This is how our days begin, with a wobble as we mount our trusty ancient bicycles and go forth, first over the alarming railway crossing at Kavanur, just ahead of an express train, then along the country road, rutted and strewn with flowers from another funeral, and liberally sprinkled with fresh cow dung. There is a large carpet of coconut husks to be negociated also, and usually at least one troupe of wayward wandering goats, several unattractive dogs and perhaps a gaggle of children who burst into peals of giggles as we pass. Hi, they cry and Vanicum we call back.
Two and a half kilometres of this road, with my bum by now giving serious grief on the hard saddle, and we swerve nimbly (?) into the coconut grove where the Patchaikili centre is situated, right at the back well off the road, in lovely kind shade. Whatever time we appear the teachers drop everything and come out to escort us in, help us lock our bikes, carry our bags. Not even worth trying to prevent them doing these kindnesses. It is their culture ( as they explain often).
We watched the activities of the morning which included a game of indoor cricket for the children ( too hot outside), action songs, musical chairs and activities in small groups with Rani and Padmini. Meanwhile the elderly folk were busy first of all walking around the plot with Rani, their group worker, and then playing a traditional game with stones and a kind of dice, called Diyam (Pam will correct my spelling). At one point the children played musical chairs - and very amicably too, no squabbling just some fairly fierce competition. A while later the elderly played exactly the same game and with an equally competitive attitude! It was lovely also on several occasions to see the young in groups sat with the elders, just chatting. Equally when the children had ten minutes of cartoons on the television and began to dance energetically to the music, some of the elderly women went into the room te join in.
Since we were last here and it was agreed that we would fund a group organiser for the elderly (Rani) it is clear that the way the elderly interact with each other and with the children is very relaxed and easy. One cannot help but feel that this will be to the benefit of both elderly and young.
One of the elderly men chats with a group of children.
Musical chairs for the elderly.
Just as we were about to leave to go for our lunch date at Raghu's house (though Raghu himself is in Thailand working now) we heard that Joseph, from RUHSA was about to arrive with Dr Rita and a group of visitors. This meant that the elderly had to wait to have their lunch and unfortunately this got later and later. However finally when some of them looked as if they might begin to fade with hunger, permission was given for them to eat. When the party of visitors arrived they were very interesting groups, one from Sweden who are associated with Friends of Vellore (Sweden) and the second group were a UK family consisting of a couple and their grown daughter with her husband. The older couple have apparently been working in the slums of Vellore, doing their own quiet mission work. They are very much motivated by their Christian beliefs and she ministers to the people. He is a fomer university lecturer in Diabetic care and that is the work they have done with CMC hospital in Vellore, to try to teach good diabetic care more widely to doctors and in the community. Having spent the occasional torrid day in Vellore when necessary shopping had to be done I cannot but take my hat off to folk who can actually live there. Apparently water was so scarce that it would only be available once a fortnight and when the last drops were to be turned off, fighting would break out. I would have liked to hear more from this remarkable couple. We really did have to leave at this point as we were running so late, but they went on to present a blanket to each of the elderly people as their annual Christmas gift. The children are to be given new tiffin boxes for their lunches.
Our lunch date was delightful, as we knew it would be in Raghu's lovely family. His mum is tiny and very smiley, called Magashwary. His older brother Parti was there to take lots of photos (Raghu had just sent him a gift of a new camera) and Parti's new bride Saranya served us food, with her mother in law. Her parents were also there to meet us, from Gudyattum for the day I suppose. After wonderful food we were treated to the Photo Album. My goodness, another mega production much like Suresh's which we saw yesterday. Just 453 photos! When I spoke to Padmini afterwards about this wonderful album she said it would be very very expensive and she imagined it would have been funded by Raghu. She commented that Indian weddings are very big and expensive but that this is their culture; you only have once such big wedding day in your life and so money has to be spent on it. I told her that Sekar had refused to do this for his girls but had given them the money for a start in life and their education instead. Padmini knew this, but felt that the way their culture dictated was the right way.
Raghu's dad, mum, brother, new sister in law, and her mum and dad (left to right)
Such a genius idea having young & old together
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