Invitation for a meal!

 A few years ago, I met an old friend at the Delhi airport. I was on a five-day official visit to Delhi and was happy to bump into a friend after nearly 10 years. We were colleagues at a company in Delhi where I was working at the time. After exchanging pleasantries, my friend said,

 

“ Hey, why don`t you drop in for dinner one of these days. I will be at the station for the next week. It will be great to go down memory lane. Give me a `ping`. I will ensure that Rama cooks your favourite Rajma chawal”

 

I am always suspicious of such vague invitations.  When I rang up the friend the next day and got him on the line after several attempts, he said he was busy with some unexpected development and that he would call back. But he never called.

 

Another experience I had was much worse. This friend invited my wife and me for dinner on a specific date and asked us to arrive around 8:00 pm. As a person who believes in sticking to time, my wife and I reached the friend`s home and rang the bell. After a few minutes, his wife, dressed in a nightie,  opened the door.

 

She said, “ What a pleasant surprise. Raghu did not tell me that you are coming. Please come in and take your seats. I will be back in a few minutes”. So saying she went in and came back dressed in a saree. After the usual preliminaries, we hesitantly told her that we were visiting because her husband  Raghu had invited us for dinner. She was shocked and embarrassed. Even before she could gather her wits to respond to us, in walked Raghu,  who seemed to be equally shocked to see us. Clever guy that he was, he said,

`Sorry Raj,  I thought I had invited you for dinner tomorrow. Did not expect you today.” While his wife was frowning and gave him a dirty look, Raghu tried to save the day.’ No problem, yaar.  It is too late for Meena to cook a meal. We will go out for dinner. Where do you want to go? Bikanervala or Agarwal`s?” Both my wife and I felt miserable, but could not back out of the invitation to dine out.

 

After I settled down in Nana Nani, the Senior Citizen Home where I live now,  I rarely go out. On the rare occasions  I go to attend a Rotary or some club meeting, I meet old friends. On one occasion, when a friend asked me to come home for meals,  I  told him. “ I will. Please tell me a specific date and time. As a VIP ( Velai Illadha Paya- a man without any work) I have all the time in the world. It will be my pleasure to enjoy a meal in your family`s company,” I added, “ Please tell your wife to keep the menu simple. All that I need for lunch is 2 chapatis, dhal,  some sabji and a glass of buttermilk. If it is dinner time, any one tiffin item is good enough to fill my shrunk tummy ( the interior and not the exterior )”

Needless to say, I am still awaiting his invitation to the meal.

 

Lesson: It would be advisable to discreetly check with the wife before accepting an invitation for  meal from an  overenthusiastic friend.

 

 

 

Mythili Seshadri - Will power matters in life!

  I consider most Indian women to be human dynamos.  The number of things they pack in a day`s work is amazing. They work 24x7x365 days. There are no Sundays or holidays for them. For those who do some jobs in addition to managing a home, life is even tougher. There are millions of them in the world. What makes  64-year-old Mythili Seshadri stand out in this crowd is her will power to do things she enjoys doing despite a Liver condition, which calls for her to be extremely careful in her food habits, medicines that she can take, and also the kind of activities she can undertake.

Right from her college days in Coimbatore, where she was born and brought up, she was inclined towards social service. She was actively involved both in the National Service Scheme ( NSS) and Community Social Service (CSS), which was to influence her career choice later in life.  Her marriage at 24 took her to Bombay, where her husband, a successful advertising professional, was working. While she was brushing up on English speaking skills,  she decided to get a B Ed from the Bombay Teachers Training College and qualify herself as a teacher.

` I was thrilled when I learnt that out of 1600 applicants, only 100 had been shortlisted and I was one of them,` says Mythili.

Arrival of her son within two years of her marriage prevented her from taking up any teaching assignments in Mumbai. The family moved to Chennai in 1988, where she was to realize many of her dreams over the years.  As a person who cannot sit at home idly, in her spare time she learnt Shorthand, Typing, Tailoring & Embroidery. It was in 1997, a friend influenced her to consider teaching special children. She joined  Vidya Sagar, a school for special children in Chennai, as a volunteer in their Vocational Rehabilitation Unit.  Her formal training in Tailoring and Embroidery helped her become instrumental in starting the Tailoring unit in Vidya Sagar. She taught the students to make drawstring bags,  scrunchies ( cloth rubber band), hand towels to name a few. These were done using the scrap materials given by a boutique in the neighborhood.

