In the fifth leg of Buzurgaan e 'Alaviyeen (Alavi Senior Citizens conclave) held on 26 Jan 2026/8 Sha'baan 1447, Monday, at Heritage Resort (Halol), a whole day program in which above 280 seniors mumineen-muminaat participated got an opportunity to interact with the people of their same age. By the du'aa mubaarak of Saiyedna saheb TUS and his nazr e lataafat, Baroda Cyclopeadians Womens' wing has now achieved a superb threshold and expertise in organising such a successful event where a short distance full-day excursion is made possible around Vadodara. Keeping in mind the age-group of the participants, the trip is planned in such a manner that everyone feels something different, memorable, light-heartedness, self-respect, confidence and merriment.  

Maa saahebah Umm ul Mumineen ad-Durrat ul-Bayzaa was very vocal in expressing some of her feelings that, "O my beloved people! Forget for a day your pains, excuses, ailments, stress of yours and your house. This gathering is unique and your blooming faces has filled this day with energy. Unknot your hearts and speak out to make yourselves relaxed. I am here with you all at the age of 86 yrs, to enlighten you and to reinstate in you the role of Master key when all the keys fail to open the door through which the difficulties would find its way out." 

Mukaasir Maulaa Saiyedi saheb DM said that, "You all are enjoying this scenic beauty sitting at the foothills of gorgeous Pavagadh as the backdrop which serves as a strong nail or a divine mountain protecting our city Vadodara. I stress on a very important point that makes your home liveable and loveable. Like this mountain you should play a leading role in your family affairs as a central pole on which your beautiful family tent stands. Never give up this responsibility as your family is recognised in the society by your sacrifices and dedication. Ponder over some of the issues that your efforts and guidance may bring some change or initiative a new thought." 

1. Preserve your mother Tongue-Gujarati and make an habit to converse with children in this beautiful ancestral language. Educate your children with old idioms and phrases that were prevalent in older times.
2. Think for remarriage in case you have lost your beloved life partner if your health, finance and family permits. If you wish that the loneliness and dependency is overriding and disturbing your personal life, then we can help you out and get you with appropriate solution. 
3. Use your mobile mindfully. Your age and ignorance sometimes becomes hindrance in countering the fraud or scam poping up from online banking, investment or transaction. Fraudster may target you through multiple mediums or less doubted sources. Remain alert and don't follow the instructions from an unknown person. If this happens immediately talk with your family, friends or bank authorities. 
4. 60 or above is not the age of retirement or license to easy-chair. Follow your mind, heart and body instincts. Connect with the people of your age. Go for shopping, visit garden for old-people evening gathering, find part-time convenient job, make an habit of reading or teaching youngsters, socialize with like-minded people, go for outing with friends etc. Establish yourselves as a thought provoking book in your last but memorable chapter of your life by which you will be respectfully remembered.
5. See to it that your youth dress well and pay respect to our Indian culture and traditions.  Our dress reflects and out-speak our thoughts and manners.  While dressing do keep in mind the place, people, time, occasion and your convenience.  When you feel safe and comfortable with the environment around you then only you will enjoy your time and companionship.

• You are a 280 strong representatives of your families and you could play a crucial role in maintaining the ethos and cultural values of our Alavi Bohra community.  Your experience and seniority is a powerful way to protect and propagate our Bohra food, customs, language, dress, literature, upbringing, lifestyle etc.
• Families built on piety, love and cooperation are our real Alavi homes.  You are its roof and with great efforts you gather all your family members under it. Roofless homes pose danger, threat and instability with its dwellers always remain exposed to attacks from outsiders.  Roof protects the place against harsh and extreme climatic conditions.  Your family needs you and you all can play an important role in becoming graceful roof for your families.
• Don't ever think that you have become old or you can do nothing or the family least need you or your life is limited to easy-chair or you can only help in bringing groceries.  Never retire or confine yourselves.  Mental and emotional strength will decide your physical capabilities.  Your age is only the number, the real seniority is the way you bind your family on financial justice and equality.  Do become a strong adhesive of affection between your family members.
• Make a point in taming your family to lend an attentive ear to your words.  Don't hesitate in declaring an act that is not on the lines of family ethics and morals as unacceptable.  Make a correct decision by keeping patience.  Right thing is appreciable and the wrong will always be wrong.  Partiality or side-switching will blot you image and harm your respect.  Youngsters expects praise, reward and justice from their elders.  Be open in accepting new ideas or innovative ways from your youth.  Your financial assistance, moral support and their fresh intelligence and youthful ideas will create great things.

