Exclusive interview with Wasif Mir- A Youth Politician
Mr. Wasif is a young, active and optimistic youth politician of Bandipora. Presently he is the Youth President Bandipora of Jammu Kashmir Apni Party. Wasif is holding PG Degree in Business Administration from a Pune based University. To know more about his perceptions in the field of Politics we had a conversation with him. His response to some of our questions were:
How do you comprehend politics?
During my age of inception, I had very little knowledge about politics but my understanding on it became stronger with time. I consider politics as an art since it involves a lot of strategies, interconnection, public relation, intellectuality, knowledge. It is such a bind that will not just determine how a country will function but also can foresee the upcoming generations too.
What created the undivided attention of yours in politics?
Since I was very little kid, social issues and contemporary issues that were going in and around had always intrigued my little inquisitive mind. I was avid supporter of truth when I was little kid back then. And the one of the main and important reason is the politics of my leader Usman Majid, the politics that is always based on truth. These are some strong factor that made my strong determination into politics. As I identify politics as something that has power to change the world.
Being yourself as a youth, who could have better opportunities waiting down the line, but what drove you to get into politics and what has been motivating you on daily basis ?
Yes, there were other side ways or opportunities on my journey but I always have a strong feeling of giving back to my people. You have to be in this this area. You have to be thoughtful about your people and about your state.
Any challenges, questions or any sort of allegations were put on you, when you decided to choose politics with a purpose?
First of all, questions were raised from family and friends that what and where I was involved in but once I recognized that this is the platform that I’ve to work upon and build myself I kept on continuing. This has been my some of the challenges and hurdles. Now i got full support from my family as well as my friends.
Do you think youth in Jammu and Kashmir are politically aware?
No, they are not much aware. They are aware in very little way but they do not tend to showcase such interest in it. They think that politics won’t change their life but it has been doing to much extent.
Mr. Wasif why do you think there is importance of youth involvement into politics considering the present context of Jammu and Kashmir?
There is the greatest need of youth into politics, whenever they are align with politics then only there is smooth pathway. Youths are considered to be the most updated generation. Now it’s a high time to level up politics with their effort because how they will be in coming years and what will be the condition of upcoming generations is to be determined. The one who were involved priory have no longer time in this field. So youth and politics are inseparable and their involvement has to be inevitable.
When we talk about young people and politics, social media always comes up. It has been also notified as a key factor in recent political uprising in context to western political scenario. But how has social media influenced youth engagement and democracy here in Jammu and Kashmir?
In the context of Jammu and Kashmir, this factor was not helpful before but it’s being helpful presently. If we see in our party also, We also have own official Facebook page. Tend has been set out that now every party has its own Facebook page. Everyone is getting into this platform because social media has been part of our life now. Before TV was the easy access for people so TV was part of our life. Thus, it has been influencing a lot.
As a young people, what can you do to change the existing political scenario of Jammu and Kashmir and what message would you like to give to others?
To present youth, I would say that it’s okay if you don’t want to come into politics. But don’t say that politics is not my cup of tea. If you make small effort then change is possible. If you even develop interest to some extent, you start to speak up. When you start to speak up, you aware people around you.