On 11 January, 2010, Aadhaar Club, the corporate social responsibility club of Indian Business Academy had taken initiative. To celebrate its 3rd Anniversary in Anand Niketan- (an old age home) run by Jan Kalyan Trust.
Anand Niketan, as the name signifies got filled with happiness and joy. All the volunteers went from the cab to C-5 block of Sector-55 where it was situated. All elderly people were already expecting them when they arrived there. They greeted them cheerfully.
It was 11.00 when it started and fortunately after few minutes sun showed some mercy on everyone and slight sunshine covered the beautiful lawn of Anand Niketan. The ceremony started from introduction between the volunteers and all the elder members of Anand Niketan. Previously, due to severe cold very less elders came outside their rooms. But when they started hearing the volunteers singing and dancing they came out in huge numbers. The volunteers asked the authority to get some warmth of grate to them.
Then one of the volunteer Nrusimha Das sang two beautiful bhajans in quick succession to start the proceedings. One was Sukh ke Sab Saathi and other one Badi Der Hui Nand Lala. After that volunteers started giving the elderly ones a chance of singing their personal favorites. And they were shock to notice that most of them were extremely good in poetry and ghazals. Some of them really had a very good voice at such an age as most of them have already crossed 90s. But by watching their enthusiasm volunteers converted the game into Antakshri which came out to be superb especially the witty chitchat between them. And it was so amazing to see the creativity level there that old notion about age proves to be wrong. One of the most elderly of the old age home people was the ones who were more participating. In the meantime Nrusimha keep presenting beautiful old songs one by one.
Till 12.30 the program kept running then the lunch time came. Then all the volunteers along with every senior elder enjoyed the cake-cutting ceremony of AADHAAR CLUB 3rd Anniversary, and the cake was actually cut by the senior most member of Anand Niketan. And after that all the elders and young volunteers eaten the lunch financed by IBA together. It was really tasty. The volunteers provided the cake to all those members of old age home who due to health problem couldn’t be able to attend the programme. Though the prior talks was to carry on the program till lunch only but the bonding between the elders and youngsters gelled so good that the time was extended and program carried on.
After lunch again the preceding started. One bhajan of Ganesha both Nrusimha and Gaurav sang together. Other volunteers like Rohit, Rahul, Sakshi and Shikha danced on various film songs which everybody enjoyed thoroughly. Then Gaurav presented the poem based on Mahabharata about Shri Krishna and a Haryanvi Madam answered it through her witty poem based on Ramayana. The same Madam also sang one Haryanvi folk song which was a comic ride for the volunteers.
So most of the programme went like Satsang-cum-Mushayara, but nothing divine was happening till an old man came out of his room very late in the afternoon. Just by watching him it was clear he had crossed 90s years ago. He showed his interest in holding the mike which by now every other elder was avoiding. And then a miracle happened.
He recited some rhymed lines in his age-bound thick and fumbling voice. And soon everyone figure out that he was not an ordinary man but a fantastic poet who presented his sarcastic poem on the society based on his true life experiences. And everyone heard that poem in deep silence feeling every bit of the old man pain. So apart from all the masti and fun, at that point of time the breaking relationship of the society and carelessness on the part of younger generation towards the senior citizens came in front of everyone eyes. We hope this visit might have been an ointment for their deep wounds.
-By Gaurav Tyagi(Rhyme)
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