Ved Pandit Tambe, who turned 100 on September 27, advised old people not to interfere in others' work in any way. ``Do your own work, anything...But see that your mental peace is not lost,'' he said, adding, ``do not think of death. We should not only think about how to live longer, but also of postponing death.''

``Control your emotions, suppress it by doing pranayam, we should not do those actions which take us towards death - excitement, pleasure, pain. We should save ourselves from these things,'' the Vedic scholar told UNI during an interview.

He stays at the Atmasantulana village at Karla, near Lonavla.

When asked what the government needs to do for the aging population, he said, ``One should come to the government only when one does not have anybody. Government should open institutions for the aged. These institutions should not give any money to their families.

Everyone should realise they too will become old,'' he said adding all depends on relationships.

``People take care of their body, but not of their mind. One must develop his or her mind along with thier body for total personality development,'' he said. ``Respect your self, ascertain your own potentials and do your duties. He himself has been following the principle of `Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.'

He gets up at 0330 hrs, walks five kms and after completing his daily chores, prays and meditates for two hours. ``Eat less, but eat regularly, no non-vegetarian items and no heavy food and work constantly,'' he said, adding, ``this will keep one fit. Physical inconveniences should not be pondered upon as this leads to other ailments.''

Shastriji reads a lot and is fully aware of the current events. ``Trust in God and do your work as worshipping God,'' he says. ``Instead of doing punya we should try to avoid pap,'' he points out.