By Rachita Sharma:
Ever thought about the wrinkled face person in your family whom you take for granted? Their constraining muscles and joints, fading eyesight, and a lined face speak volumes about the unfathomable wisdom and life experience. Ever tried to devise a part of their wisdom in your own life?
Senior citizens in our society possess a dignitary and respectable position for they have lived their time, seen the youth and have borne family responsibilities of their children and even grandchildren. But their golden age is at times riffed with loneliness and rejection from modern world. Our generation never tries to elicit their mind and thoughts. This generation gap is the prime barrier which prevents any scope of mutual understanding. But they are totally fond of our contemporaries.
Dr. D. Kumar, a respected 80-year old Contact Lens Specialist and Secretary of Gandhi Eye Hospital loves the spark of stimulating change, present in the youngsters. “This and the coming generation are more active, ambitious and honest. The much straight forward attitude is going to help them in the long run. The youth dreams a lot which is a very positive thing. If you don’t dream, you can’t succeed.”
It is quite an adamant fact too that the youngsters today have been engrossed so much into their life race that they have forgotten to sit back and create a communication with the old age fraternity. 74-year old S.C. Varshney, a retired PWD Engineer and his 70-year old wife Nirmala Varshney express their discontent when asked what flaws in today’s generation disappoint them. “Children don’t obey the elders. Present generation thinks that they know it all. But the truth is life has just begun for them, and there is a great deal that they need to face and learn.”
A common whim in the minds of youth is that, earlier, there was no such pool of huge career expectations, peer pressure and stress-laden factors. Life was much easy for the yesteryear people as there was less competition in every sphere of it. To that an 80-year old Kishorilal Varshney, a retired teacher with an experience of 34 years cannot agree more. “This is a super intelligent and education-oriented generation. Whatever we learnt in 10th standard is now being taught to a 4th standard kid. Aaj kal ke bachhe bhot badiya nikal rahe hain. They are independent in decision-making which is very good.”
“There’s nothing bad in getting old”, says Mithlesh Sharma, a 64-year old housewife, when asked if anything bothers her about being at 60s. “I know I am old but it doesn’t depress me. I am happy and I live my life to the fullest. I still feel nostalgic about the fun I had in my college days. The youngsters today need to think wise and then act. Thinking of achieving everything too soon, shows the lack of patience which should be improved.”
With age comes stability and soundness. Our generation can learn priceless tips about living a good life from the grandparents present in our homes. The need is to lessen the communication gap and enhance the understanding. We should not forget that we all would get old one fine day and probably our upcoming generation would not be sensitive enough to understand our way of thinking.