As Friendship Day approaches, we explore how age poses
no barrier to connection, learning, and change
NT BUZZ
I have friends who are eight to 12 years younger than me. Over the course of our friendship, I’ve become bolder in my thinking and learned to appreciate different perspectives. Being around younger people also makes me feel young. I’m lucky that my bros always encourage me to try new things. With them, I’ve never felt out of touch and it’s made me realise that age gaps don’t matter when it comes to building strong bonds of friendship.”
– Allen Fernandes (name changed)
I first connected with Gen Z Melissa Kuzhandhesu, a BBA student, over a year ago through our shared love for dance. She is a talented choreographer and content creator. Despite the age difference, our interactions felt easy and equal. There was mutual respect, shared enthusiasm and a genuine connection that made me feel more energetic and youthful. Friendships with younger individuals bring fresh perspectives and help you stay in touch with new ideas and trends. At the same time, they give an opportunity to share your own experiences and knowledge.”
Priya Almeida
Having a friend who is much older than me has been a blessing. She’s been a mentor, a confidante and someone I admire. We learn from each other’s experiences while also sharing and teaching our own. Plus, it’s so much fun to bond over classic old songs while exploring new pop culture together.”
Sailee Kolvekar
I have friends both older and younger than me. Friendship isn’t limited by age, caste or religion. Older friends have been a source of wisdom and support, especially in difficult times. With younger friends, I make an effort to connect with their world so they feel comfortable sharing their thoughts. I provide guidance when I can and enjoy learning new views from Gen Z.”
Raghuvir Mahale
I’ve formed a strong bond with friends six–eight years younger than me. We grew close during an intense six-month period, spending 12–15 hours a day together. When I’m with them, the age gap fades and I feel like one of them. For over two years, they’ve turned to me for guidance and it’s fulfilling to offer the support I wish I had at their age. Their trust means a lot to me.”
– Jaylee Prannay Naik
I have just two or three younger friends; the rest are older by 10, 20 or even 30 years. Some started as colleagues and became close friends. While most are women, I also have a few male friends. Older friends give valuable life experience and practical advice, helping me avoid unnecessary issues. They’re supportive, non-intrusive and their maturity often matches mine, which makes conversations comfortable and engaging.”
– Aditya Sinai Bhangui
I have been friends with Sheryl since I was a child. Although we have different personalities and our views about life are very different, our bond is deep. She always accepted me exactly as I was and never judged me. That kind of unconditional understanding is something I had never experienced before. She constantly encouraged me to follow my own path and believe in myself. Even though she is 10 years older, she always saw me as her equal. That taught me that age does not define maturity. Emotional depth and empathy do. She also taught me that friendship should be mutual, supportive, and respectful. That is when I started learning to set boundaries and let go of people who did not value me. I could write pages and still not capture what this friendship means
to me.”
-Tulsi Sharma
I have a few friends who are almost seven to 10 years older than me. We became good friends as we worked in the same company. One incident that I will always remember is when I didn’t get to answer my CLAT exam. It happened to be my birthday and I was totally devastated. But they took me to eat at a fancy restaurant and took care of me like I was their baby sister. Being friends with them has changed my perception about life as now I believe even if you have nothing and still choose to give a little to someone, God will truly bless you.”
– Glossy Valanka Pednekar
Age and distance are no barriers to true friendship. An older friend I met during a night in a wildlife sanctuary gave me maturity and guidance when I needed it most. Though we met rarely, her impact was lasting. A younger friend later encouraged me to dream big and keep going. Our conversations across continents helped reignite my career. These friendships have shaped my life and shown me that connection knows no limits.”
– Monisha Pathak
(Compiled by Ramandeep Kaur and Christine Machado)