Loneliness: A Wolf on the Prowl in the Concrete Jungle
A few months ago, I met an 80-year-old retired constable in a village of Uttarakhand. He was still full of energy and enthusiasm for life and had been running a small stationery shop since his retirement. During conversation, he told me that hardly one or two customers visited his shop in a day. However, many people dropped in just to talk. "These interactions keep me alive and aware of my surroundings," he said. "Besides, my work motivates me to get ready every morning. I may not be earning money, but I am earning relationships." I may not be earning money, but I am earning relationships. A. What is loneliness? Loneliness is the gap between social connection you expect and you actually have. It is a subjective emotional experience. Everyone's expectations of social connection are different. B. Prevalence According to the World Health Organisation ( WHO ) 2025 report, one in six persons in the world feels lonely. An online global survey conducted by BBC (2018...