August 13, 2009

It Might Be You One Day!

Hmm... I suppose this is the season of strong writes from my side! :P
I happened to read Mr.K.Parthasarathy's blog ... He is 78 years old and is perhaps the oldest blogger! I read a story (real-life story) in his blog about old-age homes, and trust me...what he wrote about is so emotional and so true!
Surely these days the number of old-age homes are at an all-time high! I don't need to tell you that, do I? I visited an old-age home in Bangalore once... I do need to mention that it was a very well maintained one. I entered the home with lots of sweets and biscuits...
There was a couple, perhaps waiting to see their parents. They had a three month-old baby in their hands... and just then the baby started to cry! I saw an elderly couple coming out of their room holding hands... and the old lady said to her husband, "Some child is crying nearby... feels like Aman has come." That old lady could barely walk or see...and Aman was her grandson!
It felt pathetic... It showed how much she loved her grandson and how much she wanted to be with him...with her family!!!
I was in Chennai recently and I met this friend of mine... Arv... he promised to spend the day with me and other friends... but he pulled out because he had to take his mom to her relatives'. He could have comfortably sent her all by herself, but instead he chose to go with her... I was so moved when I heard it... He said, "You know... I don't want her to travel by the local train or something." Hats off to you Arv... I was really touched!
Why do these elderly people deserve this? What have they done to deserve such a fate!! Did they not raise their kids to the best of their ability, did they not love you, do you not see the tears in their eyes and that heart shouting out to you to take them home with you? Sigh! Modern people, modern values, craving to match up to the society's standards (whether they are really worth it or not)... sigh! Does it really feel good when you tell people that you have thrust your parents/grandparents into such old-age homes??? You bet...such people would surely avoid answering such questions!
No matter how well equipped or how super classy that old-age home is...what those elderly souls need today is not comfort, not an Air-conditioner or not a super soft mattress to sleep on... what they need is a liitle time of yours... a smile from you... one or two words of comfort... that is all!!
Today we take a decision to put them into one such old-age home... but tomorrow you never know... even you may land up there one day... why repent later? Sort it out today! Don't treat them as a burden...treat them as a blessing by God!

22 comments:

Anurag said...

Nice post artz..Strong msg from you there!

In this modernisation of things I guess we all modern liberals are forgetting our roots, our old traditional values .."Values" I think that's the word for it ..It's decreasing in modern society and thr's a need to rectify it.

Hopefully the "Right" kind of People get your message from this post :)

Nyx said...

Modern Society! I just don't know what people are trying to prove by doing all this! It feels pathetic!

Well said Anurag!

Arv said...

so true da... I see it happening everywhere...

the first time I visited an old age home was like 10 years ago for my college Rotaract club...

most of the elders had son's and daughter's who are Vice Presidents, successful managers, business leaders even CEO's...

to me, they are all losers in life for they could not even care for the ones without whom they would not be in a position they are in life.

Why do these people abandon them at an age when all they would need is for their kids and grandkids to sit and talk with them when they get time??? it really irks me.

With all the success in life, we should never forger where we came from and who made us take our first steps.

h said...

really good...keep the good work up

Sowmi said...

Its true Artz... I feel pathetic when I see old people having tears in their eyes, longing for love from their own blood.. but they don't do it... I can never walk on the road just like that when I see a paatti or thatha finding hard to cross the road... No matter how much of time it takes, I help em... they feel sooper happy for just helping them to cross the road.. such is the state... :)

I travelled in sub-urban trains for 3 yrs and trust me I've met so many old peops and heard so many touching stories of how their sons/daughters have abandoned them :(

You've voiced out strongly the message.. and thank you for fulfilling my request :)

Anonymous said...

Really thoughtful of you to post about this issue in your blog Artz...can't believe the way kids treat their parents when they grow old..It's really sad to see these people suffer in their old age. Nice post. Keep it up!

Arnab said...

now thats the sort of post that certainly makes a difference...thats what i was talking about...i m happy and proud reading this...
bravo!!!!

ani_aset said...

Arthi this reminds me of my engg days when i visited one old age home. We spent one evening with them..listened to them..sang songs..they all blessed us..they said they could see their children in us..they were proud that their children were living in US, New Zealand and Canada though they were not with them..i was moved.
lovely post

kaka said...

i was moved by the post....u got some really good stuff....:)

Arjun said...

This is one lovely post..!!

Hope ppl can realise it.....

where i see the problem is- the generation gap ... wat the old ppl say might sound irritating.... But tats no reason at all to leave one's parents.... I mean they r PARENTS

Again... good that u posted this.. very nice . :)

Cheers..!!
Arjun

parzi said...

hiee arthi...
a very nice post again...its terribly sad to see people treating the parents who taught them how to walk holding their hand...running behind success and leaving them homeless and helpless at the time when they need them the most..
this has no forgiveness...i just hope they learn to value their parents...so that we don't need these old age homes...uff..
anyway...great work girl!
keep it up!
take care!

Nyx said...

@Arv,

...Where we came from and who made us take our first steps.
Fantastic bro! :)

Nyx said...

@ Abhrajit,

Maaaaast! :P

Nyx said...

@ Sowmi,

It was a pleasure taking up this topic at my blog! :)

Thanks...and am glad that you think I did justice to your request! :D

Nyx said...

@ Kasabiangirl,

Thanks dearie! :)

As I said...its the season of strong posts from me! ;)

Nyx said...

@ Arnab,

Aweee...thanks baby! :)

Nyx said...

@ Ani_aset,

They'll be proud of their kids in any situation yaa... but sigh! Why do our eyes fail to notice that!?!

Nyx said...

@ KAKA,

Thanks pa! :)

Nyx said...

@ Arjun,

Thanks! Well said...

Good to see you here!

Nyx said...

@ Parzi,

This has no forgiveness.

True dear...certainly! :)

Anonymous said...

if u don't treat family well, then nothing is worth mistreating them! old age homes? seriously sad. they belong in their own homes, not with some unknown people to befriend and see grandchildren once in a blue moon. they have to be there to watch them grow.

very much a good post. awareness needs to be there...

Anonymous said...

Well said Aartz.. :)