Crore Pathi Pathni Die Of Hunger

GoogleGlass · May 28, 2016

Crore Pathi Pathni die of hunger

Not in Somalia, there aren’t many crorepathis but here in Bengaluru a crorepathi couple die of hunger!!!

This came to light last week and the incident had happened a few days before.

The man a retired government officer in his 80’s and his wife in 70’s. She passed away a few days before him, following the norms, “pathni goes before pathi”. Pity is, on postmortem it revealed that both passed away being “pattini” (hunger) for days.

It is a sad incident and now let’s leave that aside and think through what could have been the reason for such an incident. We follow the norms of the media – the “after” is covered well and blown out of proportion and never the “before” something happens.

The elderly couple had no offspring’s and no friends, relatives and had been living alone so, since the man retired say @ 60. For 20 years they lived alone and died eventually, left alone to decompose and the smell brought the attention of the neighbors.

He would have been receiving the pension, money could have, couldn’t have been an issue, unless he took the lump sum and lost it or spent all of them these 20 years. Had nothing more and both died of hunger.

What may be the case they could have sold the house worth crores and moved to an old age home, if there were no one to take care of them? What’s the point of owning a palatial home fi it is going to the government back, being of no use when you live?

This would not have guaranteed no death, but would have guaranteed a better death and not out of hunger. Forgot to mention that couple of years before the electricity and water were disconnected due to non-payment of bills.

Imagine the state of mind just before their death. I wonder how there was not a soul to be bothered about them, how did they alienate themselves from the society? No interaction with the neighbors, nor relatives, and surprisingly no religious group targeted them to be a part of their fan followers. No salesman, no political party local wings, no charity seekers, no relatives asking for help approached them. Even a thief or burglar ignored these poor souls.

We can be discussing endlessly before our ends come but the point is to make sure we do not die such a death, having made all that we could. Communication plays a vital part, integrating with the society whether you like it or not and not burning the bridge between human folks is very essential, no doubt about it.

Do entertain neighbors who come asking for a cup of sugar, vegetables, etc., associate oneself with social gatherings, you like it or not. Plan your finances well to retire well and live thereafter well till passing away, now the longevity after retirement is too long you see.

Balajee · May 28, 2016

tHIS IS HARDLY SURPRISING IN AN AGE WHEN PEOPLE , EVEN THOSE LIVING IN APARTMENTS DON'T KNOW WHO THEIR NEIGHBOUR IS.. wE ARE LIVING IN A WORLD WHERE IT IS EVERYBODY FOR HIMSELF AND GOD FOR NOBODY.L

sangeethakripa · May 28, 2016

@GoogleGlass

This is shocking and pathetic. How did they manage to isolate themselves like that? But its again an eye opener to be vigilant for those who may need attention. May their soul RIP.

satchitananda · May 28, 2016

GG, this happened in the same area where my mil lives. She lives alone in her own house. We moved to a more centrally located apartment block about 12 years ago and suggested we get her a flat next to ours. She refused to move stating that that was the house her husband built and for sentimental reasons she refused to move out. She wanted her garden and other comforts. Issue is she is unable to keep servants - not for lack of funds but due to her feudal, old time approach. Apart from that there is the problem of people not being willing to work in independent bungalows - it means more work. Besides if they work in 3-4 flats in the same building they can earn a lot more in the same amount of time.

MIL has a few friends there in the neighbourhood and BH goes there every weekend. But the risk is always there because even if she shouts no one might hear in a crisis.

Elderly, apart from having issues in getting on with the younger generation also have some strange notions of 'saving for old age' despite having plenty (some kind of insecurity). This couple for instance, could have moved to a retirement home and lived very comfortably and their needs could have been taken care of. Sad indeed to think of anyone dying like this.

Balajee · May 28, 2016

satchitananda said: ↑

GG, this happened in the same area where my mil lives. She lives alone in her own house. We moved to a more centrally located apartment block about 12 years ago and suggested we get her a flat next to ours. She refused to move stating that that was the house her husband built and for sentimental reasons she refused to move out. She wanted her garden and other comforts. Issue is she is unable to keep servants - not for lack of funds but due to her feudal, old time approach. Apart from that there is the problem of people not being willing to work in independent bungalows - it means more work. Besides if they work in 3-4 flats in the same building they can earn a lot more in the same amount of time.

MIL has a few friends there in the neighbourhood and BH goes there every weekend. But the risk is always there because even if she shouts no one might hear in a crisis.

Elderly, apart from having issues in getting on with the younger generation also have some strange notions of 'saving for old age' despite having plenty (some kind of insecurity). This couple for instance, could have moved to a retirement home and lived very comfortably and their needs could have been taken care of. Sad indeed to think of anyone dying like this.
Click to expand...

Satchi old people living alone are sitting ducks for robbers who wouldn't bat an eyelid before taking a life. In Delhi's posh colonies, where your neighbour wouldn't know for a week if you get murdered until the corpse stinks, they are the favourite targets. I don't know whether Bangaluru is safer than Delhi.

satchitananda · May 28, 2016

I couldn't say Bangalore is a lot safer, though still might be to a small extent, but the social set up is certainly pretty much the same, unless you have been living in the same house for decades and have the same neighbours. Even so the frequency of contact is considerable reduced.

yellowmango · May 28, 2016

A few days back,there was a similar case in the papers. The husband had died some time back.The old woman was found dead in pathetic condition.When the neighbors looked around,they found FDs worth a fortune.

This was also a childless couple.

I don't understand this mentality of not living a life .
Why did the husband not tell his wife about the FDs ?What did they save for?

suryakala · May 28, 2016

Dear @GoogleGlass ,

One of the fall outs of affluence and development is the loss of joint family system.

In the absence of joint family system, it is the state (ie, Government) which has to take care of the weak and elderly.

The joint family system would have avoided this sad incident. In its absence, the state has not formalised the measures for senior citizens to be taken care of. It will take some time.

In his period of transition we are going to have (or already having unreported rural cases) many more such sad cases. The NGOs and voluntary organisations, should own responsibility and be supported and encouraged by govt to devise methods of visits, phone calls, communication chips/ Gadgets for seniors who are living away from children/ relatives. As in developed countries.

We are following the western society while living. Let us follow their care for seniors while dying.

Let us hope Mr. Modi's dynamic approach responds to this serious loneliness of seniors.

MalStrom · May 28, 2016

This unfortunate couple may have been slowly suffering from loss of cognition over the years. Without family or concerned people's support they may have slipped into dementia and not been able to carry out even basic functions. This is in increasingly common in elderly people these days.