We’ve all heard of the Golden Age, Golden Era or the Golden Period – referring and talking about the greatest of whatever used to happen during those times – or, simply, the best of everything. These patches of time refer to the ages when everybody used to be healthy, happy and prosperous, justice used to be delivered to all, making a living wasn’t a challenge, people were healthy and used to live longer with most of them playing with their great-grandchildren. The Silver Age, on the other hand, sounds different, and a bit odd, isn’t it…? No one uses it because it does not signify the best of everything and does not stand to be too good, especially when used as a metaphor to compare anything to it – Gold easily overshadows the charisma and value of silver in all senses – silver – just like in Olympics, always gets the number two slot. We all know that compared to silver, gold is a far more precious metal, and, once when you talk about gold as a phase of time, you think about perfection in everything, without there being the possibility of any kind of fault.
I have used Silver Age to talk about the senior people – silver, because the colour matches the grey shade of their hair and people appear to be well experienced and developed in life. Silver also because compared to the earlier times, the standard of life has taken a different, rather unexpected turn and has changed the general psyche of people at large.
“Mr Khosla”, I asked, “You have retired after a long stint with a large, Indian organisation – how do you feel settling down in Sushant Lok after your retirement…? “Well”, says he…”Times have changed a lot. Upon retirement, I was thinking about leading a leisurely, peaceful life and that’s why I ran away from Delhi – ‘Initially Sushant Lok”, says he, “Lived up to its name of being calm and a quiet place. I purposely chose a floor to be closer to the market – also called ‘Sushant’ Vyapaar Kendra, but, to be honest, these areas can be called everything else but Sushant. Upon having invested my life’s savings, I was in search of tranquillity, which I got but for my initial years, which is disappearing now. I guess I have no other choice, but to adjust myself to the circumstances. Once you know that this is going to be the way forward for me – so be it…! I have to like it now, and I have started liking it.” Says he with a smile.
Most of the people belonging to the Silver Age, should I say, more than 50 per cent of them, have their kids living in other cities or abroad and visit the domicile of their parents rather rarely. Thanks to the free WhatsApp video calls, they feel rather content seeing their children and being able to talk to them whenever necessary. However, upon their visit, the grandchildren take time opening up with the old people and by the time they get used to playing with them, it’s time for them to go back…
The fraternity – To the strangers, people belonging to Silver Age, automatically get branded as Uncle Ji, Aunti Ji, Tau Ji, Dada/dadi ji to whom a passage or right of way is automatically, or, should I say, rightfully granted. “Sushant Lok has all that we people are in need of – vicinity to the markets, chemists, hospitals, to the metro station and we aren’t too far from the airports either…
And, the service of Uber is ubiquitous and we are happy here”, says Mrs. Sharma who, now a widow, moved to an independent house way back in 1999. “After living here for 24 years, I have established deep roots here and now I wouldn’t like to move away” were her words with a beaming face. The Senior Citizens’ Park allows us to meet and talk to people of our age and that’s where we get together to do yoga, pranayama and several other health-related activities.
“Loneliness…? Not at all”, says another gentleman on his walking stick. “There’s enough for one to be busy with – even if it means fetching milk in the morning, following up on the water supply, seeing that the garbage gets cleared, the roads get swept or the vacant plots get cleared”
Whatever it may be…Sushant Lok is eventually bound to grow upon you and make you say – I’m fine, I’ve got nothing to complain about”
