Bridging the gap

When one’s son or daughter is settled abroad, meeting them and one’s grandchildren is most rare. And when they come down for a visit, trying to connect with a grandchild who has been brought up in a diverse environment can be tough.
The grandson might be interested in knowing about the latest games on the playstation, while the granddaughter can prefer to be with people of her own age.Yet, many grandparents make that extra effort to understand, and enjoy, the company of the youngsters.
Nikhila Kamath, a retired bank executive, says “When my grandchildren came down from Australia, they found it hard to adjust to the pace of the city. Rather than trying to force them to do certain activities, I decided to connect with them through an activity that we both love.” Kamath enrolled her grandchildren in a short-term dance class, and the kids loved it. “They were happy as dancing was something they enjoyed very much. My granddaughter and I connected through it. They were also very excited when I bought them Indian sherwanis and salwar kameezes,” says she.
Vineet Kuber, managing director of an advertising agency, has fond memories of his granddaughter Avanya’s visit to the city. “She was eager to spend time with us. She particularly loved being with us when we went to my native place, Satara. We even bought jeans, T-shirts and sweaters for her trip back home. The best part was that my daughter is Maharashtrian and my son in-law is Bengali. Not only could she speak both the languages, but she also spoke to us in Marathi. It was so much fun being with her, we couldn’t control our tears when she left.”
Chambak Lale, a retired chemistry professor, had no difficulty with his granddaughter who had come down from London. “I made it a point to speak to her in Marathi. While she is still learning to speak, she could understand what I said. I would take her to the parks and would spend time playing with her and reading stories about Akbar and Birbal. Her enthusiasm and smile made me feel young again,” he tells us.
Advocate Ramesh Gandhi is excited since his grandchildren will be visiting the city from the US for the first time. “While their lifestyle and their eating habits may be different, I am going to use this opportunity to show them our life here in the city. I am going to take them to sites like Parvati and Shaniwarwada and explain their historical significance. I am planning to try and teach them to understand Marathi and Gujarati, and even tell a few stories in the languages.”
The bond of family is a strong one. And once the connection is made, even the distance doesn’t make a difference.
sanat.savanal@timesgroup.com