By – Dr. Birbal Jha
Across continents and civilizations, the elderly have been revered as the custodians of wisdom, the bearers of culture, and the moral compass of society. Their experiences form the backbone of our collective identity, reminding us that while youth may power the present, it is age that safeguards the future. As an old African proverb wisely says, “When an elder dies, a library burns.” This eternal truth reminds us that every elderly person embodies an archive of history, lessons, and values that no book alone can preserve.
In India, the tradition of “Matru Devo Bhava, Pitru Devo Bhava”—seeing parents as divine—emphasizes the sacred duty of respecting and caring for our elders. Similarly, the Chinese say, “One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade.” This proverb beautifully reflects how the sacrifices of one generation provide comfort and progress to the next. Indeed, the elderly, through their struggles and endurance, plant the trees of opportunity under which the youth sit today.
Every culture, in its own idiom, celebrates the dignity of age. In Greece, there is a saying: “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” It underlines how the elderly embody selflessness, thinking beyond themselves to nurture future generations. In Africa, people wisely observe, “The youth walk faster, but the elder knows the road.” This reminds us that progress is not a matter of speed alone, but of direction—and it is the wisdom of the elderly that keeps society from losing its way.
The strength of communities lies in their intergenerational bonds. A Kenyan proverb says, “Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable.” Just as families and societies thrive when young and old stand together, so too does the world become stronger when it honours the wisdom of the past while preparing for the challenges of tomorrow. In Scandinavian culture, we hear, “A shared joy is a double joy; a shared sorrow is half a sorrow.” Elders play this vital role of multiplying joy and soothing sorrow within families, creating emotional resilience in communities.
Even in modern times, nations that value their senior citizens are those that thrive. Japan, with its deep-rooted practice of Keiro no Hi (Respect for the Aged Day), provides a model for the world. The Japanese proverb, “The old age of an eagle is better than the youth of a sparrow,” conveys how age brings refinement and depth of character. Meanwhile, Native American wisdom teaches us: “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” This bridges the wisdom of the past with the responsibility of the present, highlighting how elders are the link between history and destiny.
Caring for the elderly is not merely an act of kindness—it is the ethical foundation of society. If we neglect our elders, we impoverish ourselves. For, as the Igbo of Nigeria put it: “What the elders see while sitting, the young cannot see standing on tiptoe.” It is their insight that helps societies navigate crises and preserve continuity.
On this World Senior Citizens’ Day, let us reaffirm the truth that the elderly are not a burden but a blessing. They are the roots that nourish our family trees, the storytellers who keep culture alive, and the guardians of ethical values that prevent societies from drifting into chaos. By honouring them, we are not only paying respect to their past contributions but also securing a wiser and more compassionate future for ourselves.
My guiding belief has always been: Language for livelihood, culture for identity, and ethics for society. Let us live by this ethos by speaking to our elders with respect, celebrating the cultural wisdom they pass on, and upholding the ethics of care and solidarity across generations.
For in the words of a timeless Chinese proverb, “Filial piety is the root of virtue.” The way we treat our senior citizens is the clearest reflection of our humanity. Let us, therefore, honour wisdom, strengthen bonds, and build a future-ready society—hand in hand with those who walked before us.
Senior citizens are the living libraries of our civilization, the guiding lights who have walked the long road of life with courage, sacrifice, and wisdom. Their contributions—whether in nurturing families, building institutions, preserving culture, or shaping the nation—are the very foundation on which our society stands today.
As we celebrate Senior Citizens’ Day, let us honor their toil and treasure their wisdom. In respecting and caring for our elders, we are not merely repaying a debt of gratitude but also safeguarding the values that define our humanity. They are the roots that keep us grounded and the beacons that show us the way forward.
On this day, I call upon every citizen, young and old alike, to rise in respect, express gratitude, and pledge support for our seniors, for a society that reveres its elders is one that secures its future.