Government Teacher Dr. Sonal Kanthaliya delivers a heart touching message about our senior citizens addressed to the young generation, through the platform of Gyan Manch.

She begins with a soulful poem:

“उम्र की दहलीज़ पार करके,ये पुराने ज़रूर हो गए हैं,कई सारे मौसम से गुज़रे,कभी उजड़े तो कभी बहार हो गए हैं,पर ये वो दरख़्त हैं,जहां मन्नत के धागे बाँधे जाते हैं,जहां बचपन में खेला,जहां जवानी में सपने सँवारे हैं,जिनकी छाँव में कई मौसम गुज़रे हैं,इन दरख़्तों की छाँव में कई मौसम गुज़रे हैं,और ये आज भी अनुभव की ठंडी छाँव हमें दे रहे हैं।”

Through this poem, she beautifully underlines the significance of senior citizens in our lives. Dr. Kanthaliya reminds us that while the official Senior Citizens Day is observed on 21st August, respect for elders should not be confined to a single day.

She reflects on globalisation, describing it as a process that is slowly pulling people away from their roots and values, making it even more important to cherish and honor the elderly every day.

She explains that senior citizens are the vital link between generations, keeping the younger ones connected to their roots. Every elder above the age of 60 in a family carries the responsibility of passing on values, traditions, and culture, ensuring that the essence of our heritage continues to live on in the younger generation.

Today’s younger generation is moving at a fast-paced, material-driven lifestyle, which makes it even more essential for them to remain connected to their roots. With rapid advancements in technology and changing perspectives, life is surrounded more by materialistic pursuits. In such times, it becomes crucial to hold on to values, traditions, and cultural foundations, so that progress does not come at the cost of identity.

Senior citizens are the generation that anchors the young to their roots, taking it as their responsibility to pass on legacy, values, and wisdom to the next generation. She explains this through the example of families: in households where grandparents are present, the upbringing of children carries the richness of shared stories and traditions, and moral grounding. In contrast, children growing up in nuclear families, where only parents or a single child is present experience a very different upbringing.

She points out that while these differences may seem minor during childhood, they become more apparent as the children grow up. In situations of stress, anxiety, or everyday challenges, the upbringing reflects clearly whether they have developed qualities like cooperation, resilience, patience, or compassion. She further adds that retired elders usually dedicate most of their time to the family, sharing their knowledge and life experiences, and paying close attention to the growth and well-being of the children.

Dr. Sonal Kanthaliya describes senior citizens as the true national inheritance and cultural heritage of India, emphasizing that it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure their well-being. At the same time, she gently reminds the elderly that some things depend on them too. Times have changed, and many struggles of the past are no longer the same today. Instead of comparing their era with the present and imposing it on the youth, elders should try to understand the challenges young people face in today’s fast-paced world. She stresses that it is the shared responsibility of both generations to find ways to bridge the gap and foster mutual understanding.

Just like every year, World Senior Citizens Day is being celebrated on 21st August, and the theme for 2025 is “Empowering Elderly Voices for an Inclusive Future.” With this theme, Dr. Sonal Kanthaliya encourages senior citizens to actively seek ways to bridge the gap between the current and upcoming generations, fostering better understanding and harmony between them.

In conclusion, she emphasizes that this gap can only be closed through the combined efforts of both generations.