Amid loneliness, a reason to smile

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="" font-style:="" italic="">The Elderly Devise Unique Ways Of Coping With Crises In Their Lives</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">NEW DELHI: For many, old age may mean a stage in life when one should say quits. Often, illness coupled with loneliness and lingering security threats leave them in a state of dejection.This gets aggravated with incidence like the Vasant Enclave double murder on Sunday. Yet the elderly negotiate their way through the various crises in their lives in their own individual ways.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">Take the case of R P Dheer, a resident of B-Block of East of Kailash. At 79, the daily routine of Dheer would surprise many. Dheer goes for a walk early in the morning at 5; attends the laughter club session and comes back to wash his car himself. "I am ready by 9 in the morning. My wife joins me by 11 after her satsang and we have a second round of tea," he says.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">Afternoons are reserved for ‘little rest'', which is followed by a string of activities. "As a treasurer of the RWA, I have to look into many civic issues for the colony." There are evening meetings in the exclusive ‘old residents'' park.'' "We discuss a host of issues including colony problems," he says, adding that all this is aimed at ensuring one is not feeling lonely. </span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">"Work rejuvenates me and keeps me preoccupied." Thanks to his routine, Dheer has never had any major ailment. He does feel lonely though -- his only son is settled in Australia -- and tired at times, but the never-say-die attitude in him keeps him ticking.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">T N Raina makes another inspiring story. At 75, his enthusiasm for life is amazing. Diabetes, gout and a mild problem of the heart doesn''t deter him, nor does the absence of his two daughters who live in two different corners of the country. He retired 17 years ago from his government service, but on a typical day, you would find him as busy as any working man. A connoisseur of good food and drink, Raina loves to "read, watch all the latest Hindi movies, socialise and keep fit." Deep within his heart, he knows the reason. Raina is active in his Alaknanda RWA too. "The elderly in our society have a special bonding," says Raina.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">A unique feature of Raina''s colony is the senior citizens'' club. That much to keep the spirit of camaraderie intact. Agrees L A K Prasad, 79, a resident of Vasant Kunj: "There are problems around us and it is important to negotiate through these with caution." Father of an IAS officer, Prasad strictly follows a routine and does a lot of social work, and tree plantation, to keep himself busy.</span></div> </div>