`I was delighted when I found that some of the students I had trained were given jobs in a well-known  Boutique, where they did well. But I also realized that, being a mere volunteer, not an employee, you are not taken seriously by the management.  So I decided to get a formal qualification as a special educator by joining `Bala Vidyalaya`, a school for the hearing impaired,  and did a one-year diploma in Teaching Young Hearing  Impaired, a course which is recognized by the `Rehabilitation Council of India`.

 Along the way, she also completed two short-term courses in Alternative and Augmentative Communication conducted by Vidya Sagar.  After working in Bala Vidyalaya for a couple of  years, she decided to quit and started teaching language therapy to children with special needs at home. Her students also included children with additional disabilities like mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy besides being from different age groups. This one–on–one therapy helped children who cannot hear and speak to get integrated into mainstream schools. 

`It was tough because these children do not understand direct communication, but respond to alternative methods of teaching where you patiently take them through several stages using different props to make them understand things. The course also involved training the parents of such children so that they can continue to practice the lessons at home. It was heartening when, after two years of training, they were ready to be integrated into mainstream schools. That is the biggest satisfaction from the job I got.` However, since teaching such children necessitated speaking loudly, she developed vocal cord problems, which posed the danger of Mythily losing her ability to speak. So reluctantly, she had to give up a career she loved so much.

This setback did not deter Mythili from pursuing other interests, which helped her bring out the inherent creativity in her. She channelized her creative abilities by involving herself in making handicrafts and a variety of cloth bags, curtains, etc.  Most of these items were made from waste cloth and other waste materials, thus furthering the concept of `Waste to wealth`. However, she did not do it as a regular business but produced bags, curtains from old saris, wall hangings, plastic bag dispensers, to name a few, based on specific demands from friends and relatives.

Mythili says, “I stitch my blouses, salwars myself. By not depending on the tailor,  I save money and time chasing him. I use the scraps from these to make other patchwork items  like cushion  covers, pouches, potholders, etc.”

While she was busy creating useful items from waste clothes, another friend introduced her to the fascinating world of `Quilts`, which again opened up opportunities for converting used clothes into mattresses, table runners,  wall hangings, etc. For this she had to attend a training workshop run by `The Square Inch(TSI)` in her neighborhood before she could start working on the quilts. She participated in  the  First International Quilt Festival held in Chennai, in 2019 where her quilt titled `Pinwheel in a square inch` was displayed. It was made using more than 5000 cloth pieces, each  measuring one square inch.  Since then she has participated in 3 International Quilt Festivals organised by The Square Inch.

When I asked her about the process of making a quilt, she said, ` I first think of an idea,  convert the idea into a picture/drawing, then look for materials to make the quilt, and then get into action. I used an old saree to create a quilt to cover the Diwan set in my home. Similarly, I made curtains out of old cloth materials. Every quilt is like a piece of art. I thoroughly enjoy making them` says Mythili. She is currently active in the informal group of quilt makers in Chennai.

Mythili`s childhood dream of becoming a dancer came true when she was in her early fifties.  She joined a dance school in her neighborhood which was providing dance training for senior citizens, ranging in age from 50 to 80.. She became a part of the group from the school, which was invited to perform at the temple & other festivals in the city.

Mythili did all the above while busy bringing up her son & daughter, who are both married and blessed her with four lovely grandchildren. A most interesting aspect of her life is the fact that she never appointed a ubiquitous maid servant, not even a part-time one,  to help her  with some of the household chores. Where did she get the energy for this? Her reply sums up the practical woman that she is: `I did not have any maid servant all these years because I realized early that dependence on them can cause unnecessary anxieties and tensions. My day is not affected by the idiosyncrasies of a maid. With a strong willpower as my strength,  I have been managing the home and my outside interests. Having a two-wheeler of my own has also helped me  in being independent  to  move around  on assignments.`

Mythili also gives full credit to her supportive husband for encouraging her to do whatever she enjoys doing.  As they say, there is always a man behind a successful woman and vice versa

 

SHORTS IN THE DARK

 I saw a programme of short plays in English, ranging from 15 minutes to 20 minutes each, at a Show titled `Shorts in the dark` organized by Coimbatore Arts and Theatre Society, this Sunday. This society, founded by K.V.Siddhartha, has been promoting the amateur stage in Coimbatore. All the plays directed by different directors were good, but only a few actors stood out for living their roles. Among the five plays I saw, while I liked the play `In search of truth` featuring the husband and wife team of Shakthi and Gaury Chakravarthy, I felt, like many others in the audience, that  `The Waltz`, the last play to be  the best play among the five I saw, with a contemporary theme scripted by Mr.Vithal Rajan, an octogenarian writer and activist who lives in Coonoor and directed by Rohini Sivalingam a professional story teller and writer.

