to pursue politics as a profession. But they also say thatwith patience and hard work, there���s no reason why young politicalaspirants can���t make their mark ingovernance.Amrita Bahri, who was elected DUSU president in 2007, says theabsence of a famous surname does make it harder for people like her. ���Idon���t come from a political background, and I have to admit that it wasdifficult to make people realise that I���m here to be a part of the systemso that I can change it. People have to understand that it is about acandidate���s potential and not about the background he/she has. They refuseto connect with you otherwise!��� she says.Current DUSUpresident Nupur Sharma also concurs. ���Jaise ghar ki nayi dulhan ko chabisaunpte hain, waise hi hamare yahan political sampatti milti hai,��� shesays. ���There are so many ex-DUSU presidents who need to be in the systemright now.��� But she also says that the reason there are relatively fewnon-dynastic young leaders is not just because of the monopoly of dynasticpoliticos. ���Very few of us (from non-political backgrounds) are interestedin getting into politics anyway,��� she says. BJP member VijayGoel, who���s a former union minister, also started out as DUSU president.���Political parties are unwilling to take a risk with young leaders unlessthey���re already ���celebrities���,��� he says. ���How willa young guy with no political background be famous? Even if he tries to dosomething, in what capacity will he do it individually? You can still go aheadand do it, but then political parties have problems and aapke dus dushman khadeho jate hain.���AICC spokesperson Nadeem Javed, who also came upthrough student politics, says that the choice of politics as a career is adifficult one. ���For someone like me, who belongs to a middle class family,the big question after college is that of my rozi roti ��� how will I managemy family if I choose politics?��� he says.Congress member AlkaLamba, who was also a DUSU president, says that for a female student leader,marriage and family are major issues if you���re not from a politicalfamily. ���After college, one gets married, and the family you���re inmight have problems. I had to move out of my marriage, because my aim was to bein politics and bring about change,��� she says.But AmritaDhawan, who was DUSU prez in 2006, says she sees no harm in dynastic politicosgetting attention because of their surname. ���I see other people gettingequal opportunities too,��� she says, ���And the others are often at anadvantage, at least in the university, because they make the common studentsthink, ���If she can be a part of this system, I can think about ittoo,������ shesays.Those who���ve stayed on in politics afterstarting their career at the student level say that you���ve just got tostick it out, no matter what. ���It���s not difficult to win oneelection. What is difficult is to sustain your position in politics. The mostimportant thing young politicians should learn is patience,��� saysGoel.Javed agrees. ���For those who struggle and reach the nextlevel, it���s a big advantage. His/her management skills improve. Only youngleaders will be able to connect with the youth,��� he says. But he also addsthat mainstream politics is not necessarily the only option for student leaders.���They should try and be leaders in whatever field they are gettinginto,��� he says.Lamba says that it���s important to havethe will to stick it out despite corruption and delays. ���If I want to bean MP and I miss out on the ticket once, then I have to wait for five longyears. Student politics is important, but the next step is more important,because after that you see corruption and injustice, and you have to make yourway despite that,��� she says.���Student politics isimportant, but the next step is more important, because after that you seecorruption and injustice, and you have to make your way despitethat������AlkaLamba���Political parties are unwilling to take a riskwith young leaders unless they���re already���celebs���������VijayGoel���People have to understand that it���s abouta candidate���s potential, not about her/his background������AmritaBahri���Non-dynastic leaders make common studentsthink, ���If she can be part of this system, I can think about ittoo������ Amrita Dhawan