Dr K. K. Aggarwal
Padma Shri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee
President, Heart Care Foundation of India
What keeps the politicians alive? Undoubtedly, it’s the luck that saves him from the militant’s bullet and the wonder of POWER.
It’s the power that makes the heart of these aged politicians beat. The love for limelight and not VIAGRA, gives them that extra horsepower.
Late P V Narasimha Rao, the former Prime Minister, is a sure case for that matter. Ailing with a severe heart problem he strived to fight the elections despite an eminent cardiologist from US repeated instructions for rest. Physically too weak, the yearning for power made him stand in the elections and ultimately become the Prime Minister of India.
Another example is the politician Arjuna Singh, who was sick to the extent of being sustained on the ventilator but lived for many years beyond the hopes, owing the entire credit to the responsibilities that complimented power.
These cases don’t reveal the politician’s lust for power but the proven biological phenomenon of the effect of power among living beings.
It was first observed among chimps. The study revealed that any chimp who was made the leader of the group behaved entirely in a different way from his fellow beings. This was termed as “The Itch of Power”. The biological reason behind this change in temperament was stated to be due to the rise in the secretion of Serotonin (Neuro Chemical). The more the secretion, the more vigour it produces. The increase in the secretion of neurochemicals is spontaneous with the power one
accumulates.
Many studies revealed that most of the U.S. Presidents were different in their tenure during power than otherwise in their later or former years. Human system is such, that limelight brings a potential which radiates confidence and vitality in the individual. Amazingly, speeches over the audio and video media present a personality different from what he is in front of a large udience. Applause from the gathering most automatically gives the individual that spirit and gaiety, which is a characteristic of any man in power.
The crux lies in the human attitude. Power brings positivity into the life ailments. One gets boosted by the strength of his inner self and outlives the diseases and ailments which otherwise are quite prevalent in this physical stature. According to Vedanta, man has been slotted a tenure of 100 years to live. It’s the approach towards life which sails the boat. You may regard your 40 years of age as either 40 lost or 60 more to go!
Choice is entirely of the individual. Positive thinking or an optimist approach towards life is the key word.
Power, power and only power does that wonder. Mr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, the former President, was all hail and hearty at age so ripe during his tenure in the highest office of the country. The day he retired, he succumbed to the physical aliments of the body which earlier were overshadowed by the gleam of his authority.
Determination and the nature of responsibilities keep the man going. That’s the very reason why women never outgrow men inspite of their age. It’s the responsibility of the entire household that never lets them retire from their office of power. She outlives the vitality of her retired husband.
Today, as a matter of fact, an ailing father will not succumb to his illness if you bestow upon him the responsibility of getting his daughter married. Such is the game of determination. Your ‘will’
eventually takes you wherever you foresee yourself. This is the sole reason why Vinoba Bhave died on ‘Amavasya’, for he was determined to do so that very day itself.
Determining oneself to achieve whatever is set for and giving life its unedited share of positivity will not only enhance our lifeline but also change the destiny – for life is but the make-up of our own thoughts.