 My younger daughter, a performing artist and a well-known professional storyteller in the family, acted as the old lady and Pradeep Yuvaraj, a business storyteller, as the old man. It was a demanding role for both, and I must say that both did not act but lived their respective roles. The intense emotion shown by Sowmya in the last scene brought tears to the eyes of many in the packed audience. My elder daughter, Kavitha, the visual artist in the family,  had come from Chennai specially to see her younger sister excel in the role she played.

The programme was held in the ITC Welcome Hotel on Race Course Road, which was the Venue Partner. There was a packed audience consisting of friends and relatives of the performing artists, who had paid Rs.1,500 each to witness not only some good plays but also indulge in the sumptuous snacks provided during breaks and a delicious lunch, provided by the hotel, after the show. Food for the mind and the stomach indeed! It was a time well spent on a Sunday morning.

 

 

A low-key Birthday!

 Normally, if I were in Chennai, I would have organised a spirited birthday party in the evening in which all my family members and a few close friends would have participated. It was different this year. A low-key birthday celebration on my turning 83 and entering the 84^th milestone. Made special by the participation of my cousin Ashok and his wife, Priya, from Pune. A  made-for-each-other couple,  whom I admire a lot for the genuine affection they display and their mutual respect. Ashok has become a senior Citizen recently, having turned 60 last year. He and his wife were on a two-day visit to Coimbatore after visiting Bangalore, to meet me and a few other friends in Coimbatore. Ashok agreed to extend his stay by a day to be with me on my birthday. So nice of him. He chose to stay in the guest house here to have first-hand experience of the Place. He was not disappointed.

The day started with us visiting the nearby Varadraja Perumal temple and performing an archanai. Followed by a lunch I hosted at Kailash Parbat restaurant in which my daughter Sowmya and son-in-law Sathya participated, along with my Schoolmates Raju & wife Geetha and Balu, my adopted brother in Nan Nani and his wife Laxmi.  Have written about Balu`s helpful nature in an earlier posting. He is truly amazing- a good Samaritan in our community.

The delicious meal ended with our having  Malai Kulfi in Rabadi, a speciality in KB here. After mandatory selfies and group photos, we returned to our respective homes. There was  Ananya`s Games Event organised by Ananya`s Games Team in the evening, which saw many residents participating with childlike enthusiasm. I stayed at the event only for a short duration. The evening ended with our having a simple dinner at the dining hall – mini idlis in sambar and curd rice.

While extending a special thanks to Ashok and Priya for spending a full day with me on my birthday, I would also like to thank all my Facebook friends for remembering an old friend. The most unexpected call came from Supriyo Das, my old colleague in Grant K & E. On the whole, it was a simple but intimate get-together, which I thoroughly enjoyed!

Boredom and depression among children

 

 Growing up in a chawl in Bombay, I remember there was no time for me to get bored. There was some activity or another happening in the building complex for all age groups. I was kept busy with friends from my age group playing some games in the building complex or at the nearby Matunga Gymkhana. I would come back from school, throw the schoolbag in one corner, partake of whatever tiffin mother gave me and off I went to play with friends. No worry about security. My parents worried about me if I did not return home before the appointed time. In my case, it was 7.00 pm. Living in a chawl was like living in a big joint family. We lacked the basic conveniences we take for granted these days, but life was fun then. We learned to manage many of our problems ourselves without the involvement of parents. The constant social interaction with friends in the community helped us. Parenting was not as challenging as it is today.

 

Times have changed drastically. Nuclear families have replaced joint families. While gated communities provide some security and opportunities for social interaction, stand-alone apartments where many nuclear families live, there is less interaction among neighbours. Bringing up children has become a humongous task for parents. Security concerns prevent parents from allowing their children to move freely. Though mobiles and the internet help them keep their children busy, the gadgets have their negative aspects as well. Today, it is not surprising to see many children in their teens, exposed to social media, showing signs of depression.

