Right to Excellence 2024: How do we ensure that our twilight years remain "Golden"
The Times of India hosted its 10th annual Right to Excellence event today, July 22, focusing on senior health and wellbeing as India's elderly population continues to grow. The event emphasized the need to prioritize the health, wellness, and community integration of seniors for them to lead dignified lives. Key initiatives discussed included improving geriatric care, building accessible infrastructure, ensuring financial stability, and providing mental health support. Experts, policymakers, healthcare professionals, and industry leaders gathered to forge a sustainable roadmap for enhancing seniors' quality of life through collaborative efforts.
The 2nd panel discussion was led by Dr Ananya Awasthi and the agenda was “Golden Years, Golden Gains: Inspiring Elderly Lives,” featuring Dinesh Mohan, a model and actor; Harish Bali, known for his Youtube channel Visa 2 Explore; and Ravi Bala Sharma a "grand fluencer", popularly known as Dancing Dadi.
Dinesh Mohan shared his inspiring journey of becoming a model and actor in his late 50s. Once suffering from depression, obesity, and diabetes, he managed to completely turn his life around. He said, "I was suffering from depression before becoming a model and an actor, going through a period of depression and had lost purpose in life. I had become homebound, I had become obese, was diabetic and lost motor function. However, one day I suddenly wanted to reclaim life. I decided that I had to get out of the prison in my mind and forced myself to think positively and let go off negative thoughts." Weighing 140 kgs, he decided to take control of his life and the rest as we say, is history. Over a period of eight months, he lost 50 kgs and had to relearn how to walk, a process that took two years and "felt like a rebirth" according to him. Encouraged by others to try modeling, he walked into auditions and found success despite the fashion industry’s obsession with youth.
On her turn Ravi Bala Sharma, known as Dancing Dadi, shared her journey into influencing and dancing. A former music teacher in Delhi, she moved to Mumbai to stay with her son before the lockdown. Coming from a musical family, she always wanted to perform Bollywood songs but was encouraged to focus on classical music. At 62, with her son’s encouragement, she began dancing and posted videos on Instagram, receiving immense love and appreciation from the industry, including from Diljit Dosanjh and Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
Dinesh Mohan added to her story by expressing his disdain for age shaming, emphasizing that age should never be a barrier to achieving dreams. Mrs Bala agreed, noting that societal forces often push people to give up their dreams, but changing times mean people should pursue what they want. Mr. Mohan humorously added that youngsters might feel insecure about the potential of senior citizens.
Harish Bali, known for his travel channel Visa 2 Explore, discussed the sense of community built through travel. He has been traveling and exploring local culture and food for the past eight years. Over the last four years, he noticed a significant increase in senior citizens traveling, with companies now organizing travel plans for seniors. He also noted that 75% of their viewership comes from television, helping families come together to watch their content.
India’s aging population is growing rapidly. According to the World Health Organization, India has 104 million older people (60+ years), constituting 8.6% of the total population. Mental health is a significant concern, with one in five elderly individuals experiencing mental health problems. Physical health issues are also prevalent, with many elderly individuals suffering from chronic illnesses and disabilities.
When discussing age-based stereotypes and discrimination, Dinesh Mohan acknowledged being typecast into roles of kurta-wearing grandfathers and uncles in movies, though less so in modeling. He consciously worked to break these stereotypes and combat negative comments by posting more photos of himself in younger clothing on Instagram. Regarding pursuing passions, Mr. Mohan encouraged seniors to seize the time they have, emphasizing that it is never too late to follow their dreams. He advised focusing on physical fitness and not being afraid to pursue one’s passions, even at an advanced age.
Finally, Harish Bali discussed the positive impact of travel on mental health, sharing testimonies from families who have experienced improved mental health through travel. He emphasized that travel helps bring families together and enhances overall well-being.
The Right to Excellence 2024 event highlighted the inspiring stories of senior citizens who have defied age-related stereotypes and pursued their passions with vigor. Dinesh Mohan’s transformation from a state of depression and obesity to a successful modeling career, Ravi Bala Sharma’s journey from a music teacher to a beloved “grandfluencer,” and Harish Bali’s observations on the growing trend of senior travel all serve as powerful reminders that age is just a number. These stories, coupled with the alarming statistics on India’s aging population, highlight the importance of addressing the physical and mental health needs of senior citizens. By fostering a supportive environment and encouraging active lifestyles, we can help ensure that the golden years are truly golden for India’s elderly population.
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