The Ageing of the World’s Population

The Ageing of the World’s Population

Over the past few years, the world’s population has continued on its remarkable transition path from a state of high birth and death rates to one characterized by low birth and death rates. At the heart of that transition has been the growth in the number and proportion of older persons. Such a rapid, large and ubiquitous growth has never been seen in the history of civilization.

The current demographic revolution is predicted to continue well into the coming centuries. Its major features include the following:

• One out of every ten persons is now 60 years or above; by 2050, one out of five will be 60 years or older; and by 2150, one out of three persons will be 60 years or older.
• The older population itself is ageing. The oldest old (80 years or older) is the fastest growing segment of the older population. They currently make up 11 percent of the 60+ age group and will grow to 19 percent by 2050. The number of centenarians (aged 100 years or older) is projected to increase 15-fold from approximately 145,000 in 1999 to 2.2 million by 2050.
• The majority of older persons (55 percent) are women. Among the oldest old, 65 percent are women.
• Striking differences exist between regions. One out of five Europeans, but one out of twenty Africans, is 60 years or older.
• In some developed countries today, the proportion of older persons is close to one in five. During the first half of the 21st century that proportion will reach one in four and in some countries one in two.
• As the tempo of ageing in developing countries is more rapid than in developed countries, developing countries will have less time than the developed countries to adapt to the consequences of population ageing.
• The majority of the world’s older persons (51 percent) live in urban areas. By 2025 this is expected to climb to 62 percent of older persons, although large differences exist between more and less developed regions. In developed regions, 74 percent of older persons are urban dwellers, while in less developed regions, which remain predominantly rural, 37 percent of older persons reside in urban areas.
• Over the last half of the 20th century, 20 years were added to the average lifespan, bringing global life expectancy to its current level of 66 years. Large differences exist between countries, however. In the least developed regions, men reaching age 60 can expect only 14 more years of life and women, 16 more, while in the more developed regions, life expectancy at age 60 is 18 years for men and 22 years for women.
• The impact of population ageing is increasingly evident in the old-age dependency ratio, the number of working age persons (age 15 – 64 years) per older person (65 years or older) that is used as an indicator of the ‘dependency burden’ on potential workers. Between 2000 and 2050, the old-age dependency ratio will double in more developed regions and triple in less developed regions. The potential socioeconomic impact on society that may result from an increasing old-age dependency ratio is an area of growing research and public debate.

Source: Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations Secretariat

Meanings and Images in an Ageing Society
Images of ageing are rooted in culture and cut right to the marrow of the society in which we live. However, the understanding of one’s language and culture can very often contrast with the meanings and images given it by others. This paradox also mimics ageing in advanced societies, where, with the accumulation of years and experience, roles diminish, and images play a part.

Mass media, the machine of image-making, is also a link in the globalization chain, and can have profound effects on the developing world, and particularly on the older women who live there. For its part, the flow and interchange of ideas and information through new technologies is as much an extraordinary achievement as it is an ordinary fact of life. The positive impact that is gained from other ideas, learning about other populations, areas of expertise, and alternative ways of life is boundless. But knowledge and images are often mutual passengers in the information voyage and the image landscape conveyed by the western media weighs heavily on the side of glorifying youth, while either omitting older persons or depicting them in stereotypes. This has a particular impact on the lives of older women, as they tend to suffer greater political, social, and economic exclusion than do older men.

As society ages however, it also changes in ways that relate to age. Perceptions of the transitions that mark the boundaries of age are being altered as family, kinship and community structures change. In many parts of the world it is not uncommon today to be part of a four-generation family, where the chronological rules for assuming the roles of grandparents or grandchildren are increasingly blurred. At the same time, more individuals are growing older outside of traditional family networks and are simulating family life through communities or primary groups. The rhythm of the life cycle continues to develop through these different dynamics and, consequently, is not as tightly bound by chronological age or stages as it once may have been.

The same can be said for images that surround the idea of change. While change often arouses anxiety, challenges that stem from new orders of complexity should be met with inquiry rather than reproach. Situations or choices that once seemed incompatible, work or retirement, strength or vulnerability, can be approached and accommodated within the same creative mix that occupies the vastness and diversity of life in the human community.

The new architecture of ageing requires policies that remove obstacles and facilitate contributions. It also requires seminal thinking and images that reflect reality and potential, not stereotypes and myths. So relative are the experiences of ageing in different parts of the world, and so complex and multiple their roles, that the world can no longer accept images of ageing as a panorama of near homogeneity.

