Health quotient not in vogue

Exactly a month ago, Ba rack Obama sworn in as the president of the United States of America around the same time the leader of the world's largest democracy was hospitalized for heart surgery.------yes! Prime Minister Manmohan Singh .

In the west, people are curious about the health status of the candidate they choose. They want an agile, athlete, robust personality to lead the country. That's why when the republican candidate John McCain chose Sarah Palin as a running mate to offset the image of being old. Eventually, the running mate became a counter productive one. On Obama side, he was considered to be a naive person in running the country's affairs. In order to bring in the experience to his camp he chose Joe Bi den as his running mate. Joe Biden has over 30 years of experience at US Congress and held various positions at foreign relation committees.

President Obama is a fitness freak who plays basket ball at free times. His shirtless pose at Honolulu's beach became a big hit before elections.The doctor says the exercise body can mitigate the effects of long working hours, fatigue. Many past presidents were also fitness freaks .It is a PR exercise by the candidates to look chic before the voters. The frail image doesn't translate into votes.

Now, take the case of India we have politicians over the age of 70 visiting hospitals have become habitual affairs for them. The leaders seem to give a scant regard for health quotient. The elections are around the corner. The Indian mass going to witness whirlwind tours, massive rallies, street corner meetings of our politicians in the days to come. Almost 40-50% of the electorate are less than 35 years of age. Many of them are first timers and very eager to exercise their franchise.

The Obama campaign made our politicians re-position their strategies. The opposition leader, L.K.Advani, has started websites to attract the young voters. Even the leaders like Lalu Prasad without shedding his rustic image goes hi-tech by visiting various management schools.

How these strategies would help them nobody knows. To lead a country looking biologically younger does not guarantee the efficient running of the affairs. Within a few days of assuming office President Obama admitted his folly in appointing tax evaders in his administration. Experience matters.