A School of Experiences – Where Feelings Come Together

[Shahrukh Atpade]

Shelakewadi is a small but very beautiful and warm village. As soon as you enter the village, you can see elderly men sitting calmly at every corner, while at some places they are busy in discussions. Their faces show life experiences, their eyes hold memories, and their words carry quiet confidence.

I met one such group of elderly men. They were rich with experience, emotions, determination, and faith. Their life journeys, struggles, and achievements came out naturally through their conversations. When I sat with them for a SALT conversation, I realized that they are not just old in age, but very strong in thoughts and experiences.

During the discussion, one important thing became clear—how important it is to have a safe space where people can freely share their feelings, memories, and life experiences. With this understanding, everyone agreed to form a group where such open sharing could happen.

Today, we had the first meeting of this group. The topic was the village’s political system during their youth and the present system. As the discussion started, everyone shared their experiences and opinions. I mostly listened. They spoke with laughter, called each other by nicknames, sometimes smiled at old memories, and sometimes expressed concern about changes. It felt as if they had gone back to their younger days.

At the end of the discussion, I asked them how they felt. Happiness was clearly visible on their faces. They said,We have been sitting together here for so many years, but we never shared our memories and feelings like this before.

From this conversation, all of us learned something new. Finally, we decided to form a group of 7–8 elderly people not strong in body, but rich in thoughts, emotions, and experiences. A group where different conversations will take place, where people will listen to each other, and where everyone will find joy, connection, and meaning.