 

`Preteens who spend more time on social media may be at greater risk for depression, according to a US study published in JAMA Network open,` as reported in the Health  supplement of  one of the issues of The WEEK magazine

 

To ensure that this does not happen, parents have to see that their children are engaged in some physical or mental activity. Interaction with other children in the community or outside, by inviting them home or arranging for their children to visit their friends' homes to play, helps. Encouraging such children to participate in one sports activity ( badminton, table tennis, cricket or football, etc.) and one creative activity (  music, dance, drawing, etc) or anything else in which the child shows interest would also help them develop their inherent talents. Such children turn out to be confident kids, full of life. I am witnessing this in the case of my son`s two kids. My daughter-in-law gave up her job to concentrate on the two kids, a son and a daughter. She is exposing them regularly to many new ideas and games and encouraging them to be creative. While she spends a lot of time with them, my son tries to keep them engaged during weekends. They also try to keep a check or even control the use of smart phones or other electronic gadgets by the kids.

 

If the parents show enough understanding of their children`s problems, be available to them whenever they want them, and learn to trust them, children will respond positively.  In other words, be a trusted friend to your kids. At least one of the parents should assume that role! If that happens, not only with the children never get bored, but there is very little possibility of such children becoming depressed. 

A Honorary Award as a writer!

 Pachyderm Tales is a literary consultancy and education company focused on promoting STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education and supporting artists and storytellers. Pachyderm, in association with Ananyas Nana Nani Homes, announced a short story/essay competition in Tamil and English two months ago for writers in all Phases of Nana Nani Homes.  The suggested topic was `How the residents faced challenges in life or Unforgettable experiences in their lives`. There was an enthusiastic response from the residents of Nana Nani, many of them writing for the first time. In addition to the prizes given to participating writers, three established writers were chosen for an Honorary Award. Two from Tamil ( Mrs Mythili  Narayanan and Mrs Sushi Krishnamurthy from Phase 4) and  I had the pleasure of receiving the Honorary Award as a writer in English from Dr. Umamaheshwari Yuvaraj, JMD of Ananya group at a function held on 25^th July 2025. The event, attended by a large gathering of residents from all Phases of Nana Nanai, also witnessed the release of two books containing a collection of all entries received from the residents in book form, titled `Pearls of wisdom` in English and `Gnana Muthukkal` in Tamil. My essay titled  `A Turning Point`, based on a real-life story, appears in the  book containing essays /stories in English. It is a nice feeling to receive two awards as a writer within six months.

Battle of the Bulge (Revised)

During my morning walks in Chennai, I would see a friend doing exercises on the parapet wall at the beachfront in Besant Nagar. He was on all fours with his protruding belly dangling prominently to the twists and turns that he was attempting. It was a sight to behold. I stopped and asked him the purpose of the exercise. He said that he was trying his best to reduce his tummy and look trim. I know that he has been trying to do this for several years without luck. I wished him good luck and moved on. It brought back memories of my bulging tummy and my efforts to reduce it for several decades.

Before I acquired a bulging tummy, also known as a `paunch`, I was a thin guy. My waist was so slim that even a baby belt would not hold my pants. I used to wrap a piece of cloth around my waist and then pull up my pants to ensure that it did not slip down.

There is a story behind how I acquired the `paunch`. Throughout my student days and the early part of my career, my mother did her best to help me gain weight. She forced me to eat vegetables & fruits. She would roast a few badam kernels and give it to me every morning with butter. I was also given an extra quantity of milk to consume at night. Nothing worked. What she could not achieve for a decade happened during my stay at Murugan Lodge in Calcutta, where I gorged on the delicious meals they served. I had spent three months in Calcutta undergoing training in advertising at the second-largest advertising agency at that time. During my stay as a trainee, I was also introduced to drinking beer. I was told that as an adman, I would have to do a lot of entertaining and drinking alcohol was a prerequisite for a successful adman. In three months, not only did I learn about the advertising business but also learnt how to gulp down three bottles of beer without any problems. My tryst with the bulging `Madhya Pradesh` started in Calcutta which eventually became an integral part of my body. In the early years, girls in my office used to call me `roly-poly`. My efforts to reduce the tummy over the years were not successful because of my inability to control my eating and drinking habits.

However, I found that my tummy was a great asset when my four grandchildren through my daughters arrived in this world in quick succession between 1996 to 2003. My `Thoppai` as they would call my bulging tummy was their playground. All that I had to do was lay still on my back exposing my Thoppai. They would go berserk playing with it. One of them would play drums on it, another one would give it a massage and the third one would give it an imaginary bath using appropriate sound effects. It was a joy beyond compare. For a change, I was happy to possess a Thoppai.

