Aged people are the solutions, not the problem

-Prof. Devibhakta Dhakal

We are aware of our birth. An individual does not know anything about their birth. But, death after birth is universal truth. Every creature is born to die. How long they will live is a mystery for human beings only. Proof regarding human effort in the fields of science are scattered all around us. But no science has achieved the methodology to get the information about duration of human life.

We are bound in between the obliviousness of birth and death. Death is inevitable after birth. But the time and date regarding it is unknown to everyone. An individual wants to live a happy life amidst the unknown. Man comes into this world helpless. The rearing is done by the parents. The upbringing and education depends upon the environment in which an individual is born into.

Man learned so much about varied aspects through investigations and studies. We know a lot about many things excluding own body.

Unaware person about birth and death gains knowledge and expertise in a certain discipline. But, these experts also are unaware of their health and age. Ancient knowledge used to make people knowledgeable. It is said that ancient scholars were omniscient, one who sees the past, present and future. In contrast to today, education provided in that era was based on knowledge. Nowadays, education sector can be considered as profit earning business.

In the past those who learnt were wise. They could also predict death. But now modern education only teaches to accumulate wealth. As result extreme corruption can be seen all around. Some responsible people have  made corruption and life as synonyms. Man learned so much about varied aspects through investigations and studies. We know a lot about many things excluding own body. We must be able to know our body and how to keep it healthy as it is the most valuable asset.

We all unite on the fact that precaution is better than cure. But we are not deeply concerned towards it, which results in being unhealthy. Our body is a vehicle which takes us to places. If our body is affected by diseases this activity is hampered.

State should work on providing basic facilities as education and health free of cost. One of the beautiful aspect of democracy is the assurance of quality education and health facilities.

Life will be full of chaos. We ourselves feel helpless and unstable if our life is halted as vehicles, by sickness. Our body is a vehicle to work and religion. We can only be able to fulfill our social, moral, religious duties if we are unhealthy. We cannot function with physical pain. Even, chanting can only be done when we are healthy. So, every individual must focus on good diet and lifestyle religiously.

State must mediate to achieve this goal. Elderly persons usually have contributed to the countries through their works. At that stage of life they have deficit energy as well as fund. At their age it is injustice towards them by government to not be able to get medical attention. State should work on providing basic facilities as education and health free of cost. One of the beautiful aspect of democracy is the assurance of quality education and health facilities.

Not able to provide quality education and health is a disgrace on democracy. One of the important aspect of democracy is to assure health and education. When a government provides quality health and educational facilities, it can be recognized as democratic government. As it is yet to be practiced in Nepal, it is not a democratic government. When our elderly citizens do not have to look into their pockets while receiving medical treatments, they will not feel dependent.

If provided with quality education and health for free, money laundering is unnecessary. Minimizing corruption is not only the clause to uproot corruption but it also promises health and education. Quality education and health is not only for the betterment of public, it is also cure for the corruption. Leaders are not exercising their power to stop corruption, rather they are largely contributing to corruption, which is unfortunate.

Ageing is is an absolute truth for everyone. Today’s youth must also go through old age. Taking care of elderly people helps garner pride, wisdom and strength.

Life and education are two equally important aspects to experience. There are no better books available that the experiences of our elderly citizen to study. Whenever possible we must try and read them. We can get many valuable lessons that are not enclosed in any books. Those rare and important lessons from elders help to make our life successful and ideal.

Resourceful wisdom such as good manners, culture and discipline can be gathered from elder people. Avoiding them can be unfortunate for society. Ageing is is an absolute truth for everyone. Today’s youth must also go through old age. Taking care of elderly people helps garner pride, wisdom and strength. Once Ram Chandra also sought help from aged Jamabat for suggestions.

Youth’s responsibility towards aged people should be discussed vastly. They should be encouraged to voice against any misbehavior towards elderly people and be made conscious that every youth will grow old. Despite of tackling old people’s problem as an individual’s problem, it must be viewed as a social one.

Disrupted joint family, selfishness, devaluation of moral and social responsibilities are some factors to why aged persons are not getting their deserved place in the family.

If youth start to empathize with older generation, their family and state will do the same. There are endless possibilities to aged person that state can acquire from them in terms of economic, social and cultural development. But, if their ability is not used on time, risk of loss is higher, just as the flowing water in river. As Gangadhar Tilak says when and what work you must do. That is the reason why they were compared to the roof of a house, under which every family member felt secured. Now, the roof itself is unsecure.

He imposed the importance of aged people by stating, experience only apprise. The image of age, thought, experience and knowledge comes in front of own eyes. Guidelines for the tough life ahead can be received from them. Once they were respected as a guide, not a burden on their family. That is the reason why they were compared to the roof of a house, under which every family member felt secured. Now, the roof itself is unsecure. Disrupted joint family, selfishness, devaluation of moral and social responsibilities are some factors to why aged persons are not getting their deserved place in the family.

Today youth are disassociating from their elders due to modern lifestyle, generation gap among many others, which is directly affecting the elders. Various moral lessons are taken away from educational curriculum which results in varied issues. These issues should be resolved to permanently address the problem. State, society and family should embrace aged members as remedy rather than a burden.