Either a bond cut short or spouse lost to life, or having remained single all life and now ready to mingle… this matrimonial event was very different. All its participants were above the age of 50. Some even in their late 70s.
The unique meet, held on Sunday at Suryakiran Society in Varachha, Surat, met with a huge response. Nearly 200 of its registered members were grandparents.
At the stage set up, “eligible” men and women came and spoke about their reason to “settle down.” Some broke down recalling their now no longer alive spouse. All, however, unanimously stated loneliness as the reason to lookout for the bliss of a complete domestic life.
“Mindsets have to change. Just because we are old, does not mean we should not look forward to anything except flying visits by our children and grandchildren,” said a prospective groom.
Interestingly, the contenders all had to come out in the clean about their financial status. “Some of us have our own business, some on pensions, while some of us need financial dependence,” added a 62-year-old woman, pointing out that by and large the men were better provided for than the women at the meet.
However, it was the repeated need for companionship that emerged the underlying push for a majority to enter into matrimony at this juncture of life.
It sadly points at the fast-eroding Indian ethos to invest not only money but time towards their elderly
