Parmeshwar Devkota

There are some serious public concerns about our political leaders. It is natural that many leaders of the major political parties in Nepal seem to be turning older and fragile. When the prominent leaders come under the pressure of age, it may be difficult to maintain distinction between leaders and their cadres.
TV channels, especially HD channels, show actual condition of our leaders’ appearance. The hair of almost all the previous generation leaders seems to be grey and hoary. However, some of the stylish ones have tried their best to remain young by dying their hairs. Those with grey-red hairs above their ears are seen unattended and dull and not matching with their age. The eyebrows and eyelashes of some leaders have also turned brownish-grey, and looked awkward.
With the wrinkling skin around their eyes, criss-crosses are seen at their foreheads making their eyes sunken. Missing teeth and receding gums, and glow have helped their face withering. Their faces have lost radiance and glow, making their appearance different, and their smile clumsy.
Those having the habit of ‘Tuchcha’ (taking booze) in the evenings are seen apparently different on TV screens. It helps them develop bags under their eyes. The eyesight of such leaders might also have been limiting because of their loosing upper muscles that support the upper eyelids. Some leaders are suffering from diabetes and other ailments. The diabetic ones are seen developing double chin due to sagging of jaws and skin around their face.
When leaders stroll around after getting out of their luxury cars, their actual stature can be gauged. Almost all the senior leaders of all the parties are actually stoops and need a walking stick. They face difficulty in crossing long stairs of the government buildings.
As explained above, if they find themselves in difficulty to walk, their endocrinal systems might have been weak, and reducing to the level of medical support. As we know, some leaders are under heavy medications while others are under medical surveillances.
Another surprise is that those fragile septuagenarians and octogenarians are ready to lead their respective parties and ultimately to the nation again. For your kind information, life expectancy of women in Nepal is 68 years while men 67 years. Their ambition is laudable, but it forces me to remember a poem written by renowned poet Lekhnath Paudel, ‘Chita Khitka Chhodi Abhayasanga Hasyo Marimari…’ This is because the human life is short. But neither have they made any noticeable contribution to their parties nor to the nation. Yet, they want to hold power throughout their life.
The young generation leaders who are morally upright, politically conscious and theoretically erudite, but they are sitting idle behind the veteran leaders just waiting for their turn. This is yet another bizarre. Like mythical monkey God Hanuman did not know his strength, the youths in those political parties also do not know their power. They should make former Labour leader Edward Samuel Miliband their role model. He contested the election challenging even his own brother David Miliband and emerged victorious to serve the nation in various positions.