Sunday 7 October 2007

Qualifications - Voracious Blog Reader

Looking at our politicians in India, I came up with this question:

What are the necessary qualifications to become a politician?

These questions struck my mind when trying to answer the above question:

a) Should one have a good educational upbringing?

b) Should one have good experience in serving the society?

c) A mixture of both? [Is it feasible?]

While there are a minimum set of criteria that are to be met to become a Lawyer, Doctor, Engineer etc., are there any set of rules for a Politician?

I cannot take this answer from you all: He should be a Rowdy and so on and so forth.



Voracious Blog Reader


30 comments:

unfuel the planet said...

we had a similar discussion a few days back in this blog itself....

in a democracy people get what they deserve.. so if India is ruled by che atslike Kumaswamy... then the people who elect r at fault... and not the politicians.

and again and again i would say... putting a education qualifications as a entry criteria is a SIN.... firstly you do not propvide educational facilities to the poor (1/3 ofthe country and 80% of the people below poverty line cannot read and write) and then you snatch their right to stand up and represent themselves.

Unknown said...

Saturday anniki Thennavan paartha effectaaa? :P :)) :))

But seriously... Everyone only seem to jus talk abt it...no act abt it whatsoever!!

Ravi said...

I think all that is needed is the passion to "serve". If that driving force exists, rest will fall in place. Even if you are ignorant, you can get youself education, even if you do not have experience in public life, no big deal, you can get experienced as you go along. So what boils down is finally the attitude to "serve" - sincerely, honestly and diligently!

Jeevan said...

A politician should be able to understand people’s problem, a leader to guide the state/country on the right path with good aware. If a person has true interest to serve for people, the qualification will grow automatically and selfishness less is must in working for people.

R. Prabhu said...

Naalu paerukku nalladhu seigiravan evana irundhalum ok, avanukku padippu panam ellam thevai illai, aanaal oru condition. Avan help pannura naalu paer avan family-yagavo alladhu avan friends/relatives-a, jaadhikaaran appadinu ellam illama irukanum.

R. Prabhu said...

Apart from that, nalla advisor's kooda vechuka therinjavan naata enna ulagathayae aalalaam :)

Anonymous said...

@ Ankur

Got your point. But then who then is eligible to contest for the post of a politician?

@ Curious

Lol. No, I didn't watch that movie. Don't even know what it is about.

@ Ravi

//
Attitude to Serve
//

Very true Ravi. If only all politicians have this attitude.

After all: "Service to man is service to" God right?

@ Jeevan

//
If a person has true interest...
//

Exactly.

//
a leader to guide the state/country on the right path
//

How can one develop this? One cannot gain experience in chosing the right path by committing a mistake which concerns the millions of people right? Any suggestions?

@ Prabhu

Prabu,

An advisor is a real good idea. It is always important to keep oneself informed and also concentrate on other important things.

As you said, one should come out of the caste/creed school of thinking.


Voracious Blog Reader

unfuel the planet said...

//But then who then is eligible to contest for the post of a politician?//
any indian citizen above the age of 18years.

you should not filter who can contest and who cannot... what you should worry about is who should you elect and who not.

Ravi said...

Sree, unga blog-a VBR-kku lease-la vittuteengala?? Unga posts-e kaanom? Just kidding. Anyway am enjoying VBR's posts as well. VBR - maybe you should change your name to VBW (W for Writer)!!

Anonymous said...

@ Ankur

Ankur, I sure should worry about whom I want to elect. But the question is "who? What should be his/her credentials? etc.,". By qualifications, I am not talking about just "educational" qualifications.

@ Ravi

Ravi, Sree will be back soon. No worries. :)

Nice suggestion. But I would like to stick on to VBR. Hee hee.

At last a post in your blog Ravi. Dho varen. :)

Voracious Blog Reader

prerna said...

More than educational qualifications if there is no criminal case against the candidate that is half the battle won for the voter.

unfuel the planet said...

the only qualification he should have is that the people believe in that he will represent them well.

//if there is no criminal case against the candidate that is half the battle won for the voter.//

why.. what if he belonged to one of the extremists group (eg landless tiller in bihar) and he had to fight to get his justice... there were many of such individuals we are praised even centuries later.

2) what if he/she is framed... its easy to frame a guy who is against the authority.

Ravi said...

I second Ankur. Moreover, should't we give a chance for a convict to realise and change? ofcourse, only if we see that as a possibility.

R. Prabhu said...

he should have is that the people believe in that he will represent them well.

I third ankur in the above point with an addition, that it is not only the belief, but he should also act that way. Oru Sathyaseelan :D

Jeevan said...

Sree you have been tagged! check my blog.

Anonymous said...

