A drive through Pub Jyotinagar, Bamunimaidan leads one to perhaps the happiest “home” in the city – Mothers Old Age Home - a last resort to many elderly people.
The three storey building, which otherwise is ‘just another house’ in the lane, hasover the years become the home for many aged people. They have been coerced by circumstances of life to live away from their family environs; some are plain destitutes while others have raised children to be successful NRIs.
Among these ageing faces are two youngsters, Utpal Harshavardhan and Monica Sharma, who have devoted their lives to provide this home to their “grandparents or aitas and kokas.” 36-year-old Utpal and 27 year-old Monica are the humble but sturdy pillars of the old age home; they are virtually family to the aged residents and are living epitomes of patience. To give up on the luxuries of life and to leave behind jobs that fed well not only requires courage but also humanity. Monica is currently pursuing her Masters and Utpal devotes his full time to the old age home. Before starting the shelter home, Utpal was temporarily employed with Gauhati Medical College & Hospital.
Mothers Old Age Home was established on 21st June 2012, with one elderly male inmate. The old age home was first opened at Jayanta Nagar, New Guwahati, and then shifted to Ganesh Nagar of the same locality. With space falling short, the old age home had to be further shifted to Pub Jyotinagar. “Lack of space is the biggest problem that we are facing. We have faced many hard days, with these elderly people on board. We need to vacate the house whenever the landlord asks us to. Shifting places with these ailing old people is very difficult,” says Monica.
With most of them shunned and abandoned by their families, the senior citizens face the prospect of a lonely death. Often, these people are reluctant to go back to their homes which they built for their children. “People pray to be blessed with children only to face neglect during their twilight years,” say the residents in unison.
The old age home tells a sordid tale of neglect by families, the lack of care and affection faced by parents who have outlived their utility to their children.
Hudu Rabha was left on the streets of Guwahati by her own son who had brought her on the pretext of showing the city’s puja celebrations. He left her behind on the streets. When asked of her memories of her son, she said, “I consider that my son is no more in my world.”
Dulal Dutta of Majuli has another heart-wrenching story. Dutta was temporarily employed with India Post. As life transpired, he lost his farms to floods, his land and property was taken away by his relatives and his forced him out of his own house. For lack of a better option, he took shelter in a public toilet near Majuli Satra and spent one year of his life there. With a sparkle in his eyes that reflected his zeal to live and as he happily held Utpal’s hand, Dutta said, “It is a rebirth for me here. This place is now my home till my death.”
For yet another story, the son (who is a doctor in Dubai) of an elderly lady from Ambikagiri Nagar, Guwahati refused to take care of his mother and sent her out of home. Her daughter-in-law even warned her not to contact her son for any requirements.
There are situations however, where life plays strange games and Mothers Old Age Home has worked out as temple of survival. A lady with Alzheimer recently lost her husband; their only son who has long been an NRI with strings attached to his adopted country that simply cannot be snapped, had no other option but to place his widowed mother in the Home. Last seen, the mother was glowing with happiness in her new surroundings.
Well, dejection seems to be a thing of the past for these elders. It is only unpretentious happiness that pervades.
Mothers Old Age Home has its residents placed in two different buildings in close proximity to each other. One is primarily occupied by people suffering from dementia, Alzheimer, diabetes, blood pressure etc. “We need to keep a lot of patience with the ill residents here. We need to keep an eye on them round the clock. The Alzheimer patients do not understand anything, they will even eat a soap believing that its’s a sweet,” Monica said.
A normal day at the Home would find the aged inmates having tea together, basking in the sun while reading newspapers over conversations and having meals together as they all grow older within their large family miles away from the families they’ve raised.
Today, the Home has a decent existence with cooperation of the people and the blessings of the elderly. Lions Club of Guwahati and Rotary Club of Guwahati are two organisations that extend regular financial help to the Home. 11 families out of the 66 inmates donate regularly.
Shankardev Netralaya and Guwahati Eye Hospital take responsibility of the inmates with sight problems. All eye surgeries, if required of these inmates, are done free of cost in these two hospitals. Dr Munin Medhi of Mangaldoi Civil Hospital and Dr Ramen Talukdar of Guwahati Medical College have also taken responsibility for the treatment of the inmates.
When asked about government help, Utpal said, “We do not get any such help from the government. A former social welfare minister once donated Rs 3 lakhs by a cheque but it bounced due to insufficient funds.”
Former Social Welfare Minister donated a cheque of Rs 3 lakh to us, but it bounced back due to insufficient funds – Utpal Harshvardhan
Over the years, Mothers Old Age Home has seen as many as 30 deaths. Giving yeoman service to the society with selflessness of divine intensity, Utpal and Monica are like a ray of hope and are asked by the residents to perform the last rites of the dead. The two strongly believe that it’s the love and blessings of the aged people that the Home is a cheerful place today. The journey which once seemed toughhas smoothened out.
(If you have a minute, please take out the time to fillout this Survey that can help Guwahati become a cleaner city! Take part in the Swachha Survekshan 2018 survey!)
