I am seventy-three, living alone in a senior citizens’ home for the last four months. My wife expired about a couple of years ago and our only child, a daughter, is married and lives with her husband and daughter abroad. I have kept my nearby flat locked. I am an introvert incapable of becoming a gregarious person though I want to. Always feel lonely, anxious and upset. Daughter frequently rings me and I have consulted a psychiatrist but got no relief. Please help.
–T. K. Karanjai, New Delhi
I hope no local thieves read this column and realize your flat is empty. As for the problem of introversion, one solution would be to do some ‘social’ drinking to get you in a gregarious mood. But I wouldn’t really recommend that. It needs to be established whether your problems are mainly psychological or physiological: after that one would know what kind of counselling might help if your current psychiatrist can’t. If you’re living in a senior citizens’ home and still haven’t made a close friend or met like-minded people, then maybe you need to meet more. Ring the toll-free Delhi helpline of HelpAge India (18001801253), and talk to them or visit their office. They will assist in defining the problem and suggest counselling if necessary. They could also put you in touch with your area-based senior citizens’ association, or clubs or organizations where you could attend meetings or talk over the phone or have people visit you, according to preference. They might also arrange for you to visit the residents of other seniors’ homes. Apart from this I wonder if you have mentioned the problem to the home where you are staying. They would be expected to try to solve it: but if they have reprimanded you or chased you away with a club (not the social kind) then it’s all the more reason to seek external help.
Most respectfully, I beg to state that I am a pass-out scholar of M.Phil. in computer science, of regulation-M.Phil. 2007 under Vinayaka Missions University of distance education, Salem, Tamil Nadu, Pin–636308. The exam month and year was July 2008. And I have passed in October 2008. The course duration is one year. I shall be highly obliged if you kindly tell me whether the said university’s M.Phil. in computer science would be valid as well as eligible in government jobs in the state of West Bengal.
–Md. Hasanujjaman, Raiganj
It’s nice of you to be so respectful (though if you knew me better you might not). The Distance Learning Council, Indira Gandhi National Open University, informs me that the distance learning courses of Vinayaka Missions University are approved not only by them but also by the University Grants Commission till 2012 (and there is no reason to believe they–or you–will do anything sufficiently silly to result in revocation of recognition thereafter); and that their degrees are therefore valid. Both the DEC and VMU assure me you can apply for government jobs not only in Bengal but any state. Good luck: and if you manage to land a good job then it’s not just the degree that’s ‘eligible’ but you too when you start thinking about settling down.
Questions may be sent to burythequestion@gmail.com
I want some help ;P
More likely you ‘need help’.