There is a rumour that the seniors are emerging as the single largest population-group in SFV. Couldn’t agree more.
And, among the seniors roaming around, if you happen to notice someone doing his rounds somewhat quietly, take my word, it is Dr Neelkant Panigrahi, of Maple 3. His children had organized in Club House a birthday bash to celebrate his 80th birthday.
Every member of the family had invited his/her circle of friends. Dr Panigrahi, on his part, made sure none of his morning and evening walk friends, mostly in their 80s, were left out.
I cannot claim to have known Dr Panigrahi for long, but what little association I have had, has been meaningful and qualitative. A very nice, sober, and unassuming person.
Appearances are deceptive, they say. Seeing his innocent face one could seldom make out that he is an Obstetrician and Gynocologist and has done over 10 000 cesareans, let alone countless deliveries in Orissa.
Post retirement he ran for years a full-fledged nursing home at Bolangir until he decided to lay down his forceps, clamps and scissors, in favour of chef’s knife, ladle, or vegetable peeler to help the lady of the house in the kitchen. But unfortunately, it did not last long. Reason? A la his operation-theatre style, he began stretching his hand and demanding his wife for: mustard, kari patta, lemon squeezer, grater, colander... The lady took it in the stride initially until one day she could take it no longer, and told him, “Stop treating me like a nurse? Either you do things yourself or allow me to do. This is nothing new for me; I have been doing it for decades.”
He changed lane and began doing morning and evening walks befriending people of his age. Soon he became the centre of attraction among them, each hanging on his lips to listen to more of his experiences. Just one example. On one occasion he was watching a village drama where the bride and the groom were all set for the vara mala. Suddenly from nowhere the villain surfaces and shoots the bridegroom. The audience saw real fire-fly coming out of the pistol. It seems some home-made card-board item was inserted in place of pellets. But it did manage to fly-past and the groom started bleeding on his neck. Dr Panigrahi watching from a backseat rushed to the stage and barely managed to dig out the deep-seated card-board remnants from neck injury. Everybody applauded him.
A few days later the Chief Medical Officer arrived on the scene to scold him for having exceeded his terms of reference. How could the newly posted doctor embark on such a venture. Later when the two were alone, the CMO took him aside and patted him on the back, “Good job, young man. You will make a good surgeon.” What could have brought an end to one’s hopes of entering the medical profession turned into a compliment.
Now back to business - the Birthday Bash - the Club House hall was professionally decorated. A prominent display included, “You are not just 80; You are 80 years of stories, strength, and unconditional love; You are 8 decades of wisdom, wit and wonderful experience…” Just to break the monotony of arrive, hi, how are you… and head straight for the lunch queue, they had engaged a professional entertainer to keep the audience in good humour with a host of light but interesting activities all of which kept the audience fully entertained.
Time for lunch. One saw everyone enjoy the food, the ambience and not to speak of the dessert. As I got up to leave, his younger son, who stays in Maple 3, came up to me to thank me for making it. “Your parents have only reasons to feel proud of you, young man. You had made such excellent arrangements.” “No uncle, we wanted to do it in Taj. But considering that Papa’s friends are the foremost and they might be dissuaded from making it that far, we decided to have it here.” “No less grand nonetheless,” I reassured him.
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