Policy Considerations
Old age policies were designed, for most of the 20th century, with a youthful society in mind. From this point onward, policies for older persons, younger persons and those in between, must be designed with an ageing society in mind, society where soon, every third individual will be over the age of 60. International, national and local communities must begin now to adjust and design their infrastructures, policies, plans and resources.
Policy interventions that include social and human, as well as economic investments, can prevent unnecessary dependencies from arising whether in late life for individuals or downstream in ageing societies. When judicious investments are made in advance, experts suggest that ageing can be changed from a drain on resources to build-up of humane social, economic and environmental capital. This requires investing in the phases of life, fostering enabling societies, and creating flexible but vibrant collaborations in the process, through which the future building of a society for all ages can take hold in the present.

Finally, recognition of the uniqueness that unfolds throughout one’s life is core to igniting society’s embrace of the contributions of its older citizens. The “package” of knowledge, wisdom and experience that so often comes with age is part of an inner awareness that cannot be traded, sold or stolen. It should, however, be activated, amplified and utilized in all the crossroads, fields and storefronts of society, and in the windows of our creative imaginations.

India’s firsts…

India is a land of spice and variety in all senses – from the colourful attire to language, geography and culture and traditions. And yet, it is unique, knitted through a common thread to form an enriched entity that is very much Indian in its essence. Presenting some interesting facts on India’s ‘firsts’ that will give you a flavour of the land…

• The earliest school of medicine in the world was Ayurveda.
• The world’s first university is Takshashila (700 BC).
• The first printing press was set up in Goa in 1556 by the Portuguese.
• The first rupee in India was minted during the reign of Sher Shah Suri in 1542.
• The first English newspaper in India was the Bengal Gazette printed in 1790 by James Augustus in Calcutta.
• The oldest para-military force of India is the Assam Rifles (1835).
• India’s first oil well is at Digboi (1890).
• The first postage stamp was issued in India in 1852 at Karachi (which was a part of India before partition).
• The first railway line was opened on April 16, 1853 between Bombay and Thane.
• The first telegraph line was laid between Calcutta and Agra in 1854. This line was 1280 km long and extended up to Lahore in 1857.
• The first telephone system was started in 1881 from Calcutta.
• The first veterinary college was opened in Parel in Bombay in 1885. It is still in existence and is the oldest veterinary college in Asia.
• The first cinema house in India was built by J F Madan in 1907 in Calcutta.
• The country’s first general elections were held in 1952.
• The first hydroelectric project in India was started in Shivanasamudram, across the River Kaveri in 1902.
• Bangalore along with Mysore, was the first city to get electricity in India.
• The first Indian state to set up a women’s court was Andhra Pradesh.
• The first marine national park was started in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
• The first talkie film was Alam Ara (1931).
• The first television reception center was based in Arvi, Maharashtra.
• The highest airfield in the world is in Thoise, Ladakh.
• India’s first Antarctica expedition was on January 11, 1982.
• India’s first satellite Aryabhatta was launched on April 19, 1975.
• India’s first indigenously built submarine was INS ‘Shakti’ (commissioned on February 7, 1992).

Kalidas – one of India’s greatest Sanskrit scholars

Known as India’s greatest poet and dramatist in Sanskrit, Kalidas lived during the 4th and 5th centuries AD, during the reign of Chandragupta II Vikramaaditya and his successor Kumaragupta.

Not much is known about his personal life, but legends abound. One such legend says that, one day the townsfolk saw a young boy sawing off a branch sitting on the wrong side of the branch. The boy eventually tumbled and fell off the tree; his stupidity soon became common knowledge.

The pundits of the town meanwhile wanted to play a trick on the arrogant princess, who had decided that she would marry only the wisest man in the city. They presented Kalidas to her and asked him to pretend that he had taken an oath of silence. When the princess asked him questions, he gesticulated widely, which the pundits interpreted as extremely witty answers. The princess was impressed and agreed to marry Kalidas; alas, she soon realized that she had married a dimwit and threw him out of her palace and life.

A despondent Kalidas went the riverbed; there he watched women washing clothes. He noticed that the stones, which were struck by the clothes, were smooth while the other stones where still rough. So, he thought to himself, if clothes could smoothen a rock, why couldn’t his brain change?

