Aamir Khan's Satyamev Jayate talks about the issues faced by senior citizens

What else can be written about Aamir Khan’s Satyamev Jayate? So much has been said, printed and tweeted about it. Critics might wag their pensive tongues and try to black paint the show, but there is no point denying that Satyamev Jayate is the best thing that has happened to Indian television in recent times. After dealing with many hard-hitting and poignant issues, the eleventh episode dealt with the problems faced by senior citizens. The episode started with the heart-rending tale of 78-year old Mrs Krishna Dabur, whose son made her stand outside her own house for hours, not allowing her to get in. Reason? He wanted his mother to sign on the property papers. When she resisted, her son resorted to ill behavior. Shocking!!!! When Mrs Krishna wept on the screen, we are sure millions across the globe would have felt their eyes go moist. Gahininath Bhosale and his wife Kusum G Bhosale are staying like strangers in their own house. Gahininath toiled all his life to take care of his children…and at the sunset days, Mr and Mrs Bhosale have been abandoned by their own blood. The story is no different for Ashok Panchal and Mangala Khadilkar. After the personal tale of woes, Aamir focused on thousands of homeless and abandoned aged women residing in Vrindaban, UP. They make their living out of begging and stay in rooms that are cramped enough to choke the breath out of anyone. But they go on living with one single hope…that someday their sons and daughters will embrace them again. Ashok T Devre Patil of Matoshree Old Age Home, Kandivili, Maharashtra, shared horrific occurrences which included a son leaving his mother at a railway station, on the pretext of hiring a taxi. All the lows of humanity are touched when children refuse to even cremate their old parents. Reason? They have just got back from some holiday and don’t have time to go through all the proceedings. Alas!!! Horrendous is the word and expression for the events narrated by scribe Pramila Krishnan. There is a village where children kill their elderly parents for the sake of convenience. They get doctors who inject them with poison. Unbelievable!!! Okay…all these developments and happenings are certainly quite disturbing. But the show was not only about grimness, but also depicted the ways to make life better for our lovable oldies. Himanshu Reth of Agewell Foundation stated that one needs to keep working and remain financially independent even after the retirement age of 60. And most importantly, he said that under the influence of emotion, one should not give away property or savings to children. He said, “share happiness but not wealth.” This may sound awkward to many, but this can prevent the problem from spreading. Food for thought. Other things that can help elderly people to get out of monotony are forming of more dada-dadi parks and finding a partner. The marriage of Maharashtrian Mr Joshi to a Malayalee woman should be seen as an ideal example to follow. Nattu bhai from Ahmedabad has started a campaign wherein if the elderly are not allowed to marry, then they can at least live-in together and lead a life of companionship. The “shooter” dadis of Rajasthan showed that age is just a number and on having conviction and firmness, the sky is the limit. Narain Mahajan from Pune is another source of inspiration. At an old age, his passion is to climb mountains and has also entered his name in the Limca Book of Records for his commendable histrionics. All in all, the episode struck a perfect balance of despair and hope, darkness and radiance. The concerns and difficulties faced by aging parents are not new, we all are aware of it. With the advent of old age homes and rising economic pressures, children are ever keen to let go their parents, for the sake of a better life. But they are unaware, that whom they are letting go, are their biggest and staunchest support. Aamir rightly pointed out that in a country known for its tradition, manners and tehzeeb, it’s tear-jerking and shocking to hear such tales of heartlessness. This episode cannot create a rage or uproar in the country, as it is a matter of self-consciousness. Youngsters need to grow up and understand the importance and relevance of aging parents in the society. They are not dependants, but landmines of knowledge, experience, understanding and most importantly, love. In closing, we at Tellychakkar.com, would like to raise one question. Satyamev Jayate’s first season is on the verge of ending. True, at this point, the show has managed to create a buzz of awareness amongst the masses, but what after that? We Indians have become too much attached with the “chalta hai” and “move on” fundas. A girl getting molested in daylight in Guwahati makes news, but once the hype dies, nothing conclusive comes out of anything. It is time for us to get conscious and rebellious towards the ills of the society on our own and on a daily basis. We don’t need some Anna Hazare or Satyamev Jayate to hit the humane chords in us. It’s time to bring an amendment and make sure that the society changes only for better!!!