HarperCollins presents The Future is Ours: The Political Promise of India’s Youth

vandana.rathore@harpercollins.co.in | 6 December 2023

HarperCollins

presents

The Future is Ours

The Political Promise of India’s Youth

by Sudhanshu Kaushik

(Founder, Young India Foundation)

Are young Indians prepared to participate in creating their own future? 

Seventy per cent of India’s 1.2 billion demographic is below 30. The 2024 General Elections will be decided by India’s youth. The youth vote is the most consequential vote-bank, yet it is the least understood and talked about. In The Future is Ours, Sudhanshu Kaushik explain politics and representation from the perspective of young Indians.

Non-fiction | Politics | Paperback | 236 pp | Rs 399

Available wherever books are sold | Releasing 22^nd Dec 2023

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Author, Sudhanshu Kaushik, says, ‘The 2024 General Elections will be decided by India’s youth, as will 2029. The youth vote is the most consequential vote-bank, yet it is the least understood and talked about. In The Future is Ours, I explain politics and representation from the perspective of young Indians. The book has historical context, analysis of youth demographics and surveys of young people and their political beliefs, details of their representation in political parties, assemblies and the parliament. I also examine closely the working of political parties and their youth and student wings. To fix the rampant ageism that exists in India, we need to empower young people in all aspects of society including India’s electoral democracy, and this book talks about how.’

Associate Publisher, Swati Chopra, says, ‘India is an overwhelmingly “young” country, yet the average age of its politicians firmly places it in the category of a “gerontocracy” — literally a state or government ruled by the elderly. Given that India is rapidly approaching its next General Elections when young Indians are expected to vote in larger numbers than ever before, The Future is Ours is timely. Sudhanshu Kaushik’s work with the Young India Foundation in encouraging youth participation in politics has been exemplary. His book is as much an explainer about, and an analysis of, youth politics as it is a call to action — both to young Indians and to political parties. It is an unmissable read for anyone who cares about the future of this country.”

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About the Book

We know the numbers and we have heard the speeches about how India’s youth are its future: Around 70 per cent of India’s 1.2 billion demographic is below the age of 30, and over 650 million (47.5 per cent of the population) are below the age of 25. But what is the country doing to encourage young Indians to participate in creating their own future? To help them understand the political process and contribute to it?

Part explanation and part a call to action, The Future Is Ours aims to foreground youth rights and representation in the country’s politics and the electoral system. Among other things, it includes a passionate appeal to lower the age of candidacy from 25 to 21—a campaign that covers all sides of the political spectrum and, if successful, will bring a huge number of India’s young directly into the democratic process.

With India heading into the 2024 general elections, this book is a must-read for all those interested in securing the nation’s future and building a better world for, and with, our youth.

About the Author

Sudhanshu Kaushik is an international youth activist known for founding Young India Foundation, India’s first youth-focused political advocacy group and the North American Association of Indian Students, a 501(c)3 nonprofit focused on helping Indian students in North America. YIF has helped register over one million voters between 18-30 and helped dozens of candidates at a local level contest elections. For NAAIS, Sudhanshu has raised millions of dollars during COVID to help aid the Indian student demographic. He’s partnered with corporates like ZEE5, Meta, The Body Shop, and Qatar Airways to engage more young Indians. He has previously worked with CNN and the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations. He is a recipient of the Gallatin Global Fellowship in Human Rights and a fellowship from the South Asian Journalists Association. He has attended University of Oxford, Columbia University, and New York University. He’s currently a Civic Scholar at Univeristy of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.

Sudhanshu was featured on a TED Talk with Shah Rukh Khan on the political future of India’s youth. He often features on CNN, NDTV, News 18, and a variety of other media channels to speak on issues related to India’s youth.

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For reviews, excerpts, interviews, and more information, please contact Vandana Rathore at
vandana.rathore@harpercollins.co.in