Kalidas then began indulging in intellectual pastimes and prayed to Kali, to grant him divine knowledge; he was determined to become a scholar. Soon enough, the goddess fulfilled his wishes and Kalidas became one of the greatest scholars of all time.

Kalidas’ works
Kalidas’ works include four poetic works: Raghuvamsha, Kumarasambhava, Meghaduta, and Ritusamhara; three plays: Vikramorvasiya, Malavikagnimitra, and Abhijnanasakuntala. Several other works have also been attributed to him; these range from poetics and astrology to mathematics and astronomy. Kalidas was also known to have an encyclopedic knowledge of ancient India’s arts, sciences and culture.

Raghuvamsha (the dynasty of Raghu) – Consisting of nineteen chapters or sargas, Raghuvamsha deals with the lives of the kings of the Ikshvaku dynasty of north Kosala, to which Rama belonged.

Kumarasambhava (birth of Kumara) – This work describes the courtship and eventually marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvati. The gods desired this union for they needed Kumaraa, who could destroy the demon Taaraka. Kaama, the god of love is summoned to instill love in Shiva (who is sitting in meditation) in Parvati. An angered Shiva turns Kaama to ashes, but the arrow has found his mark and Shiva falls in love with Parvati.

Meghaduta (the could messenger) – With no storyline as such, Meghaduta, as the titled suggests is the description of a cloud messenger. With exquisite descriptions of places, sentiments and people, this poem is considered exquisite. The broad storyline revolves around a Yaksha who is banished to Ramagiri for some offence; unable to bear the separation from his wife, the lovelorn Yaksha implores a passing cloud to carry the message to his wife.

Ritusamhara (description of the seasons) – As the title, suggests Ritusamhara is a description of the changing seasons. Some consider his style in this poem as untypical of Kalidas with rather exaggerated and overly exuberant depictions of nature.

Malavikagnimitra (Malavikaa and Agnimitra) – This play concerns a palace intrigue. It tells the story of the love of Agnimitra of Vidisha, king of the Shungas, for the beautiful handmaiden of his chief queen. The handmaiden is later discovered to be of royal origin and is accepted as one of his queens.

Vikramorvasiya (Urvashi won through valor)- Based on the old legend of the love of the mortal Pururavaas for the heavenly damsel Urvashi, this drama relates the account of how king Pururavas rescued the nymph Urvashi from the demons. But summoned by Indra he is obliged to part from her. Here, Kalidas describes the madness of the demented lover Pururavas in search of his beloved. After many trials the lovers are reunited.

Abhijnanasakuntala (Shankuntala) – Considered his masterpiece and his most well known work, it was the first play to be translated in English. The story revolves around King Dushhyanta, who meets and marries the hermit-girl Shakuntalaa, while on a hunting expedition. But obliged by affairs of the state, he returns to his palace; before leaving, he gives Shakuntala his signet ring, promising to send for her later. But when Shakuntalaa comes to the court, pregnant with his child, Dushhyanta fails to recognize her, owing to a curse. The spell is subsequently broken, when the ring he has presented to her (and which Shakuntalaa had lost on her way to the court) is discovered and presented in the court by a fisherman.

In his works, Kalidas has captured the beauty of life in its entirety; his word power is considered unique and unparalled. Intellectuals are still hewing at his work, drawing different meanings with each new reading.

Experts have classified Kalidas’ poetic style as Vaidarbhi; it is considered rather different from the styles used during the time. Kalidas uses very fine language and small compound phrases or samasas and apt similes. Kalidas is considered as the greatest poet of shringaar – romance and beauty. He was also a clever user of haasya or comedy and karuna or pathos.

It is assumed that Kalidas was also well-traveled; his descriptions of the landscape in Meghaduta stretches from Central India to the Himalayas, he also describes the people, their habits, professions in such details, which entails that only a person who would have visited these places in person could have described them with such accuracy. In his other works, he describes the meritorious and peaceful life of a hermit and the joys of marital life and the pangs of separation with equal masterly. His description of comic situations is also unsurpassed.

His writings have been translated in several languages.

Upcoming interesting technological developments…

The below article gives a glimpse of six new technological developments that will be part of your life soon!

