India, Aug. 14 -- A video from Sonepat, Haryana, recently went viral showing the funeral pyre of an elderly man burning, while his three daughters were absent. The final rites were performed by the old age home where he had spent his last days, while his daughters reportedly watched the ceremony over a video call and asked caretakers to send them the rest of the footage later. Naturally, the comments section was flooded with people asking, "What kind of values are these?" Someone else wrote, "These women have not been given a good upbringing by their father." Another person even speculated whether the man himself had not been a good father, explaining the apathy of his daughters today. It is difficult to take sides and declare who was right or wrong in such a sensitive situation. But one thing can perhaps be said with certainty: something has to go very wrong for someone to be left alone in their final hour. You can pay hospital bills with money, and even bear the cost of an old-age care home, but no amount of money can fill the void left by loneliness. The world we live in today is such that it is becoming increasingly rare for people to even know who their neighbours are. A large and growing population is living apart from their children, who may be in another city or even another country. This younger generation is not just worried about their parents growing old; many are also beginning to wonder who will be there for them when they, too, eventually reach that age. Switzerland has found a beautiful solution to this, in the form of the Time Bank system. The concept is simple. If you are young and have some time to spare, you can choose to spend it with an elderly person: accompany them to the doctor, take them shopping, help them with everyday tasks, or simply sit with them over a cup of tea and listen to their stories. The hours you spend helping them are then credited to your 'Time Bank' account. These hours can eventually be redeemed when you grow old yourself and need someone to be there for you. There is no money involved. It is companionship in return for companionship. Perhaps this is what makes the idea so beautiful. A core element of our values has evolved into a system that recognises time and companionship as something worth giving and receiving. Growing old is inevitable, you see. It is easy to sit at home and pass judgement on someone else's life, especially when we know only a fraction of their story. Perhaps we should instead ask ourselves: is there an elderly person around us who could use our time? Sometimes, the greatest gift isn't money, but simply being there....