Old age homes and two trips to Navajeevan

Yesterday I happened to read an article on old age homes in a women's magazine. That article reminded me of my visits to an old age home and Navajeevan, when I was in BSc. Sr.Teresilin, who taught us English poetry in first BSc, was in charge of the "women cell" and "human rights cell". We all joined it (we may say most of the students joined it was for internal marks at first, and our college was the first one in our uty, (i think even in Kerala) to have open NSS, and membership in any of the activity clubs counted as open NSS activity). Obviously as members we were required to make field trips, my first one was to "Navajeevan".
Now let me tell you about Navajeevan. Sr.Teresilin, was the one to give us a touching account about this place at first. In plane words, it is a rehabilitation centre for mentally ill people; run by a humble man called P U Thomas, who is a peon in GOVT medical college Kottayam. I was dreading the first trip, after hearing that its a place for people of this kind. ( Now I regret having thought like that.) We had to collect cloths for the inmates and after all preparations we went there one afternoon. There were entertainment programs by the students and one of the inmates actually sang a song! It was really good. Then Thomas chettan took us all to the chapel and prayed there and told us many stories about the different people who come to medical college. It was the first experience of that kind; to stay very long in my mind.
That year, by the end of third term , Sister took us to an old age home nearby. The marks it left was no better than the previous one. We talked with the "appuppanmar" and "ammummamar" there. One granny was blind and asked us if she will see again. We consoled her; what else could we do? One was still hoping for her son to come and take her home. One granny had turned so morose that she was reluctant to talk. Grandpaas seemed to be braver than the grannies, but the truth is, they all were as sad as the old women there. I remember my grandmother here. She was with us till her death. She died at eighty and was healthy and of very strong will power. It was with her that I would spent the whole day when I was at home and my parents were awya in their office. There were times when I would feel angry to her and disagree with her, but only after her death did I realise that I love her very much. She would call me "kochupenne" for I was the youngest of her granddaughters. God bless my parents, for they looked after her with all the care they could give (though sometimes she would complain abt the 'lovelessnes' of her son! :) ). She was a queen compared to the old people I saw there. Lucky are the people who die before they see bad times. They had toiled hard in the past to bring up their children, but when the roads are trodden they are forgotten and left alone in the wilderness. Its estimated that there are over 20000 people in old age homes in Kerala and each district has an averg of 35 old age homes (Courtsey: Grihalakshmi, May 2009 edition). And the people living there are not happy at all.
My second visit to Navajeevan was in my BSc second year, this time, my best friend and my dear friends of Jyothi hostel were with me. This time I didn't feel any apprehension. More buildings were being built there. This time we actually interacted with the inmates and we saw the kitchen, mess and the wards. Violent people were in cells and almost cured people in rooms and they were free to move anywhere in the campus. (When I say rooms, they are not delux rooms, but simple rooms with cots , table and chairs and a cross in all of them.) One woman saw the red threaded necklace (it was in a set, a necklace, with matching earrings, not gold of course) I was wearing and asked me whether I would give it to her. I gave her the thing but I was fond of the locket which is a detachable one and gave the red string to her. When I told my mom abt this, she told me that I should have given the locket also. Yes I should have. I feel bad abt it now. That locket is still with me and I don't use it. :( God forgive me. :( Then we went to see the cells. Like caged beings, there were men and women, in separate cells. In one of the cells was Jayanthi. When we shook hands with her through the railed door, she kept holding it and looking at us in hope. I don't have words for the feeling I had then. As usual, we went to the chapel there and prayed along with Thomas chettan. Back in Jyothi, my best friend told me that she had apprehensions (just like I had the previous time), but then her mind was clear and pure.

I can't finish this without telling about P U Thomas. As I had mentioned earlier, he was a peon in medical college, but he helps needy people. He brings the poor hungry people coming to the hospital, lunch packets. Helping every needy one can't be gauranteed, but still..... GOVT extended his service for one more year and this was in newspapers. I don't know what happened to him from then on, for this was news in 2006. Though, these days I'm living in a place near to MC, I can't go there. I wish to visit, Navjeevan once more, but..... He gets help from people who are willing to help, that's how the institution runs.

PS: Somebody asked me one day, where my God comes. I can't help everybody with everything, but still atleast a small part of a large help can be offered by me. And, I can pray for all these beings, and that prayer will make be capable of doing many things. :) This may not be the correct answer, but still..... :)

PPS: When you become great or famous, don't forget your parents, for they would have suffered many many hardships, they have never disclosed to you, for your well being. Remember the "Jataka tale" of the father, his son n his son. :)