Eventually, my Thoppai` did shrink, after the two hospitalisation experiences I went through about 10 years ago. Thanks to a complete change in my lifestyle since then, I lost about eight kgs in six months. While I am fighting hard to ensure that I maintain my reduced weight, I am happy that the smaller bulge in my `Madhya Pradesh` has allowed me to reuse half a dozen tight-fitting pants that I had stopped wearing.

A small victory in my `Battle of the Bulge`!

This article appeared in the Adyar Times issue dated December, 14/06/2019

PS: Since the publication of this article I have put on weight. My Madhya Pradesh has gone back to its original size. All the pants I restored have become useless. My `Battle of the Bulge` continues.

 

 

A Farewell visit to Chennai? Not yet!

 I was visiting Chennai after three months. Primarily to attend the Upanayanam ceremony of my brother`s grandson on 27^th June. As I found I could attend a couple of get-togethers of a few groups with which I am associated,  and meet most of my friends,  I decided to reach Chennai on 21^st June, and return to Coimbatore on 30^th June. Though I had invitations to stay with my children, this time I decided to stay at the guest house of the Gandhi Nagar Club because I wanted to be independent and not bother my children. Besides, by staying at the guest house I could entertain my friends and also  meet my walking friends at the Bessy, every morning.

While it was a joy to meet all my friends and relatives during the short visit, the sweltering heat in Chennai hit me badly. After experiencing the salubrious weather in  Coimbatore, when I got out of the aircraft at Chennai at 3.30 pm, I could not bear the searing heat of the sun that welcomed me.

After checking into the guest house and spending a pleasant time with my son`s family, who had come to meet me, I had to rush to a dinner meeting of the 41 club (an association of ex-Round Tablers with the motto `May the Hinges of Friendship Never Rust`) at the Cosmopolitan Club. The next morning I attended the AGM of SHARAN, a Senior Citizen group consisting mostly of NRI parents, with the motto, `For Mutual Support`, at the Gandhi Nagar Club. On Tuesday evening, I had the privilege of attending the 66<sup>th</sup> Installation meeting of the Rotary Club of Madras South( RCMS), held at GRT Grand Hotel in T.Nagar. I was a member of RCMS for 47 years and the 31<sup>st</sup> President ( 90-91).  From June 25<sup>th</sup> to 27<sup>th,</sup> I was busy attending family get-togethers associated with the Upanayanam. In between, I was also visiting a few close friends and relatives. The trip ended with the Breakfast meeting on 29<sup>th</sup> at Tag Centre organised by my good friend R.T. Chari, where I thoroughly enjoyed the lec dem on `A Pictorial Tour of Mahakumbh 2025 - A Spectacle Once in 144 Years by Mr V R Ajitkumar. It was a brilliant presentation on Mahakumbh where the speaker walked us through the Mahakumbh, describing the mind-blogging efforts that had gone into organizing the mega event by the UP government at Prayagraj.

At the end of the 10-day trip, I felt exhausted. Apart from the hectic schedule, the humidity in Chennai made me feel miserable. A few friends quipped," You were living in  Chennai for 50 years. Why are you complaining now?` To which my answer is,”I did not have the opportunity to experience an alternative. An air-conditioner addict in  Chennai, I have managed two summers ( March to mid-May) in Coimbatore without an air conditioner in my flat”.

I am not only enjoying its beautiful weather 10 months of the year but also the pollution-free atmosphere in the community where I am living. Besides the wonderful friends I have made here make me feel like part of a happy family.

Though I have become a 100% Coimbatorean, I cannot say goodbye to Chennai yet, as I would have to attend important functions of family and close friends in the future. However, I have decided that in future my trips would be only for a day or two to attend specific functions and return to Coimbatore the next day. I have had enough of Chennai!

Though I still have the enthusiasm to do things, my energy levels are going down. While the mind says `think young`, the body says, `enough is enough, respect your age and restrict your activities`. I have decided to respect my body!

Importance of smartphones for senior citizens

 I have been in touch with an old friend who is an acute patient of arthritis. A nonagenarian with an octogenarian wife, the couple have been living in a small two-bedroom flat in an apartment complex, not far from where their children,  a son and a daughter, live in the city. The son is a busy professional, while his daughter-in-law runs a small business outfit, which keeps her busy.  With grown-up children studying abroad, both children keep visiting their parents and try to look after all their needs. They also ensure that their parents get the best medical attention. 

