RECENTLY, I was chatting with one of my friends whose grandfather is currently in ICU. While consoling her, I was transported to the time when my grandfather was in the ICU who left for his heavenly abode due to brain haemorrhage. Time didn’t stop here it took me in retrospect.

With 195 countries in the world, I had the privilege to be born in India, the land of vivid cultures and spirituality. The land of unity in diversity, the country which always upholds its morals, ethics and beliefs. Where we always believe in ‘Sharing is caring’ and it was taught to me by my grandfather, who always asked me and my brother to share our toys, chocolates and also our scoldings. Not only this, but grandparents are also a treasure chest that carries plenty of experience and knowledge acquired throughout life. Now they are at the stage of life where they have overcome vices like greed, lust, anger etc. and all they want is just happiness and good health for their family.

The Indian culture teaches us to live in joint family but the growing impact of Western societies threatens me sometimes. How these days people in the name of privacy opt for nuclear families, I believe these humans who leave their parents either in villages or in old age homes are the most inhuman creatures present on Earth. I feel pity for those children who never got an opportunity to live with their grandparents as these kids will never understand what grandparents love is like.

My grandfather was a retired, Government School Principal, always ready to help me with my school projects. He was the only one who helped me develop the habit of reading bedtime stories. My grandmother was illiterate yet the most literate spiritual being I ever met. Rosary beads and chanting were inseparable from her. Whatever be the situation, her faith in God never wavered. She inculcated in me a sense of indebtedness towards the God, as God helps us at every step of our life.

Apart from this, I believe life was less stressful when I lived with my grandparents. As they were the ones with whom I could share anything and they were always eager to help me out. Even if I committed a mistake, my grandfather always saved me from scoldings of my mother but he also ensured that I didn’t repeat the same mistake. He taught through real life stories which included solution to my each and every problem. He was like a benevolent tree full of wisdom.

As time flies, I understand that sometimes, one needs to go to other cities or some other nation for education or work but one must not forget their old parents. Those parents who have spent hundreds of sleepless nights because of you, to ensure you good health and provide better education facilities. They have fulfilled their each and every duty but now it’s your turn to fulfill your responsibilities towards them. They need nothing except to see their family together. Take a pledge today itself to spend most of your free time with them. Make sure they won’t feel lonely at this stage of life when disease are already lurking around them. And even if you are so busy that you are unable to meet them, use technology. At least video call them once in a week so that even they can see their grandchildren growing and develop a divine bond between them.

The happiness of this family time will work as a panacea for every disease suffered by them. Let’s have good time together and honour parents of our parents.