POINT OF VIEW: VVS MANIAN
2024 is a big election year. The first election that drew world attention was in Pakistan this month. As visualized, Imran’s comrades dealt a big blow to the overconfident Nawaz Sharif, who was breaking his earlier vow of not to form a coalition. He is now going around with his hat for support from others to form a new mixed government. For the military in Pakistan, the rise of Imran is a rude shock, and Pakistan is perhaps well on its way to mutiny and military rule in the future. Sharif and Khan are 74 and 71 years old and ready to engage in a war for power. The question is: how are these old people capable of managing a country that is unpredictable, rebellious, and starving? Age has nothing to do with capability. Old age is still accepted as good for politics.
The hot topic about age and capabilities was raised too many times in the United States election. President Joe Biden is 81 and medically fit doing pull-ups every day despite his Incarcerated Valvular Atrial Fibrillation (A-FiB) and forgetfullness. Donald Trump at 77 is confirmed to have a mild heart disease. A doctor from the White House yet certified that he could live to be 200 because his health is incredibly good and healthy genes contradicting an observation that he is at overall risk for a cardiac event in the next 3 to 5 years.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina 76, Bangladesh was reelected last month and reported to be in sound health. Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 73 appears to be the fittest of all with a disciplined life style and strict diet control. He is perhaps the only PM to sleep less and work more.
Indonesia’s Prabowo Subianto 72 –year-old is the leading candidate in this month’s presidential election. He is a former General accused of infringing on human rights and had a shady past, exiled in Jordan and once banned from the US over his alleged track record in the past. When many younger candidates disputed his age and capacity to contest, the top court categorically said that 70-year-olds can contest in the presidential election. He is now on a marathon effort to change his image before the election (14th Feb).
The current prime minister of Japan Fumio Kishida is 66, young in the international arena of politics. Two older former prime ministers Tato Aso 83, and Yoshihide Suga 75, are ready to run for the party election (Liberal Democratic Party) in September.
It is evident that with longevity on the rise, old age is becoming the least of worry in politics. Of course, too many old people staying put in power is depriving the younger and talented individuals (not young pranks and cranks) of opportunities. Perhaps to have experienced seasoned older people on top is better for the country. The reality is older people are becoming numerous and political parties pay great attention to them. The question of a politician’s age has been the subject of debate from early times.
“Plutarch of Chaeronea, a Greek philosopher and biographer of the Roman Empire, grappled with the same problem nearly two thousand years ago in an essay entitled, “Should an old man engage in politics?” Plutarch surely knew about the mental and physical decline that comes with age. After all, he wrote his essay when he was around seventy and had been involved in local politics his whole life, and he addressed it to his friend, Euphanes, who was at the same stage of life. Regardless of any impairment that they might be suffering, Plutarch saw older politicians as having entered public life primarily to do good and therefore as having a moral obligation to remain engaged.” The moral of this discussion about politicians old or young is simple: Be old but be good; let not ego and age turn one into a brutal despot.
