RETIRED LIFE

Retirement age is generally 60 and what does one do after retirement.  Some people do not retire at all and continue to work till they drop dead.  Some people indulge in social service and enjoy retired life.  Some people do nothing and enjoy life.  Some people watch TV serials from morning to night and read the whole newspaper including classified, matrimony, etc.  Some people retire from work and think that they have reached the end of their life and do nothing after retirement.

For some people life actually begins at retirement.  In the case of my parents a new life began after my father retired from work.

Over the last 10 years my parents have been spending their time in stitching different designs of dresses and other ornamental clothing for Hindu Temples.  My father Shri.T.R.Parthasarathy, who is 84 years old, takes care of the cutting of the canvas and velvet cloth whilst my mother Smt.Pushpa Parthasarathy, who is 78 years old, does the stitching.

The Priests of various temples bring the samples and then TRP and TPP swing into action to create a replica with some modifications in the design.

They both visit the shops in Parrys Corner in Chennai once a month to buy their raw materials and are very busy from morning 9 a.m. to evening 6 p.m. doing this service to various Hindu Temples.  Some of the items that they have done recently were available at home when I visited Chennai last week.  I have captured some of these in my iPhone:

Every day they are creating different designs and they devote all the time and energy in their pursuit to create these wonder handmade dress for the Gods and Godesses of various temples.  It is one way of serving the God and it gives them the requisite satisfaction and pleasure.

Over the last few years they have also taught their craft to various ladies in the neighborhood in Triplicane in Chennai.  Lot of people come seeking their help for creating these dresses and ornamental fittings and their never ending flow of new designs keeps them and their clients very happy.

This is a very unique service which is difficult to replicate or carry on as a legacy through the next generation.  I pray to God that they both live a long life with good health and continue to stay happy.

My father retired from work but is now enjoying his new engagement of creating handmade dresses for Hindu Temples and is very happy to be of assistance to my Mother.  Their bonding has gone to a different level over the last 10 years and I have come to know a new dimension to the so called "Retired Life".  Once you are Retired from work you can start a new Life and hence I think they coined it as Retired Life.

I am very proud of my parents and indeed fortunate to have born to this wonderful couple.

T.P.Anand
Dubai, U.A.E.
9th August 2013