Our elders!
Hi there,
Happened to read a disturbing piece of news in The Hindu. It was titled "Suicides rule high in Japan" (http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/21/stories/2008062156562000.htm)
The article noted that elders are the most vulnerable lot. Some disturbing segments of the article are reproduced below:
"....their traditional support mechanisms — the welfare state and extended families — are under threat..."
"Japan’s national character is such that people are socially conditioned to hide their pain, to avoid troubling others by opening up.”
Are our elders in India any different?
As young men and women, we can do the following:
1. Take care of our parents and elders in our extended families;
2. Involve our parents in our daily lives and engage them while taking critical decisions (they possess abundant wisdom, earned through the hard way - sheer living);
3. Start volunteering; especially to needy ones (Check out www.ivolunteer.in to know more on this)
Personally, I would gauge the progress of any nation through the following metrics:
1. % of moms holding a degree or a PG
2. % of monthly income spent on books
3. % of annual income spent on health-care of elders
4. No. of united families (families living with their elders)
5. Role played by elders in purchase decisions (especially, capital investments - car, home, etc) Or, the no. of purchase decisions taken in consensus with families' elders
6. % of income spent on impulsive purchases (the lesser it is, the better for a nation)
The popular media (both print and electronic) could play a pivotal role in making India's young minds tune towards caring for their elders. More importantly, each of us could show the way and live as great son / daughter. Isn't it true that, we have to be the change before we wish to see one?
With luv,
Vijay
Happened to read a disturbing piece of news in The Hindu. It was titled "Suicides rule high in Japan" (http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/21/stories/2008062156562000.htm)
The article noted that elders are the most vulnerable lot. Some disturbing segments of the article are reproduced below:
"....their traditional support mechanisms — the welfare state and extended families — are under threat..."
"Japan’s national character is such that people are socially conditioned to hide their pain, to avoid troubling others by opening up.”
Are our elders in India any different?
As young men and women, we can do the following:
1. Take care of our parents and elders in our extended families;
2. Involve our parents in our daily lives and engage them while taking critical decisions (they possess abundant wisdom, earned through the hard way - sheer living);
3. Start volunteering; especially to needy ones (Check out www.ivolunteer.in to know more on this)
Personally, I would gauge the progress of any nation through the following metrics:
1. % of moms holding a degree or a PG
2. % of monthly income spent on books
3. % of annual income spent on health-care of elders
4. No. of united families (families living with their elders)
5. Role played by elders in purchase decisions (especially, capital investments - car, home, etc) Or, the no. of purchase decisions taken in consensus with families' elders
6. % of income spent on impulsive purchases (the lesser it is, the better for a nation)
The popular media (both print and electronic) could play a pivotal role in making India's young minds tune towards caring for their elders. More importantly, each of us could show the way and live as great son / daughter. Isn't it true that, we have to be the change before we wish to see one?
With luv,
Vijay
posted by Vijay at 8:05 PM
2 comments
