Key Metrics

Average life span of individuals for most of human history was barely over 30 years. Most died very young, below 15 years, and only a handful lived to 50 years and even less to 60. Three score and ten (70 years) was very rare. Today the average life span in most countries is over 60 years and many live into their 90’s and even 100’s. The confirmed longest lived, was a lady who lived to over 122 years and 7 months.

Recently a 40 odd years old ‘leader’ demanded that as more than 80 percent of the Country’s population was below 45 years of age, it was only fit that at least 80 percent of political leaders, at the top, be from those below 45 years.

Such a demand then begs the question, that as 60 percent of the population was below 30 years wouldn’t it be equally just to reserve 60 percent of the posts for those below 30? Also, why stop there, 35 percent of the population is below 15 and hence, there may be equity in reserving 35 percent of the positions for those below 15! Where does one draw the line? Is youth the only criterion of a capability to lead or guide the Country, or is it wisdom – gained over years, from knowledge, experience and maturity that would be a better measure?

To answer this question effectively it is first necessary to understand the following:-What is Age – is it a Chronological Measure or is it a measure of Health and Fitness or are the qualities of Wisdom arising from Knowledge, Experience and Maturity, the right measure?

Is such wisdom attained by Chronologically aging each year or could there be a difference between the many who live one years experience 20 times over in 20 years, and those who add to their knowledge and experience every year of their lives (like the Nobel Laureate Pearl S. Buck quoted above), or is old age only a decline in physical capabilities which may not affect the capability of the person to function adequately in the chosen sphere of activity (remember Stephen Hawkings, his neuro-muscular disease does not make him any less regarded as a Physicist, for examples closer home – was Kushwant Singh at 96 any less as a writer or Ram Jethmalani at 88 any less in demand as a lawyer?)

Someone once defined ‘old age’ as that age which is 15 years beyond the age of the person being asked. For a child even 5 years older is old, but generally for a 15 year old – 30 is old, for a 30 year old – 45 is old, for a 45 year old – 60 is old and for a 60 year old – perhaps 80 is old, or for him, age as a measure is too amorphous and hence, is not really an attribute to consider. Wisdom and capability are the more effective deciding factors.

We all recognize that Teenagers are strongly driven emotionally by the hormonal changes they experience. They see the world differently and think their elders incapable of properly understanding them, a difference perceived as the ‘Generation Gap’. Even young adults need to realize that the neural development of the prefrontal area of the human brain, that inhibits irrelevant thoughts or actions and thus increases the ability to focus, plan and act effectively, as against impulsively, and develops mature social capabilities, reaches its completion only around 28 to 30 years age.

Even as a measure of physical capability ‘Chronological’ age is not really a decider. It is true that from about the age of 25 the physical capabilities begin to decline, but if you were at only 40 percent of your possible peak fitness at the age of 25 and then at the age of 60, when you are peak fitness would be 50 percent of that you could have attained at 25, but you now worked to maintain it at 80 percent of that possible peak, then you would in effect be at least as fit at 60 as you actually were at 25. Remember the many marathon runners who are in their 80’s and 90’s today, having started running in their 60’s, and in one case at 86, and who are now more physically fit and capable of running than they ever were in their younger days.

So ‘Chronological’ age is really not the ideal nor the only measure of fitness nor is physical capability. It is only the capability to adequately execute the task undertaken that is a good enough, measure of the required fitness.

Of course one can quote examples of military leaders like Alexander the Great, who were world renown in their 20’s, but in those times physical fighting prowess and strength was a greater factor in leadership than it is today and in any case most people in those days barely lived past 30 years age (Alexander died at 33). Today our Military leaders, the ‘Generals’, are adequately fit and capable in their 50’s and 60’s, and our Political leaders are as fit as required even in their 60’s or 70’s and a few even in their 80’s. Knowledge and experience, tempered with maturity, accords them wisdom which, coupled with adequate physical capability, allows them to function effectively as Leaders. As the old saying goes – ‘Good judgement comes from experience and a lot of that comes from bad judgments when young.’

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