AT 70 years of age, most people would want to sit back and enjoy life. Not so for Suruj Kali of Suva, who was an active social worker, as reported by The Fiji Times on March 11, 1993.
Mrs Kali’s sprightliness was the envy of women half her age.
“Mrs Kali’s work may not measure up to the successes of many career women and social workers, but she was always ready to help others,” a friend of hers said.
Mrs Kali did sewing, cooking, and crochet with other women at a women’s club. They then sold the items from stalls set up at festivals or bazaars.
Money from the sales of the items was given out as donations to the needy.
“Sometimes people come to us for help because they are undergoing some sort of operation and we give about $50 or so to help them or we may help students with fees,” she said.
Mrs Kali, a mother of three, could not remember how long she had been involved in social work.
“Perhaps more than 40 years. I became active in social work after I got married in 1941.
“We set up the Fiji Mahila Mandal (a women’s club) at Samabula, Suva, and we raised money by selling sweets and other goods.”
Sometimes women from the club took cooked food to St Christopher’s Home, a home for abandoned children, at Naulu outside Suva.
On why she was so interested in social work, she smiled and said, “I just like helping other people.”
At the time of the report, the club’s membership had dropped from 50 to about 30.
Mrs Kali was also a member of Arya Mahila Mandal in Samabula.
So how did she manage to be still active despite her age?
“I attribute this to my good health, and I thank God for it.”
She had diabetes but managed to control it by “being active and not sitting around”.
A friend, Gendha Prasad, called Mrs Kali a woman who was always willing to help others.
She said Mrs Kali always managed to find time for the old and the sickly in her neighbourhood.
“If she knows a person is sick, she would visit them and talk to them, and sometimes even cook for them,” Ms Prasad said.
She said Mrs Kali helped in the Senior Citizens Week.
“She came the whole week and cooked savouries for the people.”
Mrs Kali made crochet and doilies for the HelpAge Centre (which helped and provided guidance to old people) in Suva. The centre sold the items and gave a small contribution back to her.
At home, Mrs Kali divided her time between making crochet and dollies during the day and, in the afternoons when it got cooler, busied herself in her small vegetable garden.
“I am very happy with my life, and I will continue helping people as long as I can.”
