Retired hurt is a popular expression that is used in cricket to describe the predicament of a batsman, who while batting gets injured in the process and has to leave the field not to return. When his score card is read, it is mentioned against his name: ‘Retired hurt’, while against other batsman, it says how they got out. In politics, however, it can have different connotations, largely explaining the agony of not getting a party nomination to fight elections. We are witnessing plenty of such instances these days where persons ranging from septuagenarians to nonagenarians are being shown the door from parties they considered their own. It is only natural that they would feel hurt, more so when they think they must be around till eternity. This brings us to another question: Should not the politicians think they need to retire after having played a long innings? Cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, the God of cricket in India, decided to hang up his boots when most of his admirers thought he still had plenty of cricket left in him. And, mind you, he had a huge fan following. That is what legendary cricketers from Sunil Gavaskar to Steve Waugh and many others have done. Hang up their boots voluntarily before one is made to do so unceremoniously. However, this is not to suggest that whatever happened was right, particularly the way it was done. But there is a basic philosophical issue involved which our ancient Indian thought explained rather succinctly. It is said that there are four stages in life based on age. These are called the four ashrams, which are Brahmcharya, Grihasta, Vanaprastha, and Sanyas — meaning the student life, family life, retired life, and renunciation, respectively. How well these stages fit into the cases being discussed here may not be easy to evaluate, but their implications are rather clear. That one must on his own volition think of calling it a day before it is too late. There are valid reasons for this. The first being that no one is going to be around for all times to come and it is better if this realisation sets in at the right time, rather than being forced to experience it. The Pauranic story of King Yayati, who desired everlasting youth, is a case in point. He longed for it, got it also by the wish of God. But he later realised that there is no end to this longing, this lust for pleasure and power. One must understand this reality. The other reason is that what will happen to this world if everyone craves for such desires and also gets them? Will it not lead to utter chaos? Moreover, what about the next generation? Is it not the duty of the previous generation to move out of the way of the future generations on their own, lest they are pushed by the wayside? Why do people go wrong in assessing when it’s time to say goodbye to your profession and let others take on the mantle? A big question that can only be answered by reflection. Looking inwards to realise that this world is a temporary abode where people come and go. Everything has a life that comes to an end. More importantly, this world also has a life. So live till you live, but let others live too. The golden rule is retire gracefully or else you get retired hurt.

Pathak is a professor of management, writer, and an acclaimed public speaker. He can be reached at ppathak.ism@gmail.com