Gerontological Issues in Bengali Film Dekha

Abstract

In the Indian context modernization, industrialization, urbanization, and westernization—‘the four horsemen of the modern apocalypse’ (Laurence Cohen, 1998:p.17) have a significant predicament in recent dimensions of gerontology. The problem relates to population ageing, controlled fertility, mortality rates and eventually the increase of life expectancy. The proliferation of old age home, extensive overseas migration, transnational dispersal of families, dissociation of the traditional multigenerational joint family, and simultaneous rise up of the nuclear family etc., are also some major causes behind the problems. These multidimensional interrelated challenges have been artistically shown in case of some old characters in Gautam Ghosh’s national award-winning Bengali film Dekha (2001). Particularly in the life of the protagonist, Sashibhusan Sanyal the problems have found differently added significance because of his disability (blindness).But his positive attitude to fight against the oddities of life contextualizes the film with a projection to highlight the old age problems from three main foci—biological, psychological, and social, to justify the relevance of the problematic. This paper argues the necessity of a consolidated progressive action by social scientists, policy makers and the elderly community to promote healthy and fruitful ageing at all spheres to counter the old age hazards.