<p>Whenever a baby comes into the world, family and well-meaning friends wish the newborn a long life, good health, and all good things. At milestone birthdays, like fifty or seventy-five, the star of the day is wished a century, people toast to that, and they line up to seek blessings. On sighting a thousand moons (just after crossing eighty), Hindus hold poojas and havans and feed an army.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Today, when India is home to an ageing population, we hear of a new term, ageism. Discrimination against the aged. Unless the person is powerful and holds positions of importance or has abundant wealth at his/her disposal, there is little respect accorded to the wisdom and knowledge gleaned by the senior.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Take outstanding teachers who gave so freely of what they knew and trained a new generation of students/professionals. People like former President Abdul Kalam’s teachers, who inspired him, or those legends who trained brilliant surgeons, musicians and artists, and filmmakers—surely these keepers of wisdom left their special touch on those who learnt at their feet. Not so long ago one used to hear people say, ‘At least give the elder the respect due on account of his age. Never mind if the person is frail with age or hard of hearing or a ghost of his/her former self. To have in one’s midst people who have seen so much of the world, lived through life-altering stages, and dealt with losses, beside epidemics, calamities, wars, and economic crises, and faced and learnt from them and consider that of no consequence is indeed regrettable.</p>.<p class="bodytext">And sometimes if the elder is family, it is a case of familiarity breeding contempt to the point of regarding them as boring and avoidable. Even if one benefited from a parent putting family before self, it is equated to mere performance of duty. Worse still is when there is disowning and abuse. </p>.<p class="bodytext">As children, or the younger generation, it is our duty to care for our elders in whatever way possible. Ageism should have no place in our world. Sidelining and humiliating seniors could leave us yearning for their presence and insights when they are not around. Mythology reminds us of the story of Pundalik, whose eyes were opened to his callous treatment of his parents. Once he underwent a change of heart, he was blessed by Lord Vittala of Pandharpur.</p>
<p>Whenever a baby comes into the world, family and well-meaning friends wish the newborn a long life, good health, and all good things. At milestone birthdays, like fifty or seventy-five, the star of the day is wished a century, people toast to that, and they line up to seek blessings. On sighting a thousand moons (just after crossing eighty), Hindus hold poojas and havans and feed an army.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Today, when India is home to an ageing population, we hear of a new term, ageism. Discrimination against the aged. Unless the person is powerful and holds positions of importance or has abundant wealth at his/her disposal, there is little respect accorded to the wisdom and knowledge gleaned by the senior.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Take outstanding teachers who gave so freely of what they knew and trained a new generation of students/professionals. People like former President Abdul Kalam’s teachers, who inspired him, or those legends who trained brilliant surgeons, musicians and artists, and filmmakers—surely these keepers of wisdom left their special touch on those who learnt at their feet. Not so long ago one used to hear people say, ‘At least give the elder the respect due on account of his age. Never mind if the person is frail with age or hard of hearing or a ghost of his/her former self. To have in one’s midst people who have seen so much of the world, lived through life-altering stages, and dealt with losses, beside epidemics, calamities, wars, and economic crises, and faced and learnt from them and consider that of no consequence is indeed regrettable.</p>.<p class="bodytext">And sometimes if the elder is family, it is a case of familiarity breeding contempt to the point of regarding them as boring and avoidable. Even if one benefited from a parent putting family before self, it is equated to mere performance of duty. Worse still is when there is disowning and abuse. </p>.<p class="bodytext">As children, or the younger generation, it is our duty to care for our elders in whatever way possible. Ageism should have no place in our world. Sidelining and humiliating seniors could leave us yearning for their presence and insights when they are not around. Mythology reminds us of the story of Pundalik, whose eyes were opened to his callous treatment of his parents. Once he underwent a change of heart, he was blessed by Lord Vittala of Pandharpur.</p>