As long as they were physically fit, my friend and wife used to attend all social events and had a good time, keeping themselves busy. Things changed once their health issues led to their having mobility problems. While my friend and his wife were familiar with the internet and kept in touch with their near and dear ones using their laptop and a basic mobile, for some reason, they were not allowed to use a smartphone by their children. They probably feared that their parents would not be able to handle a smartphone and would be exposed to irrelevant and sometimes negative messages on WhatsApp.

When I rang up my friend the other day, he was sounding depressed. In his feeble voice, he told me that he was taking some medication for his depression, which is making him feel drowsy and sleepy all the time. His wife came on the line and told me that though their children are taking good care of them,  after a few friendly neighbours who were giving them good company every day had moved out, they felt isolated. They started missing the company of friends. Talking to friends and relatives, they realised that in the absence of a smartphone with WhatsApp facility, they were missing the opportunity to get instantly connected to the outside world, which would help them keep mentally occupied  and keep their spirits high. An idle mind is the devil`s workshop. So the couple is constantly thinking of their health problems and indulging in self-pity, leading to depression in my friend`s case. I am aware that depression in old age could lead to dementia and other problems associated with it. I felt bad for them that the children had not realised the importance of smartphones for their parents.

As a resident of a popular senior citizen home in Coimbatore, I have seen the role that smartphones are playing in the lives of the residents here, many of them living alone, with their children living abroad. Such children not only connect with their parents on video calls every other day but also share photos or videos of their activities, making the parents happy. Besides, smartphones also help such residents stay connected with the happenings in the community. Those with mobility problems, who are unable to physically attend popular programmes hosted by the residents, are able to see the videos of the events the following day.  Smartphones keep them busy. If they have an issue with the phone, they seek the help of a tech-savvy resident and get their problems resolved.

In the case of my friend, if he or his wife has a problem with the smartphone, I am sure they could get some bright, tech-savvy youngster in their apartment complex to solve their problem, without disturbing their children.

As I have been repeatedly saying, socialising with friends is very important for senior citizens, however caring the children might be. Smartphones, particularly WhatsApp, surely make up for the lack of physical socialising, especially for senior citizens with mobility problems.

Food for thought for children of elderly parents who are living alone!

 

 

Simple Solutions to nagging problems

 Very often, we suffer from problems without realizing that the solutions are within easy reach. For several months, I would get up from my bed every morning with aches and pains in different parts of the body, especially the back and hip joints. Visits to the doctor, followed by medication, did nothing to improve the situation. Then I saw an advertisement for a Memory Foam mattress. From the time I started using it, the body pain that I would experience in the mornings has vanished. It is another matter that nowadays I do suffer from age-related shifting pains below the waist, which I am learning to live with.

A friend of mine was suffering from acute arthritis. When all kinds of treatments failed, a doctor friend advised him to go to a swimming pool, not to swim, but to walk the length of the pool in the water, up and down a couple of times every day. My friend found that this unusual treatment gave him some relief, though he still has the problem.

 Most of us have experienced shoe bites caused by ill-fitting footwear or the infection and itching caused by socks or undergarments made of material that doesn’t suit us. Incorrect posture at work is a contributing factor to the acute back problems faced by a growing number of ‘techies’ who sit for hours at a stretch, glued to their laptops. Maintaining the correct posture and taking regular breaks from work can help ease the problem

For several years, I suffered from ‘dry cough’, often accompanied by wheezing which sounded like a multi-organ orchestra. I used to feel miserable. Tests revealed no specific problem. The doctors attributed it to general pollution in the atmosphere and allergy to something or other. While trying to identify the cause of my allergy, my son discovered that every morning and evening, I was in the habit of lighting up agarbathis in the Puja room as I liked the divine feeling, triggered by their fragrance. On his suggestion I stopped lighting the agarbathis. Sure enough, my dry cough and wheezing slowly vanished, and I am now free from the problem that had plagued me for years.

Whenever you find that you are suffering from a nagging problem, talk about it to friends. Someone might help you find a simple solution lying under your nose!

--

 

 

 

 

 

Bombay Kannan- A legend of the Tamil audiobook industry.

  Krishnamachari Kannan more popularly known as Bombay Kannan (74) is a multi-faceted theatre personality who has acted in more than 3000 stage shows, written over 20 plays some of which he directed. He was also active in AIR and Doordarshan early in his stage career. He was running a regular stage troupe called  NAADAHAKKAARAN  staging plays first in Bombay and later in Chennai. After foraying into telefilms he got into producing audiobooks in 2010. 

