Mohunsing Koolaput went missing on Tuesday last week and his body was found on Wednesday this week. Any person who is reported missing is cause for anxiety and a heavy suspense lies on the hearts of his kith and kin until news is received about him.

Unfortunately, if a few missing persons do subsequently reappear, in a great majority of cases, either they are heard no more, or it is their dead bodies that surface after some time.

The case of Mohunsing Koolaput, however, is disturbing for some additional reasons. How can a man, well over 80 years of age, be still made to work for a living? And that too, working as a taxi driver? It is a well-known fact that past a certain age, people do lose some of their mental and physical faculties. Their vision becomes blurred and their judgment is impaired.

Their reflexes are highly compromised,they are prone to exhaustion and sleepiness. How can they be authorised to vehicle the public in their taxis? How can the safety of their passengers and that of orher road users be entrusted to them?

A man of 81 years has already contributed all he could towards the development of his country and the wellbeing of his family. At 81 any person is expected to have retired and to be enjoying a well-deserved rest.

Why did Mohunsing Koolaput have to drive his taxi everyday? Was it really a question of earning a living? Could not his children take care of him, and see to it that he obtained at least the barest minimum required to keep going?

We know that there are many old people who refuse to grow old gracefully and insist on keeping themselves busy. But busy driving a car at this age? Maybe the authorities should give a serious thought to the maximum age up to which a person can hold a driving licence.