What’s common between LK Advani, Morarji Desai, Chandra Shekhar, Devi Lal, Charan Singh and of course Manmohan Singh? All of them are in their 80s and have overtly or covertly harboured the aspirations of occupying or staying continuously at 7, Race Course Road.

Simply put, each one of them is an old man in a hurry.

These leaders have many a times— including the current Advani vis-à-vis Modi episode and Manmohan Singh’s aspirations of a 3rd term— shown demonstrable temptation or desperation to achieve their goals. In fact, so apparent is their desperation that often compromises are made and issues related to personality, principles or interests of the party, society or the nation are generally overlooked.

Historically, philosophically and neurologically, is this behavior normal? Or is it limited to areas of power— the greatest aphrodisiac in the world?

Historically and philosophically, both in Hinduism and Buddhism, the Ashram system, classifies life into four stages— Brahmacharya (student life), Grihastha (household life), Vanaprastha (retired life) and Sannyasa (renounced life). The goal of each period was the ideal fulfillment of each of the four consecutive stages of life. With increasing age expectancy, people beyond the age of at least 75 are expected to completely withdraw from the world and dedicate themselves to spiritual pursuits by practicing meditation and aspiring to seek moksha. Alternatively, some of them can also fit in roles like Bhisma Pitamah and guide the younger generations.

Neurologically, ageing affects the brain size, the blood supply and cognition. The brain shrinks with increasing age and changes occur at all levels from molecules to morphology. The pre-frontal cortex is responsible for most complex cognitive behavior—personality expression, decision making, and moderating special behaviour. The basic activity of this region of the brain is considered to be an orchestration of thoughts and actions in accordance with internal goals. It is this area, which appears to bear the brunt of the changing levels of neurotransmitters and hormones with age.

The major clinical impact of reduced dopamine and serotonin, especially in areas which are important for planning, analysis and diplomacy combined with impaired episodic and semantic memory and decreased regulation of synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis responsible for strategic planning, partly limits delivering virtues necessary for effective governance. Such ageing legends, however, are the best people to be governed by a remote control, since they are great survivors and enjoy the kick of the greatest aphrodisiac.

According to the Paul Macklin model, the human brain evolved and developed into oldest (housekeeping), older (emotional and societal) and the neo cortex which is the most advanced and the largest. The three are connected and can influence each other based on the individual’s strength. With higher evolution, the neo cortex is strong enough to inhabit the emotional and societal brain, thus taking one away from materialism and making him more compassionate and evolved.

However, when the emotional and societal brain is flooded with the intense desire to seek power, influence or material, it inhibits the more genuine and higher thinking frontal neo cortex.

Interestingly, ageing affects the higher cerebral cortex first thereby releasing temptation and desperation to acquire power, the agenda constantly pushed by the lower brain.

Only spiritual leaders like Gandhi can set exceptional examples of sacrificing personal interests for the larger cause of the society and nation and have the courage to renounce power.

The rest will continue to fall prey to the temptations and will never be remembered in the likes of Mahatma Gandhi.