Sree Narayana Mission (Singapore)

Keeping the Family Together

Foo Ci En

Being a volunteer for nine years is long by any account. But for nineteen-year-old Foo Ci En, that equates to half her lifetime. “When I was in Primary Four, I started going with my parents for their volunteer work every Saturday. I’ve been volunteering since then because of my parents’ influence.” Her parents are Foo Say Thye and …, part of the Sree Narayana Volunteers group.

In fact, the spirit of volunteering forms the very foundation of their family, “My parents met and got married when they were volunteering at the Sree Narayana Mission Home for the Aged Sick,” she reveals. “So, from young I’ve been going with them to the Sree Narayana Mission Home for the Aged Sick. And I really enjoyed it – it’s very meaningful.”

The initial interest instilled in the young and impressionable Ci En could have easily fizzled out as she grew older and developed other pursuits. Instead, her childhood passion for volunteering only strengthened and became more entrenched with maturity and the passage of time. “When I was a young kid I didn’t understand what I was doing – I just followed my parents and felt happy doing it. But now I realise that it helps people and makes their day. And so, I want to continue. I feel the elderly will not enjoy their Saturday if we don’t hold our activities for them. Even on days when I am not well, I will still go down. I feel like it’s a mission that I have to carry out”.

Nowadays, Ci En is a more frequent face than her parents within the SNV group. “I became an active volunteer in 2015 and since my parents started other volunteer groups, I am now more active than my parents at SNV.” She is currently on the SNV Committee, creating more programmes that will bring joy to the elderly residents of the Home, “If you don’t go for one Saturday, the following week the elderly will ask you why you were not there.” Thus, she persists in ensuring that the SNV’s objectives are achieved even when challenges arise, “Passion is needed for volunteer work, passion is important to sustain this – to continue to do this on weekends instead of enjoying the weekend with your family.”

Perhaps, that is why families tend to be get roped into volunteering – it allows them to be together while the volunteers pursue their passion, which happens with a lot of the SNV members. In fact, Ci En’s brother is also part of the SNV Committee and is equally committed as she is. This practice of ‘family volunteers’ holds a deep significance for Ci En, “Parents are imparting values to their children from young when they do this,” she reasons. Ci En’s parents had patiently done that with the two siblings and Ci En hopes to extend the tradition, “I will continue even when I go to University, and after I marry, I will bring my husband along to volunteer and later, my children. We will continue into the third generation.”

“In the three years that I have been the CEO of this nursing home, we have said goodbye to our residents when they pass on. Today we are saying goodbye to a resident who is moving on to a new phase in his life. This is a rare occurrence. So each time such an occurrence takes place, it’s for us that one starfish moment and we celebrate it.”

S. Devendran, CEO, Sree Narayana Mission Nursing Home

Empowering Dignified Lives – A Love Story

“There is no me without her, just like, there is no her without me”, says Mr. Velappan Vellaiyan with his eyes lit, looking intently at his newly betrothed, Ms. Savithiri Kaliappan. They are sitting close to each other on his bed at the Sree Narayana Mission (SNM) Nursing Home.

“I was lost in life, but found meaning when I started visiting him” responds Ms. Savithiri thoughtfully, holding his hands.

These may read like lines from the romantic Mills & Boon novels. Novels people read, enjoy and possibly forget.

However, Mr. Velappan’s romantic story is not meant to be forgotten, for it is real, as it signifies a societal change, one of empowering individuals to lead dignified lives. A transformation that makes our community more compassionate and inclusive.

Firstly, this is a story of two elders, both over 70 years, coming together to help each other. Something rare.

Secondly, the hero, a wheel-chair bound resident in a nursing home, is motivated to walk when he finds purpose in life. Something miraculous.

Thirdly, the couple decide to get married with the hero moving to a home of their own, to lead a life of dignity. Something blissful.

For SNM, it’s a new first. An incredible experience in supporting a resident to fulfil his dreams and empowering the couple to lead a life on their own terms.

And the upshot, they are re-integrating back into the community. Can the script get any better?

It all starts in the 60’s. “We are buddies from the same kampung. I remember him as an energetic and charming young person” recalls Ms. Savithiri, nostalgically thinking of her Silat Road home and Mr. Velappan’s Henderson locality.

Mr. Velappan, a first-generation immigrant, is a movie buff. “I have even watched English and Mandarin movies without understanding anything, in my younger days”. Tamil film songs were his best friend.

