When things did not turn out the way they planned

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 30

For 50 years, Harbans Singh (now 82) practised as an ayurveda expert in Ludhiana and led a very comfortable life. He enjoyed the prime time of his life happily with his wife, two sons and a daughter. He even purchased a house in Amritsar where he planned to settle and enjoy his retired life. But things did not somehow turn up the way he had planned.

About six years ago, he landed up at the Old Age Home of the health wing of the administration at Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar here. “My wife is no more. After her demise, I transferred my house in the name of my two sons, both of whom sold it out and are now settled in Italy. My daughter got too busy with herself after her marriage. My brothers and sister are no more. Left with no place to go to, I eventually packed my bags and came here deciding to spend the rest of my life in solace,” said Harbans Singh.

Five elderly men are presently living in the Old Age Home here and enjoying among themselves, sharing their grief and happily spending time together watching TV, going for short strolls, having meals together and playing ludo, carrom and cards to pass their time. Most of them are a bit hard of hearing and have difficulty in walking. But despite their health issues, they gel with each other very well.

Om Parkash (68), who hails from Maqsudan, says: “Here for the past five months, I am much happier than at home. I could no longer stand the daily fights with my children. My wife, who was my pillar of strength, passed away due to heart attack. After that, I decided to move out. A friend of mine guided me to come here and I am happy having followed his suggestion.”

Om Parkash said he used to sell plastic ware on a cart earlier to feed his family. “My only regret in life is that I toiled so hard all my life for my family but I never got a chance to enjoy even the slightest comfort at home, not even in the twilight of my life.”

The elderly said no one from their families have ever come to see them once they are lodged here. “We have no connection with any one of them”, said Harbans. Asked how he managed buying items of his need including clothes, medicines and other needs, he said: “I have very limited needs. Since I have no income now, it is a friend of mine who sometimes visits me and gives me some money for my basic needs”.

The elderly said in pre-Covid times, there were more inmates. “Two women, too, used to stay here in the dormitory, but now they have all moved. In Covid times, each one of us being elderly and more prone got so scared of one another. Since we had common facilities, it made us further prone. Therefore, three-four persons, who thought that they had the capacity to pay some rent elsewhere, left from here.”

Caretaker at the Old Age Home, Pankaj Bhola (48), takes a good care of everyone despite his disabilities. He walks with crutches. “I do not have a family. So I, too, found this place like my home and came here to earn my livelihood”, he said.

About Old Age Home

• All those inmates who cannot pay the rentals are allowed to live in the Old Age Home free of cost. The home has a dormitory with 10 beds. There is space for additional beds and beddings, if need be. Though the home is currently being given a fresh look with new coat of paint, its furniture including sofas are lying completely worn out. The garden where the elderly like to spend time these days is not maintained. The elderly also pointed out that they were not getting anything to read, not even newspapers and magazines. The home also does not have a cook and the meals are being provided from outside. The elderly prepare their tea on their own. Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori said he would get the facilities checked and do the needful.

International Day for Older Persons today

• On December 14, 1990, the United Nations General Assembly designated October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons
• The aim of this day is to raise awareness about issues affecting the elderly, such as senescence and elder abuse. It is also a day to appreciate the contributions that older people make to society
• The theme of this day in 2021 is ‘Digital Equity for All Ages’ highlighting the need for access and meaningful participation in the digital world by older persons