They are in the winter of their lives but there was spring in their heart and a spring in their steps when they took the ramp for the first time in their lives.
Twenty-two senior citizens of Salt Lake got an opportunity to undergo an experience that is typically associated with youth. The event was Balai Shat that, as the name suggests, dealt with the 60s. The evening was part of Protidin Prayasam Pranam, a month-long cultural festival organized by the CG Block-based NGO in the space designated for events on the building's ground floor.
The ramp walk germinated last year in Prayasam founder Amlan Ganguly's belief that age was just a number. “The Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations stress on all age groups working together. Often we see the elderly people sitting around doing nothing. Time hangs heavy for them. This also reflects on their mental health as they feel depressed and left out. This walk has more to do with boosting their self-worth and to show them that they can still contribute to activities than with fashion,” said Ganguly.
The show was divided into two segments. One featured black and white clothes while the other was a riot of colours, named Scintillating 60. The participants were allotted to either segment by lottery..
The participants were delighted to scan their wardrobe for the right outfit. “I wore my wedding Benarasi after 39 years,” trilled CA Block resident Priya Mukherjee, whose husband Ashish also took part in the walk. Hirak Ghosh of CB Block ordered a new kurta-pyjama set online.
Not just clothes, coiffure also received a lot of attention. Mamata Dutta went to a parlour to get her hair set. “They took so much time that I was worried that I might miss the event itself,” the CA Block resident laughed. Seema Haldar of DA Block bought an artificial bun of hair. Debabrata Mukherjee borrowed his 94-year-old mother's walking stick to complete his zamindar look.
Dawn of D-Day
The day dawned in a rush of excitement. “I prayed all night that my walk or my timing turns out right. I could certainly not hope for both to be perfect,” said Chandra Banerjee, a 69-year-old from BB Block. They had rehearsed for three days. Some, like Keya Bagchi of CA Block had practiced the walk at home. “They had sent us the track.”
Songs from the 60s and 70s were chosen, which would resonate with that age group, keeping in mind the physical stature of the participant. “Initially I had given peppy numbers to the fast walkers and slow numbers to the slower ones. But Dada (Ganguly) asked me to switch,” said Manish Chowdhury, who had directed the participants. Thus Debika Bhattacharya, a BH Block resident close to 80 years of age, was to walk to the Nazrulgeeti, Projapoti projapoti. “The first day she took 3.5 minutes. But today she stunned us by completing her walk in two minutes,” Manish said. “Amar komor, hnatu, shob soja hoye gyachhe,” laughed Bibha Adhikary of FD Block.
All the participants were full of praise for Manish and the Prayasam team. “They had so much much patience and despite our failings, always encouraged with a smile,” said Indira Dutta of DA Block.
The event drew a full driveway which was decorated and chairs were placed on both sides. The show-stopper was Nandita Chatterjee. The BB Block resident is also shooting a short film with Prayasam. “So we thought she is our star,” Ganguly smiled. As she walked to Kaisi yeh paheli, Chatterjee could not contain her delight. “Rekha (who the song was picturised on in the film Parineeta) there, me here,” she grinned afterwards.
One candid moment was when Kamal Ghosh's three-and-half-year old granddaughter rushed to the ramp and embraced him mid-walk. The 71-year-old picked her up and completed the walk.
With the event over, the big question plaguing the participants is when they would get to do something similar again. “We want Balai Eksotti next year,” was the chorus.