OLD IS GOLD

Life circle is aptly described as one can equate a child and an elderly person on the same scale. We all

talk mostly about troubled teens but have we ever discussed about the aged. I guess the answer is NO.

We don’t discuss about why our thoughts differ with those of our grandparents but always close the

topic with the most popular phrase-“GENERATION GAP” . Have we ever tried to step into their shoes

and think how lonely they might feel at their age when most of their friends have left for the heavenly

abode, they have retired from their job so have nothing to keep them engaged, grandchildren whom

they used to narrate bed time stories are more interested these days in PSII games and their own kids

are busy earning the green.

This thought about the aged and the lonely crossed my mind one winter evening when I was having

my evening tea with my grandfather. At his age I must admit he is fit and kicking but the lively smile

which he used to carry few year back was missing. During our conversation he poured his heart out

mentioning that how he felt being less preoccupied and idling away his time and how handicapped he

felt as everybody out there is busy with no time to chit chat with him. I was taken aback and felt low of

myself, the person who taught me the ABC of English, the do’ s and don’ts of life through all the short

stories of life and not to forget the morale booster doses of career was feeling low. Won’t I come to his

stage once? This is the question I pondered and would like to ask everyone.

We stay in India where grandparents are treated with the same respect as God but has westernization

affected us so much that we have lost our individuality and have fallen for the western culture blindly.

But we shouldn’t forget that in the west too children make it a point to visit and spend their free time

and weekend with their old parents. So, to end “Care for the old as infant kids for they need the same

care and love with interest that they had showered upon you once”.