Elderly Parents

Just read a sad story about an elderly couple near Kolkata. Samar Moulik (75) and his wife, Bharathi (62) have written to Baguiati police station asking for permission to commit suicide.

They have 2 boys and a girl. The girl is married and living in Lucknow. One son, Shankar, is living in South Africa. Another son, Soumen, is living in a suburb of Kolkata. Mr. Moulik worked for BHEL. He is retired and received no pension.

Mr. Moulik inherited a plot in Hridayapur. Soumen allegedly grabbed the plot. The couple built a small house on another plot and started living there. Mr. Moulik’s elder brother allegedly drove them out. They were then living in a rental place.

They are financially broke. Their 3 children just ignored them. They did not provide any financial help or emotional support. They are very much depressed and wanted to commit suicide. That is why they approached the Baguiati police station. Inspector Gautam Mitra has written a letter to Soumen requesting him to help his parents.

I thought these kinds of things happen only in movies. In my opinion, it is the responsibility of children to take care of their elderly parents. We come into this world as small helpless babies. Who took care of us when we were born? Every one should have the sense of love and desire to take care of elderly parents.

Children, especially sons, change a lot after their marriage. Some remain the same as mama’s boy and treat their wives very badly. Some more of them come under the spell of their wives and begin to completely neglect the parents and also disrespect them. They do not even visit them. If the parents happen to live in their house, they are treated as slaves and unpaid servants.

There are many children who really love and respect their elderly parents.

I can understand some rare exception. There have been instances when a child was verbally and physically abused by the parent (especially a single parent). It is understandable if that child ignores the parent, after growing up. You cannot verbally and physically abuse a child and expect that child to take care of you when you are old.

I have seen parents who gave up everything and showered love and affection on their children. They made financial sacrifice so that their children get a good education. And, those children after growing up neglect and ignore their parents. But one thing they have to remember. They are also growing older every day and they will also receive the same fate.