B.L. Kaul
“The man who works and is not bored is never old” ( Pablo Casals)
The Hindus and Buddhists believe that life continues through reincarnation. The Christians, too, can see life as a continuing process through their belief in resurrection. So the death becomes just the end of one phase of life and the beginning of another, which can be more beautiful, more glorious and more complete. Then where does the aging stand in the way of learning?
My wife Promila and I visited England in 2003 to see our son Anil and his family. There I volunteered to accompany my grandson Ahan to swimming practice classes in a nearby Health Club. Both of us enjoyed each other’s company and usually chose a double decker bus to reach the club. It gave us occasion to munch crisps and chocolates and at the same time enjoy the lush green landscape for which England is famous.
The Private Health Club named “Lords” was located in a vast expanse of greenery and besides other facilities had three swimming pools – one for children, another for young men and women and a third one for the elderly of both sexes. I was indeed thrilled to see my grandson learn swimming alongwith other kids, some of whom cried for fear of drowning (in presence of their anxious parents). It was quite a sight to see some children swim like small fish in a pool of water-dashing here and there. I wondered how they managed to do so. I also watched with amazement how some old men and women regularly came and enjoyed themselves in the pool rather than brood at home as most of us do after retirement.
On one particular day, I took a chance to talk to Ms Margaret the tall and slim swimming instructor of Ahan, when she was free. I told her how I felt amazed to see old men, old women and children swim so gleefully while I dreaded to venture into deep water for fear of my life. She just smiled and said that I too could learn to swim. Expressing my doubt about it, I went on to tell her how I had nearly drowned in Jhelum at Srinagar forty five years ago.
“It was a hot August day of 1954 (during Amaranth holidays), I took my three-year old brother Nanajee in my lap and proceeded to Ganpatyar Ghat for a bath. There were many children in water and many among them swam adeptly at the ghat, in the gaps between Shikaras anchored on the banks of Vitasta. After giving my younger brother a bath, I asked him to sit, on a dry step of the ghat and myself went down a few steps in the river to have a bath. It then, foolishly though, occurred to me to try my luck at swimming. That was a big mistake. While practicing I realized that I had strayed into deeper water and my feet could not touch the ground. Realizing that I could drown, 1 put my hand out of water. A vigilant Shikarawala understood what was happening. He pushed his Shikara closer to me, caught my hair and pulled me out of water. He hurled his choicest abuses and slapped me while leading to the safety of the ghat. I didn’t, of course, mind his language and the slap as it had come from one who had saved my life. That was the last time I ever ventured into deep water and preferred the safety of a bath room for the rest of my life. There was, however, an exception forced by circumstances when thirty years later in 1984 I had to have a dip at Shadipur to immerse the ashes of my revered father. It also gave me a chance to see the proverbial “ Prayagech Bouni” – a stunted Chinar tree in the middle of the river Jhelum at Prayag near Sumbal town”.
Margaret listened to my story with rapt attention and there was a mischievious smile in her blue eyes. “ Mr. Kaul your story is interesting and fit for a tabloid ; I suggest that you learn swimming. “ Learn swimming at my age? You must be joking”, I said. “No I am not joking I mean it. There is no age bar on learning”, she said emphatically.
I was not sure that I could learn swimming at 60. She informed me that “ Lords” was organizing a swimming practice class for 30 days for those over 60, in a week’s time , at half the usual fee. She suggested that it was a good chance and I should enroll myself for the same . I did not commit to her but back home I broached the topic with my son Anil and daughter- in-law, Tina. They welcomed the idea and tried to convince and encourage me at the same time . However, I was skeptical about my learning capacity. The thought of childhood drowning experience discouraged me.
Next day my son and daughter-in-law suddenly arrived at the pool while I was watching Ahan and other children swim. They discussed the matter with Margaret and I was enrolled for the forthcoming swimming course for the elderly at “Lords”.
It took me about ten days to learn how to keep myself afloat in water, thanks to efforts of Margaret. I was able to cross the breadth of the pool in the middle (4’-9’ depth) on fifteenth day . Margaret and other participants and my grandson clapped enthusiastically when I performed this feat . It gave me undescribable comfort and joy to be able to swim. By the end of the one month’s practice, I was able to cross the whole length of the pool starting from the deep end. A journalist among the regular swimmers took my picture while swimming and it appeared along with my story in a popular weekly “ Take a Break” published from London, with the heading “ Bansi learns to swim at 60”. Isn’t it great? So, my dear friends, shed your inhibitions and do whatever you have wanted to do all your lives. Someone has rightly said that life begins at sixty! So don’t wait and start right away.
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