Mangaluru: With Zest and their Best, Seniors Acts Thrill Audience at KMC-Nava Chaitanya I-day Bash

Mangaluru: Everyone celebrates Independence Day, but here at KMC-Nava Chaitanya, there is a Difference. The Elders as Young as 87 years like Ms.Vaniamma and Aunty Pauline Dance, Sing, Act, Comedy Jokes and Thrill you with no end. A rare and emotional Independence Day 2015 was celebrated with zest and energy by the “Young elders” of KMC -Nava Chaitanya at KMC-Attavar Sushrutha Hall on Saturday, 15 August. 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, Head, Geriatrics,KMC, is the founder of KMC -Nava Chaitanya and the Soul of the movement – Indeed a health promoting group for senior citizens.

An energetic gathering of members and Abaya Ashrama Seniors, assembled at the Hall in time. The programme began with invoking God’s blessings through a prayer song, followed by inauguration by lighting the lamp, and also showering flowers on the Portrait of Mahatma Gandhi by Dr Shyam Krishnan- Dept of Physiotherapy at KMC and Chief Guest of the function, along with other dignitaries on the dais namely Dr Prabha Adhikari- Director – Kmc – Nava Chaitanya, Er Jeradin D’Souza- Founder of Mangalore Alzheimer’s Association, Yoga Ratna Gopalakrishna Delampady, M Kusuma and Manjunath – Board members of Nava Chaitanya.

Addressing the gathering Dr Shyam Krishnan said that he was unnerved in the presence of huge achievers to be the chief guest , yet would love to grow old with these members whom he coaches as a physiotherapist and exercise along with them in Active Aging Sessions that he conducts for them. Delampady said he ‘found it a Colourful Function, with Colour Therapy being employed, with Yellow for Love and Red for vitality’ the Members of KMC N C, were all in Yellow T shirts; and members of Bejai Kmc – NC team were in Red.

Er. Jerardin D’souza stated that it was not the time for him to lecture on ‘Alzhiemer’s’ rather it was the time to celebrate watching the Elders perform and display their dormant talent. ‘Mr.Kamath called me the guest of Honour, BUT, I am honored to be a Guest & all my elders here are Chief Guests today”. Declining any credit attributed to him, 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 Everyones heart by his reporting from the Heart and always poses with his ”Girl Friend” Pauline Aunty 89 yr young (see pic in report)- we should be thankful to the team of Mangalorean.com who has always supported the Seniors activities by giving wide publicity” added Jerardin.

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 Adhikari, urged everyone to dance on stage to show unity and energy. Everyone danced as “much as they could ” and in sheer fun; and Freedom was celebrated in all its dimensions. The rare and energetic celebrations, cutting across all divides halted after devoutly and proudly singing the national anthem.

Kusuma Rao- VP of Nava Chaitanya welcomed the gathering and read the report, while board members Mark Saldanha, MS Kamath and Mrs Susheela Rao compered the programme.