Still young at heart

ALL THEY had to do was to light a few candles. It wasn't easy. The hands shivered, the faces wrinkled and many gave up half way through. Then came the big smile. After all, they had at least tried, and would have given any youngster a tough time.

On the `World Elders Day' - October 1 - the task given to the participating senior citizens at the HelpAge India celebration was to light 15 candles at one go with one match stick. ``My fingers are getting hot,'' said an elderly lady, giving up after just two candles. Had to be, for she and others had all the lenses on them.

Just a while ago, some of them were walking - trotting actually - in an unusual sport called walkathon, which seemed thought up for them.

For all that though, the day-long function started with a quiz competition for school students. It was the southern regional quiz round of a nation-wide competition conducted by HelpAge India. The participants had come from Vasco in Goa, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kozhikode and Chennai.

And off-stage were a few dozen more students moving around quietly serving drinks, apples and biscuits, the students were attending to the grandmothers and grandfathers.

They were in for a treat later with the seniors having all the fun taking part in a group dance and fancy dress competition. And of course, the big special later in the day - Grandpa King and Grannie Queen 2001 contest.

It was all fun for a day, when they could all let their hair down. The Government has declared 2000 as the `Year of Older Persons', the emphasis being on reviving the joint family system. Just another Government policy that slipped into oblivion.

By Feroze Ahmed

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