I asked him how he got `Bombay` prefixed to his name though he had spent only 8 years in Bombay. His answer: “I went to Bombay on transfer to the Central Bank of India which I had joined in 1972. After 8 years in Bombay when I  came back to Chennai in 1984 there were many  Kannans in the theatre and for easy identification I was called Kannan from Bombay.  One morning I saw in the Hindu engagement column my name being referred to as Bombay Kannan. Since then I have been known as Bombay Kannan. Nowadays even my close relatives  only identify me over the phone as Bombay Kannan.”

Kannan`s life story is one of mad pursuit of a passion for the stage at the cost of a successful career as a banker. He was born as the youngest of four siblings. His  father was working with Parry & Co. Kannan had his schooling in Nagapattinam and went to Vivekananda College in Chennai to get a degree in Botany.

“I was interested in acting right from my school days.  My debut on stage took place at the age of 8 when I danced with my sister as Lord Krishna. My full-fledged stage appearance happened inside a Perumal Koil in Nagapattinam when I was 12. It ended up sadly as my throat was choked and I could not utter a single word “

The real break came when he took on the role of the heroine in a play staged by his college in an inter-collegiate drama competition held at Guindy Engineering College.

Kannan says, “In Guindy Engineering College some of the students mistook me to be a girl and were hesitant to shake hands with me while appreciating my acting. That was the first reward for my acting. Then came my first stage appearance in public at  Puttaparthi before Sathya Sai Baba on his birthday in 1968. I owe this to T S Narayansamy of Doordarshan fame who had immense confidence in me to give the title role in his play Krishna Vijayam when I was only 17. He was my  first mentor and guru”

Since then the stage has become his passion. He joined UAA, the famous troupe of YGP in 1970. His debut play was Flight 172. His mentors there were YGP and ARS, the director. He acted in many plays of this troupe before he became a writer.

“My first script was for Doordarshan, Chennai in 1977.  The play was titled KANAVU KANDA KAATCHI. A suspense thriller in which ARS acted in the lead role and Shri Gopalie  was the producer/director”

His first stage play script was SAKTHI PIRAKKUTHU MOOCHINILEY produced and directed by him and was staged in Bombay in 1981. His hilarious play IRU VEEDU ORU VAASAL written & directed by him was staged over 75 times. Kannan got the Best Director award for this play from Mylapore Academy

Kannan is also proud of his play  JUST A SECOND PLEASE, which was a 50% autobiography in which he portrayed God differently. This play was appreciated by many stalwarts and won him the Best Play Award from Mylapore Academy.

While playing Sherlock Sharmaji, a tele serial won him the  `best all-rounder on stage award` `Chakravayugam` a play by the popular writer K.K.Raman, fetched him the best director award- both from Mylapore Academy.

While he was busy leading a double life as a banker and a stage artist, he got married to Subhadra in 1976. She was fresh out of college and had not taken up any job. Their first daughter was born in 1977 and the second in 1985. 

After spending 24 years in the bank, where he was working as a branch manager, he took voluntary retirement at the age of 45 in 1996 and plunged full-time into the creative field hoping to make it big in his chosen field.

Kannan stopped acting in stage plays in 2005 and started producing Teleplays based on his own and other popular stories and sold them in the market in DVD/VCD formats. He claims to be the first person to produce exclusively for home video segment teleplays with popular artists like Delhi Ganesh,  Achi Manorama,  Kathadi Ramamurthy,  Meera Krishnan, Vaiyapuri, Sonia,  Kamlesh, Manager Cheena etc.  He also converted novels of  Bhaggiam Ramasami’s `Appusamiyum Africa Azhagiyuum`,  Sujatha’s `Mama Vijayam`,  Komal Swaminathan’s `Atchi Maatram` etc. into teleplays.

Hearing about his teleplays  Pooram Sathyamurthy, a literary writer requested him to make an audio version of his short stories as he had lost his vision and could not read his own stories.  That was the beginning of his reputation as a pioneer in producing audiobooks in Tamil using multiple voices with music scores and surround sound effects.

“The appreciation I got for the three volumes of Pooram's short stories was a catalyst for continuing my audiobook initiative. I decided to make Kalki`s  Sivagamiyin Sabatham into an Audiobook as my attempt to make it into a Telefilm had failed “  says Kannan.

