8th Convocation Ceremony of Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership Organized under the Leadership of Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini

Mahesh Chandra - Delhi

Chief Guests Mansukh Mandaviya and Virendra Sachdeva Congratulate Graduates of Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership with Certificates and Mementos in the Presence of Vinay Sahasrabuddhe

“Democracy based solely on legacy is not true democracy. Real democracy ensures that every citizen has the opportunity to contribute to the nation.” — Mansukh Mandaviya

“We can only transform India into a developed nation by 2047 if we draw inspiration from our heritage while shedding the colonial mindset.” — Mansukh Mandaviya

“Fortunately, today our democratic system is far more participatory and dialogic than before.” — Virendra Sachdeva

“IIDL has successfully broken the myth that politics is not a space for structured training.” — Vinay Sahasrabuddhe
The 8th convocation ceremony of the Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership (IIDL), a prominent initiative of Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, was held with Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya as the Chief Guest and Delhi BJP President Mr. Virendra Sachdeva as the Special Guest. The ceremony was chaired by Mr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe and was graced by several dignitaries including National Organizer Mr. V. Satish, Dr. Jayant Kulkarni, and Mr. Kamalkant Pathak.

During the ceremony, the graduates of IIDL were felicitated with certificates and mementos by Mr. Mandaviya and Mr. Sachdeva.

Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya emphasized two key points: First, leadership can manifest in various spheres—economic, social, and political—and choosing political leadership requires clarity of purpose. Second, a structured training program, even if just for a year, is crucial for developing the ability to communicate effectively and purposefully in the field of politics.

He stated that true democracy is not built on political legacies but on opportunities given to every citizen to contribute to nation-building. Highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of nurturing 100,000 young leaders, Mandaviya encouraged the youth to step up and actively participate in democratic processes. “Leadership comes from your passion, work ethic, and dedication to the country,” he said, adding, “Today, a farmer’s son is standing before you as a Union Minister.”

He urged the graduates to ask themselves why they want to be leaders, recalling how PM Modi didn’t just give the slogan of a developed India and Amrit Kaal from the Red Fort, but also provided a roadmap. He emphasized leaving behind the colonial mindset, drawing inspiration from our heritage, and channeling the collective determination of 140 crore Indians to build a developed nation by 2047.

Delhi BJP President Mr. Virendra Sachdeva noted that India is going through an exciting phase of transformation—an age of aspirations. The responsibility of realizing these aspirations lies with those in leadership roles across politics, media, and civil society.

He remarked that while born leaders are rare, there is also a serious shortage of individuals who strive to cultivate leadership skills. “True leadership isn’t just about initiative, courage, and personality—it stems from inspiration, conviction, and principled foundations,” he said.

Sachdeva expressed hope, saying that India’s democratic system is now more participatory and dialogic than ever. “Looking at the students today, it seems the future belongs to states like Maharashtra and Kerala,” he added.

Mr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe reflected on how there was once a general belief—also noted by the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee—that politics, films, and media did not require formal training. But times have changed. Through its initiative, IIDL, Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini has focused on structured training for aspiring young leaders over the past eight years.

He emphasized that many youth today fail to realize the importance of formal preparation and often believe that politics, too, is just another conventional institution. “IIDL has succeeded in breaking this myth,” he concluded.