The exchange program on “Active Ageing“ between Heidelberg University and Jawahahrlal Nehru University organized a three-days workshop  on  “New Directions in ‘Active Ageing‘ and ‘Age-friendly Culture‘ in India and Germany“  in Heidelberg from 18th to 20th June 2017.

At the first day, Prof. Dr. Andreas Kruse (Institute of Gerontology, Heidelberg University) hold lectures discussing different concepts of age and active, healthy ageing at the Institute of Gerontology.  Prof. Kruse hereby argued for the necessity of a comprehensive perspective on old age which integrates restrictions and vulnerability as well as developmental potential and opportunities. The lecture series was followed by a visit of the “Alte Aula“ with an introduction to the history of Heidelberg University and a piano playing and concluded by a welcome dinner in the old city.

Ageing in India from an interdisciplinary perspective was the topic of the second day taking place at the South Asia Institute. Speakers were Prof. Dr. Minati Panda (Zakir Husain Centre for Educational Studies, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University) talking on “Psychology of Ageing in India“, Prof. Dr. Surinder Jodhka (Centre for the Study of Social Systems, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University) on “Emergent Inequalities: Diverse Modes of Ageing in Contemporary India“, Prof. Dr. Mohan Rao (Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health, School of Social Sciences, Jawahahrlal Nehru University) on “Women and Health in India“ and Annika Mayer (PhD candidate at the Cluster of Excellence “Asia and Europe in a global context“) on “Middle-Class Senior Citizens and New Elderscapes in Urban India.“ This was followed by a film screening on dementia and music and a vivid discussion chaired by Prof. Dr. William Sax (Department of Anthropology, South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University). The event was well attended not only by German-Indian Project members but also by a number of students of the MA “Health and Society in South Asia“.   

At the final day project members went for an excursion to the “Klinik für rehabilitative Geriatrie” at the Diakonissenkrankenhaus Karlsruhe-Rüppur. Dr. Birgitte R. Metz, head of the clinic, gave an introduction to the  work and structure of the geriatric clinic, continued by a guided tour through the institution and a joint lunch at the clinic cafeteria. In the evening, a screening of the German documentary film on elderly and high performance sports titled “Herbstgold“ took place at the South Asia Institute. The three days activities ended with a farewell dinner in the Neuenheimer Feld.

Here you can download the program of the opening workshop (Pdf).