Electing the future of India

For those looking from the outside, the end of the Indian elections was still thrilling. Although there are no provisions for non-resident Indians like me to vote by mail-in ballots, we are a powerful lobby. There’s 25 million of us living abroad. And while I did not travel to India, like many others did, to cast my vote, that did not deter me or others in the same position from being atwitter about the election.

The most popular topic of conversation wasn’t about the incoming government, their majority, or a dissection of who is presented with which portfolio. Discussions centered around the young. Young politicians, that is.

Unlike in India, the celebrations here did not spill into the streets. Instead, friends gathered in each other’s homes to roast and toast the results. Their roasts obviously alluded to the bulk of this year’s line up – the seasoned politicians. The toast of town however, was the sprinkling of first-time young politicians.

With obvious fascination, we had watched the process from far away. While we didn’t personally attend any political rallies, we certainly read all about them. And from that emerged the most interesting observation: that a young politician seemed to be getting ready to lead the country and like everyone, whether in India or abroad, we simply had to wait and watch. The most charismatic young politician du jour is none other than Rahul Gandhi, 38, the latest of his dynasty to join Indian politics.

Granted, most of the young politicians, like Gandhi, come from political families. But, having said that, they are all very well educated (either in India or abroad) and a number of them have worked with private corporations before they joined Indian politics.

“Give them a chance,” said the director of a film club in Abu Dhabi. “Don’t give them portfolios but make them deputies or assistants so they can get some experience before going on to more senior positions.”

How or why it was that these elections saw such an exemplary crop of young professionals turn into politicians has been the topic of conversation for many long evenings spent on the beach at the Corniche.

It may have been a combination of factors but my friends like to believe the terrorist attacks on Mumbai and the recession coincided with an entire generation coming of age.

Whatever the cause may be, the results suggest to us that there is hope for the future.