It placed a relatively lower emphasis on a politician's substantive credentials, not necessarily linked to his or her age. Between 1997 and 2013, the average age of a US president at the start of a term was 52 years. Clearly, as the political economy has become more complex and challenging, government has come to be perceived differently by voters. Deft, surefooted leadership, with an ideational (even ideological) ballast, counts for more, irrespective of age. Murli Manohar Joshi headed influential parliamentary committees, shaping debates on education and energy, till the end of his term at age 85.