Elippathayam

[krish44]

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Senior citizen of TB variety are suffering from "Elippathayam' syndrome

There was a cinematic classic of this name made by Adoor Gopalakrishnan in malayalam

Many of them are living in a make believe world of their own, economically in doldrums, thinking of past glories,in a state of oblivion to happenings in the

external world leading to the disintegration of the family and confinement in senior citizen homes

the ' Rat Trap' is a metaphor describing the state of these people

Many of the males are unable to cope with disintegration of patriarchal structure,wives increasingly suffering the degraded living conditions unable to put up with

them, educated girl children defying and running off with boys of other castes ,religion , boys escaping to foreign countries to escape the parent trap

the parents are no longer capable of negotiating with the external world and are becoming oblivious to changing realities

most are waiting for further decay and perhaps not a pleasant end

 

[KRN]

Sir
Why only TB? This is the case with all communities.
In fact this is only an extension to *generation gap*
At least TBs who are now Sr Citizens have gone through some difficult yrs seeing even their nominal control over hindu society fast getting eroded. As a young TB I find the Sr citizens of other communities even more in the doldrums than TBs.

 

[V.Balasubramani]

Elippathayam or Kuzhippaniyaram, etc have absolutely no relevance today as this movie belongs to the period 1982 I believe. Things have vastly changed since then.

Besides the theme of this movie is based on "Marumakkathayam' system I believe which deals with matrilineal inheritance prevalent in Kerala State then. Region based age old culture.

These are all old stories will not hold any water nowadays bcos Seniors citizens are well informed and have gone through all trail and tribulations and need no preaching.

Most of Seniors citizens of TBs are well settled and are leading a comfortable happy life with their children settled abroad.

The thread opener seems to be in misconception. If at all he wants to bring in or intended to transform the life style of the TBs, he can very well address the young generation who will certain turn to their deaf ear to such sermons.lol

 

[Brahmanyan]

Very true. As a senior citizen myself I watch the changes in the society, but I know I can't help. The hierarchical discipline set up assiduously over generations in the family has been destroyed fully. Main reason for this is the economic independence of individuals. This has affected more in villages depending on agriculture than in Towns. Youngsters who are sent for education to schools and colleges rush to Cities for employment instead of pursuing hereditary occupation like agriculture. This results in disintegration of families.
The cycle has started, but we do not know where or how it will end.

Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.

 

[Raji Ram]

For the benefit of Malayalam cinema fans, here is the movie:

Malayalam Classic full movie Elippathayam

P.S: The expiry date of the censor certificate of this movie is 13 - 12 - 1991. :spy:

 

[Raji Ram]

Very true. As a senior citizen myself I watch the changes in the society, but I know I can't help. The hierarchical discipline set up assiduously over generations in the family has been destroyed fully. Main reason for this is the economic independence of individuals. This has affected more in villages depending on agriculture than in Towns. Youngsters who are sent for education to schools and colleges rush to Cities for employment instead of pursuing hereditary occupation like agriculture. This results in disintegration of families.
The cycle has started, but we do not know where or how it will end.
.........

Dear Sir,

Everyone wants to get good education and go for white collar jobs. From Prohits and servant maids - their children are sent to

engineering colleges. Middle class families take bank loans and educate their children abroad. If the parents are lucky, they will

get a good life in their old age and taken care of by the children.

 

[KRN]

Sir
Our society has gone through countless wars...famines both manmade and otherwise..massacres by foreign rulers...and yet the society held on to its culture. These changes are not as irreversible as you think.

Very true. As a senior citizen myself I watch the changes in the society, but I know I can't help. The hierarchical discipline set up assiduously over generations in the family has been destroyed fully. Main reason for this is the economic independence of individuals. This has affected more in villages depending on agriculture than in Towns. Youngsters who are sent for education to schools and colleges rush to Cities for employment instead of pursuing hereditary occupation like agriculture. This results in disintegration of families.
The cycle has started, but we do not know where or how it will end.

Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.

 

[sangom]

I have a feeling that Shri Krish Sir has a philosophy of his own for senior citizens and he would rather that the world follows that!
What I have to say is that senior citizens, whether TBs or other communities, each one has his own database of experiences and each one charts out his "journey to the end" in the way he/she thinks best; some will be successful while some others will meet with tragedy. This has been history all through the ages.

That said, I don't find many of the senior citizens (including myself) in any rat-trap. We all were aware that significant changes are happening to the society and societal norms. We have all come to terms with those changes to the best of each one's ability and a few whose unfortunate circumstances did not make them succeed, are taking shelter in free old age homes.

Perhaps, the bug lies in "appreciating assets" syndrome rather than in Elippathayam syndrome! One of the senior citizens whom I know, had been investing in gold all along and he says he is getting more than his money's worth, taking into account the fall in value of rupee also.

 

[krish44]

sangomji , you are one of the exceptional ones in the forum who has done well for himself and whose views are subjects of dislike by many who are not very well off and

who are not coping well with the changes around. If you read their posts , there is tinge of helplessness tinged with remorse of not having provided for themselves

or their children both boys and girls charting their own path in career and marriage or these being unable to fully support them as they would wish them to do.Some who are

abroad are not fully responsive to their needs.

it is the social reality . Only few people say they have come to terms and most are the complaining and the whining kind.Or some have a feeling of resignation to their

fate. most take refuge in temples for spending their time or in medical cycles of various types in govt hospitals. how many do you find taking an active interest in

living and trying to contribute to society in some way or other. most have hung up and wait for the inevitable

 

[Raji Ram]

Those who have good health and wealth can talk like you, Krish Sir!

