Political Indian Job Prospects for a Stanford Graduate?

International Students
1

<p>Hello fellow CC’ers.</p>

<p>As some people on this Indian forum know, I’ve selected to go to Stanford but have deferred enrollment. Yet, one of the main normative principles that govern my life is to do something for the world. Let me elaborate. I know many HSMYP grads usually go into finance and use their intelligence for nothing but gaining money. That’s all well and fine. I have nothing against it. </p>

<p>But as for me, I really don’t like that mindset. I know I’m going to die and all these luxuries that I purchase with my money are not going to remain. But what will remain, is a legacy. A spirit or a contribution that someone will remember you by. I know there are different mediums to achieve this but I want to do it through Indian politics because I know that there’s a lot of potential for change and I really really care for the country.</p>

<p>However, I have no political affiliations nor do I have any familial connections (so essential for joining politics). Yet, I’m pretty sure that a Stanford degree in economics/public policy (and a later masters degree in a top school) can open up doors because in India I’m pretty sure that the school holds some weight in top policy circles. </p>

<p>Therefore, my question is that will a Stanford degree make it easier to enter Indian politics (perhaps by gaining a ticket or directly working in a top governmental department).</p>

<p>I know Indian politics is a murky world and I know it isn’t without its flaws. But my drive to do something positive for the nation remains strong. You can call be an idealist but I think behind this idealism is a gritty realism.</p>

<p>I hope all the great people on this forum can advice based on their experiences. :)</p>

2

<p>I have no experience whatsoever. I get affected by it every day, though. Bad infrastructure, apathy, hygiene, water, pollution,red tape… I pay taxes and do not think I get what I deserve in return. I am told my money is being used to build the nation but alas, if the 10 km distance is going to take forever to travel, trust me has taken me over 2 hours to cover the distance, I wonder…I wonder…This is when we have already have flyovers in place. I am an optimist but here even my optimism begins to shudder. But I keep the faith hoping someday someone like you and people in the following links will have the courage. I do not have it though, the courage or the passion. I try to do my bit in whatever little way I can, make sure follow the rules, avoid paying a bribe, not scared to yell at one who is asking for it…</p>

<p>A word of caution though, look what happened to Shashi Tharoor, but hats off to him, he did not give up. Still very active in his constituency. And he was a outsider to begin with…My take on that they could not stand an intelligent, honest and well read man and that made it difficult for him to survive. Some jealousies, some insecurities, and some pure shamelessness and doublespeak on part of the opposition. For we have worse personalities sticking on and surviving and making a lot of hay. too.</p>

<p>So nice to see somebody who has at least the passion and dream. KUDOS to you for having it in the first place and wanting to do something about it. Here is something I have read which might interest you, I am pretty sure you would already know about it. But still…</p>

<p>Maybe this lady can guide you better.</p>

<p>[Soda</a> Sarpanch - Chhavi Rajawat, MBA](<a href=“http://soda-india.in/sarpanch]Soda”>http://soda-india.in/sarpanch)</p>

<p>Most of us are too content with lives at IITs and IIMs to look beyond. But it is very heartening to see that there are a bunch of young graduates who are willing to step out of their corporate boardrooms and take up leadership, responsibility and join active politics.</p>

<p>[Let?s</a> Participate in Politics : The Viewspaper](<a href=“http://theviewspaper.net/let’s-participate-in-politics/]Let?s”>http://theviewspaper.net/let’s-participate-in-politics/)</p>

<p>[IIT</a> geeks form political party - Times Of India](<a href=“http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-01-24/india/27794947_1_iit-bombay-jodhpur-party]IIT”>http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-01-24/india/27794947_1_iit-bombay-jodhpur-party)</p>

<p>“Five IITians have formed a new political party in India- Paritrana; Bharat Punarnirman Dal, a party started by twenty alumni from IIT has fielded two candidates for the Delhi polls; many medicos in places like Chandigarh have floated an anti – reservation party; apart from these there are a growing number of graduates from top B-schools who are joining politics. These young guns have decided to give up the comfort of lavish offices and air conditioned boardrooms to step up and invest efforts in the betterment of the society. Not only that, they also derive creative satisfaction from their work as the management principles apply equally to political parties and one can do a lot more for people by joining politics. For many politics is similar to entrepreneurship which is dynamic and where one has to take risks.”</p>

