Question

Elders are the torchbearers of the society

Answer 1

Although I have the deepest respect for the elderly and cherish their loving presence, I wouldn’t really describe them as ‘torch bearers’. No doubt, during their time they have faced odds and carved pathways around obstacles. Yet, you will have to agree that the present is not the past. Things change rapidly. The elderly, however, are not very much in tune with the present. They are unable to cope with the changing world. Besides, they are conservative, stubborn and reluctant to try out new ideas. They are usefully insistent upon imposing their own ideas upon others, which may be outdated. In this sense they, very often obstruct progress.



In my opinion, it is the youth who can be and, in fact, have to be the real ‘torch bearers’ of the nation. They are the ones who are in the flow and stream of affairs. They are the ones who are fully conversant with present difficulties and the possible solutions. They are the ones who have invite and innovative ideas. They have the vigour necessary to launch movements and pioneer new pathways to progress. Hence, it naturally follows that they are the ones who can and should lead the way and show the way to others. For all these reasons, I can confidently assert that it is the youth and not the elder who are the real ‘torch bearers’ of the nation.