From Silence to Samvad: Need for Restoring Meaningful Relationships

Lalit Garg

(The writer can be reached  at lalitgarg11@gmail.com)

‘‘Every sixth person is lonely.” This stark revelation from the latest World Health Organisation (WHO) report has shaken the global conscience and forced us to reflect: What kind of society are we building where human beings are increasingly left alone? Clearly, rising loneliness is not merely a personal, familial, or social issue—it is fast becoming a global mental health crisis, silently hollowing out individuals, communities, and professional institutions.

Millions around the world are living lives wrapped in deafening silence, trapped in broken relationships and a lack of meaningful communication. If we listen carefully, the quiet desperation within people is slowly poisoning countless lives like a silent epidemic. The most tragic part? It is the youth who are increasingly falling prey to this crisis. The elderly, already suffering neglect in fragmented families and social systems, continue to be victims of apathy.

The complexities and contradictions of modern life have deepened. The generational divide, accelerated by the rapid expansion of science and technology, has widened. According to WHO, about 16% of the global population is suffering from some form of loneliness, social isolation, or emotional disconnect. And this phenomenon is no longer confined to the elderly—it has spread to youth, working professionals, and even children. In this hyperconnected digital age, where everything seems “linked,” human relationships are increasingly marked by invisible walls, artificiality, and emotional barrenness. The virtual world of social media, despite boasting thousands of ‘friends,’ leaves us emotionally void. The deeper we go into digital connectivity, the more isolated we become emotionally and spiritually.

The individualistic mindset, weakening social structures, and disintegrating family values have intensified the impact of loneliness. Cracks in family bonds, rising dissatisfaction in marriages, and increasing divorce rates are all clear signs. Among youth, we see a worrying rise in depression, suicidal tendencies, and substance abuse. Among the elderly, loneliness is contributing to the surge of Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other mental illnesses. Loneliness is not a personal weakness but a sign of collective societal failure.

In a world obsessed with speed, ambition, and selfish pursuits, people no longer have time to “listen”—and ”this is where loneliness breeds. It’s time we return to a world of human relationships, heartfelt conversations, and compassion. Otherwise, emptiness and dissatisfaction will continue to gnaw at our souls. People may be alive, but few truly feel the magic of being alive. Beauty hidden in little things escapes our notice. The more our aspirations soar under the influence of materialism, the more frustrated we become when reality doesn’t keep pace. This leads to stress, despair, and a deeper descent into isolation. Yes, the reach of social media has expanded dramatically—but it is an illusionary, artificial, performative world. Thousands claim to have online friends, but how many are truly close, genuinely empathetic, or emotionally available?

These questions often return a bitter answer: In the real world, most people are utterly alone. The superficial digital dialogues cannot substitute for real conversations, and artificial relationships cannot strengthen our core emotional fabric. This virtual existence is feeding the loneliness epidemic. Worse, artificiality has diluted the power of words and weakened our emotional expression. People are increasingly drifting into isolation. The decline of joint families and the rise of nuclear families have contributed significantly. In earlier times, elders in a household provided emotional cushioning during crises. Families faced hardships together. Now, those elders are struggling with neglect, abandonment, and emotional exile.

The Government of Kerala has shown foresight by forming a Senior Citizens’ Commission to address the loneliness crisis among the elderly. But such initiatives need to be replicated nationally. Today, the elderly are haunted by fears of rejection, neglect, and homelessness—wandering not for food, but for dignity and a roof. It’s imperative that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central government address this loneliness pandemic. The talents, skills, and experiences of our senior citizens must be harnessed in building a New India. Their emotional needs must be safeguarded as part of nation-building during this Amrit Kaal (Era of Transformation).

The increasing complexity of work and the rising cost of living have compounded the loneliness crisis. It is even more severe in families where both spouses are working, and children are sent to boarding schools. Workplaces, too, are becoming breeding grounds for emotional disconnect. Employees feel disengaged, lacking emotional connection to their work. Teamwork, innovation, and collaboration suffer. Chronic loneliness leads to burnout, dissatisfaction, and resignations. Productivity declines sharply. According to McKinsey and Deloitte, loneliness can reduce employee productivity by 15–20%, resulting in billions of dollars in losses globally. To fight this epidemic, collective efforts at personal, social, and institutional levels are essential: Invest in real relationships: Spending time with family, friends, and colleagues is the true definition of wealth. Empathetic leadership: Workplaces need leaders who are emotionally aware and sensitive to the psychological well-being of employees. Prioritise face-to-face conversations over digital chats. Move from “Work from Home” to “Work with Community.” Promote counselling, group discussions, meditation, and yoga in both offices and social spaces. Governments must officially recognise loneliness as a public health issue and implement inclusive social policies to address it.

The WHO also reports that nearly 800,000 people die each year due to loneliness-related causes—a staggering figure, showing just how disconnected we’ve become not only from workplaces and society but also from our own families. In a disturbing recent trend, some leading business tycoons have advocated for extending working hours, even suggesting that staying home with one’s spouse is unnecessary. Such statements are not just tone-deaf; they reveal a deeper insensitivity to emotional needs. The dangerous myth that “money can buy everything” has eroded our connections, making us physically surrounded but emotionally deserted. Festivals, once a time of emotional bonding, have now become shows of artificial display. People have forgotten how to feel for one another, how to care, and how to genuinely listen. We must urgently rethink the values and habits that are isolating individuals in their personal lives. Loneliness will only be eradicated when we start being human again—sensitive, compassionate, and connected.