Kendrapara: Despite her ripe old age, a nonagenarian is going strong and looking forward to celebrate her 96th birthday shortly.
Meet 95-year-old Hara Rana, wife of late Akuli Rana, in Bhagabatpur panchayat of Kendrapara block, who still does her daily chores without depending on her family.
Hara is energetic, eating healthy vegetables and fruits. This might be the reason for her survival to such an advanced age.
Hara, who belongs to a family of florists, has been sticking to her traditional occupation. Every day, she collects flowers and makes garlands. Later, she goes to the market to deliver consignments of garlands to shops and temples without the help of her family.
Her traditional occupation keeps her fit, though she has been suffering from hearing impairment.
When she was about 35 years old her husband died and she was forced to take over the responsibility of bringing up six children. She struggled hard to run her family. With her limited income she looked after the family and managed to get her daughters married. Now, her only son, Damodar Rana, maintains the family working as a driver.
Damodara says he had asked his mother to spend her remaining life in the company of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, but she doesn’t listen to him. Hara says as long as she is healthy she would make garlands and sell them.
She also helps her daughter-in-law in cooking. “My mother-in-law makes her own bed and refuses our help,” said Ritei Rana, Hara’s daughter-in-law.
“My mother-in-law wakes up at dawn. I go to nearby areas to collect flowers early in the morning. Later, we both start making garlands. After that my mother-in-law goes to market to deliver the garlands,” said Ritei.
Damodar says that they were truly blessed to still have their mother with them. “I thank God for protecting her,” he said.
“Hara, who is known as Budhi Maa, lives in our village. She still enjoys her life. She is loving, caring and very jolly,” said Manoj Rana, a village youth.
She may be old and uneducated, but one can’t trick her when it comes to money. She knows exactly how much money she gets and is able to count it, said Hara’s grandchildren.
August 15 Hara was felicitated by Collector Dasarathi Satapathy for going strong and continuing her traditional occupation, said Chitta Ranajan Behera, sarpanch of Bhagabatpur.
“I am fortunate to be blessed with such a mother,” said Damodar.
PNN
