When 80-year-old Maya Maker sat down to plan a six-day itinerary across Karnataka for a visiting friend, she expected it to take hours.

Her guest was interested in geology, history, temples and natural formations, so there were routes to map, places to shortlist and logistics to work out.

Then Maya tried something she had recently learnt in an online class.

Using Meta AI on WhatsApp, she began asking questions, refining prompts and exploring suggestions. Within minutes, she had a framework that might otherwise have taken days to put together.

“It saved me so much time,” she recalls. “It just got me thinking laterally.”

The itinerary turned into a memorable journey. Her guest, a geology professor from Australia, spent six days exploring Karnataka with Maya, discussing everything from rock formations to local history.

For Maya, the experience was about more than planning a successful trip. It showed her that age did not have to be a barrier to learning new technology.

That belief has brought thousands of senior citizens like her to The Social Paathshala.

Learning never stopped at 80

Maya has never been someone who quietly settled into old age.

After spending nearly 34 years in Muscat, she returned to India in 2018 and found herself in a country that had undergone a dramatic digital transformation. Payments had moved online, services were increasingly app-based, and everyday tasks often required some knowledge of technology.

“I only knew how to use an ATM card to get cash out,” she says. “After coming here, everything was done online, and I was getting into a real stew.”

Like many seniors, Maya initially relied on neighbours for help. They were happy to assist, but she disliked having to depend on others for tasks she felt she should be able to manage herself.

It was especially frustrating because she had always been curious and eager to learn.

“I’m not the sort of person who gives in to old age,” she says. “I’m the person who went trekking at the age of 70. I’m always learning.”

So when she heard about an online platform that taught technology to older adults, she signed up immediately.

Today, Maya’s desk is stacked with handwritten notes from every session she has attended.

“I have a dreadful memory,” she says with a laugh. “So even if I don’t remember it, I still have my notes to refer to.”

Her notes cover everything from QR-code payments and WhatsApp features to Google Drive, AI tools, digital organisation and smartphone shortcuts.

More importantly, they have helped her feel more comfortable using technology on her own.

A casual comment that became a mission

The person behind Maya’s learning journey is Mahima Bhalotia, founder of The Social Paathshala.

Mahima’s own career path was far removed from teaching technology to senior citizens.

She began by studying Chartered Accountancy and cleared IPCC before pursuing a master’s degree in Luxury Goods and Services Management in Milan. She later worked in........

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