Doon students visit elderly at old age home

“Blessed are those who have the old with them”,goes an old saying. Today,it is ironical that old people are considered a burden. Our school decided to visit an old age home. I guess this was the most wonderful,emotional and eye-opening scenario. Earlier,we used to think to why we were being taken there. But now I have realised that it was done to open our “real eyes”. There,I came to realise the importance of old people in our life. One of the men living there told me that I looked like his grand daughter,and then broke into tears. I tried to make him stop crying,but I also became emotional by looking at him. One of the women,who was a writer by profession,conversed with us in English. They all were so polite and caring. By visiting the place,I realised that in old age homes,our grandparents can get everything they need — but not love. From now on,I will never hurt my grandparents,and will try to spend more time with them.

Bhavika Kohli,VII-B

Not every child understands what life turns into after you become aged. How the aged are abandoned by their children,leading life like a recluse in old age homes with wrinkled faces,teary eyes and feeble bodies. It was our teachers who enlightened us to the plight of aged persons living in old age homes. Students of my class collected money to buy gifts for residents of the old-age home. They not only handed over the gifts,but also spent time with the aged and enquired about their well-being. They became emotional when the elderly persons narrated their tales of sorrow. Inspired by the students,the teaching faculty of the school also helped the senior citizens by purchasing handkerchiefs,socks,biscuits and toffees,and handing them over to them,along the students. The students served the food to the aged and stayed till they completed their lunch. It was really an emotional saga at the old-age home. With tears in their eyes,the aged folk described their agony as students and teachers cried. They promised the residents that they would come regularly to the home,and spend some time with the aged persons. Some students promised to celebrate their birthdays with members of the old-age home.

H ashmita Ahuja,VII-D

I visited an old-age home on December 4. We saw very old people,mostly over 72 years of age.We went inside and presented them gifts. I saw the glory of happiness on their faces. I had been there for the first time. I asked them about their problems,whether they felt comfortable and happy to live there,their likes and dislikes. They had some diseases like diabetes,weak eyesight,swellings in their neck,feet and knees. They passed their time by washing clothes,visiting the gurudwara,and making food. Some of them told us their stories. An old woman told us that her son had taken a huge amount as loan .She sold her house to pay for the loan,following which he left her in an old-age home .I met a woman named Sonesh Singh,who had authored many books such as Anna,Shergill-Reflected,Urvashi and Kalyug Children. She had spent her childhood in London .She played the sitar too. Some people started crying while telling their stories. They missed their families a lot .I would love to visit that place again and again.

Nupur Gupta,VII-A

On December 2,we visited an old-age home. The name of the old-age home is Guru Sallah Old Age home. First of all,we went to the Gurudwara,which was near the old-age home. Then we went to the home. Although I have been to many places,this trip was very special to me as we were going to meet old people who are away from their family. There,we met many old people and they shared their experiences with us and talked about their childhood memories. Their eyes were full of tears while they were talking about past. We understood their emotions and tried to make them happy by giving them gifts such as biscuits and chocolates. They became happy and gave us blessings and best wishes. Then we said goodbye to them and left in our bus. While sitting in the bus,I missed them. I am going to cherish these memories forever. But,at the same time,I become sad when I think about their loneliness. I wish we could do something good to make their lives better and make their sad faces happy forever.

Karishma Kaul,VII

I recently spent a spiritual day,which left an impression on my mind. The day was December 2. We visited an old-age home at the school. My first impression about the visit was not very enthusiastic,considering that it was about meeting old people. With this preconception,I went further. After visiting the place,we first offered prayers in the gurudwara,being run nearby by a charitable organisation. Then we went to meet the old people,and came to know that they face hardships in life. Then I came to know that despite leading such a hard life,they still have such warmth in them — the kind that made me appreciate their acceptance of life and its hardships. The time I shared with them made me realise that besides being old,they have a spirit in them to live life and fight loneliness by occupying themselves by singing,writing books,and indulging themselves in various activities. I was so moved that I made a promise to myself that I would visit them frequently and make them feel wanted. I went back home with the thoughts and difficulties that old age brings.

Priyanka Sethi,VII-A

Yesterday,we went to an old-age home in Rajender Nagar,New Delhi. There we met old people. They loved us like we were their own grandchildren . We gave them gifts that we had bought for them,such as shawls,religious books,woollen caps,sweaters,biscuits,etc. We enquired about their well-being. They were of different ages,between 70 and 90. Their children had sent them to the old-age home. We had made various cards for them,mentioning ‘World’s best grandparents’. They were very happy to receive us. They blessed us. We were as happy as they were. They were being treated very nicely,but I felt sad that they had to sit all day in the old-age home — away from their families.Their children shouldn’t have done such a thing with them because they had educated them,fulfilled all their needs,and worked hard so their children could lead a good life. Institutions like these give shelter to old people. We are very thankful to them. When we were coming out of the old age home,they said “bye” to us. Then we went to a Gurudwara at that home. It was the best day of my life.

Vrinda Chopra,VII

Last week,on Friday,I visited an old age home at Rajendra Place. My teacher and classmates were also with me. This was a part of an educational trip conducted by our school. The old-age home was basically for aged people from the Sikh community. We saw that there were around 25 old men and women living there. These people had good times in their early and middle age. But,after being abandoned by their children,they had no option but to reside at an old-age home. They had pain and feeling of sorrow in their heart for their loved ones,but they had no other way. The caretakers at the old-age home are gentle,and they really care for them. They try their best to fill the gap. They try their best. The old age home has clean beds,surroundings and a good kitchen to provide the best of amenities. We talked to them to know more about their past. We were filled with sorrow to hear about their plight,but felt comforted that they still had nothing but good wishes for their children. We realised that we should not abandon our aged parents and,instead,care for them to the best of our abilities. We should always love them. We gave them small gifts,which were appreciated by them. It was really a nice trip.

Surbhi Sinha ,VII