August 2011 Final Pages.indd - World Memon Organization ...

A GRUMBLE
On
Getting
Old
Some people age gracefully while others
do not due to increasing pressures,
tensions and unabated worries. How
truly it has been said that old age creeps
upon one unawares. As one ages, human
faculties gradually begin to slow down.
Dark hair, which you were once proud of,
turns grey, the eyesight starts failing, teeth
begin to deteriorate making it difficult to
eat and the stamina also registers a decline.
It also becomes difficult to walk fast, never
mind being able to run or take part in games
and sports. After living an active life ageing
makes one fidgety, this is accompanied by
physical and emotional changes. Indecisiveness,
pensive moods, dulling of memory,
growing temper, fretting over trifles and intolerance
of other’s view-point become the
hallmark of life. Retirement brings a change
in one’s social status as instead of sharing
responsibilities with others and drawing
a fabulous salary every month one has to
depend on the small pittance in the name of
pension or ‘Old Age Benefit.’
Each passing day brings new social,
economic and health problems, ranging
from minor problems like body aches and
insomnia to more serious ones like highblood
pressure, urinary disorders, and
at times the dreaded cancer or any other
wasting disease. To add to that you can not
relish your favourite food like sweetmeats,
Icecreams, chocolates, cakes, cold-drinks
and even fruits like mango in order to keep
blood sugar under control. Sugar-free,
30
salt-free and fat-free food is now your fate,
whether you like it or not. You are advised
to give up meaty and spicy food and be content
with insipid and tasteless pulses or leafy
vegetables for your health’s sake, though
some of us at the risk of fatal diseases refuse
to take controlled diet despite knowing that
‘prevention is always better than cure’.
Some people however, meet old age with
a positive attitude and continue to live life
to the full, like my next door neighbor, who
though now in his late 80s still goes to the
nearby mosque to say his prayers, as and
when he can, and instead of using the chair
meant for the old people sits on the carpeted
floor. He has a couple of like minded
friends who keep themselves busy by doing
social work, like helping the poor patients
or acting as a match-maker for the neighbourhood’s
eligibles.
The breezy side of advancing age is that
you are addressed as ‘Sir or Uncle’ by the
area vendors, shopkeepers and the neighbourhood
children and apologized to if
still sought by your children and you are in
the decision making position in matter of
accepting or refusing marriage proposals or
settling disputes between estranged couples
or other soured relations. Your grandchildren
seek your company for playing indoor
games like ludo, snakes & ladders and
carom (if and when they get away from the
computer or the TV) and insist that you take
them to the near by public park, where they
can play and breathe the fresh air under the
azure sky, and coax you into buying them
goodies like chips, peanuts and pop corn.
Ageing makes one physically weak, emotionally
fragile and distraught but it also has
a balmy side. People are generally helpful
to the elderly; for instance if you are trying
to cross a busy road and are hesitant due
to fast moving traffic someone among the
passers by will help you to reach the other
side, or if you are standing in a long queue
at a bank to pay your utility bills, under
the blistering sun, someone will let you
pay your bills out of turn to save you the
inconvenience.
Similarly, those who have to travel in
public transport are often offered a seat by
someone or if on foot someone will offer a
lift as far as he/she can.
Such sights are very rare in the West,
although they care and claim so much for
the welfare of the homeless people. It is
heartening to see that senior citizens are
cared for in our society despite the fact
that it has become so materialistic, though
there are families where the elderly are not
considered to have their utility. We ought to
care about the old people who, in a way, are
our national asset due to their experience
and knowledge.
The notion that old people are a burden
on us is also not acceptable in any way.
They can still contribute their bit for the betterment
of social and moral values, as well
as customs and traditions that still matter
much to us.
MEMON ALAM AUGUST 2011