In a recent interview at IIT-Delhi, Acharya Prashant, an alumnus of the prestigious IIT-D and IIM-A, emphasized the importance of looking beyond short-term gains and instead evaluating candidates based on their vision for addressing significant life and world issues.
Prioritize long-term vision and issues
“First-time voters should focus on long-term vision when choosing a candidate, considering issues like biodiversity and climate change, rather than short-term gains,” Acharya Prashant stated during the NDTV interview.
With over 46 million YouTube subscribers and recently featured on the cover of Entrepreneur India, Acharya Prashant’s words carry weight, especially among the youth.
“Leaders should guide towards significant life and world issues, not trivial matters, to deserve followers’ trust,” he added, highlighting the need for leaders who prioritize substantial concerns over petty distractions.
Addressing the first-time voters directly, Acharya Prashant urged them to scrutinize party manifestos and question candidates on their plans for addressing climate change and preserving biodiversity.
“If any candidate comes to you asking for your vote, ask them what they are going to do on the big issues because we are young people. We are 18, we are 20, we are 25, we still have 50 years to live on this earth. Tell me what is going to happen,” he said, emphasizing the long-term impact of today’s decisions.
Acharya Prashant marked a stark contrast between real leaders who address significant issues and cunning leaders who manipulate voters with trivial matters. “A real leader shows the right path. A real leader does not follow the people. A real leader shows the path to the people and then he must have an inner integrity,” he said.
“The identity of a cunning leader is that he will appeal to whatever is your lowest point of consciousness,” Acharya Prashant warned. “He will push you towards limitations, towards micro issues, while a true leader lifts you towards the macro, towards the big issues of life and the world.”
As the nation gears up for the crucial elections, Acharya Prashant’s call to prioritize long-term sustainability and environmental concerns resonates deeply with the youth, who will bear the brunt of today’s decisions for decades to come.
With his vast following and influential voice, Acharya Prashant’s message serves as a clarion call for first-time voters to make informed choices, guided by a vision for a sustainable future and a commitment to addressing the pressing challenges of our time, such as climate change and biodiversity loss.
