The Seven Ages of a Politician

Shakespeare has been a great influence on me since my school years. And like a true, and ardent fan, I indulged in all the Shakespeare related touristy activities on my trip to the U.K. The same goes for the other William - William Wordsworth, and the way I regaled a few other tourists by reciting Daffodils, embellished with all emotion and fervour, when I visited Grasmere! (Of course, I was complimented and asked how I spoke English so well and recited the poem even better!“ You’re good”, an elderly, American, gentleman had said !)

The beauty about literature is that it leaves a strong impression, on the mind, intellect, sensibilities and use of language, and, unlike the other subjects one might have studied in school, and promptly forgotten later, blaming it on the lack of its use in life, literature stays on. May be that’s what sets it apart from the other subjects! 

This morning, it struck me that Indian politics, as it is practised today, could be summarised by the first lines of Jacques’ poem, The Seven Ages of Man, from Shakespeare’s play, As You Like It - 

                 All the world is a stage, 

                 And all the men and women merely players

                 They have their exits and their entrances

                 And one man in his time plays many parts.

And the lines that follow prompted this post!

At first the infant mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms

This is the beginning of dynastic politics, as we love to refer to it - the baby is to the political manor born and the parents see in the child a torchbearer to their own political career and fortunes.

And then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel, and shining morning face, creeping like snail, unwillingly to school

Doesn’t matter if the child might rather be a cricketer or an actor or engineer! S/he is trained, much like a royal was to eventually wear the crown, albeit reluctant and desolate.

I recollect an interview that Priyanka Gandhi had done with Barkha Dutt for N.D.T.V. Priyanka had mentioned that dinner table conversations were often on the subject of politics. Probably, it is hard to escape such influences while growing up in a family steeped in politics. But I guess Rahul Gandhi either never really absorbed the lessons, or forgot them promptly, like I did organic chemistry!

And then the lover, sighing like furnace, with woeful ballad, made to his mistress’ eyebrow

This, the typical, and acceptable, reaction of a young (wo)man in love - the frills attached to politics enamour and entice, and politics doesn't seem like a bad career choice, after all - you get to drop names, jump traffic signals, skip queues..With no other option in the horizon and knowing no better, the romance of a (once) reluctant lover begins!

(Guess! Well, let me tell you - Rahul Gandhi!)

Then a soldier full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard, jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel, seeking the bubble reputation, even in the canon’s mouth.

Once besotted, and knowing no other way, the protégé gives her/his all. Armed with the exuberance of youth and the passion of new found romance for the field, the responses are eager, spirited and often impulsive. To do or to die, the promises made are stranger than fiction and the price to pay is commensurate.

Shri. Modi is now at this stage - the penultimate stage in his political career. With no one to challenge him, he has some more distance to cover.

And then the justice, in fair round belly with good capon lined, with eyes severe and beard of formal cut, full of wise saws and modern instances; and so he plays his part

The many years spent, some reluctantly, some effectively, makes the politician wise from experience and time. S/he knows the ‘ins’ as well as s/he does the ‘outs’ and forges ahead, armed with the potion of wisdom and the art of judging the winds and calculating the tides! 

The sixth age shifts into the lean and slippered pantaloon, with spectacles on nose and pouch on side; his youthful hose well saved, a world too wide for his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice, turning again toward childish treble, pipes and whistles in his sound

Unfortunately, many of our ‘active’ politicians are at this stage! And they won’t pave the way for others, believing they are yet to hit the peak of political youthfulness. Some parties place them on a pedestal and seek their ‘guidance’ intermittently while others rely heavily on the experience, tolerating the tantrums even if it pushes the rest into political doldrums. Sounds familiar - remember the Yadav family feud not so long back?

Last scene of all, that ends this strange eventful history, is second childishness and mere oblivion, sans teeth, sans eyes,sans taste, sans everything.

The game of politics is beyond comprehension, much as it was at the start of the cycle. When a week is considered a long time in politics, a lifetime given to it can make things exponentially difficult to cope with the dynamics. The senses fail to see any sense and the politician’s lifetime looks richer on the pages of a well scripted biography…