They go their ways and lose touch. She marries a Ceylonese Tamil and he marries a girl of his choice. Their families grow, she has a son and he, a daughter. He works as a helper at coffee shops and at construction sites. She works as an administrative assistant in schools.

Mr. Velappan and his wife separate. He stayed with his married daughter initially, but things do not work out well. He suffers a bad fall. And the struggle shows on him.

Serendipity brings them back together. In 2004, while participating in a skills training workshop he meets his old kampung friend.

Recollecting, Ms. Savithiri says “I was shocked. He was very weak, not the youthful, energetic person that I had seen”. They reminiscence about their childhood days over a coffee and the conversation drifts to the current situation. She realises he is alone, struggling with a weak body and painful knees.

Her kind-hearted instinct takes over. She begins meeting him regularly.

Ms. Savithiri helps him through his lowest point when he was bedridden and hospitalized. He recalls emotionally “She saved my life, she is my god, I would not have survived without her”.

In 2008, Mr.Velappan moves into SNM when his health worsens. Ms. Savithiri lives in her Bukit Merah rental flat by herself after her husband passes away in 2009. Her son is estranged. She visits Mr. Velappan regularly, despite the one-hour bus ride from her home.

Mr. Vellapan says “She was the only visitor. She would cook my favourite dishes, buy vadai, kerapu, nasi goreng”. He would eagerly wait for her visits. With her continual affection and SNM’s care, his health improves. Their bond grows deeper.

They decide to take the next bold step, to get married.

“I am excited to start this new life with him. What else do we need other than each other’s company in our twilight years” Ms. Savithiri says with conviction when probed. Adding on, she declares “I will take him home, cook for him, take care of him. He has simple needs. I intend to go out with him and enjoy our last years together”.

SNM supports their decision after reviewing the case carefully. It is made easier, as the staff have been working on his health and see an improvement. Ms. Illamaran Kalaiselvi, from the social work team, becomes a mentor guide to them. She has been supporting him for close to a year.

Friday, April 12th, 2019 arrives. It is their big day, their wedding.

SNM puts its weight behind the wedding. The staff rises to the occasion. It is a family wedding in their own home.

It is an elegant affair with the couple donning traditional attires, taking their marriage vows. Dignitaries grace the occasion and join the celebrations. Cake cutting, heartfelt toasts, buffet lunch, photo shoots and trishaw rides with Cycling Without Age Singapore to a nearby temple, all culminating in a happy farewell, as they are chauffeured to their ‘new’ home.

There are tears of joy. Mr. Velappan’s best friend Ms. Vanitha, a SNM resident, cries “You were my best friend. I will miss you now”.

The couple’s newly spruced up home is ready to welcome them.

They are aware life will present its challenges, and marriage is only an initial step. But they are wiser, for they have been through it all. Their needs are simple. They understand each other. And they will make it happen for they have shown they are alchemists.

In this true-life story, the lovely moments are not counted by age, but by the wrinkles and affection. This is a saga of two individuals, trying to fathom the meaning of their life with a steely determination to walk back into the community.

#1747 (Level 1/Room 7/Bed47) will be immortalized in the walls of SNM. This is where a new life began, “The Love Story of SNM”, a shining example of human triumph.
We wish the lovely couple a blissful life. We will continue to support. We want Shakespeare’s words to come true in their lives – “All’s Well, That Ends Well”.

Feeling the Wind in their Hair

Ravi Subramanian.

Is there a partner who could run a programme where seniors face no social isolation, and get an opportunity to feel the wind in their hair?

Yes, there is. It is Cycling Without Age Singapore (CWA) under the Temasek Foundation Cares Moving Generations programme. The Sree Narayana Mission Singapore (SNM) – CWA partnership was facilitated by the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC). The MOU was signed in 2017.

This is a programme that gives youth opportunities to engage with seniors in an active setting, allowing them to have a meaningful dialogue with them and to learn from them about the past. The settings are the one-hour trishaw rides piloted by trained youth volunteers from CWA.

At SNM, a trishaw waits on the weekends. This is an opportunity for the residents to dress up, to go out, to snack, to enjoy nature, to wave to the gallery, to engage the community, to chat with the youth, andto walk down the memory lane. It’s opportunities galore, and it means a lot to the residents!

The vintage three-wheeler trishaws with their conspicuous red coloured seats have become a common sight in Yishun, especially on weekends. They can be spotted at the parks, near the lakes or the play areas with regally seated and well-groomed elderly passengers, some sporting floppy hats, being safely pedalled by cheerful youngsters. These are some real selfie, wefie photo moments and the youthful volunteers revel in that!

