Father’s Day 2025 & Elder Abuse Awareness Day: A Story Of Love, Loss & Being Left Behind

Last Updated:June 15, 2025, 07:25 IST

Father’s Day 2025 and World Elder Abuse Awareness Day fall on June 15. Here’s a story that reminds us: don’t just celebrate fathers — remember to care for them too.

Father’s Day 2025 and World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2025: Father’s Day 2025 is being celebrated today, June 15 — a day to honour the love, sacrifice, and strength of fathers everywhere. This year, it coincides with another important observance: World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The overlap isn’t just symbolic — for some fathers, like 83-year-old Raghunath Sharma, it is deeply personal.

Once followed by hundreds, now left unheard in his own home. Sharma was once the kind of man others aspired to become. A senior officer in the public sector, his honesty and quiet strength earned him not just respect — but reverence.

“He always stood by what was right — even if it came at a personal cost.”

That’s how his former colleagues remember him. He mentored not just employees, but lives. Promotions came not through politics, but through his integrity. He retired with grace, not greed. But life, as it often does, turned another page.

DAILY RITUALS OF LOVE: TEA WITH A STATUE OF HIS LATE WIFE

A few years ago, Sharma lost his wife of nearly 50 years. To say they were close would be an understatement — theirs was a bond steeped in old-school tenderness. He still opened car doors for her. They walked hand-in-hand, even when they needed canes.

After her passing, he commissioned a life-size statue of her and placed it in a quiet corner of his room.

“I talk to her every morning. I share my tea, my lunch, dinner… she always listened when she was alive. I feel she still does.

The ritual is quietly beautiful — but in a home full of others, it is mostly overlooked.

PHOTOS: 10 Best Father’s Day Messages And Wishes To Warm Your Dad’s Heart

NEGLECT IN OLD AGE: A FATHER’S QUIET STRUGGLE

Though he shares a home with his son and daughter-in-law, Sharma lives in the background — a quiet presence often ignored, and sometimes scolded.

“They don’t really talk to me anymore,” he admits, eyes downcast. “And when they do, it’s usually to scold me about something small.”

Neighbours have overheard the raised voices. The once-proud patriarch now chooses silence over conflict. No blame. No bitterness.

“It’s not his fault,” he says of his son. “Life changes people. Maybe I failed to prepare him for how to carry burdens gently.”

FORGOTTEN FATHERS: THE EMOTIONAL COST OF AGEING

Ageing is often romanticised as serene and wise. But for many like Sharma, it becomes a slow fade into invisibility — the cruel irony of being treated as a burden by those they once protected.

Father’s Day, for some, is not about cake or cards. It’s about recognition. About honouring not just the provider, but the constant — the man who gave everything without asking for anything.

“He gave me everything. Today I can’t even give him my patience.”

A line a son may never say aloud, but one that echoes in homes more often than we admit.

THE MEASURE OF A MAN

Sharma may not receive a greeting or a garland this Father’s Day. But perhaps he doesn’t need one.

His love, his sacrifice, his legacy — these live not in grand gestures, but in the life he once led. And in the quiet dignity he still carries.

He doesn’t speak much. But in his silence lies a lifetime of lessons.

One of them: A father never stops loving — even when no one is looking anymore.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Here are simple ways to support ageing fathers in your life:

1. Spend intentional time, even a short visit matters.
2. Listen without correcting. Let them share without interruption.
3. Revisit old memories. Photos, music, or letters help reconnect.
4. Include them in everyday life — meals, decisions, outings.
5. Acknowledge their legacy: Say “thank you,” and truly mean it.

Also Read: Best Father’s Day Gift Ideas

10 LIFE LESSONS TO LEARN THIS FATHER’S DAY 2025

1. Patience is a powerful strength: Elder parents show us how to remain calm and composed through life’s ups and downs.
2. Simplicity brings contentment: They remind us that joy doesn’t always come from more—it often comes from less.
3. Relationships matter more than material things: Through their lived experiences, they show the lasting value of love, family, and trust over wealth or status.
4. Respect and humility go a long way: They teach us how being respectful — regardless of age or position—builds lasting bonds.
5. Consistency beats speed: They remind us that steady effort over time often achieves more than rushing through life.
6. Health is real wealth: Their routines, discipline, and balanced lifestyles highlight how important physical and mental health really are.
7. Learn to listen more than speak: Elders show that wisdom often comes not from talking, but from truly listening and observing.
8. Value time — it’s the one thing you can’t get back: They’ve seen how quickly life passes and always encourage us to spend time meaningfully.
9. Faith and gratitude sustain you: Whether spiritual or personal, their ability to stay grounded in belief and gratefulness is a powerful anchor.
10. Life isn’t perfect — adaptability is key: They’ve lived through wars, recessions, and revolutions in technology. Their ability to adapt is the ultimate survival skill.

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