Statecraft is a selection-based club established under the aegis of PANJ Foundation, committed to the cultivation of serious public leadership in Punjab. Statecraft offers a first-of-its-kind platform in Punjab: a discreet space for structured dialogue, rigorous reading, and long-term civic orientation.
Punjab is at a pivotal moment—marked by economic stagnation, institutional weakening, and rising social complexity. At such a juncture, the challenge is not just development, it is leadership. Not simply louder voices, but more prepared minds. Statecraft has been created to respond to this need.
Membership Tiers
Statecraft operates through a dual membership structure:
Statesmen & Stewards (Senior Members): These are individuals with recognised contributions to public service, scholarship, enterprise, or civic life. Their role is to mentor, anchor, and contribute to the development of younger members through structured engagement. Annual membership fee applies, ensuring commitment and sustaining operational independence.
Emerging Leaders and Scholars: A selectively invited cohort between the ages of 21 and 35 years, recognised for their intellectual seriousness, civic intent, and leadership potential. These are individuals with the capacity to shape institutions in the years to come. Handpicked from across disciplines and institutions, this cohort is chosen for intellectual potential, civic curiosity, and readiness to engage. No membership fee is charged for the first year or until the member turns 25, whichever is earlier.
Together, this intergenerational community forms a long-term leadership bench—guided by facts, connected through ideas, and committed to civic responsibility.
Monthly Salons & Reading Circles
Each month, the club convenes a private salon—anchored in pre-circulated readings. Every individual will be expected to commit 4-5 hours every month. These salons are structured around core questions relevant to Punjab’s institutional, economic, and political realities. Sessions may take the form of:
- Mentor-led reflections by senior members
- Peer-moderated dialogues among emerging leaders
- Occasional visiting speakers (national or international)
Attendance is expected. The value of the club lies in sustained participation, not casual drop-ins. This is not a general forum or a public seminar. Statecraft is a club consequence—quiet, selective, and focused on preparing individuals who see public leadership as a serious responsibility.
Mentorship & Dialogue
Mentorship within Statecraft is informal but intentional. Senior members are encouraged to build long-term relationships with emerging leaders, offering guidance across public, intellectual, and professional domains. These are not transactional exchanges—they are based on mutual respect and civic intent. Beyond monthly salons, members may initiate closed study circles, field visits, or writing collaboratives that further the intellectual mission of the club.
Code of Engagement
Statecraft operates under three simple principles:
- Discretion: The work is internal; the noise stays outside.
- Depth: It is not about doing more, but about doing it better.
- Responsibility: Leadership is a function of thought, not status.
Statecraft offers a rare space: intellectually grounded, network-rich, and rooted in service. Entry into this forum connects members not only to ideas—but to people who shape them.
What Emerging Leaders Gain
Early Access to High-Level Mentorship: Emerging members are placed in direct conversation with Statesmen and Stewards who have built institutions, led reforms, or shaped civic thought. These are individuals who rarely operate in open spaces—but within Statecraft, they are accessible, candid, and invested in the next generation.
Structured Intellectual Development: Every salon, reading cycle, and closed-door conversation is an exercise in deepening judgment, analytical clarity, and historical awareness. Members are encouraged to move beyond performative discourse and cultivate serious civic thinking.
Exposure to Civic Architecture: Through dialogue, field interactions, and internal writing initiatives, emerging members begin to understand the machinery of governance, institutions, public policy, and economic systems from the inside—not just as spectators, but as future participants.
A Long-Term, Quiet Network: Statecraft is not a platform for self-promotion. It is a platform for self-preparation. Over time, members build bonds across cohorts, disciplines, and geographies that open doors not through noise—but through credibility.
Reputation by Association: The club’s selective nature ensures that association with Statecraft signals something quiet but powerful: judgment, seriousness, and civic promise. This is a reputation that builds over time and extends beyond the club.