Sentiment analysis in Computers

Computers with emotions? Now, that sounds interesting and it’s a fact! Soon computers will get an additional assimilation of ‘sentiment analysis’ tools that will reflect the feeling of your blogs or any other online comments. Companies like Sentimine, Adaptive Semantics and Lexalytics have already put in their hands into this technological advancement. Currently, it is only sold to big corporations but soon it will be global, cheap or even for free!

SMS with background color by Nokia

Now, message your best friend with an emotion. Nokia is on its way to launch the new model with the latest ‘light messaging’ feature. This will enable users to send a SMS with a background color that will express their mood. The color that will be encoded with the message will be illuminated on the LED screen of the recipient’s phone of similar type.

Pet friendly car by Honda Motor Company

Finding it difficult to control your mischievous dog while driving? There is good news for you! Honda Motor Company unveiled its pet friendly car in New York Motor Show early this year. Termed as the WOW concept, this ultimate dog car has some interesting touches that will certainly make your dog feel comfortable. There is a special seat belt, a 12V rear ventilation fan, a cushioned bed, a toy bone and many more that will keep your pet busy. To keep you happy, the final additional feature that Honda features is the removable and washable rollout flooring!

Wi-Fi washing machine

Just fill it, shut it and forget it! All you have to do is throw your dirty clothes inside the see through basket of the machine. As soon as it hits a certain weight, the machine will start its job. It’s a blessing for the office goers as well. They can now operate this machine from their desk. The global leader in home appliances, Electrolux has taken the front seat to unveil this technology soon.

Wanda: the wonder fish for underwater search

Be careful while fishing, it might be Wanda!

Wanda or the Wireless Aquatic Navigator for detection and analysis is the next generation underwater search device that looks and propels like any other fish. Created by researcher Scott McGovern, the Robo-Fish can swim with ease with the help of a flexible joint tail, polymer artificial muscle and a fixed wireless camera that can give images from deep under the water. From detection of the water quality to structural damages, Wanda will sense every little change inside.

The old carpenter.

“Your life today is the result of your attitudes and choices in the past. Your life tomorrow will be the result.”

This is a story of an elderly carpenter who had been working for a contractor for the past 53 years. He had built many beautiful houses but now as he was getting old, he wanted to retire and lead a leisurely life with his family. So, he goes to the contractor and tells him about his plan of retiring. The contractor feels sad at the prospect of losing a good worker but agrees to the plan because the carpenter had indeed become too fragile for the tough building work. But as a last request, he asks the old carpenter to construct just one last house.

The old man agrees and starts working but his heart was not in his work any more. He had lost the motivation towards work. So, he resorted to shoddy workmanship and constructed the house half-heartedly. After the house was built, the contractor came to visit his employee’s last piece of work. After inspecting the house, he handed over the front door keys to the carpenter and said, “This is your new house. My gift to you.” The carpenter was shocked and upset. Had he known that he was building his own house, he would have done a better job! Now, he would have to live in the house, which is not worth staying.

Think of yourself as the carpenter. You work hard every day but are you giving your best? We put our least to the work we don’t like or do not have interest in. Later, we get shocked at the situation we have created for ourselves and try to figure out why we didn’t do it differently.

Enjoy your tasks and carry on your responsibilities with pleasure and not with pain. “Life is a do-it-yourself project”. Do your job enthusiastically and with devotion, a positive output and a pleasing life will certainly be on your way.

The butterfly

“Sometimes, struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If we were to go through our life without any obstacles, we would be crippled. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. Give every opportunity a chance, leave no room for regrets.”

A man regularly observed a butterfly cocoon lying next to his window. One fine day, he finally saw a small opening emerging on the cocoon. He waited patiently to watch what happens next. After few minutes, he finds, a butterfly struggling to force its body out of that little gap. For several hours, the butterfly gave great effort to come out but as it failed to do so, it stopped making any progress further. It seemed like the butterfly tried as much as it could and cannot go further.

So, the man decided to help it come out. He took a pair of scissors, and slowly snipped off the remaining bit of cocoon. The butterfly freed itself easily. It had a swollen body and shriveled wings.

The man continued to watch the butterfly and waited to see the beautiful insect to flap and fly away. But that never happened and the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings.

It was the mistake of the man. In his well intentioned sympathy and haste, he did not understand that the restricting cocoon and struggle made by the butterfly to get through the opening was actually God’s way of forcing a fluid out from the butterfly’s body into its wings, so that it could be ready for flight as soon as it comes out of the cocoon.

