For these ‘super senior achievers’, age is just a number

Age is often viewed as a time of slowing down. Marking ‘International Day of Older Persons 2025’ on Friday at the India International Centre, HelpAge India challenged that notion, presenting it instead as a stage for continued contribution.

At the launch of its ‘AdvantAge60: Powering Aspirations’ campaign, the organisation, which works for the care and support of elderly people, honoured ‘Super Senior Achievers’ over the age of 85, whose lives demonstrate the possibilities of active engagement.

Among those honoured were 102-year-old Jagdish Chandra Luther, 98-year-old Prabhavati Bhagwati and 87-year-old Prof Vinod Kumar, each of whom have continued to work and contribute beyond conventional retirement.

Jagdish Chandra Luther is a retired Indian Administrative Service officer. His career included postings in Punjab and Haryana, where he worked on administrative reforms.

For Luther, work didn’t stop at 60. Post 90 years, he dedicated his time to reading, reciting, translating, and interpreting of poems, especially the nature poetry of the celebrated Allama Sir Dr Muhammad Iqbal.

At 98, Prabhavati Bhagwati, also known as “Nani”, continues to pursue her work and contribute to her community. Her story shows that age does not prevent engagement in meaningful activity. At 91, after years focused on her family, she started Nani’s Nashta, a home-based Gujarati snack business. During the 2019 pandemic, demand for home-cooked meals increased, and the business continued. Operating from her home, she oversees the preparation of dishes like khandvi and dhokla, ensuring standards are met. With the help of a team, she manages the business and its operations.

Prof Vinod Kumar, also among the awardees, is a retired Professor of Medicine at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. He established the discipline of geriatrics in India.

Prof Kumar said he learned about movements involving elderly people during his career. “Elderly people wanted to know about their health, welfare and social problems. Over time, I saw this movement grow, and senior citizens began organising themselves,” he said.

Prof Kumar also recommended activities for mental engagement, including learning new languages, using digital tools, social interaction or practical tasks.

The event was led by 78-year-old Kiran Karnik, chairperson of HelpAge India, who has worked in the IT sector, ISRO and introduced Discovery Channel in India and South Asia.

Karnik said: “The elders lived experiences can be such a rich resource bank for generations to tap into. What is required is a systemic change in how we approach elder needs, and the creation of avenues for them.”