 

[Raji Ram]

One member in my extended family has a bedridden mother, whom he is keeping very comfortable for the past five years!
Now, even that devoted crorepati son feels the pinch, since he has to pay a handsome salary to the full time servant maid! opcorn:

 

[krish44]

Sorry Madam I talk because I am a compulsive talker.lol

Good Health and wealth are incidental perhaps accidental and not got by too much sweat or tears.lol

you almost make me feel guilty.

 

[Raji Ram]

You can talk freely Krish Sir!

This is G D forum!

 

[krish44]

One member in my extended family has a bedridden mother, whom he is keeping very comfortable for the past five years!
Now, even that devoted crorepati son feels the pinch, since he has to pay a handsome salary to the full time servant maid! opcorn:

If one holds too much tightly to money, it hurts the person

If one considers money as only pieces of paper which we have happened to have got thru a mix of luck, little bit of work and a fairly stupid brain , we will not be too attached

paying a servant maid one should not regret as they belong to lower rungs of society.

of course all pass thru the stages of having to support the old and the ailing.

but one has to have a sense of detachment and also remember that , these old people brought us up from childhood days to adulthood and sacrificed for us. we are

only returning to them what we got from them in younger days.

when we croak , we have to anyway leave everything behind . why not give when it matters to others in need ?

 

[sangom]

sangomji , you are one of the exceptional ones in the forum who has done well for himself and whose views are subjects of dislike by many who are not very well off and

who are not coping well with the changes around. If you read their posts , there is tinge of helplessness tinged with remorse of not having provided for themselves

or their children both boys and girls charting their own path in career and marriage or these being unable to fully support them as they would wish them to do.Some who are

abroad are not fully responsive to their needs.

it is the social reality . Only few people say they have come to terms and most are the complaining and the whining kind.Or some have a feeling of resignation to their

fate. most take refuge in temples for spending their time or in medical cycles of various types in govt hospitals. how many do you find taking an active interest in

living and trying to contribute to society in some way or other. most have hung up and wait for the inevitable

Shri krish Sir,

You are much off the mark when you say that I am "one of the exceptional ones in the forum who has done well for himself and whose views are subjects of dislike by many who are not very well off and who are not coping well with the changes around."

I am just a lower middle class retired tabra with many health problems affecting me for varying periods of time; I am able to get out of bed only for barely 12 hours a day and so I am unable to take up any other income-giving activity. Yet, my wife and I were able to build a very small dwelling and we decided (after observing the changes coming in the society as also the circumstances in our household) that we should better live in this house, even if there is great difficulty in managing the household to function. Now, we feel more and more that we made the best possible decision and although our life is nothing great to speak about, we are on our own and that is the best an old couple can have these days, I feel.

That said, I do not think many of our senior citizen friends are in dire conditions. I am of the view that many of them are as comfortable (or uncomfortable !) as I am, but they will not have much of complaints about it, just as we, old people, do not complain about our failing health, body getting fragile and weak, memory slowly playing truant, and so on.

Regarding "taking an active interest in living", most senior citizens have made religion as their area of performance and they take active interest in it. As for "trying to contribute to society in some way or other", I find that it is mostly those who expect to get yet more benefits from society who usually try to promote this fad. Ultimately people are able to see through their game plans and the only reward which such contributors-to-society get is a large number of wreaths on their corpse, of which they may or may not be aware; go one step higher, and you have society-do-gooders who get the usual 21 gun salute from the police force which has become a joke in Kerala and is called "kaakka veDi" derisively, or firing the guns to drive away the crows!

 

[V.Balasubramani]

I have a feeling that Shri Krish Sir has a philosophy of his own for senior citizens and he would rather that the world follows that!
What I have to say is that senior citizens, whether TBs or other communities, each one has his own database of experiences and each one charts out his "journey to the end" in the way he/she thinks best; some will be successful while some others will meet with tragedy. This has been history all through the ages.

That said, I don't find many of the senior citizens (including myself) in any rat-trap. We all were aware that significant changes are happening to the society and societal norms. We have all come to terms with those changes to the best of each one's ability and a few whose unfortunate circumstances did not make them succeed, are taking shelter in free old age homes.

Perhaps, the bug lies in "appreciating assets" syndrome rather than in Elippathayam syndrome! One of the senior citizens whom I know, had been investing in gold all along and he says he is getting more than his money's worth, taking into account the fall in value of rupee also.

Songam Ji,

You are right.

The thread opener has a philosophy of his own for senior citizens and there are none to follow except him!

Most of the TBs of South India, are financially sound and do actively involve in activities of investment in stock and shares. But they have a choice of their own. Most invest in trusted service group preferably a TB which enjoys more credibility. This Brand is well known in TB circle and has earned ‘MAAA’ rating from ICRA. It is growing with consistent performance. As such they know their money is safe!! They are now happy going with their earnings from this reputed Finance Company.

In don’t know whom he is referring in his post No.9. There may be a few. But one cannot generalise and pass judgement on the basis of random cases.

There are lot of activities going on and on everyday by active participation of Senior Citizens.

In our place we have Senior Citizens Forum. We meet every month and discuss burning issues and organise lot of things which include demonstration and agitation for good causes.

To cite a sample case, I can refer to an 82 years old social activist who is taking up number of cases with High Court,Supreme Court, etc and fighting against the Governments and earning their wrath. But never deterred, a real Brave heart – an unsung Hero!

He never preaches like others, but acts. We follow only action kings and not mere preachers.

I feel proud to share few links on this active Senior Citizen of Chennai.


Traffic Ramaswamy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Battling for Cause for Chennai Citizens

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/sapwebdynpro/IKYy5VOAZOI/PNQL9eKdsKAJ