Muhammad Zulqarnain ‘Zulfi’

‘Old age’ is now ‘no problem’. If you are retired from your job, you are happily liberated to enjoy leisure days. Post retirement relaxation is a new phenomenon in Indian society these days. Gone are the days when a person felt dismal and bored to tears after retirement. Now, he is not ready to sit back and rest letting the remaining life drift on slowly in its own way.

A recent Technopak study shows that more than eleven millions people between ages 60 to 70 are indulging in more and more leisure activities and gleefully splurging on themselves. They have explored a new idiom of lifestyle for themselves after retirement of their jobs.

Doesn’t it surprise you? Today, our young generation is haunted with the workload of hectic targets, career dreams, stress and anxiety and find themselves busy everytime. On the other hand, the oldies are free to do as their whims command.

They excitedly fly to abroad, buy latest chic outfits; learn salsa, tango etc., enjoy boating with spouse and friends, tour to mountainous places; go on trekking, practice Yoga both morning and evening and take part in several types of adventurous sports. They have free time for every enjoyment, recreation and pleasure. They see their dreams coming true after superannuation and don’t feel a bit guilty spending lavishly on hobbies they are fond of. As per study report, the monthly spending of a senior citizen has reached to more than eight thousand.

After retirement, when the stress and anxiety of work slims down, senior citizens are free of their all-professional burdens. They complain that youngsters need not their advice. Hence, they are absolutely free to live their own lives with their own lifestyles.

Ali Muhammad Bhat, a retired employee from education department says that the society has changed a larger extent now. Earlier, in joint families, there were roles for elders. Now, with the changed families’ set-ups and values, most of senior citizens live alone; so they have more time to do so what they want to. Apart from it, better health, disposable income and more opportunities by the leisure/ recreations/ tourists companies are the reasons behind the change of this concept, he adds.

Mr. Bhat next says that if you utilize your time in educational or social service activities, it’s indeed a good job after retirement. He says he himself spends most of his time in awakening the youth for social cause and participates in educational activities. Moreover, he motivates common people around the area for blood donation. It’s really a good job after retirement and it gives him contentment and extreme delight.

Mr. Ghulam Nabi Sheikh, after retirement from the post of an English lecturer, school cadre; had joined in an English weekly. He says that writing news is a good pastime. Moreover, this profession gives him no end of opportunities to meet the people from different spheres. Through journalism, you can earn both fame and fortune, he briefs. In fact, I don’t feel a bit burden, rather enjoy writing stories for English weekly, he furthers delightedly. After some trips, you would have to stay back for some social cause. And I take journalism as a social activity more than a profession after superannuation, he concludes.

Gulzar Ahmed, manager of a travel agency says that several travel companies have planned new strategies to attract more and more new customers. For this, they are offering special packages for senior citizens. And oldies too are taking much interest in their programmes. After all, it’s not quite bad if they dream of planning trips to abroad or hilly areas. No doubt, international travel has become a major charm for senior citizens, he reveals.

Manmeet Kour Brar, dreamt of flying to Canada during her government service but she could not have sought the opportunity but after retirement, she took no time in choosing a travelling agency’s package heading for USA with her hubby.

On being asked about her experience on a foreign land, she thrilled by uttering “wonderful”. After that, M K Brar got married two of his daughters to NRIs doctors residing in California (America). Now, she visits the foreign soil frequently. Mr. Inderjeet Singh (her husband) delights that such trips make them more charged and enthusiastic”

In reality, it’s not a lone case. Now, more and more people between the ages from 60 to 70 are exploring chances of touring to foreign land. Most of them are from affluent families and fond of adventurous sports. Dr. Farooq Tonga, a physiotherapist, Govt. Medical College & Hospital, Srinagar opines that today most of the educated people are health conscious.

It is the good health and happiness of their life that gives them a chance of enjoying life. Rather, they could not have stopped themselves participating in the adventurous sports such as river rafting, mountain biking and trekking etc. And we should be proud of our parents, Dr. Farooq jumps proudly.

Dr. Bhupinder Singh, a retired professor from IIT, Roorkie who had discovered the idea of solar cooker in India also enjoys his life organising seminars on different aspects of modern lifestyles including culture and heritage of glorious Punjab. He has only one mission in life how the maximum fuel be saved, so, he not only himself paddles the bicycle but inspire the citizens of Fazilka (Punjab)- where he lives now- to ride on bicycle. By doing so, not only you can save the fuel but your health will also improve, he advises. About the use of internet, he says that those who don’t use internet to seek knowledge are actually live in primitive era.

In truth, computer and Internet has opened a lot of new avenues for our oldies also. There are a lot of senior citizens who are seen chatting on Internet with the people of their age group. Making friends through social networking sites is a new trend and our senior citizens are not far behind in this region also just to explore the funs of life. They are resorting to blogs and websites. Renowned writer Mr. Gurcharan Dass, M. S. Verma, a retired lecturer from Kabul University, Afghanistan, Bhupinder Singh; principal Govt. College, Chandigarh too recently have resorted to blogging.

Mr. M. S Verma says that you can get instant feedback after the publication of your writings if you have a connection of internet at your home. Don’t surprise, he created his account on Orkut after retirement and now gives suggestions to English literature students regarding grammar.

Mr. K. C. Khan, a retired headmaster is of the opinion that it’s not bad if the heart of a senior citizen throbs for fun-loving activities. Everybody should have the right to enjoy life. Mr. Khan further says that even some TV artists too have chosen the social networking sites to find their fans.

Jumping into the world of blogging is a good thing rather, Mr. Ajaz Javed, a retired lecturer of Political Science stresses. One can get an instant response within seconds of publishing the blog. None should be hesitant about the new medium of show off. If a senior citizen resorts blogs, he should be rather complimented.

Mr. Hanief Muhammad after retirement chose social service as his pastime. Every year during the months from June to September, he serves cold water to travellers at a bus stand even spending from his own pocket. On being asked about this incomparable social service, he says that he has been doing this service for the last ten years just after the retirement.

Moreover, Mr. Javed is busy learning the piano and computer side by side. These activities give him much delight. When he was in government job, he many a time tries to learn piano but could not find enough time. Now I am free and can practice a lot, he says jubilantly. To learn piano was my dream and it has fulfilled now, he smiles miraculously. About the learning of computer, he says, it is the need of the time.