Want to be a politician but don't know how to go about it. Join Netagiri Vidyalaya. Run by former Congressman Raj Ranjan,who believes "political thinking should be inculcated deep into human mind to curb corruption," the Netagiri Vidyalaya in Ranchi has imparted training to 200 aspiring politicians since its inception in 2001. "It is important for a politician - both beginners and veterans to learn that bit of politics necessary to know what a manifesto is and its implementation," said Ranjan,a former PCC secretary. A paltry Rs 50 is charged for admission and the 'students' are taught about 'netagiri' every Saturday for two hours. "It is surprising that a 69-year-old leader of a regional political party,Sukhdev Lohra,was among the 10 politicians to take admission this session," said Ranjan,brother of former Congress MP late Gyan Ranjan. Drawing an analogy between a business school,which churns out successful business brains,and his netagiri school,Ranjan said political brains could also be groomed in a similar way. Elaborating on the word 'netagiri',Lohra said,"Neta is one of the names of Lord Vishnu and giri means mountain.even giri is surname of several people. Therefore,the name is apt and it will become popular like Gandhigiri once people understand the real duty of a neta." Raman Balhav,a lecturer with the noted St. Xavier's college and the Netagiri Vidyalaya,says he is "proud of the vidyalaya where ethics,moral values and government-sponsored welfare schemes comprise the syllabus". "The basic objective in setting up the vidyalaya is to spread awareness among the rural people through these politicians. "I interviewed some of the candidates readying themselves to contest the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. I asked them how they will serve the people. To my utter surprise nobody could give a proper answer," claimed Balhav. Saying that the Vidyalaya's motto is to inculcate leadership qualities in aspiring politicians,he regretted that most people in the rural areas were not aware of several welfare schemes meant for them only. "And our endeavour is to send the netas from our Vidyalaya to spread awareness among the rural population,which comprises 80 per cent of the population," Balhav said. According to former Jharkhand Congress youth president and present president of Jharkhand Steel Workers union Ajay Rai,what started in a lighter vein eight years ago has now become talk of the town. "We all started discussing about how politics in the state was deterorating by the day. This sparked the concept of Netagiri Vidyalaya and it has been a hit ever since," he said. "I am also happy that our Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is also of the opinion that young minds should be trained about genuine and honest politics," Rai said. The Vidyalaya,he felt,assumes importance in Jharkhand,which has already witnessed six governments in eight years. "It is high time the politicians in the state realised their duty towards the people and put the state on the development path."
