By Devendra Kumar Budakoti
One India dreams of becoming a Neta or Abhineta, while the other strives to be a Mantri or even a Sentry. But perhaps, at the core, both are chasing the same four P’s — Power, Prestige, Paisa, and Pahchan.
Thomas Hobbes, the political philosopher, believed that the desire for power is constant and restless — driven by the instinct of self-preservation. This desire, he said, leads to a “war of all against all,” which can only be resolved by establishing an absolute sovereign — a central authority with indivisible power to define law, morality, and justice.
In a democratic setup, however, power is attained through the electoral process. Individuals and parties must win elections to gain access to the levers of state power. To do so, they release manifestos filled with promises — many of which stretch the boundaries of realism.
Over the years, especially in recent times, this political competition has escalated into a frenzy of appeasement. Some parties promise a government job for at least one person in every household. Grand gestures — such as ministers handing over a few appointment letters with fanfare — are marketed as transformative milestones. My 87-year-old mother recalls how these promises have been echoing since the early days of the republic: poverty removal, employment generation, and controlling inflation. Little seems to have changed.
Instead of crafting thoughtful public policies on education, health, livelihoods, rural development, and cooperatives — in consultation with experts and civil society — governments are increasingly resorting to spectacle. The government employment letter distribution event replaces long-term employment strategy. A CBI probe into a paper leak becomes a PR win, rather than a moment for systemic reform.
Thanks to social media, alternative viewpoints are finally gaining space. Recent youth-led protests over unemployment and examination leaks pushed the government onto the back foot — resulting in inquiry announcements and exam rescheduling. But even if every future exam is flawlessly conducted, can the government realistically provide jobs to even 8–10% of India’s unemployed youth?
It’s time we pivot toward scalable, sustainable solutions. Skill development, embedded in the New Education Policy, must be prioritized. Fellowships and scholarships in both liberal arts and professional courses should be vastly expanded to support meaningful academic and career trajectories.
If future politics continues to revolve around job doles and handouts — like free rations and pension schemes — instead of robust, forward-looking public policy, then the vision of India as a developed nation by 2047 remains just that: a vision.
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The author is a sociologist and has been active in the development sector for over four decades.
