‘What I miss dearly are my old friends who have passed away’

By Mitali Annigeri

“What I miss dearly are my old friends who have all passed away,” says Dr. B V Joshi, his words echoing the bittersweet reality of aging, where cherished companions become cherished memories.

Dr Joshi, who is 81 now, says he is no longer interested in making new friends. “I don’t mind talking to people my age, but they cannot become my friends,” he says with a wry smile, and adds, “This is a reality of life. Let’s face it.”

Instead, the mobile phone has become his best friend. He turns to it to listen to classical Carnatic music or old Hindi songs. He also likes to keep himself updated by watching and following the news.

The dream of Dr Joshi, who hails from Yelburga, a small town in Karnataka, was to become a doctor. But when he could not get into a medical college, he enrolled in Hebbal Veterinary College in Bengaluru, which was the only veterinary college in Karnataka at that time. He graduated with a gold medal and later did his Masters from Hyderabad.

Besides the government, Dr Joshi worked in the private sector before starting his own poultry feed business. The business had to be shut down due to misunderstandings among partners. But Dr Joshi did not give up. He now works as a consultant in Bengaluru.

Also, Dr Joshi refuses to be stereotyped. “Don’t treat me as an old man,” he asserts. “Don’t confine me to the house or discourage me from following my passions,” he tells his family firmly.

He starts his day with Yoga, and then goes for a walk. “I like to be outdoors, close to nature,” he says.  His evenings are spent at the Raghuvendra Swami Muth near his house where he listens to pravachna (spiritual discourses) and engages with people his age.

Dr Joshi is clear.  “Time doesn’t stop and won’t wait for everyone so embrace the gift of life.” This is his motto, and this helps him keep going.

(The writer is a sixth semester BAJMC student of School of Media and Journalism, DY Patil International University, Akurdi, Pune.)

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