This past week an image of an ageing woman weeping along with her young granddaughter stirred social media.
The heart-rendering shot featured the lady sitting in an old-age home as her granddaughter wept, while sitting close to her. The backstory that was being circulated along with the viral picture, stated that the young girl was on a school trip to the old-age home, not being aware that her grandmother resides there.
According to the story, the girl was informed by her parents that her grandmother had gone to live with one of their relatives, which was why the sight of her ‘granny’ being there at the old-age home shook her up!
The story and the picture went so viral, it was also shared by the likes of cricketer Harbhajan Singh and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, many of whom condemned the act of children abandoning their ageing parents and sending them over to live in old-age homes.
But as it caught attention of more people, a little more truth was revealed about it.
The picture is not really ‘new’ and happens to be nearly 11 years old. Back in September 2007, photojournalist Kalpesh S Bharech was invited by the principal of Maninagar, Gujrat’s GNC school to participate in their event which was to feature their students meeting and interacting with folks at an old age home.
Although much of the story and the sentiment behind it remains true – Bharench had then revealed in a TV interview given around the same time the picture was first taken back in 2007, that the lady had gone to the old-age home at her own will and was nor really abandoned by her family. Atleast that is what the old-age administrative staff told him.
The story, however still heart-touching, has caused quite a havoc for the family in-question and it has also made people challenge the authenticity of such internet-stories being shared on social platforms.
What are your thoughts?