Asha, 73, is a volunteer for Age UK’s Telephone Friendship Service, and though she was born in Gujarat, India, the former teacher and social worker is well versed in the challenges for Britain’s older Indian population.
Talking about befriending services in the community, she said: “In Western culture the idea of independence and self-respect’s so sharp we forget how to live with one another, and your children love you but from a distance, they live in their own houses. Family members are around, but you hardly see them. That doesn't hurt when you’re working, young and mobile, but when you're retired, you can't travel much, so suddenly feel they're gone.”
“I used to call a woman from India. She was Muslim but we shared a similar language, festivals, and ideologies, and she used to tell me that although we worship different gods, we’re the same. She couldn’t write her name, but I’d look at her understanding of humanity, and the role of religion in our lives, and said to her, “You’re my teacher”. She was depressed and unhappy but as we had weekly chats, she started to sing songs.”
Her present caller is from Guyana and speaks her ancient and national language.
“Our children are busy with their jobs and bringing up their children. I visit my home in India and have noticed a difference there as well because some children go out to work or study in different cities and they settle there or go abroad, so even there I can see the older generation’s feeling lonely,” Asha added.