Seniors always have upper hand on their Juniors. Their seniority remains intact when they readily and sincerely accept and accomodate the new perspectives and ideas of the new comers. Everything expires, so does the old system of handling things. But at a given point of time, the old and successful system always stands as a backup and rescue plan if the new system that has been pushed forward to show its ability suddenly crashes or stops functioning properly.

As everyone of us knows this famous quote, "Old is Gold".  So let’s put these words into practicality by giving our Elders their place of respect and importance.  When we browse through the Qur'anic verses we come across the word "Ihsaan" often used to explain the role of our senior family members and their sacrifices.  Ihsaan here means, we should be polite with our elders (parents), give them due respect, ask or consult them, make them feel special, allow them to do things with which they find comfort.  Rasoolullaah SAWS said, "Barakat (blessings) is with your elders".  That house lacks great blessings which is without elders.  Intelligent and caring elders become a binding force and healing solution for various relationships among family members.

In the third leg of Buzurgaan e 'Alaviyeen (Alavi Senior Citizens conclave) organized by the Ladies wing of Baroda Cyclopedians held on 17 Dec 2023/5 Jumaadi II 1445, Sunday, at Moti Farm, a whole day program in which above 275 seniors mumineen-muminaat participated got an opportunity to interact with the people of their same age and to engage themselves in knowledge and fun based activities.  Aqaa Maulaa Saiyedna saheb TUS joined the gathering at noon and with the Imaamat namaaz of Zohr-'Asr, Maulaa touched all the points related to the role and responsibilities of elders in their families.

Maulaa said that, "Having the age of 60-65 doesn't qualify you as an elder, but your morals, relations, thoughts, actions, experiences, advices make you eligible for Seniority.

• Don't self-retire yourselves
• Engage yourselves in activities
• Interact and maintain friendship with same-age persons
• Inculcate true life values in your children and grandchildren
• Go for a walk or outing
• Keep yourselves physically active
• Make an habit to do your work by yourselves
• Don't hand over entirely family and business affairs to your sons.  Keep yourselves financially independent
• Talk and remind your good-bad experiences and sacrifices to your younger generation
• Keep yourselves busy by putting your room and your personal things tidy 
• Maintain healthy physical relationship with your spouse
• Often talk about the moral values and traditions of your family
• Impart appropriate knowledge to your younger ones about the things that give real and lasting peace, happiness and harmony in life
• If you are single or have lost your partner and you are capable to deliver all responsibilities of your new partner with or without your family members, then don’t waste time and proceed for nikaah

When Seniors are considered really Seniors then things get better, hopes get organized and justice becomes desirable.  Elders hold the key of our traditional values and rightful actions governed by mature thoughts.  They become bridge between the past and present generation.  Forbearance, experience, patience, forgiveness and etiquettes has now the become the norm of their lives.  They have accepted that these are the last years of their lives and they want their loved ones to be near them and get benefitted.  They want to get audience from their family members, so that their words could be reiterated to their younger ones.

To give space and audience to our Seniors, an outstanding event of outing was organised at a place near Vadodara where about 280 Alavi Seniors participated.  Aqaa Maulaa Saiyedna saheb TUS was present for some hours and gave necessary hidaayaat by encouraging them to play a key role in maintaining the unity of their families.