GenNext clings to ‘old’ ideas: Study

A total of 71.2 per cent respondents agreed that they appreciate the wisdom of old members and consult them in family matters from time to time.

“When my son was opening his office for IT solutions he wanted me to tell him about all related work for the puja. He may be modern but traditional values can not be forgotten,” says Jatashankar Tripathi,a retired bank manager from Kanpur.

Wisdom of old age was important to 35.5 per cent respondents,saying they seek guidance from their old relatives and friends.

While in rural areas,18.5 per cent took expert advice from older people,the figure came down to 14.2 per cent in urban areas.

The survey also interviewed around 15000 older persons spread across 150 districts of 20 states to know their views on old age wisdom.

A majority of them (80.31 per cent) said their wisdom is appreciated by their family members and friends in particular and by society in general.

Around 19.69 per cent complained they are being constantly ignored and neglected by their family members and society.

This trend is more critical in urban areas where 22.01 per cent older persons have no say in their family matters,while in rural areas 17.36 per cent realise the same.

“When we were in our forties,we always used to seek advice from our parents in family matters,especially in religious or spiritual matters. But today our children are treating us as old stock as we are not well-versed in modern gadgets. They hardly have any time for us,” says 67-year-old Damyanti Verma from Delhi.

When a comparison was made between older women and men,it was found that 60.21 per cent older men accept that their wisdom was appreciated where as below 40 per cent older women were of this opinion.

At the same time where as 54.5 per cent older men accepted their contribution to the society or their families due to their wisdom, only 45.5 per cent older women were of this opinion.

Himanshu Rath,Head of Agewell Foundation says,”Older persons have never been a spent force. They are treasure trove of life-long wisdom,tradition,culture,knowledge and insight. They may have less knowledge of today’s rapidly changing world but they have solid insight of culture,traditions and values which are permanent in nature and qualities of humanity.”