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Ageless Cause
It was called the inter-generation
walk, but the generation in question was absent. Last week, HelpAge India's walk for the
elderly had schoolkids, teachers, parents, activists and onlookers -- everyone but senior
citizens. So the kids stood in for them. Four youngsters from Sir Syed Group of Schools
dressed up in yellowing wigs, with a grey streak too many on their lined faces and leaning
heavily on sticks, were part of the procession of 450 taking the 5 km stretch from St
James Church to Kalighat Club.
"The old are a new cause," said Jamshed Alam, one of the students in
costume. "We never gave it much thought before." Time they did. Studies by
HelpAge -- shared with the walkers -- show that there are almost 70 million people above
60 years of age today. "I didn't know that," said Gulshan Ara, 18, holding a
banner which said: "Care them as they cared you once." Forget the grammar, at
least the feelings are in place.
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Labonita Ghosh |
Top of the Line
