Democracy Express
राजनीति से लोकनीति
Democracy Express 2024 is a 9-day immersive learning journey in the state of Maharashtra l with 50 young political leaders who will be selected from various states of India.
In this 9-day program, participants will delve into the rich political histories and realities of Maharashtra, gaining insights into their electoral trends and political landscapes. They will explore current realities of the regions, focusing on developing crucial political skills including constituency and booth management, team building, campaign design, as well as refining abilities in image and narrative building and fostering value-based leadership.
People aspiring to contest local elections, current party position holders, local elected representatives - rural/urban, student politicians are encouraged to apply.
Our vision is to cultivate a community of principled leaders who deepen their understanding of the Politics of Sarvodaya, envision alternatives to the current political status quo across various spheres, and find the moral courage to drive revolutionary change in India's political landscape.
Program Dates: 9 to 17 November 2024
Final Deadline for applications : 22th September
Political leaders from all Indian states can apply!
Why get on the Democracy Express?
The word politics has become stained in today's world.
Elections are getting expensive, there is tough competition within the parties, and not enough opportunities to learn from the experiences of senior political leaders. It’s crucial for young leaders to find spaces of political learning, which the current political landscape doesn’t easily provide. Skill building, reflection spaces, networking and exposure to different political landscapes, a diverse political cohort from across parties and regions will give you a push onwards in your political journey.
At Democracy Express 2024 you will:
Immerse in the political atmosphere of Maharashtra
Reclaim politics as an avenue of public service
Be a part of community of principled political leaders across the country
Explore your leadership style
Build election ready skills such as campaign and team management
Highlights of
Democracy Express 2023
Democracy Express 2023 was a nine-day immersive learning journey across Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Out of over 340 applications, 15 young political leaders from 9 states and 9 political parties were selected to participate. The program aimed for participants to acquire concrete political skills, gain clarity on their next political steps, and build deep, supportive relationships within the cohort. Additionally, participants were encouraged to adopt practices that help them stay committed to principled politics.
Glimpses of the Program Curriculum
The program is designed to ensure a holistic learning experience for the political leaders. Some of the key offerings include:
Skills & Knowledge
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Learn about regional political history, electoral analysis, and ideologies of Maharashtra.
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Build skills like constituency and booth management, team building, campaign design, image and narrative building, value based leadership
Community
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Engage with progressive leaders and unsung heroes within the political landscape, across cities and villages
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Build a diverse network of young political leaders
Inner Work
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Reflect on your political purpose and values in your political journey
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Experience processes like immersion, shramdaan, community work with a focus on inner transformation
Who is it for?
50 participants | Age 18 - 45 years
We are looking for young political and grassroots leaders with active on-ground political experience and clear political aspirations.
You could be a : 1) Political party member 2) Local elected representative
3) Student politician 4) Political activist
5) Media person
Leaders from different parties, states, genders and social backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Please note that this program will be conducted in English and Hindi. Hence, proficiency (comprehension and conversational) in either of the languages is a must.
Application process
There are 2 rounds in the selection process
Round 1: Application form
Round 2: Video Interview
Speakers of Democracy Express
Anandiben Patel
Governor, UP (BJP)
Prof. Ankur Sarin
IIM- Ahmedabad
Amul Bhatt
Chairperson,
AMC (BJP)
Anurag Dwary
Resident Editor at NDTV
Atishi
MLA, Delhi (AAP)
Program Contribution
Democracy Express is designed to add value to your political journey and we encourage you to look at it as an important investment in your long-term political learning.
As a non partisan and non profit organization, ISD raises funds to meet program needs.
The program cost for Democracy Express 2024 is 40,000 INR per person. This includes program design, facilitation, accommodation and travel expenses across 9 days of the program.
The minimum contribution to attend Democracy Express is 8000 INR for men and 3000 INR for women and the trans community. We have limited need-based scholarships, however, we encourage participants to mobilise their networks and raise resources to arrange for their program contribution so ISD can direct these scholarships to those who really need it.