In twilight years, learning remains a joy

We owe it to old people to encourage them to do more than dance and dote on grandchildren

The picture of an old lady sitting on the stairway in a packed lecture room in Beijing caught the attention of some media the other day. She was later offered a seat after some recognized that the lady is Professor Rao Mingli, an 84-year-old pioneer neurologist. She is widely admired for her understated style and for her eagerness to keep on learning even in her advanced years.

There are plenty more people like her. I attend many lectures in my spare time, and many of those who attend are senior citizens. In fact at some lectures, such as those at the National Library of China, you see more gray-haired audiences than younger ones. They are attentive listeners, prodigious note-takers and are quick on the uptake when it comes to asking questions.