In fact, a buzz was created when the 107 year-old SNM resident, Mdm. Yeo Iu went on a CWA trishaw ride. Apparently, a world record for the most senior resident taking a ride on a trishaw. A truly amazing feat!
There is synergy in this partnership. The partners have a shared mission and their values are aligned. Both are exploring ways to improve quality of life for elders and empower them to lead dignified lives.
For youth volunteers, these trishaw rides are a bridge that connects the past with the future. SNM is the best place to put this to practice.

And it shows. The partnership has blossomed. The number of rides has grown. More volunteers have joined, more are getting trained and elders are enjoying more rides than before. People are noticing it.
Happy memories create happy association. Owen, a regular volunteer from CWA is a shining example. He has developed a close bond with some of the residents. They seek each other and the camaraderie they enjoy during these scenic rides speaks volumes of what these rides can accomplish.

It’s not only feeling that wind in the hair, it’s also experiencing that enduring joy of life!!
Let this community keep growing. It benefits all.

Compassion – Sabu

കരുണ എന്ന . വരദാനം

” ഒരുപീഢയെറുമ്പിനും വരു

ത്തരുതെന്നുള്ളൊ രനു കമ്പയും”

ശ്രേഷ്ടനായ ശ്രീ നാരായണ ഗുരു 1914 ൽ എഴുതിയ” അനുകമ്പാദശക”ത്തിലെ പ്രാരംഭ വരികളാണ് മേലുദ്ധരിച്ചത്. ഒരു എറുമ്പിനോടു പോലും കരുണ കാട്ടണമെന്ന് ശഠിക്കുന്ന തരം വികാരമാണ് ഈ കവിതയുടെ ആത്മാവ്

നമ്മുടെ ഹൃദയത്തിൽ നിറയണമെന്ന് നാം ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്ന ദൈവിക ചൈതന്യത്തിന്റെ അത്ര തന്നെ അളവിൽ കരുണയും നിറയാൻ പരമേശ്വരനോട് അപേക്ഷിക്കാനാണ് ഗുരുജി ആഹ്വാനം ചെയ്യുന്നത് അതെ, “കരുണ” എന്നത് ദൈവതേജസിന്റെ ഒരു വരദാനമാണെന്ന് തന്നെ.

കരുണ എന്ന ദിവ്യ വികാരത്തെ ആപേക്ഷികമായിട്ടല്ലാതെ, ഒരു പൂർണ അളവിൽ തന്റെ തന്നെ ജീവിതത്തിലും നവോത്ഥാന ചിന്തകളിലും പഠിപ്പിയ്ക്കലുകളിലും പ്രതിഫലിപ്പിച്ചതിനാലാകണം ഗുരുജി ജനകോടികളുടെ ആരാധകനായിത്തീർന്നത്. അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ നവോത്ഥാന തത്വ സംഹിതകൾ ‘കരുണ’ യുമായി എങ്ങിനെ ബന്ധപ്പെട്ടു കിടക്കുന്നു എന്ന് നോക്കാം

മതമല്ല മറിച്ച് മനുഷ്യനായിരുന്നു ഗുരുജിയുടെ വിഷയം – മതമേതായാലും മനുഷ്യൻ നന്നായാൽ മതി എന്ന് പറഞ്ഞതിന്റെ സൂചന അതായിരുന്നു. മനുഷ്യനിലെ ഉച്ച നീ ചത്വചിന്തകളെ എതിർത്ത് സമഭാവത്തിന്റെ ആത്മാവിന് ഊടുംപാവും നൽകാൻ തന്റെ ജീവിതം ഉഴിഞ്ഞു വയ്ക്കാൻ അദ്ദേഹത്തെ പ്രേരിപ്പിച്ചതും മഹത്തായ കാരുണ്യമെന്ന ദിവ്യ ഗുണം തന്നെ ആയിരുന്നു.

മതമല്ല മറിച്ച് മനുഷ്യനായിരുന്നു ഗുരുജിയുടെ വിഷയം – മതമേതായാലും മനുഷ്യൻ നന്നായാൽ മതി എന്ന് പറഞ്ഞതിന്റെ സൂചന അതായിരുന്നു. മനുഷ്യനിലെ ഉച്ച നീ ചത്വചിന്തകളെ എതിർത്ത് സമഭാവത്തിന്റെ ആത്മാവിന് ഊടുംപാവും നൽകാൻ തന്റെ ജീവിതം ഉഴിഞ്ഞു വയ്ക്കാൻ അദ്ദേഹത്തെ പ്രേരിപ്പിച്ചതും മഹത്തായ കാരുണ്യമെന്ന ദിവ്യ ഗുണം തന്നെ ആയിരുന്നു.

