Seniority Ailment

Amongst the several conditions, inflicting our culture which is marred by multidimensional confusions is the ailment of seniority. One wonders that as a country struggling with development, modernity and diversity, the consolatory illusion that in the least we have a so-called culture of respect rooted in our so-called eastern values, is a prized asset. This prized asset gives an elated sense of false pride that we are holding onto our value system of “Baroo ki izzat, choton say pyar” (respect for seniors, affection for youngsters). Is this concept in itself problematic? On close inspection, it is highly problematic. Isn’t respect a fundamental requirement for all whether senior, junior, men, women or for that matter even animals. Similarly, isn’t affection a need of all whether senior, junior, men, women and even animals?  However, with this ubiquitously accepted cultural commandment, while we render respect as a right for seniors we make it a privilege for the others, with only selective impartation.

What is seniority anyway? Grey hair? Wrinkles? Higher cholesterols or in the least the perception of maturity given by the glance seeping from above the reading glasses. Do the years automatically corelate with maturity, higher expertise in worldly and beyond worldly matters? While emotional intelligence tends to positively correlate with experience but do more summers of life also necessarily mean more experience. At times younger adults undergo life-changing experiences and often those with more years on their plate have lived the life in a cocoon. Nevertheless, if the above concept of seniority is accepted as the mutually agreed definition, then we move on to stage two. What does seniority entitle one to? A preferential seat on a bus or a head-start in a long queue in sultry heat. Fully Agreed. The problem nevertheless arises when seniority, which should more correctly be called aging here, is considered synonymous with competence, higher value attributed to opinions on practically everything, a birth right of not entertaining potentially logical and more correct counter arguments, placement at a higher mantle in both personal and professional lives, especially in the public sector, which is characterized by time-scale promotions and age restricted preferential positions.

The implications go further. At this crucial hour when as we hit the 1.5-degree temperature rise limit set by the Paris Agreement, the hearts and lungs of Zinda Dilan-e-Lahore (“Hearty Lahoris”), a titled conferred by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, are enroute death. The seniority conundrum still allows us to fret over higher priority issues: if the seatings are placed in correct order of “seniority”, if the most senior person has been given the additional charge, offered the due protocol, served the food first etc. etc. One again wonders how seniority which may bring with it more wisdom, does not allow individuals to see the pettiness of it all.  

A disclaimer is warranted here. The tirade is not about discrediting the conventional respect which aging commands. It is in fact driven by the sentiment of making the notion of respect applicable to all. Disrespect meted out to a younger person should be condemned at par with that meted out to a senior one. Seniority may not be used as a tool to disparage a competent younger individual. The debate in fact is about seniority vs competence. Theodore Roosevalt at 42, John. F. Kennedy at 43, Bill Clinton at 46 and Barrack Obama at 47 made some of the finest US presidents. In fact they are the forebearers of charisma which receives an unfair but natural advantage from youthfulness. Sebastian Kurz, Austrian Chancellor aged 31, Waldemar Pawlak, Polish Prime Minister aged 32, Sanna Marin, Finish Prime Minister aged 35, Rishi Sonak, British Prime Minister aged 42 are few more in the list defying the stereotype of age led eligibility for a certain role. Joe Biden, on the other hand has been scrutinized and condemned for his cognitive failures.

Competency is a magical trait. It embodies not just charisma, experience, wisdom and patience typically expected from seniority, knowledge and ability, but it is a cocktail of the right amount of charisma, experience, wisdom, patience, knowledge and ability. Even in the rudimentary understanding of Islam, it becomes amply clear that no individual is considered better or higher than another individual based on race, color, creed, education, knowledge, gender, age or the so-called seniority. It lays “piety” as a sole parameter of superiority. Drawing inspiration, from the Islamic model, it can be advocated that higher ranks, position, monetary or fringe benefits must be linked with competence which may or may not agree with age related seniority.