“Grow old with me. The best is yet to be. Face the setting sun, when the day is done...” ~ John Lennon.
Senior citizens are coming out of their loneliness by giving life — and married life — a second chance.
An Ahmedabad-based organisation, Vinamulya Mulya Sewa, is giving them an opportunity to do so by organising ‘swayamvar’ for the never married, divorcees, widows and widowers under the banner ‘Second Innings’. Targeted at mature adults, this initiative is for those above 50 years of age.
“Getting married again, after divorce or death of a spouse, is not easy, but it is gaining popularity,” said Nathubai Patel, founder of Vinamulya Mulya Sewa.
Divisions of caste are no barrier here and the organisation encourages inter-caste marriages. “In old age, people yearn for companionship. Caste plays no role. We want to bring a stop to all caste based divides,” said Patel.
Till date, this ‘marriage bureau’ boasts of uniting 30 such people in their twilight years. Patel has received 1,200 applications from all over India. 300 applicants are from parts of Maharashtra and Mumbai alone. The marriage bureau offers its services gratis and says that, for now, there are more old men applying, than women.
“There’s a still a lot of stigma attached to women remarrying in their old age. They fear their children or in-laws might object to the alliance,” said Patel.
The Bhagades, a Maharashtrian couple, rediscovered wedding bliss two years ago, thanks to Patel’s matrimonial service. “I had no son and was lonely. So I met Sushila, who was also a widow and her daughters didn’t object,” said Srivastav Bhagade, 65. For Madhuben Trivedi, there was no support despite having four children. “My children didn’t want to keep me. They have now reconciled to the fact that I have re-married and even come to visit me,” said Madhuben Trivedi, 74.
Dignity Foundation, that organises a Chai Masti Corner, has observed a similar practice. Besides keeping elderly people occupied, it has been a rendezvous point for many old couples, who have also remarried.
64-year-old Vipin Bhiwandkar, found his soulmate Chaaya, 63, at the Chai Masti Corner. “When I became a member of Chai Masti Corner in 2005, I was alone as my wife expired in 2004. One of my daughters was against my marrying Chhaya, reasoning that she would support me. I made her understand that I needed a companion in my old age,” said Bhiwandkar.
