Categories
Traveller's Diary

Providential escape

One of our members, Mrs Malabika Ghoshal narrates to Mousumi Gupta a chilling experience of an armed gherao during a visit to Parasnath temple in Bihar in the early-1990s when her husband was posted in Bokaro (now in Jharkhand). The Ghoshals, along with their children, started off for the Shikharji temple atop the 1,350m-high Parasnath hill quite early in the morning. They decided to go for the darshan first and then have breakfast at the base of the hill on which the temple stands. As planned, the family offered puja along with other pilgrims and came down the hill, wondering where to have the breakfast. By the time they traversed the distance between the foothill and the main road, they could feel a strange sense of unease pervading the air. “Some men sporting red headbands and brandishing weapons were running around and were forcibly shutting down all roadside shops. The moment they caught glimpse of us, they started shouting at us and snatched the food we were carrying. The men threw away the food and herded us into the waiting cars. They even kept banging on the bonnets with metal rods in rage,” said Mrs Ghoshal, narrating the horror story. “After some time, we could gather that one of their leaders had been killed in an encounter the previous day against which they were protesting.” With no option left, everyone sat inside their respective cars praying to god. “The children started to cry in hunger after some time. But everyone was so panic-stricken that no one dared to alight from the safety of the vehicles. Morning turned to afternoon and then to evening, the torture seemed never-ending. Our only prayer was that we remained fine and alive,” recounted Mrs Ghoshal. “When the tormentors grew a bit tired late in the evening, we started stepping out of the cars in search of food. Our son, along with the driver, went a distance to fetch some food. As we lost sight of them, a police van reached the spot and took control of the situation. The police personnel immediately ordered us to leave the place. They warned us that if we did not comply, it would be difficult for them to help us any further.” “We started to panic as our son and driver were not there. Thankfully, just then, we could spot them in the distance running towards us, maybe they too had seen the approaching police van. In the blink of an eye, all vehicles stranded at the trouble spot dispersed and sped away. Thank god, all of us could come back unhurt and safe. That day will forever be etched in my mind,” said Mrs Ghoshal, with a sense of relief on her face, even after almost three decades.
Categories
Fitness

The Rejuvenation

Mrs Hannie Gupta’s indomitable spirit helped her beat old age and ill-health and see life in new light.
A nonagenarian getting her hairs streaked. Don’t be shocked! Smile. At the amazing spirit of Mrs Hannie Gupta, who celebrated her 92nd birthday on March 7 in style!
Mrs Gupta led a sickly existence. She used to be frequently hospitalised, that too in the ICCU of a reputable south Kolkata nursing home with a host of serious health complications till a couple of years back. Doctors there had even suggested once that a brain surgery was the only option left to keep Mrs Gupta alive. But since she was nearing 90 years of age, Mrs Gupta’s brother, Dr Maurice Gubbay, a retired family physician settled in Israel, decided against it. Mrs Gupta had then lost her speech, leave aside movement.
The funny or rather interesting part of Mrs Gupta, who stays alone, becoming a member of Support Elders was she set a precondition. She badly wanted to get her Aadhaar card done and sought help from Support Elders. When SEPL could successfully get Mrs Gupta’s Aadhaar card done, she gladly agreed to take our membership.
But life came a full circle in a positive way when our care manager came into the picture. She not only took entire responsibility of Mrs Gupta’s house management but also the financial and health management. Hannie was provided with an ayah and a nurse.
Dr Gubbay had refused to let his sister undergo the brain surgery around September 2017 and undertaken the risk to take Mrs Gupta home. He got Mrs Gupta treated at her own home.
With the treatment and with Support Elders becoming her pillar of support, Mrs Gupta is doing absolutely fine now. Every month, Mrs Gupta’s hairdresser is at her doorstep.
She celebrated her 92nd birthday on March 7 in style. Support Elders ordered a chocolate cake and savouries from Nahoum and Sons in New Market. Mrs Gupta happily cut the cake with nine candles and one extra candle to wish that she completes her 100th birthday! She joined in singing the “Happy Birthday” song along with her friends and guests at the small party. Mrs Gupta relished a small slice of her birthday cake. Her brother, Dr Gubbay, wished her over a video call and was very happy to see the way she Mrs Gupta was celebrating her birthday with her friends and the Support Elders family around. He thanked Support Elders for taking care of her sister so well.
Mrs Gupta watches BBC News every day and keeps herself updated about the surroundings. She moves around in her wheelchair but is very cautious about what is happening around.