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The age-old tradition of touching the feet of elders has become debatable after startup founder Jasveer Singh questioned whether age alone should make someone worthy of the gesture. His remarks have sparked a debate over whether respect should be rooted in genuine admiration or simply inherited social conditioning.

In a post on X, Singh, co-founder of Knot Dating, argued that touching an elder’s feet merely because of their age can become a ritual performed out of habit rather than heartfelt respect. He questioned why people should be expected to follow the practice simply because it has been passed down through generations.

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Singh wrote, "Touching someone's feet just because they're older should stop. That isn't respect, that's social conditioning."

He suggested that many people are introduced to the practice during childhood, with families encouraging them to touch the feet of older relatives. Over the years, the gesture can become almost automatic, performed without considering whether the individual is genuinely respected or admired.

Singh further challenged the assumption that seniority automatically commands reverence, arguing that growing older is not, in itself, an accomplishment.

He wrote, "Age is not an achievement. Being someone's uncle, aunt, relative or elder doesn't automatically make them worthy of that gesture. If age alone deserved respect, every old person would be wise, we all know that's not true."

Singh said factors such as religious attire or blood relations should not automatically qualify someone for the gesture either. Instead, he said respect should be earned through character, wisdom, integrity and meaningful achievements.

"Wearing religious clothes doesn't earn it either. Being related to you by blood definitely doesn't earn it. Character earns it, nothing else does. Touch the feet of someone who has genuinely earned it. Someone whose character you admire, someone who has knowledge, wisdom, integrity, or has achieved something meaningful, someone whose life makes you think, I want to learn from this person," he added.

Singh described compulsory gestures of reverence as something people may simply perform because they have been conditioned to do so since childhood. However, he clarified that his argument was not an invitation to disrespect elders or embrace arrogance.

Instead, he stressed that respect should emerge naturally from admiration and conviction rather than social expectations. According to Singh, people should bow only when the gesture reflects something they genuinely feel.