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More than a celebration, it is a call to respect, care for, and cherish the elders who shape our lives, families, and communities.
Every year on October 1, the world observes the International Day of Older Persons as a time to celebrate and honour the elders who have shaped our lives. But celebration alone is not enough. We must pause and ask ourselves: beyond a single day of speeches and flowers, what are we truly doing for the parents, grandparents, and elders who once gave us everything?
In many households, including many in Kashmir, a painful reality is starting to take form. Young people leave home to study or work in cities often far away or even abroad. But parents and grandparents stay at home. These parents and grandparents invested nearly every dream, sacrifice, and resource to raise their children and now find themselves alone just as they need the most companionship and care. They invested their strength and their happiest years in raising us, but far too often, we pay them back with neglect and distance.
Worse still, in some societies, elders are treated as if they no longer belong. We place them in old-age homes and forget to visit. We dismiss their opinions with words like, “You are too old to understand,” or tell them to stay quietly in a corner or spend their days only at the mosque or temple. Some are left isolated, as though their presence is a burden. What we fail to realise is that everything we are today our values, our traditions, our very culture exists because of them and their unconditional love.
In Kashmir, the problem has a deeper grounding. The state has suffered decades of war, political unrest, and constant curfews, which have imposed extraordinary psychological and social stress on families. Most elders in Kashmir have seen displacement, loss, and the daily process of sustenance to establish normalcy in unpredictable situations. Yet, amidst these challenges, they still preserve family traditions, tell tales of resilience, and offer emotional and moral support. They are Kashmiri culture’s living memory the tellers of stories, teachers, and custodians of tradition, crafts, and language. They are a link to a past that future generations may never know if the elders are ignored.
In daily life, Kashmiri elders are still central to family and community well-being. They care for grandchildren when parents work long hours, assist in keeping orchards and fields in shape, and share their traditional skills such as weaving, embroidery, and preparation of local delicacies. However, as migration and urbanization become common, many youth move away from their hometowns, unaware of the increasing loneliness their elders experience. A grandmother taking care of the saffron fields by herself or a grandfather sitting silently in the corner of a house no longer full of family life is an indication of a quiet crisis that cannot be solved by a single day of appreciation.
The celebration of the International Day of Older Persons brings to light the valuable contribution of older persons in families, communities, and economies, and draws attention to the health, social, and emotional problems encountered by them in an increasingly ageing world. The day is celebrated throughout the world through conferences, cultural events, health camps, and activities bringing together younger and older people. Governments and non-governmental organizations utilise it to call for increased protection, honour the achievements of older people, and persuade young people to learn from them. These celebrations remind us that ageing is not a personal experience but one that is shared by all.
Celebration without responsibility, however, is empty. Ageism, neglect, and poor care persist as urgent issues. There are too many isolated or poor elders, even after having left all they had to their families. Honour does not come from one day of rhetoric speeches but from everyday actions of respect, spending time with one’s parents, helping them emotionally and financially, and making them feel that they are not abandoned. Our elders used to hold our hands as we took our first steps; now it is our turn to walk alongside them.
A Message to the Young People: You are the bridge generations and the hope of tomorrow. The decisions you make today will determine how society treats its older people and how you will be treated one day yourself. Keep in mind that getting old is not a problem for “someone else.” All of us are headed toward that time.
In Kashmir, it is especially important to keep connections alive with older members of the community. Despite educational attainment or career advancement, you should make a point of finding ways to stay in contact. Call more often, pop in when convenient, and make them part of your plans and decisions. Learn lessons from their own stories of survival in times of conflict, in times of change, and during generational family responsibility that you will never learn in a textbook or a classroom. Challenge the ageism you see in your communities and workplaces. Recognize and respect the experiences, wisdom, patience, and sacrifices of the elders in your community and intentionally commit to protecting and continuing their cultural and social legacy.
Treating elders with respect, empathy, and care not only enhances their lives but also builds a stronger moral fabric for society. The dignity and respect shown today will be visible in the world left for the future generation. In such regions as Kashmir, where family and tradition are tried each day by the outside world, respecting our elders is at once a moral necessity and a cultural imperative. Let us not forget that the dignity, health, and well-being of our seniors are not separable from the vitality of our families and communities.
Every day should be an opportunity to honour, assist, and learn from the elders who have built our existence. Make the International Day of Older Persons a reminder of not only thanks, but also of duty, deed, and lasting respect.
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