Most people, after reaching a certain age, begin to consider themselves old—and from that very moment, their health often starts to decline. We must rise above this negative mindset. It is rightly said that age is just a number; real life depends on our thinking and our lifestyle. If we live with a positive outlook, we can continue to enjoy every moment of life, as granted by God, even in advancing years.
We must learn to see ourselves as senior, not old. Understanding the subtle difference between old age and seniority is essential if we wish to live a healthy and happy life. If we begin to think of ourselves as old and dependent, we will constantly seek support from others. Instead, we should come out of this mindset and see ourselves as seniors—capable of supporting others.
Within the family, we should not insist on imposing our views on the younger generation. We must also understand their perspectives and arrive at decisions through mutual agreement. Perhaps this is what truly distinguishes being “old” from being a “senior.”
Among us, there are many individuals above the age of 75 who remain actively engaged in meaningful work. We often come across stories in newspapers, television, and social media about such “super seniors” who continue to contribute significantly to society and earn respect. These individuals become role models for others.
Here, I would like to share the example of one such inspiring personality—Shri Ashok Pal Ji, aged 89.
Born in Ghaziabad, near Delhi, Ashok Ji completed his early education in a local government school. He later graduated in Electrical Engineering from the engineering college of Roorkee University (now known as IIT Roorkee), and began his professional journey.
His first job was with a government department in Madhya Pradesh, where he worked for about three and a half years. He then spent another three and a half years with DESU (Delhi Electric Supply Undertaking). In 1966, he joined a Government of India consultancy organization involved in setting up industrial projects. He served there for about a decade, gaining extensive exposure, including international assignments—spending around one and a half years working in Iran.
After years in the public sector, he moved to the private sector and became a Director in a design company involved in setting up thermal power plants. This company had collaborations with a Polish government enterprise, and he contributed to establishing captive power plants in Bokaro, Durgapur, and Rourkela. After 10–12 years, he went on to form a joint venture company at the request of the Polish government, where he served as Managing Director. Eventually, he acquired the company. At the age of 80, he decided to wind up its operations.
Ashok Ji had always been inclined toward social service. This led him to associate closely with Vidya Bharati, with which he has been connected for about 30 years. He strongly believes that education must be accompanied by values—a mission that Vidya Bharati fulfills remarkably well. For the past 17 years, he has served as the President of its North Zone. Even today, he travels extensively across the country to attend meetings wherever his presence is required. (It is noteworthy that Vidya Bharati is one of the largest non-governmental educational organizations in the world, operating over 12,000 schools across 682 districts in India, educating more than 3.1 million students, along with 54 colleges and two universities.)
In 1998, he also played a key role as the Founder Chairman of A.K.G. Engineering College in Ghaziabad. He runs a trust dedicated entirely to Vidya Bharati. Married in 1961, he has two children—a son and a daughter—both settled abroad.
There are many such inspiring seniors around us. We can learn a great deal from their lives and draw motivation from them. You will notice that such individuals remain healthy and happy even in advanced age. They provide guidance when needed and are always willing to support others.
In conclusion, I would like to share a message I came across on WhatsApp:
Old age seeks an end in the evening of life, but seniority looks forward to a new dawn even in that evening, inspired by the energy of youth.
Author
The author is the founder of the Never Say Retire mission. In order to achieve this goal, he also runs this website and his Facebook group Never Say Retire Forum has Hundreds and Thousands of members today.
