The Initial Spark

Election fever is sweeping through India. Voting starts this week in a marathon series of elections that will run through May 13. In this upcoming election, young people in India are poised to assert influence like never before. This assertion of influence is being propelled by a large youth population, a new sense of civic engagement among young people in India, and the increased use of technology.

Young people in India represent a large part of the population. The median age in India is just under 25 years and 35% of the population is under 15. In terms of voting, this translates to 1/4 of India’s 721 million voters being under 25. Of the individuals in that group, 100 million of them will be casting ballots for the first time in the upcoming elections. India’s youth base wields a large amount of power.

The Mumbai terrorist attacks changed the way young people in India view their role in politics. Prior to this tragedy, India’s middle-class youth regarded voting as a waste of time. Take for example the 2004 election where only about 620,000 people of over 2 million in affluent South Mumbai registered to vote. Young people in South Mumbai did not even bother to register just a few years ago.

The explosion of anger that followed changed the widespread apathy of the middle class youth. The attacks in Mumbai prompted young people to question why they had such low standards for their political leaders. No longer would they remain politically inactive.

Following the Mumbai bombings, technology has enabled young Indians to voice their concerns over the government. Websites started by young people about politics such as “Rise Up Mumbai! Rise Up India!” have been rapidly expanding, calling for young people to vote in upcoming elections. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are making voter registration for young people easier than ever by using new online services. Years ago, an inefficient, bureaucratic system awaited aspiring first-time voters. Now, NGOs like Agni are allowing college students to complete important forms online.

The beginning of a cyclical pattern could be emerging. The attacks in Mumbai were the initial spark which prompted some of the youth in India to become invested in politics. As those young people became interested in their county’s leadership, they used technology to encourage other young Indians to become civically active as well. A testament to the success of this model is the fact that 43 million first time voters have been registered for the 2009 election.

If this trend continues, expect the youth to change the scope of politics in India. The future of the world’s largest democracy could be in the hands of its youngest citizens.