Democracy Express
First Deadline: 10th October 2021
Indian School of Democracy is a non-partisan organization that conducts programs for aspiring, grassroots political leaders.
In 2018, we planted the seeds for the foundation for Indian School of Democracy in the hope that it would eventually become an institution that nurtures principled leaders. The people at Indian School of Democracy come from politically and socially diverse backgrounds, but we share the same unwavering principles, vision and values that reside in the idea of sarvodaya.
We are passionate about nation-building and carry an unflinching commitment to India and its people.
Democracy Express 2021 is a 9 day immersive learning journey with 50 aspiring political change makers across 4 states – Telangana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Participants will be exposed to inspiring political leadership while travelling to understand the political canvas across these states.
Our vision is to build a community of principled leaders that deepen their understanding of the politics of sarvodaya as an important avenue of public service, imagine an alternative to the status quo in all the different arenas of politics and, find the moral courage to bring revolutionary change to India’s politics through a deep understanding of where we are and how we got here.
Program Dates: 3rd December to 12th December 2021
Why get on this Democracy Express?
The word politics has become stained in today’s world – we want to change that.
There is limited access to the inner dynamics of an electoral system, minimal interaction between youth and political leaders and few accessible role models in Indian Politics for the youth today.
Highlights of Democracy Express 2019
Our first ever Democracy Express successfully completed its first journey on 29th December 2019! We went to states of New Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
We received 150+ applications to be part of our first ever cohort, within weeks of launching it. Applications came from all over the country and across multiple professional spectrums. We found our first cohort of 30 participants, who came from 18 different states of India.
Our participants travelled to four states, met and interacted with over 14 political leaders across multiple parties and 9 non-political speakers, thinkers and practitioners. The speakers had candid conversations about their journey and pathways into politics, ethics, challenges and the potential of politics as a vehicle for public service in India.
Participants left with an action plan for their political journey, a strong community of peers from multiple political parties, priceless memories and a shared vision for an inclusive India.
Who is it for?
50 participants | Age 18 – 50 years
Aspiring politicians, change makers, political workers, university students and development professionals across the country, who are committed to making a difference in our society through politics. We aim to curate a diverse cohort from across the political spectrum in the country, with equitable representation from all genders and backgrounds.
Please note that this program will be in Southern part of India and will be conducted in English. Hence, proficiency in English ( comprehension and conversation) is a must.
Fees & Contribution
Our sincere intention is to make this program accessible to everyone, irrespective of socio-economic status.
The program cost is 40,000 INR. Each participant is expected to contribute a minimum of 15,000 INR. Beyond that, we operate on a trust based model that each participant will contribute according to their capacity.
We do provide limited scholarships that cover partial contributions of the program for those who do not have the financial capacity to support themselves for the program.
We provide special scholarships to women and people from marginalised communities.
The selection process only looks at merit and potential of each candidate. If you are right for this program, we will collectively figure out how to find resources to support your learning.
