CHENNAI: Is 60 the new 40 or 70 the new 50? A peek into the lives of these spirited, young-at-heart elders, who have found second careers post retirement, makes this claim seem believable enough. For V Thiagarajan (76), a resident of West Mambalam who ran an automobile business, music was a childhood passion that he had to pursue after retirement. Though he was always musically inclined, this time he was lured by Western classical music, and has cleared four levels in piano at the Trinity College of Music, London. He takes music classes for students who want to appear for the Trinity College exams and also performs at select events too. “I’m finding music very fulfilling and engaging. Now, I am taking a small break, after which I might appear for exams again next year,” says Thiagarajan.Others like Brigadier Muthulakshmi (73), who served the Indian Army as a nurse, take to acquired professions. Now, a family lawyer at the Madras High court, she says, “While I was in service, I finished my law degree from the Ranchi University. I couldn’t practice while I was in service, so once I retired, I registered in the Tamil Nadu Bar council.” She adds, “This keeps me very occupied and I take up cases only when I am convinced that a person is unfairly treated. I thoroughly enjoy what I am doing.”Jayanth Srinivasan (60) works as the Manager, Business Development at Rochester Investment Consulting Private Ltd, which trains people to trade in global share market. In his early work life, he was a financial consultant and had worked abroad. He explains, “I find my post retirement assignment very exciting, because it is more flexible and intellectually stimulating.”These graying young people, have some wise words for their counterparts. Thiagarajan says, “People should stop treating retirement as the end; it is actually the beginning of a second innings. Senior people like us can do with our experience and take a second career if your health permits. Be useful to your own families and to the society, there are lots of things we can do.”A statement that Brigadier Muthulakshmi agrees with. “Suddenly, when we reach 60, we don’t stop being functional. There are so many productive ways in which the senior citizens can continue to contributing to the society. It is all in the mind.” Having a second career, makes one financially independent. This fincancial independence makes everybody happy,” adds Jayanth Srinivasan.In a recently held Retirement Expo organized by the Dignity Foundation, they received 400 letters of applications from the elderly, who are looking for a second opportunity. Aruna Damodharan, Dignity Foundation’s Second Careers’ Manager said, “ We were pleasantly surprised at the number of applications we received. About 95 percent of them were men, and only 5 percent were women. We had received applications from people who have diverse work backgrounds.”Dignity Foundation in the past couple of years had managed to place 50 people in second careers. Aruna added, “ Most of them, get openings as consultants, in sales, in insurance and financial companies. There are also various kinds of professionals. When someone has occupied a really high position in their careers, it is difficult to find a similar position. They, at times, have to scale down a little.”
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