കരുണ എന്ന വികാരത്തിന്റെ പൂർത്തീകരണം കർമ്മത്തിലൂടെ മാത്രമേ സാദ്ധ്യമാകൂ എന്ന് ഗുരുജീ ഓർമിപ്പിക്കുന്നു. കണ്ണടച്ചിരുന്ന് ധ്യാനിക്കലല്ല കർമ്മം എന്നും നിരാലമ്പർക്കും , പീഡിതർക്കും, നിന്ദിതർക്കും ആശയറ്റവർക്കും അതു പോലെ അർഹിക്കുന്ന ഏവർക്കും സഹായം ചെയ്യുന്നതാണ് യഥാർത്ഥ കർമമെന്നും ഗുരുജീ ഓർമിപ്പിച്ചു. ഗുരുജിയുടെ പേരിലുള്ള വൃദ്ധ പരിപാലന സ്ഥാപനങ്ങളും മറ്റ് ധർമ്മ സ്ഥാപനങ്ങളും ഗുരുജിയുടെ കരുണാ സിദ്ധാന്തത്തെ പുനരുജജീവിപ്പിക്കുന്ന ഓജസുറ്റ സാക്ഷ്യങ്ങൾ തന്നെയാണ്.

ഹൃദയത്തിൽ കരുണ വറ്റിപ്പോയ , തുടർന്നും മനുഷ്യനായി ജീവിക്കുന്നവരെ കുറിച്ച് ” അനുകമ്പാദശക”ത്തിലെ രണ്ടു വരികൾ കൂടി കുറിയ്ക്കട്ടെ.

” അരുളില്ല യതെങ്കില സ്ഥി തോൽ
സിര നാറുന്നൊരു ടമ്പു താനവൻ”

ജാതിയുടെയും മതത്തിന്റെയും വർണ്ണത്തിന്റെയും പേരിൽ പോരെടുക്കുന്ന , കരുണ കാട്ടാത്ത അജ്ഞരായ സമൂഹത്തെ ഗുരുജി
” നാറുന്നൊരുമ്പു താനവൻ” എന്ന് വിശേഷിപ്പിച്ചത് ശ്രദ്ധേയമാണ്.

സഹജീവികളെയും സമജീവികളെയും സ്നേഹിച്ചും കരുണ കാണിച്ചും ജീവിക്കുന്ന ഒരു പുതു സമൂഹത്തെ വാർത്തെടുക്കാൻ ഗുരുജിയുടെ ആദർശങ്ങൾ പങ്കു വെച്ച് നമ്മാലാവത് നമുക്കും ശ്രമിക്കാം.

Mathew PV

Aathira Jeyadev

Having practically grown up as a ‘child of the Mission’, Aathira Jeyadev firmly believes that the Sree Narayana Mission can have something for everyone, and mean something to everyone.

Aathira’s connection with the Mission can be traced to her grandparents, Mr and Mrs Unnithan, who were among its early members. Her sprightly grandmother still actively participates in its events, at the ripe old age of (XXX). Thus, it is no surprise that the urge to serve the Mission was seeded in young Aathira, naturally and unconsciously, in the course of the time she spent there. She recalls, “I have grown up, and grown, with the Mission. From enjoying the games as a child, I started organising them and, and then performing for the events. Every time we went to the Mission, I saw the elderly at the Mission’s Home for the Aged Sick, and always wanted to interact with them. It was always at the back of my mind. So, after my ‘A’ Level Examinations, I asked my father whether I could volunteer at the Mission. That’s how I ended up serving at its Dementia Care Centre first. I realise that being there for the elderly is something that I enjoy”. After that encouraging start, Aathira has taken on other roles in the Mission.

This deeper involvement with the Mission has opened Aathira’s eyes to the scope of its activities. “I now realise that the Mission caters to single parent families, low income groups, and others – not just the elderly. So, anyone with a heart to volunteer can come to the Mission and find something that they can do,” she shares.

