The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : `Universities have a big role in solving elders' problems'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 13, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

`Universities have a big role in solving elders' problems'

Staff Reporter

Contemporary societies need such contributions from the universities, says Guy Real Thivierge

BANGALORE: Universities should continue their research on the aged to foster better understanding of the elderly and their problems. This would help in social transformation and sustainable development of society, Guy Real Thivierge, Secretary General of the Paris-based International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU), said here on Saturday.

Delivering the valedictory address of the Asian regional conference on "Aging with health and dignity: Strategies and best practices" organised by the Bangalore University Department of Psychology, Mr. Thivierge stressed the role of universities in producing knowledge on the aged, that could be analysed and spread. Contemporary societies need such contributions from the universities, he said.

He said if aging was a major issue for India, it was so even for the developed world where the number of the elderly was on the rise.

In this regard, he recalled the project initiated by IFCU, involving institutions from Korea, Indonesia and the Philippines, besides Bangalore University and the Mumbai-based Don Bosco Shelter.

Mr. Thivierge said the institutions and the project partners had collaborated to create new ways of acting together for social transformation. Under the project, the Bangalore University Department of Psychology had looked at the elderly and the interventions required.

The university Vice-Chancellor, M.S. Thimmappa, said age should not be barrier in cutting new paths. Even at the age of 80, a professor, who had spent most of his life doing work in inorganic chemistry at the cost of his relationships outside his chosen field, had found an alternative interest in narrating mythological tales.

"After his retirement, he was at a loss on what to do. He had alienated himself from his family and people outside his field of work. But he was a fantastic storyteller. He used his knowledge of mythological tales and eventually found over a 100 listeners," Dr. Thimmappa said.

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