The public image of most persons whose names create a sense of awe, given their stellar role in India’s freedom movement, triggers thoughts on the dismal public image of the land’s current netas, barring a few exceptions. The mass following that the leading lights who confronted the ruling class of the erstwhile British Raj commanded was marked by features hard to be imagined in the case of their counterparts currently at the helm in the government at all levels. The features of oratory, impressive eloquence, personal charisma, educational background, transparent selflessness, patriotic fervour, courage in facing adversities, unbounded sense of sacrificing all their personal possessions and, last but not the least, the unyielding attitude of never say die seem to be at a premium reaching the nadir in our times. The most vital ingredient of democracy, namely the intrinsic worth of people’s elected representatives, has gone missing totally.

While the script of India’s globally praised Constitution has earned high praise for its authors, the key issue of eligibility to seek election for Panchayat to Parliament got overlooked. The issue of educational qualification for eligibility continues to be sidelined in spite of the Constitution witnessing 120 amendments so far. It is anybody’s guess if this long-standing lacuna gets due attention in foreseeable future.

The often publicised feature of rising literacy of the land’s population may answer the question of educational status of people’s elected representatives to some extent. But, not prescribing a norm of academic exposure to the contestants in the polls doesn’t stand scrutiny in the backdrop of insisting on at least a pass in eighth standard for jobs in the lowest hierarchy in government. Employers in the world of privately managed enterprises follow the practice of careful screening of job aspirants focussing only on their suitability to the organisation. Prescribing only the norm of minimum age at 25 years in case of Legislative Assembly members and 30 years in case of members of Parliament, both being the nation’s law-makers mirrors a disenchanting profile of the country’s netas at large.

A fourth semester student of Commerce at Government First Grade College in Shivamogga district has reportedly addressed a letter to the Prime Minister suggesting to bring an ordinance mandating minimum education qualification to contestants in the polls to elect MLAs, MLCs and MPs. The eligibility criteria comprising not only academic record but also the qualities of head and heart have to be incorporated in the Constitution sooner than later.