Aathira feels that all this bodes well for the Mission’s ability to attract more likeminded people, and, thus, continue being an integral part of the evolving Singaporean society, as it has done since its very foundation. “The Mission has the facilities and the people to do much more, and I would like to see the Mission grow in that way. There are more youth coming in. We recently had a Youth Symposium called SOWOKE, as part of the 70th anniversary celebrations, and we heard the youth on their take regarding volunteering and service. So, we are also learning what drives today’s youth, to stay relevant.”

That includes staying relevant to the layman, who should be able to view the Mission as a place they can enjoy being at. “It is nice to have events that can attract the everyday person to chill out at the Mission, like boardgames, etc.” These are, indeed, the plans in the pipeline for the Mission’s new premises at Race Course Road, where activities can be held without impinging on the operations at the Home for the Aged in Yishun. “I am looking forward to hanging out at the Mission in Race Course Road; we can have workshops, the guys can plan soccer games, we can hold one-day events to attract people,” Aathira enthuses, as she envisions the future of the Mission.

Marriage had brought the three of them to Singapore, but the Sree Narayana Mission brought Indulekha, Sneha and Indu Suresh together to forge a special friendship.

Indulekha was the first to arrive in Singapore and had joined her Singapore-born husband’s family in their regular activities at the Mission. “My children enjoy attending the classes here and mingling with the others; my daughter who first came here at age two is now 23 and she’s teaching the small children today. I made friends with the other two ladies in the Mission and we became close, like a family; we share our problems, we share our happiness, we share ideas with the older ladies. During the Chathayam festivities, this feels like our ancestral home, so much so that we don’t even want to go back to India for those celebrations. We started to dress alike even, and became like sisters. The bonding feels great and we even have activities outside of the Mission.”

For Sneha, the friendship was life-changing. “I had been in Singapore for 10 years before I first came to the Mission. I had no interaction with anyone in that time. My mother-in-law’s friend had ‘forced’ me to visit the Mission one day, saying I’ll make a lot of friends here. When my Singaporean husband came to the Mission with me, he renewed friendships with his childhood friends, including the husbands of my two friends. I am very happy about that, this feels like home. It’s as though the three of us have one mind, we have the same wavelength and we have great teamwork. Onam celebrations means being at the Mission to us. We’ll even discuss our Onam attire two months ahead, to dress alike and match everything. I cannot imagine what I’d be without the Mission. There is a huge difference in me – from the first 10 years and now; I used to be serious, now I’m jovial; I was always at home before and interacting only with my children and husband but now I go shopping with my friends. I appreciate the big exposure I had after coming to the Mission, so when I became a Singapore citizen five years ago, I immediately signed up for membership. I became a voluntary Malayalam language teacher here.”

Indu Suresh had been attending the Mission’s events since 1998, and says she will never miss its Onam and Chathayam events. “It’s the homely atmosphere here,” she reasons, and adds, “Our children have also become very close, we are like one family. The children have formed their own group; they play soccer together, they go out together on Sundays, they have meals. Sometimes we don’t even know that they have made their plans to meet and go out. I hope this friendship in the second generation continues, I am happy they are continuing the friendship.”

“This friendship is priceless, and our children’s friendship too; I get goose-bumps thinking about it. It will grow stronger over the years. It is all the Guru’s blessings – he gave us the unity,” Sneha adds.

Indulekha highlights the positive traits their children have gained from the Guru’s values that permeate the Mission. “The Mission makes us a better person, and our children also. They learn the Guru’s teachings – they learn about their own religion and how to respect other religions – that’s very important. My son even represented the Mission in an Inter-Religious talk last year when my husband was out of town. They also see the old folks at the Mission’s Home and learn about palliative care,” Indulekha relates. “Every weekend we look forward to coming to the Mission. I can’t imagine life without the Mission,” Indulekha quips.

“Even when it’s not an event, we come to the Mission, to help others in their activities. It’s our second home,” Indu Suresh concludes.

Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness, the Fourteenth Dalai lama of Tibet was born on July 6th, 1935, in a small farming village of Taktser in the province of Amdo, Northeast Tibet. It is true that he sincerely believes that there is nothing extraordinary about him but the world at large or at least a significant part of it thinks otherwise. 

The Dalai Lama is no ordinary monk. Ordinary monks do not get recognised as the world’s conscience keeper, neither do they win Nobel Prizes. The Dalai Lama the most human of human beings, is a touch of divine grace that has inspired people from all walks of life across the world to fall at his feet in abject reverence, and yet he is the very epitome of humility. At the tender age of two, he was chosen as the reincarnation of his predecessor, the thirteenth Dalai Lama. He was formally installed as the head of state of Tibet on February 22, 1940.

