Page 18 - Dec 2021 ST

in culture and society are inevitable corporates alike. Hopefully, these will bring
consequences of progress. The selflessness
of a wholesome past will yield to the want
and wanton times of the present, creating
conflicts of situations and emotions and
impacting relationships themselves.
If in the western world, leaving the parental
homes and fending for oneself from the age
of 18 is a generally accepted norm, it will
not be before long before it permeates the
Indian society as well, especially in urban
areas, if it has not already. If the urban kids
are migrating early on to overseas shores for
higher education and better lives, the rural
youths are now migrating in hordes to urban
areas for the same reasons. Whether urban
or rural, the impact is on the aged, who are
willy-nilly left to fend for themselves and
manage as well as possible. It is not that
children are irresponsible towards their
parents. Many are caring and loving and
do not dump their parents, thanks to the
enduring Indian model of all-round self-
development and emphasis on caring for
the ageing members of the family. They try
and do everything possible to tend to them
and give them a physical and psychological
sense of belonging. They use technology
as best as possible to stay connected and
provide the comforts.
The mushrooming old age homes and
assisted living coming up in many cities and
towns, NGOs providing care and comity to
senior citizens, governmental measures in
the form of some social security schemes
and laws, citizens groups, app based help
portals, etc., are signs of a recognition of the
problem of elder care, abuse and destitution
and provide some succour, if not a complete
cure. Building awareness and sensitizing
the citizenry with the right messaging about
the need to take care of parents and senior
citizens is a regular initiative of states and
18
about a change in mindsets towards elders
and elder care.
As for those in migration to the silver years
and hoping for a continued well-being, they
will do well to follow Shushruta’s advise
of swasthya (good health), dinacharya
(following daily routines), riturcharya
(following climatic/seasonal routines),
regular exercises and moderation in diet.
Equanimity and mental health could
be aided through spiritual routines like
meditation and contemplation. Going back
to our roots is the only way we can cope with
the reality and adversity of life. Attachment
is good, but detachment is practical. It is best
not to let your IQ yield to EQ. After all, none
of us are in absolute control of ours or for
that matter others’ lives and neither was it
meant to be.
Closer home, a few years ago, a relative,
after much discussions and advocacy of a
joint family with his children, planned out
a consolidation of his finances to set up a
larger roof. Since then, one of his children
has already moved to a different city and the
other is soon planning to fly off to a different
destination. Though both deeply care for
and love their parents, they had to make a
choice and they did. That’s the law of nature;
if you have wings, you will fly. Those who
cannot, it is best to roost and not rue. After
all, life is an array of choices and living is an
array of decisions. The relative is back to the
drawing board.
As for Navin Vora, I am hoping that he will
come to terms and accept his reality, and yet
live the remainder of his life to the fullest.
Atharva Veda says, ‘pashyema sharadaha
shatam, jivet sharadaha shatam’ (let me see
100 autumns, let me live 100 autumns). He
came crying, let him go laughing, a great wit
that he is.