Moneer Alam. Ageing in India: Socio-economic and Health Dimensions. Delhi: Institute of Economic Growth. 288 pages. Indian Rs 695.00.

Abstract

A while back I read an interesting news item in the Indian daily The Hindustan Times (dated July 21, 2006), giving results of one “HelpAge India” survey, which made me wonder how much things have changed in our part of the world. Among the many findings of the survey the salient ones were that: one out of eight older people feel no one cares they exist; 13 percent feel trapped within their own homes; 21 per- cent feel more or less alone and socialise with very few people; and, most importantly, more elderly couples are choosing to live independently. With these rather unexpected findings still lingering in my mind I came across a book, Ageing in India by Moneer Alam, which deals with the gerontological transition in India and the multifaceted issues linked to it, and, needless to say, I was eager to know what the book had to say.