When communist China invaded Tibet in 1949, despite the tireless efforts of the Dalai Lama to bring about a peaceful resolution, the Chinese responded violently, destroying the very essence of Tibetan culture and spiritual heritage. They continued their atrocities, creating disillusionment and resentment amongst the Tibetans who responded by staging armed uprisings in Lhasa on March 10th, 1959. His Holiness had to flee the country and on March 17th, 1959, he crossed safely into India where he was warmly received and given asylum. 

In his plight to save his people and the Tibetan culture, the Dalai Lama began a peaceful struggle to preserve Tibet’s unique identity and regain the country’s independence. For his efforts, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in December 1989. The Nobel committee said that “The Dalai Lama, in his struggle for the liberation of Tibet, consistently opposes the use of violence. He has instead advocated peaceful solutions based upon tolerance and mutual respect in order to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of his people.”

Dharamshala

McLeod Ganj, in Dharamshala, the official residence of His Holiness, is named after the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab, David McLeod and Forsyth Ganj, the Divisional Commissioner. It is situated in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The mountains dominate the scenery of McLeod Ganj which is nine kilometres by bus and four kilometres by taxi uphill from Kotwali Bazzar. While inhabitants of lower Dharamshala are almost all Indians, McLeod Ganj is primarily a Tibetan area. It is surrounded by pine, Himalayan oak, rhododendron, and deodar forests. 

My Journey

Up upon the mountains of Dharamshala I braced hairpin bends and winding narrow roads with breath-taking snow cap ranges to receive the blessing of His Holiness. When I arrived in Dharamshala with my uncle from the Indian Diplomatic Service and his family, I was told that my audience, which was arranged months earlier, with Tenzin Geyche the former PA of His Holiness and former prime minister of the Tibetan Government in Exile, was cancelled. They said His Holiness was under the weather. I said “No, His Holiness will see me.” I was ill and I felt like the lady from Samaria in the Bible, I knew, like her, as she said about Jesus “If I could touch his robe I would heal.”

Within five minutes, His Holiness gave word that he would see me. My uncle told me it was his diplomatic connections; but I insisted it was my strong faith. His Holiness heard my inner call and plea from my heart for help and he came to me, and I was the only one at the audience that got a ‘Medicine Buddha’ from the divine hands of His Holiness. I went with joy as it was a telepathic connection between His Holiness and myself. His Holiness is my guru and in my deepest of sorrows and darkest hours I still can connect with him from Singapore. His protective hand is always on me and with it, I surmount hurdles and challenges, and his compassion protects me from dangers. I cry whenever I connect with His Holiness – it is an awesome divine experience. 

That I was blessed was no other than the will of the Almighty. My heart beat faster in excitement as I looked on the kindly face of His Holiness who gently took hold of my hand and gave me a Buddha. The experience was awesome and blissful. A strange sense of calmness and peace enveloped me as I reached out to receive the divine grace of His Holiness. I will cherish this day, 16th April 2006 till my dying day as I know I touched the hand of a living god.

For many of us, the advent of COVID-19, has brought about fear. The fear of contracting the virus, the fear of losing our livelihood, the fear of not being able to travel overseas to attend an emergency. 

Is COVID-19 the cause of this fear mongering within us? Think deeply and we may come to realize that COVID-19 is just a trigger. In the past we may have encountered other instances when we suffered much anxiety.  

So to overcome COVID-19 or any such triggers, we need to be able to manage this emotion called fear. Revered Sree Narayana Guru has explained the ‘why’ we fear and how to overcome this fear in the Daivadasakam. I shall focus on verses 1,3,5 and 10

In verse 1, Man is imploring the Lord or Supreme Power to help him overcome obstacles/dangers in this ocean of life. The word “Bhavabdhi’ refers to the Ocean of life. It implies the Fear in Man as he navigates his life’s journey in an environment of change. The Ocean’s surface is continuously in a state of flux. We are afraid of the strong waves we encounter on the surface and even more afraid of what lurks beneath, the unknown. We are certain that we need a mighty steamship to manoeuvre this Ocean of life and we implore the Lord to be the navigator/pilot/captain of this vessel and we dedicate this Steamship to the Lord.