@ Ankur, Ravi & Prabu

I agree too. But I wonder whether we would really vote for such a person.

//
to represent the people well
//

How does one know whether a person will represent the people well? How can we take his/her's words? I am sure pro to the above idea and I am thinking only on further lines.

Can one then say that, "to represent well" comes with experience which in turn comes from selfless service?

Even if a good person becomes a politician, he/she has to withstand pressure from both the sides viz. "to hold on to his virtues" and "moving as friendly as possible with the other senior corrupt politicians". A Government will not have honest politicians over night, but will have ones as time passes. But there has to be a start somewhere by someone. A nouveau honest politician has to bear these difficulties till the Government becomes clean.

Voracious Blog Reader

unfuel the planet said...

//I agree too. But I wonder whether we would really vote for such a person.//
yups... as i said.. in democracy u get what u deserve... :)

//Can one then say that, "to represent well" comes with experience which in turn comes from selfless service?//
usually it does... but again its more like a gut feeling... u cannot enact a law which does the selection for u.

//Even if a good person becomes a politician, he/she has to withstand pressure from both the sides viz. //
actually the single biggest trouble he faces is getting the funds for the election campaign... the government salaries does not provide any support and those who give u money expect favors... and that is undoing all our honesty in democracy
http://enagar.com/2006/11/13/election-funds-corruption-in-indian-politics/

//A Government will not have honest politicians over night, but will have ones as time passes. But there has to be a start somewhere by someone. A nouveau honest politician has to bear these difficulties till the Government becomes clean.//
exactly... all we need is a system where the honest guy can survive... one does not has to make compromises just to exist... and slowly honesty will again resurface... unfortunately today's political environment is everything but this.

Anonymous said...

People who are concerned about what the eligibility should be..like you? :-)

Compassion Unlimitted said...

Educational background need not be high.but the rest of the two are neccy.
Each party should commit to get the mix slowly in..but when will it happen..at least in the next two decades..hope so
Thanks for a thought provoking blog.One has keep raising these lest they disappear into background among our day to day activities

TC
CU

Anonymous said...

@ CW

Hey, don't get your point/question. Can you please elaborate? Thanks.

By the way, welcome to Sri's views.

@ CU

Welcom here.

Should we really think that these would take 2 decades? Probably somebody started right now to be honest.

Voracious Blog Reader

Anonymous said...

When you sit up to ponder over what can make a good politician, you exhibit some sort of interest/concern in the process- so I think people like that, who are also inclined towards politics (you? ;-) should take it up.

I didn't know until now about yr blog-- u didn't leave yr url in yr earlier comments. Inime you don't have to :-)

Compassion Unlimitted said...

Well..I am not a pessimist..but still to reach a billion population spread over a vast country..I would be happy if its achieved earlier..but then its big but..
TC
CU

Deekshanya said...

1) Should be a graduate (atleast)
2) The portfolio provided should align with the person's graduation/work experience if any. (Typically the agricultural ministry should be given to a person with B.Sc Agri or a veteran skilled in agriculture.)
3)Should have never been imprisoned on criminal offences.
4)Should have assets less than a certain cut off value
5)Should provide certificates, IT proofs, bank statements, asset docs etc at the time of nomination. A spl screening/vetting should be done on them prior to making them eligible to contest in the elections.
- Thanks
deeksh

Anonymous said...

Lovely points Deekshanya.

Can you please elucidate point no.4?
Then the hard working rich people with great capabilities are left out right? Or am I missing your point?

Voracious Blog Reader

Anonymous said...

Sree, others:

Some of you will enjoy this post on "fixing the system":

http://satyameva-jayate.org/2007/09/14/fixing-the-system/

In addition, have a look at: "Light at the end of the tunnel"

http://satyameva-jayate.org/2007/04/13/bpd-bm-lp-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/

and other related posts on my blog http://satyameva-jayate.org/

Anonymous said...

Political mind like Gandhi..
Social enlightment concerns like Ambedkar...
Commitment towards goal like Bhagat Singh..
Witty nature like LALU...
Boldness in decision making like Indira..
Leader qualities of Subhashchandrabose..
(note, education is not the only criteria)
Basic education to read and write can suffice if all above mentioned qualities are wid him...

We have professionals/commissions to give advice .....he shud not be a rocket scientist to be a Prime minister/President...

Anonymous said...

@ Nitin

Wow. That was a wonderful description.

Can you also throw light on the qualifications of the professionals/commissions who are eligible to advice?

Thank you.

Voracious Blog Reader

Anonymous said...

Hey..

Take example of TRAI, RBI , ASSOCHAM and various commisions setup by leading Judges/Offciers...

No one can be a champ in every field..All speeches by ministers are written by professionals...they dont write it themselves..

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