The age of a human being is not comparable to that of a nation. Last year India started celebrating its Amrut Mahotsav or 75th Anniversary of its Independence. But still our country is in its infancy. Like human beings state is not limited by age. Humans become old and tired as they turn 75.
Recently, one of the prominent political leaders of Maharashtra state Ajit Pawar said to his uncle Sharad Pawar, “Now that you are an old man of 83, you have done enough politics in your long life. You should now retire from it”! This gives rise to a new question –should age be a determining factor for entering or leaving politics? We know that age is a requirement in matters such as marriage, employment, retirement or for carrying out one’s franchise.
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But we witness astonishing instances as regards age. Sant Dnyaneshwar wrote ‘Bhavarth Dipika’, a commentary on sacred Bhagwad Gita at an early age of 16 and took Samadhi (voluntary death) when he was just 22. A great spiritual leader and reformer Swami Vivekananda could live a short life of only 40 years. Contrary to this, is the story of Mahatma Gandhi. This saintly person wanted to live longer. A hale and hearty Gandhiji at his age of 73 said , “ I want to live a full span of life and according to me the full life span is 125. By that time, not only India will be free but the whole world would be free…”! But Mahatmaji could not live as he wished. He was assassinated when he was 79. Indiraji was 66 when she was assassinated. Another great leader of India Morarji Desai lived for 99 long years. He became the prime minister of India at the age of 81. Thenceforth, he was quite active in politics for over a decade.
Presently , there are many old men across the world who are at the helm of affairs in their respective States . I would cite here five examples of such persons along with their respective ages –President of Cameroon, Paul Biya (90), President of Palestine, Mohammed Abbas (87), King of Norway, Herald V (86) and Supreme leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei (84).
Furthermore, politics is not similar to most other common fields of life. There is one idiom in English, ‘Life begins at 40’. It means that a person has to undergo 39 long years of his existence for knowing what life is. Therefore, it should not surprise anyone if a person turns 60 by the time he or she understands the deep and complicated activity called politics.
Of course, things are easier for a new comers if his or her uncle or aunt is already well established in politics. Ajit Pawar has this advantage as his uncle Sharad Pawar was earlier CM of Maharashtra and also a minister at the center. Ajit Pawar himself was also deputy CM of the above mentioned state twice earlier. Presently, he enjoys that position for the third time. Nevertheless, it is high time now that Ajitdada declares his own age of retirement from politics.