In Verse 3, we acknowledge that the food that we partake and the clothes that we adorn are the offerings of Nature. Man is unable to create anything out of nothing. He can, however, employ the gifts of nature to feed and clothe himself. However, he must put in effort to utilise the offerings of nature to provide for himself.  The compassionate Guru advises contentment. Contentment is only possible if we share the benefits, that accrue from our efforts, with others.  Implicit in this is that we must respect Nature and share this planet with all other creatures. If we are willing to strive to provide for society, if we have a mindset of sharing and caring, then we can be assured that Nature will make available the necessary tools for a comfortable life. We will never fear circumstances that may take away the wealth, position, or the status we have acquired.  Revered Sree Narayana Guru has emphasized in his teachings that Man has let greed overcome him. Man is not contended with securing land for his use but has also exploited what is below the ground. In the process he has displaced the other creatures on this planet and altered the balance of the Environment. Conservationist have attributed the emergence of viruses like COVID-19 to humans displacing animals from their natural habitats which has caused these animals to come into closer contact with humans. Trafficking exotic animals for financial gain has also contributed to these zoonotic diseases. If Man respects nature, we will not need to fear such pandemics.

In Verse 1, we have noted that Man has a Fear of the Unknown. But if there is no unknowns, then this fear should dissipate. In Verse 5, Revered Sree Narayan Guru states that the Lord who we saw as a Power apart from us is actually the substance of Creation, which implies that each and every one is an embodiment of the Supreme and so are the Plant and animal kingdoms as well as all non-living things. So if the Lord is present in all, why do we need to Fear the unknown?

The concluding verse 10 reveals the Truth of our Being.  The Ocean of Change that Man feared in the First Stanza is the Very Source of Calmness, which you will only realize when you go to the depths. Similarly, when Man looks deep inside himself, he realizes his True Nature and then there is no more fear when he realizes the Oneness in everything. So never Fear.

I understand that Sree Narayan Guru composed the Daiva Dasakam at the request of an educator who wanted children, regardless of faith, to chant an universal prayer. The composition flowed from the lips of the Guru. In ten verses he provided the tools for a seeker to be transformed from an ignorant to a knower. Only a Realized  Master with compassion can deliver this masterpiece. Our Salutations to the Guru.

Jayadev Unnithan

What is Gerontology? 

Gerontology is both a field of study as well as a professional specialisation. The word “gerontology” has its origins from the Greek word “Gero” meaning old man, and “ology” which mean “the study of”. Therefore, the term Gerontology refers to the study of the ageing process and older populations. The vast variety of disciplines that may be involved in the study of ageing populations range from sociology, psychology, economics, social work, medicine, pharmacology, psychiatry, nursing, anthropology, architecture, history, geography, philosophy and even dentistry. Since ageing is a multidimensional process the study of ageing has to be multidisciplinary.

Emergence of Gerontology

The emergence of gerontology took place just after the mid-twentieth century, when issues related to health, retirement, long-term care, and poverty grabbed the attention of academics, politicians and service providers. The historical origins of gerontology took place in the United States and United Kingdom. In 1985, Bergener stated “Gerontology is still a very young science – a science on the way to developing its own logic of research – taking into account the complexity of the subject to be examined.” Between 1960 and 1999, a huge amount of literature was published, lifting the entire discipline to a respectable level of scientific enquiry. Simultaneously, international and national organisations were formed, such as the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics and International Federation of Aging; British Society of Gerontology, Canadian Geriatrics Society, Gerontological Society of America, Japan Gerontological Society, Gerontological Society of Malaysia, amongst many others.

Sub-Disciplines in Gerontology

Meanwhile, the field of gerontology started to sprout sub-disciplines such as social gerontology, medical gerontology, feminist gerontology, geropsychiatry, ethnogerontology, psychogerontology and gerontopharmacology. Today each of these disciplines has accumulated a pool of literature that is growing dramatically to keep up with the current global ageing process. The impetus for the rapid growth of gerontology is directly linked with the phenomenon of global ageing. Today, counties that have more than 7% of their population belonging to an age group above 65 years old are identified as ageing nations. Singapore joined the league of such nations at the turn of the last century.

Gerontology as a Profession

Why is the development of gerontology as a field of study and a professional specialisation so crucial to an ageing society? In other disciplines, it is easier to be updated as the literature would be concentrated in some specific journals or types of books. But gerontology, being multi-disciplinary by its very nature, poses an immense challenge. The Master of Gerontology Degree offered at SIM University since 2011 fills the gap to some extent, in Singapore. Professors of gerontology have to regularly attend conference and seminars to stay abreast with the newest developments.

Studies in Gerontology and their Application. 

