‘KMC Nava Chaitanya’ Vintage Revelers Celebrate Republic Day in Zest
Mangaluru: “Ageing is not ‘lost youth’, but a new stage of opportunity and strength”- Betty Freidman; “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it does not matter”- Mark Twain; “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young”- Henry Ford-these thought-provoking quotes by eminent persons show that there is no age limit when you are capable of having some fun and want to party. Imagine an 80-year-old lady swinging her body, and a couple other grandmas/grandpas lifting their legs and shaking their hips to few popular Bollywood tunes. Imagine a teeth-less 79-year-old “young damsel” singing and enthralling the audience with her best solo performance, all that and much more talents were unleashed at the Kasturba Medical College Nava Chaitanya Republic Day Celebrations held on Thursday 26 January 2017 at KMC-Sushrutha Hall, Attavar, Mangaluru. These Vintage Revellers” simply rocked and enthralled the audience.
Everyone celebrates India’s Republic Day, but here at KMC-Nava Chaitanya, there is a Difference- for the fact that the Elders as Young as 75-85 years can Dance, Sing, Act, Joke and Thrill you with no end. A rare and emotional Republic Day 2017 was celebrated with zest and zeal by the “Young elders” of KMC – Nava Chaitanya during the Republic day bash organized by KMC-Nava Chaitanya in association with Lions Club-Ashoknagar. The energetic “Youth” ranging from 60 years to 85 years in age, rejoiced with radiant inner energy. They danced, sang, joked, recited freedom poems, and performed skits, putting the teenagers way behind. The credit for all the activeness of all these grandmas and grandpas should go to Dr Prabha Adhikari, the founder of KMC -Nava Chaitanya and the Soul of the movement – Indeed a health promoting group for senior citizens.
Yes, the Seniors know how to be punctual – An energetic gathering of Seniors of Nava Chaitanya assembled at the KMC Hall in time, and the programme began at 10 am sharp with invoking God’s blessings through a prayer song rendered by Dr Anasuya Salian and her husband B T Salian, followed by the welcome address by Kusuma Naveen Rao- the president of KMC Nava Chaitanya. Inauguration of the programme by lighting the lamp was done by Chief Guest- Ln Harsha Kumar Kedige and his wife Lioness Kanakavalli Kedige, along with other dignitaries on the dais namely Dr Prabha Adhikari- Former Director, KMC- Nava Chaitanya, Er Jeradin D’Souza- Founder of Mangalore Alzheimer’s Association, Kusuma N Rao and Surendra Bekal-Secretary, Nava Chaitanya.
Addressing the gathering Ln Kedige said that he was unnerved by the presence of huge achievers to be the chief guest, yet would love to grow old with these members. He complimented the yeoman service and care that is provided by KMC Chaitanya to its members, who are able to keep their life healthy through exercise and diet. Seeing all these young members in their vintage age who were active, means there is still fun in life at an older age, he said. He also had words of praise towards Jerardin D’Souza – the man behind in forming the Mangalore Alzheimer’s Association, who also works hard to keep the senior citizens happy and care for their healthy life, basically given them a new life.
Dr Prabha Adhikari, being humble, said that earlier being 60 and healthy without disease was the target, now being 80 and independent without disease is the target, reaching 100 with no support or dependency is the goal of Active Ageing, she declared. Dr Prabha said that the organization which celebrates 15 years of existence today was started in 2002 as Abhaya Ashraya and later changed to KMC Nava Chaitanya to provide health benefits for senior citizens and presently around 725 senior citizens are regularly exercising at this organization. Around 80% of Indian senior citizens suffer chronic diseases whereas around 30 % suffer one or the other diseases such as blood pressure and diabetes. She urged everyone to take an active part in co-curricular activities, act or dance to show unity and energy. And to her surprise, all these vintage revelers sang, danced, acted as “much as they could” and in sheer fun; and India’s Republic Day fun was celebrated in all its dimensions.
Er. Jerardin D’Souza stated that it was not the time for him to lecture on ‘Alzheimer’s’ rather it was the time to celebrate watching the Elders perform and display their dormant talent. He acknowledged and praised Dr Prabha Adhikari for being the Force, a true Leader, behind KMC-Nava Chaitanya, for a thunderous applause. “And Alfie of mangalorean.com is always a special guest who has brought KMC-Nava Chaitanya close to Every ones heart by his reporting from the Heart and we should be thankful to the team of Mangalorean.com who has always supported the Seniors activities by giving wide publicity” added Er Jerardin.
Lioness Kanakavalli also spoke and praised KMC Nava-Chaitanya for their care and love towards the seniors, and assured full support from Lions Club in their future activities. Prizes were distributed to the winners who took part in various competitions, and a new year kit comprising of Christmas Cake pieces, and fruits were donated to Abhaya Ashraya. Five Lucky winners among the guests were presented with gifts. The vote of thanks was proposed by Secretary Surendra Bekal, while Dr Anasuya Salian and Hussain Baji compered the formal and cultural part of the ceremony respectively.
Following the formal programme, the cultural entertainment kicked-off with various performances in the form of singing, dancing and skit showcased by the members of Chaitanya. Kudos should go to Narmada- an ECG Technician at KMC Attavar for her excellent choreography and direction in getting these “artists” give their best performances. A job well done, Narmada! The rare and energetic celebrations, cutting across all divides halted after devoutly and proudly singing the national anthem.
Concluding with my perspective, in today’s civilized social structure, it is disturbing to see a trend of senior citizens being deprived of their comforts, particularly by children being indifferent to their aged parents at a time when the parents need parental care most. It is to look after such orphaned aged persons and also those senior citizens who need help managing their health, that some service-minded organizations like KMC Chaitanya and Mangalore Alzheimer’s Association have come forward to render their yeoman service in giving comfort, advice and love to these old-age citizens.
I end this column with a witty poem on “Tension” contributed to Mangalorean.com by Lilly Veigas of KMC Nava Chaitanya –
“The moment you are in ‘Tension’, you will lose your ‘Attention’.
Then you are in total ‘Confusion’, And you will feel ‘Irritation’.
Then you will spoil your personal ‘Relation’. Ultimately you won’t get ‘Co-operation’.
Then your BP will rise-“CAUTION”. Instead, understand the ‘Situation’.
And try to think about a ‘Solution’. And do not think it’s free ‘Suggestion’.
It is only for your ‘Prevention’. If you understand my ‘Intention’.
You will never encounter anymore ‘Tension’.