Passionate Keepers of History
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68 Pages Subscription: `.1100 p.a. THE MAGAZINE FOR PRODUCTIVE AGEING September 2018 FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY PASSIONATE KEEPERS OF HISTORY q FLOWER THERAPY q CHARDHAM YATRA q TECHIE TURNS FARMER q LIFE AFTER RETIREMENT q DADA J P VASWANI: A TRIBUTE q DAAN UTSAV September | 2018 Dignity Dialogue FIRST WORD hy is it that media reports about elderly abuse are on the rise? Is it because society the world over has Wbecome more psychologically violent? Is it because the elderly are seen as a burden? Or is it because the population of the elderly has been increasing dramatically? Researchers Huned Contractor say that all these and more factors are equally responsible for this disturbing state of affairs. The number of people 60 years and over in the globe was 673 million in 2005 and is expected to increase to 2 billion by 2050, thus giving birth to the term ‘the age of the ageing’. India, like many other developing countries in the world, is presently witnessing rapid ageing of its population. According to World Population Prospects, UN Revision, 2006, the population of aged in India is currently the second- largest in the world. There has been tremendous increase in the number of elderly population since independence in India from 20.19 million in 1951 to 43.17 million in 1981 and 55 million in 1991. According to the 2001 census, around 77 million people are above 60 years which constitutes 7.5% of the total population of the country. This number is expected to increase to 177.4 million in 2025. Link this with the fact that the traditional values and institutions are in the process of erosion and adaptation, resulting in the weakening of intergenerational ties that were the hallmark of the traditional family. As a report published in ‘Yojana’ points out, economic independence is also to blame. Push factors such as population pressure and pull factors such as wider economic opportunities and modern communication cause young people to migrate. Moreover, the impact that physical and psychological violence have on the health of an older person is exacerbated by the ageing process and diseases of old age. It is more difficult for the elderly to leave an abusive relationship or to make correct decisions because of the physical and cognitive impairments that usually come with old age. In some places, kinship obligations and the use of the extended family network to resolve difficulties may also lessen the ability of older people, particularly women, to escape from dangerous situations. Often, the abuser may be the abused person’s only source of companionship. At such times, efforts should be made to strengthen family care because the preferred source of support for the aged is still the family. Under instructions from the Government of Maharashtra the use of plastic bags for inserting magazines is forthwith stopped. We are therefore directed to post the magazine without any cover, September | 2018 Dignity Dialogue with the label pastedDignity Dialogue on the magazine. September | 2018 LETTERS Anger machines have replaced September 2018 VOL 23 ISSUE 09 Take Pride in your Management a valuable instrument of Parental Role beating clothes. People, n article authored by arents – what an take decisions as they who do not like to work in the V N Gopalkrishnan kitchen, can do gardening, amazing word! think fit. A P about anger mana-gement even if in a balcony pot. It’s a word that There are three was very informative. Weeding and digging are immediately connects factors we need to However, I would like excellent prescription to with someone that you keep in mind in our to add my personal vent frustration. Or take a can rely on without parental role: 1) Be prescription to manage sport to hit a ball – football, thinking. A majority a shield when a child anger – actually tried and tennis, squash any will do. of human beings have is in trouble, 2) Be a tested by me. I do not claim Even if you do not become the opportunity to be friend and help the to be absolutely calm all the a champion, you will get parents in their life. child when he or she is time, but I do manage to good exercise. That way, And once they take confused about taking stay so most of the times. As venting your anger will not on this responsibility, certain decisions, and the author has said in one lead to any regrets! it heralds the start of his tips, physical activity 3) Guide a child and Shobha Mathur of a new journey not rule over him or lessens stress. I vouch for that involves tough her. As parents, and it. Anger is a fierce emotion E-mail: shobham@ aspects such as the now grandparents, that unleashes a lot of yahoo.com proper upbringing enjoy every moment surplus energy. This needs Be a Good of the children, their of life either learning, to be expended in violent physical activity. That is education, social teaching or sharing Citizen why people hit out blindly stature, habits and and you will truly s a citizen of the or act hastily which begets attitude, religion, etc. realise the value of country we live in, regret later. I channel this A Every parent wants life and how precious we enjoy many privileges energy in a productive his or her child to it is. Don’t while away – the infrastructure, way. When angry, instead be the best in the time with the false roads, water supply, of taking it out on family world. Unfortunately, drainage and all that is prestige or ego that or others, I take it out many a times, despite necessary to live in a city. you know everything. in kneading any kind of their best efforts, Life is too short try But we should be aware of there are failures dough! Hit it as much as to play your role you want. our responsibilities too, when the children perfectly and allow the primary one being to do not measure up others to play their Or chop vegetables, pound pay our taxes on time so to expectations. I, role in a dignified spices. Kitchen is the most however, feel that our way. See things in the violent space in the home; duty ends with giving most positive way! use it to vent fruitfully! them the best of what You can release your we can offer and also Shubha Suresh frustration and anger quite providing them the E-mail: shubha@ legitimately. Work done freedom to be on spectrumconsultants. in the process is a bonus! their own feet and co.in Regretfully, washing September | 2018 04 September Dignity | 2018 Dialogue Dignity Dialogue Dignity Dialogue Dignity Dialogue September | 2018 05 that the authorities can life after retirement. blind students, a journalist and indeed very cheap monitoring in ailments will suggest the right continue to provide us There is nothing to do and a scholar. I consider services. Nowadays, when like diabetes, heart specialist should any such with such services. Our once you retire. Yes, these years to be among caught in a situation attacks, blood pressure, treatment be required. responsibilities towards that is an often-heard my most rewarding of simple sudden flu etc.; he or she can be of S H Subrahmanian our family are exclusive lament. An important years, My friends were symptoms, nagging back immediate assistance in ones, for which we alone reason for the lament is responsible for my clearer pain, an unexpected treating minor infections; E-mail: mani@ are responsible. Good that practically no one, understanding of the rash — we search for a and a family doctor enablery.org conduct begins at home. especially someone in problems they faced and point of contact? Why? If we can keep our family position of power and how they coped. They, Because we have none Neither/Nor: Saying it Poetically! happy, the society will influence, is mentally literally, opened my who is our first help, a We are the in-betweens strangulating between life follow. Our family is ready to face the fact that eyes! I could no longer qualified one! A recent negating and death asserting where we get apprenticed. he, too, must retire one continue this activity due research study found that We are the in-betweens stifling between desire’s want With our neighbours, it is day. Many hang around to commuting problems. elders without personal and fulfillment wanting basically give and take. hoping for some crumb of Later, along with my wife, physician reported worse We reap what we sow and a sinecure will come his I got deeply involved in care experiences, rating We are the in-betweens struggling between dream’s a happy neighbourhood way. I personally know translation into English of a their overall quality of will and reality willing is conducive to harmony of a very senior officer few scholarly woks, mainly care substantially lower We are the in-betweens; neither loving, nor leaving; and peace in the simply disappearing from in Sanskrit. Reading has than those with a personal neither daring, nor denying; neither fettered, nor community we live in. his office on the day of been an abiding passion. I physician. When it comes freeing; neither rooted, nor releasing Remember, citizens make his scheduled retirement hope to continue the habit to healthcare quality of We are the in-betweens stumbling between capacity a nation and a nation will and then trudging the of buying about three older adults, a family and confidence be as good or bad as its corridors of power till he new books every month.