“I want a new land,
Where I can draw all my dreams in the sand,
But please don’t grant me a sea shore,
And if you do so,
Please cover all my dreams with your helping hands”
The sun rose up with different heat today. The scene that was created by the sun over the sky was so very refreshing. I went to a garden nearby my house to follow my daily routine. The scene was as normal as it used to be. Every day when I go the garden I meet same people; I see same faces fulfilling their daily routines. But today something was different; may be my vision was different today.
I saw a group of around 15 men talking to each other. Some of them were listening, some were laughing, and some of them were representing the group. All were almost of same age; but they all were fully charged, with bright faces, enjoying with their friends. When I moved forward, I saw another group of women in the garden doing exercise. In decent looking circle they all were following the instructions given by an old woman. It was a laughing club, without any hesitation, without any interruptive expressions, they were laughing. The sight was an eye catcher. Then I saw men and women walking on the jogging track, as fast as they can, and while walking; they were continuously talking to the person walking besides them. Their face were expressive, their faces were satisfied, they all were looking happy.
This eternal excitement was forcing me to sit somewhere to control my internal happiness. I was lost in thoughts. I was so happy with what I was seeing in the garden at 6 in the morning. In my journey of 25 years, every old man or woman whom I met, had a reason to cry, to complain, to regret, but, here the scene was proving me wrong. They were all happy, satisfied, charged; I was seeing the youngest old men and women of Ahmedabad. I was trying to unscrew the realities from what I was seeing.
At the age of 60-70-80, when it’s time for someone to take rest and enjoy; opposite to that, what they all were doing at 6 in the morning that too in the winter season? Were they really very happy? Were they really satisfied? I was trying to unmask their faces to read their emotions. I just ask ed one question to myself:-“ Maulik, what would you do if you will not get any chance to express your feelings, thoughts, emotions?”. Question was normal but answer was not. I replied to myself:-“I will start searching for a medium where I can speak all freely, where I can share all my thoughts, where I can laugh with people on my silly jokes, where I can secure appreciations for what is unique in me”. My soul replied:-“May be, they are doing the same, they have found the medium as they wanted to do all these”. I asked:-“but this can be shared with family members too”, but the moment I spoke this, my blood stood still, my eyebrows were trying to hide my repulsion the next moment. Suddenly, my grandfather’s face appeared affront. With same innocence, same maturity, and same charge but with hidden dissatisfaction I could read in his eyes. I got strangled in the lap of a tree. I realized that I reached to the answer.
In this era of technology, we the half humans-half machines (as we are loaded with headphones, cell phones, music players, laptops, televisions etc.) from the soulful sunrise to the hectic sunset; we run the whole day to survive, to fulfill expectations, to serve our society but by doing this, we hardly get time for our “social” life called family. Isn’t it? Just recall your past for 10 days and tell me frankly, when last time you talked with your grandfather and/or grandmother? Did you ask them that if they want anything by holding their hands in your hands? Have you ever said:-“Don’t worry grandfather, I am there?”
Friends, I do not have any doubt on the respect and feelings that you have for your grandparents but this is something serious to think. Tell me, why all the gardens we find are fully occupied by people between the ages of 50 and 80? Are they all dissatisfied by what they are living and getting at from their respective families? We have to think.
Just look at them, they are experienced, mature, focused and above all needy. Yes they are, needy they are. They are hungry; hungry for relations, hungry for love. They want a listener with whom they can share their experiences, with whom they can share their knowledge but unfortunately they are alone. An old man/woman is like that street light pole covered by the crowd. Though it gives shine and light; people understand its value the moment it stops giving the light. It’s painful and shameful for all of us.
Just compare the young generation (including me) with this old generation. Just compare their life style. Just compare young guns with those old think tanks and you will be able to learn the importance of grandparents in individual’s life. 60% of the total news paper readers belong to their group. The knowledge that they have, we just can’t reach to their level and that’s why government has set age limits for all the competitive exams like UPSC, GPSC etc. because if there would not be any limit then I am sure these old think tanks will eat all the seats available with the knowledge that they have. They are household doctors without the degree who with just their touch can repair all the pain. They grew old with the prices, inflation, population, pollution as that is why they are special. They are witness of the journey of this earth from house covered by the greenery to the green house effect. Now you only decide who is young and healthy: the one who doesn’t live his bed even at 10 in the morning or the one who leaves his bed at 5 in the morning to fulfill his routine. Who is happier: the young gun that spends his time with numerous friends at tea stalls, hukkah baar or in the theatre or the one who spends most of his time with trees, birds and other think tanks in the gardens?
But unfortunately the eyes and minds of the LATEST generations are covered by the dist of materialism. We treat them like that statue of our respective lords that we have in the corner of our houses. We organize them and forget and during the festival seasons like DIWALI, we wash them as we want our house to be considered as clean. If cable in not working, we can talk and argue for hours with cable operators but we just can’t manage a few minutes for our grandparents. Yes, I am being rude but me, you; we all know that I am stating a fact. We have time to listen to the problems of our friends who live in luxuries; who are covered by numerous FRIENDS but we often overlook our grandparent’s problem by just saying:-“they have the habit of making complains”. We show all our worries and care if any of our friend is suffering from a seasonal fever, but when it comes to our grandparents, we just ignore it by saying:-“ It’s just because of suffer loss due to age”. We are selfish, aren’t we? Yes we are.
Before me, thousands of thinkers and writers have penned countless articles and quotes on this topic and they partially succeeded but not solely as gardens are still full, grandparents are still helpless. It’s my gentle request my dear friend, trying to be their listener, try to be their helping hands, try to make them happy, try to make them feel special. They are the tree roots of your family. If you think, you are living a healthy and happy life then the greenery that you are cherishing is a gift from those tree roots-your grandparents. Just remember one thing: - “life is a circular road. The point where your grandparents are standing today, you will reach at the same points few years down the line. Now decide what you want. Where you want to see yourself? You want to see yourself with sweets of love, care, family and life in hands or you want to see yourself in the garden, hither half thither full, searching for your listener in those groups? I realized my duties today, have you realized?
Think about it
~Maulik Trivedi
