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GRAND LIFE
Jain Digest Summer 2007
NRI RETIREES AND SENIORS: AN OVERALL VIEW AND A PERSPECTIVE. By Fakirchand. J. Dalal, Lanham, MD
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
The First Generation of NRIs gradually arrived in U.S.A in large numbers after the Change in U.S. Immigration Law in 1965. This Group is now AGING after a Successful Career largely through Honesty and Hard work as they brought along with them Professional Education and Strong Family Values. They are now very Well Settled. All the Necessary Components of Establishing in a Foreign Land have been firmly set in stone through their Religious, Linguistic, Cultural, and Professional Organizations. Their Insecurity and Fears have largely Disappeared. Further, their fast coming up Second Generation is doing much better as well. NRIs largely Fulfilled their Purpose for Migrating as the Third Largest Group of Migrants around the world, after Chinese and Jews.
WHAT IS RETIREMENT?
However, a Few SHORTFALLS continue to Hamper the Community. They are: Living in the PAST GLORY of their Motherland; Lack of ASSIMILATION with Others in this Great Nation of Nations'; Accumulation of Wealth as An END and Not as A MEANS (PARIGRAHA); and ATTACHMENTS have not been Overcome in spite of Knowledge, Technological and Scientific Advancement of the World, Now, a Small Global Village. NRIs can LEAD the World with their Great Oriental Philosophy of NON-VIOLENCE, THEORY OF KARMA & REINCARNATION, and Maintaining the Design of the World ENVIRONMENT as it was Originally Conceived. The great Concept of 'Varnashram Dharma': the Organization of Society-and its Individuals for Socio-Economic Way of Life' remains to be Dynamically Adapted to the Ever Changing HOW DO WE TAKE CARE OF THE 'CONCERNS' OF Universe. Hindus, Jains, and Other Similar Groups CAN JOIN HANDS. These are the DOABLE FACETS if they Understand and Practice the Fundamentals in the Present TORTURED WORLD.
NRI SENIOR/RETIREE/S?
When some one gives up his/her work for Livelihood and Choose to do Some Other Activity of one's Interest which one could not Pursue during Active Working Life. One who has made Provision for his/her Needs of Living Expenses. There are generally TWO KINDS OF SENIORS: One is DEPENDENT on Child/ren or Others, and the Other has WORKED in U.S.A. and made Provision through Retirement Savings/Benefits. The Dependent Parents who are in U.S.A. generally live with their Children, Look After their Grand Children, do other Household Work, and get SSI Benefits from Government. They have some Difficulty in Communication, Transportation, and Health Care. This is a Group with SILENT Sufferings of DEPENDENCE.
Those who are Long Time Residents and Retired from their Profession/Avocation are INDEPENDENT and are Able to Take Care of Many of their day-to day Needs. They have their own Retirement Benefits, Savings, Health Care Provision, Residence, and Transportation. They are Suffering In The Absence of COMMUNITY LIVING.
Eation International
Every One is Growing and/or Going to be OLD some day and HEALTH is going to Deteriorate. Therefore, Retirement is NOT going to be Easy and one NEEDS to PLAN Ahead of time as a Prudent Person. Here comes a REAL CRUCIAL Issue. Many Erroneously Think that MONEY will take care of Disabilities, and Other Issues of ISOLATION, BOREDOM, ANXIETIES & MAINTENANCE of the Household. Many, Single or Couple Live in 'EMPTY NESTS'. Their Children, Working Couples, are Busy taking Care of Their Work, Children, and Household. In Emergency, they may be of Help and Take you to the Doctor/Hospital, if they are Living in Town. Other Times, it will be all Impersonal, Phone, Email, or the Snail Mail if they are Living Elsewhere. The Sweet Dream of JOINT FAMILY has almost Vanished Everywhere. Whether we like it or not, The UNITARY FAMILY is the Order of the Day.
When Money is Lost, Nothing is Lost; When Health is Lost, Something is Lost: and When Character is Lost, Everything is Lost. In a Materialistic Society/World at its Zenith, Most of the People have Lost Everything. Me and Mine' Prevails. Some Wise People who came before us to This New Land have Evolved Some SOLUTIONS. We Some Times Wrongly Consider Ourselves The Wisest. What did They Do What We are NOT Doing?
CHRISTIANS AND JEWS Have Fine Tuned Their Dogmas & Philosophy in the SERVICE OF THE COMMUNITY. HOW? They took upon themselves the Responsibilities for the WELFARE OF THE FAITHFULS. They decided to provide Day Care Centers, Schools, Colleges, Hospitals, Retirement Communities, and Counseling all around the World as their MISSION. Christianity has Reached 2 Billion People and Growing around the World. The MESSAGE is LOUD and CLEAR.
We Can Make A BEGINNING. A Small Step will Take us to A Long Mile. We Start USING Our REAL ESTATE of TEMPLES/CENTERS for Starting DAY CARE CENTERS for Children and Seniors during Week Days. Many NRI Communities have Started Senior Groups in Temples and Community Halls. New York/New Jersey Area has LED by Forming Associations and their Federation. They meet Periodically and try to Help, Guide, and Counsel. Some have
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