4 days Ago
Pune: Where matters of the heart go, people are tweaking the digital dating scene this poll season. Young singles are adding an unexpected filter to their search for love and compatibility—political ideology. Traditional markers like shared interests, physical attraction, or career ambitions are taking a backseat.
Now, it is about political alignment, with user profiles displaying ‘leftist', ‘rightist', ‘liberal', and ‘apolitical' as non-negotiable criteria for potential matches. For many, the other person's political stance tells them about the person's core values, worldview, lifestyle and even how they approach important life decisions. The stakes are particularly high when it comes to fundamental issues.
Disha Choudhury, a 24-year-old IIT graduate who put ‘leftist' in her bio, matched with someone who put ‘right wing' in theirs. She said, "We met and talked about films, music, web series and food. It was a fun date.
But over the next few meetings, I noticed snide regressive remarks about feminism, caste-based reservations and homosexuality, which made me decide to put an end to this romantic pursuit. Since then, I have made it a point to swipe right only on people whose ideologies match mine." Krittika Bhatta, a 24-year-old freelance writer, said politics is just not about opinion.
"It is a window to who you are, the culture you are raised in, and how you engage with the world. Everything is political." The notion of being 'apolitical', once considered a harmless quirk, has now evolved into a significant red flag for many daters.
The importance of political ideology in dating is not just about finding someone with identical views but about ensuring fundamental values align, especially on issues like LGBTQ+ rights, gender equality, and the treatment of marginalized communities. Rashika Jain views political ideology through a cultural lens when it comes to finding a match. "When I see someone who is more right-leaning, it gives me an impression that they are more religiously inclined and tradition-oriented.
Their food choices will match mine." For many young Indians, political ideology has become a moral litmus test. Kaustubh Bisht, a 26-year-old techie, said, "In India's current polarized political climate, my leftist ideology shapes my swiping choices.
I seek only those who resonate with my values. Politics isn't just a filter, it is integral to forming a true connection." Not everyone, however, fits neatly into the binary categories of ‘left' or ‘right'.
Rohan Basagre, a 27-year-old musician, prefers a more nuanced approach. "I do not mind if the person's views are not the same as mine. But if you are ignorant, it means you are essentially giving a pass to the people in power who perpetuate inequality.
" For Basagre, art and activism are intertwined as he seeks a partner who can engage with that complexity. "I only go out with women who are left inclined. Even if we do not work out romantically, I still get an interesting conversation out of the date because we tend to share the same fundamental values.
Many times, we end up becoming good friends," he added. Prerna Agarwal, a 26-year-old IT professional, said she prefers ‘moderate' people willing to question things. "I am bisexual.
I love diving into social issues. I want to engage with politics through a lens that does not blindly support any particular party or tear down the other. It is all grey," she said.
Aarav Agashe, a 27-year-old marketing consultant, is not interested in ideological extremes. "What frustrates me is to know that many people are quick to label someone with traditional values as ‘right-wing' or ‘regressive'. Is politics that simple a concept?" he said.
For Arvind Ramanan, a 28-year-old techie, it is not just about picking sides politically, but about being informed and having an opinion on events that affect humanity. "If you cannot talk about the scenario in Palestine, or why dalits are still being exploited, or how rape accused are roaming free, then what are we doing here?" he said. Aayan Jha, another 28-year-old techie, said, "I won't date anyone who thinks politics is not important and dismisses any conversation about it because they are not interested.
But I also don't want to waste my time getting caught up in an echo chamber. Politics should be about values and solutions, not just picking sides." No one is truly apolitical, said Rohit Roy, a 25-year-old marketing professional.
"Either they are unaware or are still figuring out their point of view. The former is weird because it means the person is not ready to open their worldview. The latter, if they are open to debate, seem like nice people to have a conversation with.
They might even be able to contribute something new to my perspective. But if they are neutral about a humanitarian issue like Gaza, it is beyond concerning," Roy said. As politics increasingly shapes the dynamics among the youth, the quest for love is becoming not just a matter of compatibility but of a shared worldview — an indication that even the heart cannot escape the weight of the state.
‘My very existence is political' A queer person from a conservative Muslim family, I am a staunch liberal at heart. In the current political climate, I am always on edge, but I am open to conversations with everyone — even those on the opposite side of the spectrum. An apolitical person, however, just reeks of privilege and a lack of empathy.
They are cosy in their little bubble, where social issues are just ‘too much' for them to handle *Zainab, a 26-year-old transwoman working as a tattoo artist (Name changed).
