A Criminologist’s Diary-17

OLD AGE LIFE OR A GARBAGE CULTURE

 

During 1986, I visited a friend of mine at New York and he had a love affair with a white lady. She had her old mother and an aunt. Seeing the aunt staying in an apartment at Bronze,

I asked: "Why is she alone?"

"No one to look after her "- my friend's fiancée said.

'We have a use and throw culture"- she continued." The garbage will be collected by the collectors of garbage"- she laughed and said casually.

Thus a number of old people living alone or old age homes everywhere in America could be seen. It is there many of the Malayalee nurses used to work during their initial days of American life at that time. Earlier, Bishop Mar Clement Thottungal, C.M.I. of Sagar diocese told me when I was doing my M.A.in Criminology and Forensic Science in Sagar University, Saugor (1971-1976), that his apostolate in USA was with the old who had no one to look after-forlorn and forsaken. He used to narrate to me his most touching experiences when he used to administer extreme unction to the dying souls. The dead bodies of the old had no place in the home of their children. Now, I do not know how the old is treated in USA and what I learn is that everything has gone from bad to worse from 1986 to 2011.

What about Kerala? And to some extent, India? During 1986, we did not think much about the problems of the old. They were looked after very well by their own children. As time elapsed, home nurses were employed to nurse old parents, amidst objections from the parents. Now, they are admitted to old age homes and one sees old age homes for all categories of people from all walks of life – from the poor to the rich. It has become almost a business for some although some do it as humanitarian service. The old are neglected and many live a lonely life without any one to talk to them. I have visited some old age homes and seen some in televisions. I have read articles about the life of the old and I have written articles about it. Old people are a real problem in our culture too and the "garbage culture" is spreading very fast there. The "Use and Throw" attitude make many desperate and many children have no option and guilt feelings to throw their parents to old age homes and they visit 'Jyothishaalayas' to find out the best day to transport the old to a ' home'. "Thinkalazhcha Nalladivasam"[ Monday, the best day], " Allkoottathil Thanie"[Alone in the Crowd] etc., were films showing the ill fate of the old in Kerala culture. I, for one, think that the Government must come forward with good plans and programmes to offer care and protection of the old. This is so because, we are now fully westernized in that sphere of life as in America- everything goes from bad to worse as far as the old age is concerned.