Institutions to groom politicians are yet to emerge in our country. To fill the gap, Vinson X Palathingal, a Keralite and US-based IT entrepreneur, plans to set up Indian Institute of Political Management (IIPM) in the state with the objective of producing well-informed leaders who would provide quality political leadership to the India of the 21st century.
The plan will be announced during the three-day ‘Emerging Kerala’ meet to be held from September 12.
“India is the largest democracy in the world where politics and government play a role in society. Yet the majority of the educated and middle-class citizens despise politicians and do not want their children to opt for it. This dichotomy obviously does not bode well for the dream of a great future for India,” said Vinson.
Most of the talented youth tend to choose technical professions and show little interest in public life. If the country is to develop into a major powerhouse, young leaders with high intellectual and mental capacities should enter politics, he said. Once famous for its rabble-rousing campuses, the state is now witnessing the retreat of politics from colleges.
Vinson, who heads two companies - Amaram Technology Corp and Amsco Global LLC, said that his inspiration to set up IIPM comes from George Washington University (GWU) in the US.
The proposed institute will offer four masters degree programmes and six graduate certificate programmes. The masters programme will be in the areas of Political Management, Legislative Affairs, Strategic Public Relations and Coalition Management. Graduate certificate programmes are proposed in Campaign Strategy, Community Advocacy, Online Politics, Public Relations, Civil Services Management and Political Action Committee Management.
IIPM will be modelled after and in collaboration with Graduate School of Political Management.
Students will be given an opportunity to study abroad in Washington DC for one-and-a-half years.