Stay Connected

Sep 27

Today I was reading a profoundly moving anecdote recounted by a newspaper delivery man.

One of the houses he delivered newspapers had its mailbox blocked, so he started throwing newspapers in the verandah. The elderly man objected and asked him, "Either knock on the door, or ring the bell, but personally hand it to me."

Caught off guard, the young man responded, person hesitated before responding, "Sure, but that will be inconvenient for both of us and a waste of time."

He said, "It's alright. I'll give you an extra Rs.500/- per month as a knocking charge."

He further added, "If there ever comes a day when I fail to answer the door, please call the police!"

Perplexed, the delivery man asked, "But why sir?"

He replied with moist eyes, "My wife passed away, my son is abroad, and I live here all alone, who knows when my time will come?"

He further said, "I never read the newspaper. I subscribe it to hear the sound of knocking or doorbell chiming, to see a familiar face and exchange a few words of pleasantries. But if any day you knock on the door and I don't answer, please call my son on this overseas number..."

This reminds me of a real story, which was reported in newspapers also. After

his distinguished military career, Colonel Rathod and his spouse, settled in a posh colony of Lucknow. His both sons were settled with their families in US, after getting jobs in renowned multinational companies.

One day his wife expired. He was waiting for their sons' arrival from US, but after one day, only younger son, Chintu arrived. He asked Chintu why his elder brother, Munna didn't come. Chintu's reply was blunt, " Munna Bhaiya told me to come this time, remarking that when the time comes for dad's departure, he shall be the one to come."

He went inside and wrote a letter to this effect,

Dear Chintu,

We raised you with many lofty aspirations, endowing boundless joy, and endowing you with the best education, both in the country and abroad. When your mother was taking her last breath, I was by her side. She wanted to see both of your faces one last time and hug you tightly as she passed away. I don't want your elder brother to come to handle my last rites. So, it's best for you to take care of my final rites as well.

My last wish is that my medals and photographs be returned to my battalion, and the money at home be distributed among the servants. Half of my savings be given to the old-age homes and the other half to soldiers' welfare fund.

Your Dad,

Col. L M Rathod

Then a gunshot was heard from his room.

What instigated this? What were the underlying catalysts? Is anybody guilty? These inquiries yield myriad facets and potential interpretations, resonating beyond the confines of the immediate incident. They can also unveil familial and societal quandaries.

I do not want to discuss here what options were available to them. It's a long discussion. My point is that loneliness of elderly people is a growing problem, and apathy or indifferencd of progenies is a greater issue.

I have observed the elderly, ensconced on their verandas or windows, gazing out into the distance with a sense of aimlessness for hours together. It comes as no shock that the concept of old-age homes is steadily gaining traction.

While instances of isolation may exist sporadically, life at this juncture need not be quite as grim. One must endeavor to stay engaged, engaging in conversations with a multitude of individuals. Rather than resorting to online purchases, it is preferable to patronize local vendors in the vicinity. Cultivating a hobby of any kind serves as a splendid alternative, yet fostering connections with others remains paramount.

It's in this context that WhatsApp group of elderly people should be created. I remember there was such a group of morning walkers, who used to exchange good morning messages daily apart from meeting in person for the walk. One day, a member neither went for walk, nor sent his message, the group members decided pay him a visit. It was discovered that he had fallen ill, and a few of them promptly escorted him to a nearby hospital.

This happened to me too last week. When one of my fast friends from school days didn't send me messages for two days, I called him back, and to my surprise, his son picked up the phone and told me that he was hospitalised in Kolkata for a minor brain stroke.

A similar incident happened in my own life just last week. A dear friend from my school days stopped sending messages for two days. Alarmed, I reached out to him, only to be responded by his son. I learned that he had been hospitalized in Kolkata due to a minor stroke in the brain.

Although as a proactive measure, some police stations have started maintaining records of senior citizens within their jurisdiction to visit them periodically, the paramount onus resides squarely upon the shoulders of each individual. In this digital era, it becomes imperative for everyone to maintain an unwavering connection, both digitally and physically.