3

<p>nocensure, I admire your ambition. However, I feel that you will be in a better position to make a difference by becoming a corporate head than as a politician or a govt bureaucrat. You can get them to do the right things with your money (Other option is to become a spiritual leader like Sri Sri, Jaggi Vasudev or Amma but that’s much harder than getting into HYPMS. From what I can tell, they are making a huge difference in important areas like the environment, rural education, promotion of overall health & well-being. )
Sorry if I sounded too cynical.</p>

<p>nocensure, here is something you might find interesting: <a href=“http://www.ascentofhumanity.com/essays.php[/url]”>www.ascentofhumanity.com/essays.php</a></p>

4

<p>@anial Thanks for the links. I’ve looked through them and they were very enlightening. Though I think the party that was formed by the IIT grads underwent a division. So their’s a rift between their members.</p>

<p>@Chubby- Again thanks but no I try to visualize myself as a corporate head and I just don’t seem to be happy. If you’ve seen my extracurricular activities, I’m most happy with the people on the field: on beaten tracks, on grassy plains, on straw beds under a starry night.
And I think politics allows my personality to be happy. Sure I could make change as a cop orate leader but that might take ages (until I’m in the 50’s etc) to even be on top of the ladder enough for my opinions to count whereas in politics I can start earlier (ex. Sachin Pilot).</p>

<p>But regardless, I think I want to restate my questions: will large parties such as the Congress or the BJP recruit people from HYPSM? As in will these colleges make a difference as opposed to ministers without a proper education?</p>

5

<p>^you should be coming to Berkeley !! Anyway…I dont have the answer to your question on politics, my thought is - you need connections. HYPMS degree is not relevant.</p>

<p>One thing you need to be aware is if you are paying for stanford ($240K+) whether it is then worth it, if you are not going for corporate job. Like @anialways post, the MBA graduate from India is doing so much. If you got yourself to Stanford, you are capable of getting yourself to the better colleges in India. And you can save the money and pursue your passion.</p>

6

<p>@nocensure- Definitely! You would build the apt connections at Stanford for getting into politics. You could intern at some government institution like the Planning Commission, which I don’t think will think twice in accepting you! Many people involved in research at Stanford from India, who are into political and economical fields would have some connections. So you could use those connections… It’s really good to hear about someone from our generation interested in politics!</p>

7

<p>@fall- I actually got lucky there. I got 90% aid so it’s all cool. :slight_smile: And why Berkeley? </p>

<p>@phr34k- That is interesting but would Stanford professors etc have internships such as that. I thought they would be more academic in nature for example in perhaps a think tank (the tata institute of research or something).</p>

8

<p>^cos Berkeley has people like you.
[History</a> - Activism and a tradition of engagement - UC Berkeley](<a href=“http://berkeley.edu/about/hist/activism.shtml]History”>History & discoveries - University of California, Berkeley)
[Peace</a> Corps | UC Berkeley](<a href=“http://publicservice.berkeley.edu/peacecorps]Peace”>http://publicservice.berkeley.edu/peacecorps)</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.dailycal.org/2012/04/05/ron-paul-speaks-to-large-crowd-on-memorial-glade-about/[/url]”>http://www.dailycal.org/2012/04/05/ron-paul-speaks-to-large-crowd-on-memorial-glade-about/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Oh well, Stanford isn’t too far from Berkeley :)</p>

9

<p>@nocensure- No you as a student would have the opportunity to apply for such internships. And some of the Stanford profs are somewhat involved with carrying out field experiments here in India, so I am assuming that some of them might have some connections. </p>

<p>And in any case, you can definitely try to contact some really passionate and visionary politicians like Sachin Pilot. Some of them are US educated and would be more than welcoming to take you in in their campaign and offices!</p>

10

<p>Thanks for the help phr. </p>

<p>Does anyone here know how to contact a politician. Let’s face it. Emails will be screened by their assistants and they’re hardly going to have their own personal phone numbers are they?</p>

11

<p>@nocensure- Go to their offices. Some of them even list out their phone numbers which actually work…</p>

12

<p>@nocensure: I am pretty late but I think you should try sitting for the IAS exam after your education, you will be able to make a difference.</p>

13

<p>Way to revive an old thread :p</p>

<p>Also, it’s the UPSC exam with IAS, IRS and IPS spread throughout the ~1-200 ranks. IFS has fallen out of demand. Really though, who wants to go to Bhutan? :p</p>

<p>Also, I do share most of censure’s sentiments.</p>

14

<p>Indian politics is irredeemable.</p>

15

<p>^ That’s what makes it challenging. And interesting. Anyway, I’m still far away from doing anything explicitly political.</p>

16

<p>I have always wanted to bring change to our society. No wonder I have a special inclination towards Law and Journalism.</p>