Let them play with their grand children...
Posted by Anantha | Posted in Concern | Posted on Wednesday, September 13, 2006
2
Aged Sardar
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If u had read my previous post, any one can imagine the heaven of time we guys had in that trekking. But all was not well in that trip. There was a thought that kept poking my heart all these days. Remember Pyara Pujabi Dhaba? It all started from there.
As that was a genuine punjabi dhaba, we could see lot of punjabi truck drivers who had come there to fill their stomachs. Truck drivers with not so tidy turbans, with big bellies, kurthas with spotted design of engine oil dirt, with long beard and moustaches concealing their tiring faces, few young sardars with neatly shaved cheeks teasing few other and trying to add some life to the milieu, some resting on the cot..
It took no time for us to realise that the dhaba was not only a mere food gulping place for those truck drivers. It was a place for get together for the long-time-no-see colleagues... or who knows a father may get to see his son there, who had left their home with their trucks in different directions to earn their livelihoods....
Of all these, there sat an eldest sardar having his food. He must be easily 65+. That paaji was certainly not savouring the food.. He even seem detached from the other gang of sardars. He was swallowing the morsels just for the heck of it... He must be away from his family for days or months who knows... He must be thinking of his wife who must have been waiting for his return in some corner of
That raised many questions in my heart...What would be the circumstance that is forcing this sardar to work at this age..? Certainly it must be his financial condition... may be his children must have ditched him...
Old florist
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I must mention about an old woman who sells garlands near our house. I am observing this woman from the days we shifted our house to this locality [may be from past 10-12 years]. This old lady always sits on the footpath near the bus stand with few other lady florists. She is not the same as I had seen her 10 yrs back. Age has worn her out. She no more seems enthusiastic when a customer approaches her asking for the garlands. I have not seen her talking to any other women around in the recent times..
The other day when I was walking back to home after the office, I looked at her. She was seated more hunched than ever. I observed her closely; she had caught sleep while preparing the garlands..!! That really churned my heart.. This is not the age to earn for your family or for
There must be millions of such senior citizens who still go to earn their livelihoods, battling their ageing bodies and emaciating health condition...
Are we guys so cruel to ignore the old coolies carrying your bags pantingly, those old beggars near the temples, and those old watchmen of multi storied apartments...?
Ho can we just walk away with out even feeling guilt in our heart after seeing such people?
We should do some thing to stop them working at this age.. Why do our Govt do not have any plans of pensions for senior citizens? I know even if they implement such things, what is the guaranty that the money will reach those old hands...? What is the guaranty that the children will not gulp that money also..?
We should better this condition some how...
Let that sardar carry his grand children on shoulder and go for a stroll in his lush green 'kheths'
Let that old florist lady enjoy the babbling of her grand child sitting at home...
