Most of us, at some point, might have felt a surge of frustration when our elders turned to us for help with their smartphones. It’s easy to forget that they’re navigating a digital world they weren’t born into. The generational divide and the rapid pace of technological advancement can often lead to a sense of alienation, particularly for older adults.
India is home to over 140 million senior citizens, and this number is expected to reach 194 million by 2031. While many seniors are eager to embrace technology, a lack of digital literacy, combined with a hesitation to seek help from their children, often leaves them feeling excluded and overwhelmed.
“My father was struggling with technology and online transactions,” says Hemanshu Jain, an entrepreneur and engineer.
“I used to travel regularly for work, and my dad used to call me, asking me to pay online bills or get home supplies. I had to do it remotely and from a different time zone,” he adds, highlighting the everyday struggles faced by many elderly individuals.
The last company Hemanshu co-founded, Diabeto, was in the space of diabetes, and he witnessed firsthand the difficulties the elderly faced with operating modern devices. “Navigating through the digital landscape was a huge challenge,” says Hemanshu.
The minimum support system in the context of digital education and the hesitation to ask their children for help make the situation harder. “We are harsh to our loved ones and often make fun of them for not knowing how certain things work,” Hemanshu points out. “There is an expectation problem here. Parents want their children to help but often feel guilty about expecting support from those living far away.”
To bridge the gap, Hemanshu teamed up with Pritish Nelleri, who also has a business background, to ideate a solution and the app ‘Khyaal’ was born. Exclusive to senior citizens, this app creates a virtual environment and attempts to solve most of their technological problems in one go.
‘I have my circle of people here’
Based out of Mumbai, Khyaal originated as a WhatsApp group amid the COVID-19 pandemic, providing much-needed support and entertainment to isolated elderly individuals. Live workshops were organised to alleviate their anxieties and offer a sense of community.
“Initially, we didn’t have a clear roadmap for Khyaal,” Hemanshu confesses. “We called in experts to talk and make them feel at peace regarding the pandemic.”
To add an element of fun, games like Tambola were conducted, proving popular among the senior citizens. The initiative’s success was evident in the participation of 10,000 seniors across various interest-based WhatsApp groups.
Hemanshu and Pritish then focused on building a platform where they could attend the workshops and form a community almost resembling a classroom setup. They launched the app in 2022, enabling senior citizens to learn digital skills without the need for assistance from others.
Like in the WhatsApp community, the app helped teach senior citizens how to navigate apps like BigBasket, Swiggy, and Zomato with ease, allowing them to be a part of the digital comfort that so many of us are used to and take for granted.
“Engaging in different activities has provided a new meaning to my life. I learn something every day, my physical health is taken care of, and I have my circle of people here,” shares Mala Mehta, who was diagnosed with cancer five years ago and is currently in recovery.
“Khyaal is my family, and the volunteers treat us respectfully and patiently. I can talk about anything during discussions, and people do not judge me for what I say,” she adds.
Counselling and emotional wellness services provide mental peace for older people. “I am a divorcee, and navigating alone through life takes a mental toll. Through my counselling sessions, I’ve learnt to say ‘no’, and also cope with depression,” shares Bhupinder Kaur, a 70-year-old ardent user of Khyaal.
Transactions, tours, and therapy
Hemanshu wanted the app to be a one-stop solution where older people can access a plethora of services like healthcare, money management, travel, recreation, TV shows, and the like, providing a rewarding and comfortable experience for the users.
Entertainment features like quiz night, screening of old Doordarshan series, Tambola night, cooking classes, etc, keep them engaged throughout the day and help them age gracefully.
“I love Antakshari nights where I get to sing with other music enthusiasts as well,” shares Mala.
Additionally, Khyaal offers curated travel packages, promoting an active lifestyle that focuses on comfort and safety. “Recently, I went to Kashmir with Khyaal. They took 30 of us and took such good care of us throughout the trip,” shares Bhupinder.
One of the primary concerns among senior citizens, Hemanshu points out, was that their primary bank account was vulnerable to fraud. To address this they created a Visa-powered Khyaal card with cybersecurity coverage, which allows them to create a secondary bank account. “People can set aside money for their day-to-day transactions and your primary bank account is unaffected,” Hemanshu says.
He adds that users earn Khyaal points when participating in events. The whole gamification of the processes makes it easier to follow and engage, he adds.
Senior citizens also benefit from innovative offerings like Khyaal Digi-Gold, a secure digital gold investment option developed in partnership with CaratLane.
“We take constant feedback from the Khyaal community regarding a new feature on the app or if there is any difficulty in accessing a segment of the app. Our users are very collaborative, helping the app grow well,” says Hemanshu.
A lifeline for seniors
Khyaal has become more than an app — it’s a lifeline for seniors, offering them independence, connection, and purpose.
“I have been an ardent user of Khyaal for over two and a half years, and I have found my purpose in spending my last innings peacefully,” shares Bhupinder. “Before Khyaal, I felt lonely and did not have much to do. Now I am occupied the entire day with such good activities, where I learn and have fun all the time.”
Bhupinder also shares that she has found a good friend through Khyaal. “We talk to each other at least twice a week.”
Hemanshu and Pritish are actively working on the regionalisation of the app, which will benefit audiences from other linguistic backgrounds. “We are focusing on Tier 3 cities as we can see an increase in users from that demographic area,” he shares.
Apps like Khyaal highlight the importance of being independent and purpose-driven, proving that ageing gracefully in the digital age is not just possible but empowering.
Currently, the app has over one million downloads on Google Play, with primary users from urban cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kochi and many more. Their annual membership costs between Rs 999 and Rs 1499, depending on the selected plan.
For more details, visit their official website.
Edited by Arunava Banerjee; All image courtesy- Khyaal
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