Discoveries and technical advances become obsolete quickly as new findings replace the old with lightning speed (literally!). Practitioners such as social workers and counsellors have to upgrade their skills as new theories and concepts demand modification of practical skills and program designs. “In gerontology social scientists are faced with a wide variety of research problems ranging from the abstract (what are the effects of population ageing on present and future social structures) to the practical (what public policies can best reduce poverty among the aged?) while this quote is largely in reference to social aspects of gerontology, it is also applicable to other aspects of gerontology.

Research that is either pure or applied (or a combination of both) is relevant to gerontological studies, as long as the subject is to do with ageing, older persons and their families. An example would be the study of poverty among older people: what are the contributing factors? Are there policies that unintentionally promote poverty among the aged? Are older women more prone to slipping into poverty due to life course events and social structures? In what way to cultural factors, beliefs and norms play a part to sustain poverty among older women? What changes in policy are required to help this vulnerable group? In what ways can social interventions and programs assist the poor older women to overcome the obstacles?

Preparation for an ageing population necessitates the synchronisation of policies, services and programs as well as the reviewing of these to keep in tandem with changing cohort characteristics. Apart from this, new research has to be regularly conducted to provide statistics and insights for relevant policy planning and service provision.

Shaping Policies and Developing Services and Programmes

In the context of developing countries, it is often the case that target populations i.e older persons and their families, are unaware of services provided by governmental and non-governmental bodies. Public education has to be continually provided through various channels, such as radio, television newspapers (in relevant different languages) the internet and public talks so that the populace is kept informed of policies, services and changes (if any).

In Singapore, the Gerontological Society was formed in 1986 and since its inception it has been actively involved in public education, organising of conferences, and encouraging research in the field of ageing. Institutes or associations of gerontology have performed some of these functions in developed countries, and this has been of tremendous importance to increasing access to resources for the older population and their caregivers.

Changing Perceptions and Integrating the elders into Society

Negative stereotypes i.e., ageism exists in almost all societies, including Asian ones. It is invisible and sometimes indirect, escaping the eyes of the cursory observer – yet when we examine closely, with changing values of society, ageism creeps in. the positive strengths of older generations should be regularly reiterated, so that their past contributions are remembered, and their wisdom recognised. With more people trained in the artistic and scientific disciplines connected to gerontology, it is possible to remove to a great extent biased views and replace them with positive ones. Government ministries conduct skills training or upgrading courses, but these sometimes do not cater to the aptitude or capabilities of seniors. Gerontologists could be hired as consultants to design these courses so that the resources are not wasted, and older persons actually benefit from the courses.

Research into evaluation programs and courses is required, so that funding bodies may be informed of the usefulness of the activities concerned, as well as improvements required. Similarly, evaluation studies that monitor policies are also required for the same purposes. As knowledge and awareness of the physiology, psychology and social backgrounds of the participants is required as well as systematic tools of evaluation, gerontologists are well suited to conduct these evaluations.

Enhancing the lives of the Disabled

Geriatric and Gerontological experts should work hand-in-hand in the application of scientific advances, biotechnology and assistive devices to enhance the lives of the disabled. It is inevitable that an ageing population will add to the numbers of physically and mentally disabled. The naked truth is that the fourth age will bring to head such issues not only for the nation, but also for family members to deal with. Family and professional caregivers are faced with issues surrounding frailty, immobility, hopelessness, helplessness depression and suicidal intentions. Such stressful responsibilities do lead to physical and mental exhaustion of caregivers. Once again, in this arena, gerontologists and geriatric professionals can give their inputs into effective social and therapeutic interventions so that the needs of the caregivers are not neglected.

Enabling Caregivers

In the context of Asian societies, where the government expects families to provide primary and long term care, it is in its interest to care for the family caregivers hence assisting them to continue caring for elder relatives, lastly, the training of professional and family caregivers in issues and problems related to ageing is urgently needed, for instance managers of day care centres or shelter homes should be familiar with symptoms and indicators of diseases such as diabetes, medication and their side effects and crisis management interventions such as in cases of elder abuse or suicidal attempts.

The trainers themselves should have prior training in the field of gerontology. It is a challenge for trainers to adapt the knowledge gained from other developed counties to suit the local political, economic, and socio-cultural context. For such courses to be beneficial to the participants, models, concepts, and theoretical frameworks have to be relevant and suitable to the local population.

Society for all Ages

To sum up, it is to the advantage of all ageing nations to begin their preparations for a mature society, recognising the tremendous contribution of gerontologists towards the goal of a caring “Society for all Ages”.