For us, it is exactly the same. Struggles are compulsory in life. If God allows us to lead a life without any obstacles, it would cripple us.

No one can avoid the difficulties and sufferings in life. Fight against them and move up the ladder to fetch the triumph.

All of us have to struggle a little to fly up high!

The flock of birds

“Teamwork is the ability to work together towards a common vision. It is the ability to direct individual accomplishments towards organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.” – Andrew Carnegie

During the winter, geese migrate to a warmer place to fight the cold. These large groups of migrating birds fly for long hours to reach their destination. The flock is focused and flies in a ‘V’ formation, which increases their flight efficiency by 71%.

Geese are one of the best examples of excellent teamwork.

Lesson 1: Working as a team and sharing the same direction helps to reach the destination faster. By helping each other, the triumph is greater.

If a goose leaves the ‘V’ formation, it feels the resistance of the air. Hence, rather than flying alone, it comes back to the formation and continues with the flock.

Lesson 2: Always stay in tune with those who are going in a certain direction. This will not only help you to reach the goal with less effort, but you will always be guided by people around you.

When the leader is tired of flying, it drops out of the lead position and fall back into one of the lines of the V. Another bird from the rear rapidly takes the leading position.

Lesson 3: Never miss opportunities to empower others in the team. Always take responsibility and build trust. Respect others in the team. Share difficult problems and tasks with the team.

The geese flying behind the ‘V’ formation quack continuously to encourage the ones leading the flock. This way they maintain the same speed.

Lesson 4: Always appreciate an individual team player’s work. Encouragement helps to motivate the team and, strengthen the bond among the members and this in turn brings positive results.

When a goose falls sick and tired, it leaves the flock. But the flock doesn’t desert it. Some of the geese leave the flock to escort and protect it, till it is well enough to fly again. Then they either catch up with the flock or they form their own ‘V’ formation.

Lessson 5: Always stand beside your team mates, especially at the time of challenges and difficulties.

The story of Brooklyn Bridge

An engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea of building a magnificent suspension bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. He had put forward his idea to the bridge building experts throughout the world but no one was interested even to think about it further and asked John to forget about it. According to them, it was a very difficult task, something, which had never been attempted before and is not practical.

Roebling however was determined and would not think of ignoring his dream. He thought about it day and night and wanted to share it with someone who would believe in his idea. John’s son Washington was a naïve engineer then. He trusted his father’s vision and believed that the bridge could be built.

John and Washington, working together for the first time, developed concepts of how the bridge could be built. A big challenge lay before them, but they were ready to face it as they had excitement and inspiration deep in their heart. They hired their crew and the construction of their dream bridge began on January 3, 1870.

The project started well, but after a year, a tragic accident at the site took John Roebling’s life. Hence, Washington took over and was in charge of the bridge. However, after few months Washington too suffered a paralyzing injury, which left him with certain amount of brain damage. He was not able to walk or talk. With no one to supervise, the construction stopped.

Everyone around the world was negative about the future of the project and felt that it should be taken off as only the Roeblings knew about the plans of construction of the bridge. These remarks hurt and shocked Washington, who lay still on the bed of his hospital. His desire and enthusiasm was still alive. He wanted to get up and continue his work, but his physical condition did not allow him to.

Washington could move only one finger and this gave him an idea. He called his wife Emily and tapped on her arm indicating her to call back the crew and the engineers. This worked well as Emily started understanding Washington’s indications by just the tapping of his finger. She conveyed his instructions to the engineers and soon the construction of the bridge was back at full swing.

For next 11 years, Washington gave instructions by tapping on Emily’s arm and she patiently decoded his messages and relayed them to the crew. The bridge was finally completed and opened with a big celebration in May 1883.

Today, the 5,989 feet Brooklyn Bridge stands over the East River as a tribute to the victory of John and Washington’s strong spirit, will power and determination. It is also a tribute to the engineers who had faith and trust in a man who was half paralyzed and was considered silly by half of the world. The bridge also reflects the love and affection of Emily towards her husband.

The story of Brooklyn Bridge portrays a very good example of having a vision, believing in it and then pursuing it with a never-say-die attitude. No matter what obstacles you face, if you have a dream then go ahead and fulfill it. Have strength of mind and be determined in life.

The names of John Roebling, Washington Roebling and Emily Warren Roebling are inscribed on the bridge as its builders.