Do your bit, not only respect elders; welcome them in your lives gratefully, support them in what they wish to do; make them aware and help whenever you can. Try to make this world a better place for our elderly because if there is a heaven. You’d be welcomed there greatly! Remember, we need generations, not generation gaps! 

Written By: Jiya Khandelwal 

In a typical Indian household, there are a few specific duties predetermined for specific people. No, I am not talking about gender differences and what is the role of men and women. It’s been quite a lot regarding that lately. So, today let us discuss the age difference, which we disguisedly call the ‘generation gap’. This expertly coined phrase sounds so grand as if it’s some concept-of-the-century type scientific theory. Well, in truth, it is our failure, not as a younger generation but failure as human beings. 

Coming back to duties, there is this unmentioned rule that grandparents would always be the best storytellers and of course our best saviors against our parents. Now if such things are already decided, then where is a void in a loving family for the ‘generation gap’ to exist. Is it just elders telling you to not eat out daily or help them with something which you don’t like?

You may not understand an animal every time perfectly. Now can I call the differences in your and the animal’s understandings a ‘human-animal gap’? The difference in thoughts doesn’t exclusively owe to the age of anyone. You and your peer may hold variable opinions which are human nature and no sort of any gap. Also, technically no person can belong to a single generation forever which is why it’s not about a particular class or group of humans but all of them. 

Why such Discussion?

You may ask me why am I arguing against a not-so-relevant phrase? Well, I’m no expert or anything but I know how it feels to be categorized based on what you simply are. Knowingly or unknowingly, we’ve been making a line separating our senior citizens from the population and deciding what they’re supposed to do. There are a million feminists around the world, including me, who’d oppose someone who says that women belong to the kitchen or they should prioritize their kids over their career. Ironically, we do exactly this to our senior citizens-you should concentrate more on rosary beads than my business, mom or grandpa, you’re too old to do that. Who is to decide that?

I’d not prefer to state figures here, but they are abysmally high for crimes against the senior citizens, the primary reason behind being indifference of mentality. It’s ethically wrong. But wait, I don’t do this. I don’t know what you do or not. However, I would like you to do this including them! Inclusivity doesn’t come with living under the same roof. This is the time to bring your elders into the loop of your lives, not just metaphorically. Even having a 15-minute conversation with your parents or grandparents daily would make them happier. Because by not doing anything we sometimes tend to give them mental torment which is no less than a physical injury.

What does the Law say

The very ideology behind the constitution and parliament of India has always revered the backing of its senior citizens. The government of India has enacted the “Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens’ Act in 2007; making it a legal obligation to provide maintenance to senior citizens and parents by monthly allowance. A senior citizen, who is unable to take care of himself/herself without a source of income is entitled to get relief under this act. 

Going by facts, there are still many people who are not aware of this law. Therefore, for doing your bit, not only respect elders; welcome them in your lives gratefully, support them in what they wish to do; make them aware and help whenever you can. Try to make this world a better place for our elderly because if there is a heaven. You’d be welcomed there greatly!

On an ending note, I wish you a wonderful time with people far more experienced than you are before it’s too late. Remember, we need generations, not generation gaps! 

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