10/05/2026
GOLDEN AGER
A golden ager is in the making of a baby. He is no one but the after effects of baby. Psychological studies show, people above 70 normally carry the similar idiosyncrasies and chateristics of a child. Expectations and demands are similar in nature and tantrums are as well. It is rather tougher to handle an aged person than a child.
With the passage of time, individuals turn more difficult ones with the transformations of structural base of their mental make up which gets tightened and often, gets fixed and immutable. It seems, to them, nothing is in order, life has taken a u-turn and no way one is able to go back to his childhood days, and the scenario of which, for sure, would be similar if not, on the nose be the same again.
It sounds schizophrenic but the truth is, every golden ager is terrified by the unmistakable fact that there is an identity crisis. Status is gone, power has slipped from minds and hands, social acceptance dwindles and the existential threats always looms over their heads making make them feel smaller than what they were previously.
On the top of all, it is the rejection, triviality and nonchalant attitude of others causing more mental and linking to physical damage than the age or any other socio- political - economic crisis in life.
By being, not asked for advice or being not the part of the mainstream of the society and family, he lives in, feels lost and completely susceptible to almost everything done and spoken to them and about them.
Golden ager is in a phase wherefrom path in the front seems darker than anticipated and gets even darker and invisible with time. The blurred and misty sight opens door to despondency and vexation. Treatment metted out to them by others, especially family members, is deplorable and pitiful.
The Golden agers of today were undoubtedly the builders of the future in past. They persevered, faltered, were down and up several times but kept the target focused during their struggle period to establish themselves successfully. Many were favoured by their fates and others failed to achieve targets but today, everything has been expunged from the memorylane leaving only the mortal body and some unforgetable memories. Current generation refuses to entertain their past nor acknowledge it with respect. These are instead, laughed at considering it of no worth for them.
Golden agers are weighed now as liability on family, government and society as whole, ignoring their golden past and tangible achievements. Out of job means out of action which leads to fall from grace, considered undesirable.
Youngsters feel, as if carrying extra baggage with them, many times this causes embarrassments and they look for suitable passage to escape without being noticed.
Society takes them as expired materials and evade from engaging them in any assignment of magnitude. Children feel rueful when leave them behind at home when they go for modern get together, meetings or meet social obligations.
Children assign them work such as, looking after grand children, guarding the house, watering plants, if any, indtructing maids and sometimes carrying out household chores. Also to buy vegetables from market, take pets out, feed and nurse them, drop and pick grand children to and from their schools and tuition them as well with cooking at times.
Is it called happiness, real freedom or a peaceful life style after retirement? How does one define this?
Could there be any constructive change in golden agers' life? Can they be as happy and gratified as they used to be in their youthful days?
