It must be why, not when
Ervell E Menezes
We Indians just cannot grow old gracefully, which means we do not know when to quit. The latest example is Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Lal Krishna Advani, the Prime Minister in waiting for the longest time. Almost all the party men took a pot-shot at him with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar not to be left out, saying that politicos must quit by 65. But what about his volte-face on the many issues he fought passionately for as the opposition leader? Is politics guided only by age and not performance?
Did Advani turn 85 overnight? Or was it an excuse because they did not want him? Did they forget that it was he who took the BJP to power after it won a paltry two seats in Parliament? Yet, I am not an Advani admirer because he changed Hinduism (a way of life, not a religion) into Hindutva or Advanism.
Of course Janata Party leader Morarji Desai became Prime Minister when he was over 80 years old. Veteran Congressman K Kamaraj for example is another. But this malady is not confined to politics.
Our great cricketer Sachin Tendulkar is the latest who is shielding all questions on his retirement. One should quit when folks ask why. Not when. Take the example of sportsmen from other countries. Steve Waugh quit at the top to say nothing of the charity he continues to do in Kolkatta. So did Mark Taylor, Glen McGrath and many others. They do not have an eye on the record books. That is left only to us Indians.
Kapil Dev delayed Srinath’s entry into Tests by overstaying. Sunil Gavaskar may be waxing eloquent on everything under the sun being a psychologist, sociologist, philosopher whatever, but what did he do when he was past his best? Blocked a place meant for youngsters.
Money doesn’t just make the mare go; it makes cricketers cross the line between need and greed. As for spot-fixing, will we ever get to the root of the problem or is it just another storm in a teacup for the BCCI? When will this malaise end? Or is it an impossible dream?
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