Wikipedia, with absolute indelicacy, defines old age as “ages nearing or surpassing the life expectancy of human beings and is thus the end of the human cycle.” Reinforcing this sombre hypothesis, neuroscience suggests that the brain volume diminishes over time at the rate of 5% every decade from the 30s, especially that part of the brain that regulates executive functions and leadership qualities such as problem-solving or goal setting. The decline in aptitude and mental processing speed results in unconscious repetition of thoughts and behaviour and an erratic memory.
As one who has been there for some time, I can assure you that old age is not a nice place to be. Tactfully but infelicitously referred to as the golden or senior years, the twilight age is a litany of aches and pains, memory loss and a lot more. Old age is a burden not only for the dotard but also for those trapped in his orbit. And if the decrepit old guy happens to be a powerful politician, watch out because he is up to no good.
Politicians are unquestionably one species who wear badly; the older they get, the worse they become. Our world is being ruined by malevolent old politicians who preach high principle but act dishonourably.
The octogenarian US President, Joe Biden, and the unspeakable septuagenarian Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, are currently engaged in a genocidal tango against humanity and the people of Palestine. Yet, it is ironic that in the face of the unmitigated evil perpetrated by these two men, the Yanks and their media, normally hyper-strident in expressing sanctimonious indignation at human rights violations across the world, have been mute in this case – barring some conscience-stricken students and faculty in university campuses.
Also read: ‘US Credibility at Stake’: The Elders Write to Joe Biden on Israel-Hamas Conflict
Former French minister Alexis de Tocqueville diagnosed this American failing way back in 1840: “Nothing conceivable is so petty, so insipid, so crowded with paltry interests as the life of man in the United States.”
That’s the American way: ignore or trivialise life and death happenings anywhere if America and its citizens are safe. True to form, the killing of thousands of Palestinian men, women and children, the relentless bombing of schools and hospitals by US-backed Israel are a peripheral concern. Instead, one of the leading subjects of public debate is Biden’s age, especially after his announcement that he would run again for President.
Biden, who turned 81 a few days ago, has given ample evidence of physical and cognitive decline with his stumbles and verbal slips, so much so that even his former boss and close friend, Barak Obama threw up his hands in despair and let slip this bazooka: “Don’t underestimate Joe’s ability to f**k things up.” Biden’s most outrageous faux pas happened at a conference last year where he sought out Indiana representative Jackie Walorski barely weeks after her high-profile death in a horrific car accident. “Where’s Jackie?” asked the President from the podium as he peered about the hall, adding, “I thought she’d be here.”
But these are relatively benign age-related frailties for which the bible-toting Catholic can be excused. How is one to react to his murderous liaison with Netanyahu that goes against everything human or civilised, that has plumbed the depths of human depravity? To Biden’s eternal shame, the US has been stonewalling every UN resolution for an immediate ceasefire. A moot question: has the American President taken this wicked decision on his own or is he a mere stooge in that shadowy Frankenstein monster that is the US establishment?
Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel. Photo: X/POTUS
America’s unequivocal support for Israel’s sustained genocidal assault on Gaza follows a well-worn script adopted by successive US administrations. Historically, from the time that US President Harry Truman became the first world leader to recognise Israel created by poaching Arab land in 1948, the US has been Israel’s accomplice and chief arms supplier in its killing sprees. It has been spurred on by overwhelming public support for Israel, the indefatigable propaganda of pro-Israel interest groups and their donation of millions of dollars to politicians, both Republican and Democrat. Even the suave, allegedly righteous Obama (who has dropped bombs on six countries) was a toady of Israel, disproving my thesis about venality being the preserve of old politicians. Possibly, politics soils anyone who ventures into its swamp.
There are other geriatric politicians hellbent on ruining our world. The Stalinist epigone, Vladmir Putin has, up till now instigated, the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians (mainly Ukrainian), and armed forces personnel (Russian and Ukrainian), since invading its neighbour in February 2022.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has incarcerated over a million Uyghur Muslims of Xinjiang in state-sponsored camps. In a textbook example of ethnocide, these victims have been denied religious and political rights, are subjected to forced labour and birth control. The unspeakable cruelty extends to separating children from their parents. The world clucks in disapproval but does nothing!
Presidents of the US and China, Joe Biden (left) and Xi Jinping. Photo: X/@POTUS
Unlike the US, where the President is still shackled by democratic norms (which Trump promises to cast aside if re-elected), our benighted country is firmly under the authoritarian leadership of the Vishwaguru, who is two-and-a-half times as old as the median Indian (28 years). In his imperious whip hand, our decorative democracy is a sham behind which this regime has captured every institution of governance, using fear and dissimulation as the controlling mechanisms. “Killing the Constitution by a million cuts” is professor Tarunabh Khaitan’s brilliant forensic dissection of how our freedoms have been “picked” even as we sleepwalk into authoritarianism.
While his law-enforcement hitmen besiege and batter all opponents into submission, the preening Vishwaguru pulls the wool over our adoring eyes. The sententious leader effortlessly straddles the disjunction between precept and practice. He speaks out against corruption unfazed by his fingerprints on Adani-gate, electoral bonds, washing machine-transformed opponents-turned-friends. He boasts about being the fifth largest economy – disregarding the fact that in terms of per capita GDP we are ranked 127th out of 179 countries. He hits out at dynasts even as all institutions have been usurped by a single family – the Sangh Parivar – and parades the “ghar me guskar maroonga” macho image but cringing away from China which, uninvited, enjoys our hospitality. And never tires of repeating the bogus “Sabka saath sabka vikas” trope despite doing everything to divide his people to stay in power.
Yet, from the looks of it – his god-like power over his people, his abuse of religion to divide and rule, ‘his’ emphatic victory in the recent Assembly elections – our Vishwaguru threatens to be the Methuselah among world leaders!
Mathew John is a former civil servant. The views are personal.
