Celebrating five decades of togetherness

The State may be infamous for its high divorce rates, but Sunday evening saw nearly 350 couples who had completed 50 years of married life come together at a novel gathering organised by the Nair Service Society at NSS College, Neeramankara.

From the really frail to those who seemed to be full of enthusiasm despite their advanced years, the couples walked in together, in many cases the entire family in tow to see their parents being felicitated.

Sasikumaran Nair and his wife Prasanna Sasikumar, residents of Vanchiyoor, were among those who were felicitated. The couple who have completed 52 years together say it is definitely a milestone and looking back, they are happy about their journey, what with their children and grandchildren well settled. “It is all God’s blessing, as being in good health and able to continue to work are important,” Mr. Sasikumaran says.

The secret to staying together is to care for each other and keep ego at bay, the couple said. This is seconded by Ravindran Nair and Jayalakshmi, retired employees of the Kerala Financial Corporation, both happy at seeing even infirm couples turn up for the programme.

Looking back at 56 years of their partnership, they say the new generation should probably take a leaf from the book of those who are being felicitated. “Disagreements are bound to happen, but they should make some allowances. Adjustments are needed to make a marriage work,” Mr. Ravindran says.

S. Kuttappan Nair, who was NSS Kadakampally karayogam secretary and has authored a book on Mannathu Padmanabhan and the NSS, and his wife Gomathy Amma who have been married for 51 years also believe in doing whatever is needed to keep the boat afloat. “I was working. When my wife would be transferred across the State, I would do everything, including cooking, for the children. Today too, I cook,” he says.

Besides taking care of their home, their dogs and their garden keep the couple engaged.

“There is not enough time in a day for us,” Mr. Kuttappan Nair says.

Shared interests are also what bring a couple together. R. Gopalakrishnan Nair, who was Keltron general manager, and his wife Jaya, a homemaker, say doing things together and avoiding conflict is what makes marriages tick. The great-grandparents say life has ups and downs but if one takes it in their stride, then life is easier. The couple also love to potter about in their garden, growing vegetables and looking after their flowers.

Being engaged is key to mental and physical health, the couples say.

Mr. Sasikumaran runs the Thiruvananthapuram arm of an architectural consultancy after retiring from the Town Planning Department 23 years ago. Ms. Prasanna, though a homemaker, keeps herself busy as NSS Vanchiyoor women’s wing secretary, and taking part in activities of the residents’ association, senior citizens’ and a women’s forum.

Former Chief Secretary R. Ramachandran Nair and his wife Lakshmi R. Nair and former IPS officer S.R. Gopalakrishnan Nair and Sathi were among those honoured at the function, inaugurated by former bureaucrat J. Lalithambika.