End of a Generation

“We lived between letters and likes, prayers and pixels. Now we’re quietly stepping aside.”

My time is slowly walking toward the exit gate. In just another decade, an entire generation — people like me, now in their 60s and 70s — will begin to disappear from the stage of life.

And with us, a legacy, a way of living, and a treasure trove of values may vanish too.

I look around and feel it in my bones:

My generation is fading, like the final song of an old record. We are the ones who shaped a world of simplicity, spirituality, and sincerity — now being quietly replaced by a new rhythm.

We Were Built Differently:

-          We wake up with the sun and sleep under the stars, not screens.

-          We enjoy talking to people on the way, enquiring about their welfare, and saying “namaste” with folded hands.

-          Our world is different. No food without performing prayers. Worrying about vegetables, Tirth yatra, and following traditions.

-          Our contentment with simple pleasures, like wearing well-worn clothes or using old mobile phones, maintaining a telephone directory with important phone numbers, and reading newspapers twice or thrice a day, stands in stark contrast to today’s fast-paced consumer-driven world.

-          Our childhood was filled with outdoor games, handwritten letters, and the excitement of waiting for Sunday morning cartoons.

-          Our music, our fashion, and our slang defined an era. From cassette tapes to Walkmans, from bellbottom jeans to baggy cargo pants, we created trends that are now fondly called “retro.”

-          We believe in God. We find joy in making achaar(pickles), papad in summer, and grinding masalas at home.

-          We are the people who believe in the philosophy of simplicity, and integrity, giving an example of good teachings — a life without mixture and a life that cares for all.

-          We love morning walks, watering plants, plucking flowers for prayers, and visiting the temple daily.

-          We carry a wealth of wisdom, experiences, and traditions slowly fading.

-          Mine is a unique generation that has listened to their elders and is now listening to their children.

We are today’s senior citizens. While we carry memories of a simpler era, we demonstrate how gratitude, hard work, and faith can create a fulfilling life.

As our voices grow softer and our influence wanes, I hope the world doesn’t forget the lessons we’ve learned and the legacy we’ve left behind.

And as this chapter of life begins to close, I take comfort in knowing that endings are never truly final.

We were the generation that stood between two worlds, carrying the past forward while paving the way for the future.

My generation may be stepping aside, but the memories, lessons, and spirit of our time will live on in the echoes of the lives we’ve touched.

Do you know people of my generation are slowly and steadily leaving? Do you have somebody like this at home? If yes, please take good care of them; otherwise, the positivism they embody will fade away.

Try to follow our advice and life principles, and you can be a guiding light for future generations and save the world.

Cherish us, respect us, and learn from us while we’re still here. Our principles can indeed guide the future to a better, more thoughtful world.

A Message to the Young Ones:

Don’t let speed steal your soul. Don’t trade values for vanity. In your chase for more, don’t lose the essence of “enough.”

Pause sometimes. Sit with your elders. Listen to their stories. Follow their advice not because it’s old — but because it’s timeless.

Respect us while we’re still here. Learn from us. Laugh with us. Let us go gently, but not forgotten.

“We were the bridge between bullock carts and bullet trains, between ink pens and smartphones. Let our fading footprints lead you to a better path.”