"OLD AGE IS FREE FROM ALL WORRIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES..."

It is true that every person wants to live long but does not want to become old. Old age is considered unwanted, problematic and uninterested part of life. It is also a bitter truth that the last stage of a man's life is the old age which comes inevitably and man is bound to become old and spend life of old age. According to ANTHONY POWEL "old age is the punishment of that crime which he has not committed."

In ancient times, old age was considered most respectful age having mines of various types of experiences. Old age was considered an age of rest. They felt social security, sense of respect and affection from the family and other persons in the society. They felt that they are relevant for the family and the society. No ceremonies or religious customs were acknowledged completely without their presence. Whether an old age is free from all worries and responsibilities is mostly dependant on the circumstances and facts and moreover psychological aspect of the person and how he perceives the old age. In fact an old person faces the problem when he considers himself irrelevant, unimportant and useless. When a person comes into his last and decisive age i.e. an old age, he finds himself into new unwarranted circumstances. The result is that an active person is declared an inactive person. Though he is mentally and physically fit to cope with those situations but he is made to feel that he is not an active person now a days. His mind does not accept this condition but his physical status does not accept this truth.

Moreover an old person is always affected with various types of diseases, sufferings and agonies. His life is limited to some specific activities. In fact old age is like ice land. But old age is not a burden. It is the most important and golden part of anyone's life. The main thing is how a person takes it. Although various types of problems come in this age, but his basic survival instinct may lead him to cope up with the problem.

ROBERT BROWNING says "come with me, stay, you are old man. Now golden period of your life is left." If a person psychologically feels himself relevant strong and capable to do everything, nothing is impossible for him. In fact, it is the time when he is free from all his responsibilities. He may devote time to that part of transaction which has been untouched by him till now. He may fix his priorities now. He has abundant time for fulfilling his incomplete task. His daily routine is not limited to time frame work or time schedule but he may spend a time as and when he desires. He has time and opportunities to invent and implement new ideas. At the last it may concluded that an old age is not a curse or burden. It is the most valuable part of our life depending upon the things we perceive. In this age one must forget bad memories and recollect the good ones to earn name and fame and life free from all worries and responsibilities for rest of the life.

By

Tulika Srivastava

MBA-IT 1^st Year (IMB2011033)

IIITA