New Delhi, Dec 18: The joie de vivre that runs through the thread of life in Bangalore is made up in no small measure by the senior citizens who have made this city their home after retirement.
Omar Khayyam’s musings about Life in his Rubaiyat, immediately come to mind after an informal chat with five senior citizens from all walks of life and with differing interests who contribute enormously to the throbbing pulse of Bangalore today ---

“Ah! make the most of what we yet may spend, Before we too into the Dust descend.” All in their early 70’s and 80’s they live full and varied lives, not lost in a home for the aged, morose and waiting to pass on, but bursting with an energy and with a passion for what they are doing and happily going about it.
Meeting with 81-year-old Lt. Col. Rai in his gracious home behind the Le Meridien in Abshot Layout, the discussion revolved around his new book which is going into print called ‘The Great Pulsation’. It is a new theory on the mystery of the Universe and it throws light on the mystery of matter. His plan is to print copies immediately so the book can be released at the World Bunt Congress next month where George Fernandes will be the chief guest. A civil engineer from Guindy, Col Rai has already written a book titled ‘Olympics in a Nutshell’, in which he has detailed the type of stadia we require in Bangalore to enable us to produce world class athletes.
Taking out clippings from the ‘Deccan Herald’, he shows me a write-up about his trip by road from England to India in 14 days, which he made when younger and more adventurous! “I have spent most of my army life in the North East and North West of India -- Srinagar, Ladakh and Leh and have been the first to recce the Sela Pass which took 40 days to cover with ponies and porters.” Jeanne Roby is, as the old song goes, “a bundle of dynamite.” Rheumatoid arthritis may have taken its toll of her body but her mind and her spirit are as strong and pulsating as I knew her as a child, as she was my PE teacher in school in Delhi. Full of fun Jeanne says, “I have never retired. From teaching I moved onto freelance writing for the ‘Inside Outside’ magazine, then joined them on their staff in Bangalore and now have taken over as Assistant Editor. I work with the magazine on the computer and email, while the pictures and other material is sent on CD to their head office in Bombay.”
Overcoming the pain of ageing bodies, not giving in to the aches of being senior citizens, these are just five of our senior Bangaloreans, setting a scorching pace to living life to the fullest. There must be hundreds more in our city doing so much good work with their time and patience. Where does that retirement ad fit in which shows a grey haired couple looking soulfully into the sunset in their lives, I ask. “I don’t intend sitting at home and talking about the past. I just want to get on with my life and enjoy whatever I am doing with the present,” says Jeanne, echoing a sage quote for the day on her desk calendar.

Remember, growing older is mandatory Growing up is optional. We make a Living by what we get, We make a Life by what we give.