A heart-wrenching scene unfolded at an old-age home in the Bolagarh area of Khordha district on Independence Day, leaving everyone, including officials, in tears. Bolagarh Tehsildar and BDO in-charge, Bijay Kumar Sethi, had visited the shelter to celebrate the occasion with elderly residents.
What he witnessed, however, was not just a celebration but a painful reminder of broken family ties.
As Sethi interacted with the inmates, one after another began narrating their stories - stories of betrayal, neglect, and abandonment at the hands of their own children. Many revealed that although they had families, they were forced into loneliness and despair.
Some said their sons and daughters-in-law were well-settled in jobs, while others spoke of children who had become successful businessmen. Yet, despite their prosperity, these parents were cast aside. A few shared that their children took away their land and houses, leaving them destitute. Others revealed how they had sold property to educate their sons, only to be thrown out later by the very children for whom they had sacrificed everything.
The pain in their voices and the tears in their eyes moved everyone present. Overwhelmed by the sorrow, BDO Bijay Kumar Sethi too broke down, unable to hold back his emotions.
The incident has sparked discussions on the harsh realities of old age and how neglecting parents despite having means has become a disturbing trend in society. The visuals of elderly inmates crying and consoling each other have left many shaken, serving as a stark reminder of the need for compassion and responsibility towards one’s own parents.