Requesting blue-label status as this is a hot topic! Could NLU grads finally be involved in politics and policy advocacy the same way Harvard-Yale grads are in the US? It will be a massive gamechanger for the country and for law grads if this happens! Anyone you know who is joining these think-tanks? Can you share names and LinkedIN profiles?
I'm guessing most NLU grads would be left-liberal aligned and prefer to work with Congress think-tanks? We do have examples of high-profile BJP NLU grads, such as Vikramjit Banerjee and Jiveer Shergil, but they are perhaps the exception and not the rule?
I know one person who worked for Prashant Kishore's organisation. The pay was very good, but the work was just posting on social media in favour of the TMC. No research work. As far as the Congress is concerned, you're likely to get serious research work on socio-economic issues, but as the article says you need to be of the same ideology: socialist and a Nehru family loyalist. As for the BJP, the very name "Nation for NAMO" says it all: just PR work glorifying Modi.
Most people join these think tanks for a reco to study abroad. For a long-term career option it's better to join Vidhi, CPR, ORF etc.
I wonder if these parties pay in cash, given the scale of black money in politics? If yes, then it's an excellent career option as you can under-declare your income (no need to feel guilty as many senior lawyers do the same). Plus, if you rise up the ranks and become even a municipal councillor or a minister's PA, you can become a crorepati overnight. In fact, a person called CK Jaffar Sharif, who used to be Indira Gandhi's driver and used to serve tea and samosas at the Congress HQ, eventually became railway minister of India because of his loyalty to Indira. No joke: see the article below.
Not only think tanks. NLU students are also being recruited as social media volunteers for political parties. My batchmate has signed up for a national party. He told me that the work will be unpaid but college volunteers can order burgers and pizzas for free from certain fast food outlets. Also, once a week there will be a free lunch at a good restaurant. We are less than 10 months away from the elections, so you will see such activity quite soon. Some NLU hostel rooms will literally double up as IT cell war rooms of various political parties.
There is little doubt that Modi will win and be PM again. What the opposition is really hoping for is that the BJP goes down to 220 seats and then becomes a weak government at the mercy of corrupt regional parties, much like the UPA was. The moment regional parties come to power, you will see scams happening and governance suffering, like during the UPA. If that happens, then the BJP will struggle to win in 2029, mirroring the UPA in 2014. So the focus will be on 40-50 marginal seats that will make the difference between 220 and 270. Thus, these think tank recruits will just be IT cell warriors (as already pointed out) who will try as hard as possible to hurt the BJP electorally in 40-50 marginal seats. So my guess is that the NLU recruits will be from certain key swing states, such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Bihar and West Bengal.
BJP has been party to plenty of corruption, including karnataka and the entire crony capitalism problem. It has monopolised horse trading after elections, which is a hallmark of corruption. So don't pretend that it is holier than thou. It has also systemically destroyed the credibility of all central institutions ranging from CBI to Election Commission to RBI.
Does the work entail making videos like Dhruv Rathee and is Dhruv Rathee himself employed by the Congress IT cell? If yes, the pay must be awesome. The guy lives king size. These days regularly uploads vids of himself flying first class with his stunning German wife, most recently on Singapore Airlines.
Yeah. I have been waiting for this discussion to happen. Have seen these organisations come up with fellowships to attract young talent. And I have seen NLU grads also signing up. Recently, saw the post of Mukherjee Fellowship by PPGF at Twitter. PPGF, I guess, unofficially is leaned in favour of BJP. However not sure. Similarily, Congress has its own think tanks launching Fellowship/jobs for young grads.
How do these jobs play out? I mean for a person(especially NLU grad) who might be interested in policy will end up consulting political parties and getting associated with an ideology as a consequence. I have, personally seen one friend of mine, working in political consultancy for a think-tank which is advising a party(right leaning) while this person does not favour the ideology. Says, lack of opportunities & varied pay in such organisations in this sector, leaves no scope to switch as of now.
I know one person who worked for such a political body. He went on to do his masters from the US and is now settled there. Ironically, he is a BJP supporter but worked for a Congress body.
My sincere request to NLU students is to try and be like IIT, IIM and NIFT, i.e. apolitical and more focused on internships and careers. Please do not be like JNU. Politicisation of the campus will harm the reputation of NLUs. Regarding the 2024 elections, by all means discuss with friends but do not bring political activism inside the campus. India is on course to become the world's third-largest economy by 2026. It is vital that students participate positively in this growth rather than derail it through disruptive activities.
Yes, they are apolitical. Do you see JNU-style politics and hooliganism there? The STEM/Business world is generally apolitical worldwide. NLUs should emulate then. I concede that at a couple of IITs some students have set up some Ambedkar-Periyar-Phule society and are trying to preach communism, but it's a small fringe outfit set up by students mostly belonging to the HSS (Humanities and Social Science) department. Just ask any IIT-ian: the HSS department is the least respected department at IITs.
Requesting blue-label status as this is a hot topic! Could NLU grads finally be involved in politics and policy advocacy the same way Harvard-Yale grads are in the US? It will be a massive gamechanger for the country and for law grads if this happens! Anyone you know who is joining these think-tanks? Can you share names and LinkedIN profiles?
I'm guessing most NLU grads would be left-liberal aligned and prefer to work with Congress think-tanks? We do have examples of high-profile BJP NLU grads, such as Vikramjit Banerjee and Jiveer Shergil, but they are perhaps the exception and not the rule?
Most people join these think tanks for a reco to study abroad. For a long-term career option it's better to join Vidhi, CPR, ORF etc.
So this is an excellent career option.
https://thewire.in/politics/remembering-jaffer-sharief-indira-gandhis-point-man
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei2gxJ3nafY
So I'm totally interseted! How can I apply?
How do these jobs play out? I mean for a person(especially NLU grad) who might be interested in policy will end up consulting political parties and getting associated with an ideology as a consequence. I have, personally seen one friend of mine, working in political consultancy for a think-tank which is advising a party(right leaning) while this person does not favour the ideology. Says, lack of opportunities & varied pay in such organisations in this sector, leaves no scope to switch as of now.