“Sivagamiyin Sabatham Audiobook was a big hit and hearing the audio Mr C K Venkataraman of Bangalore, an ardent fan of Kalki, wanted me to produce Ponniyin Selvan in audiobook form and was willing to invest his money in the project. Later he joined me as a partner giving birth to the production house  called ` Ponniyin Selvan and Friends` “

Ponniyin Selvan was a marathon project in which 60 popular artists lent their voices. Sathyaseelan was the music director who tuned 15 songs of Kalki as well as  Ilango Adigal to suit the audio format. It took six months of hard work by Kannan. The audiobook was split into 293 chapters ( episodes) so that the buyers could stop listening to the story after any chapter and continue listening from the next chapter, later.

Ponniyin Selvan audio book was launched at a mega function on 14^th June 2013 at Narada Gana Sabha with Nalli Kuppuswamy Chettiar as the chief guest, attended by many other luminaries from the creative world. The hall was overflowing with enthusiastic readers of Kalki prompting the Chief Guest to comment “ I have never seen this kind of crowd for any book launch” The complete set was priced at Rs 600 per set. 150 sets were sold at the launch function. Since then it has sold over 2000  sets.

“Our major clients are visually challenged people who cannot read Tamil and others  who do not have time to read printed books”

Motivated by the  phenomenal success of PS audiobooks, Kannan produced audiobooks based on stories of many other popular writers earning him the reputation as  `A Legend of Tamil audiobook industry`

“ In recent years the audiobook industry has seen a downward trend. Besides, mine is a one-man show because of which I have no time or budget to promote the books aggressively. I discontinued producing audiobooks two years ago” says Kannan.

What made him produce his first documentary `Arangayanam`, which is receiving wide appreciation from invited audiences to which it is screened?

“ When I produced the audiobook based on Sri Venugoplan`s `Thiruvaranga Ula`, the history behind the novel moved me. It talked about how thousands of people sacrificed their lives over 48 years to safeguard the idol of Ranaganatha during the invasion of Srirangam by Thuglak 700 years back.I decided to make a full-fledged documentary based on this story and visited all the places where Ranganatha`s idol was taken to protect it from the invaders. Extensive research on the subject helped me come up with an interesting story for my documentary. I funded the entire cost of production from my savings. This documentary which took 18 months to produce runs for 2 hours and 45 minutes and is shown to invited audiences at Sabhas, Clubs, and other institutions that have members who are interested in the subject. The documentary is also available as Pendrives which  are sold at the venues of the shows.”

“ It is interesting that I though  I visited Srianagm several times during the shooting of Aranagayanam, for some reason or the other I could not get the darshan of Lord Ranganatha, though my  wife who accompanied me got the darshan every time,” says Kannan

 “When I quit my job to pursue a creative career, I was not sure if I was making the right decision. But my wife encouraged me and was a pillar of strength to me.  Without her active support and tolerance,  I would not have been able to face the ups and downs I went through and achieve whatever  I did in the last three decades.  I lost her 2 years back and my confidence & enthusiasm for my work have been shaken up. However I am continuing to keep myself  busy with new projects,`

Kannan`s next documentary project is on the life and preachings of Ramanuja, the much revered social reformer, the shooting for which is almost complete. He is also planning to revisit the tele serial on Sivagamiyin Sabhatham, a project which he had abandoned earlier.

His two daughters, both brilliant students with successful careers are living with their families-  one in the Australia and another in Chennai who are providing the moral support he badly needs.

Let us wish Kannan all the best in his new projects.

  

 

 

 

Vijaya Rajagopal - A lover of challenges

  (An inspiring story)

In almost all modern, well-run, senior citizen Homes that I have visited or stayed in for short durations,  I have found some talented members organize programmes using their specific talents. It could be music, dance, plays, antakshari, quiz, tombola, etc. They are the `Movers & Shakers` of such  Homes. Phase 4 in Nana Nani where I have settled down for the last year is no exception. This article is about Vijaya Rajagopal and her association with Vasanthi Sampathkumar. The duo is popularly known as V2s in the community, who organize innovative, music-based programmes delighting their audiences. Vijaya is the ideas woman who masterminds the programmes and Vasanthi, her co-host, who helps with her suggestions to make the programmes memorable events. The audience loves the chatty, informal style of compering, in Tanglish ( mixing Tamil with English) by  Vijaya,  a master storyteller whose knowledge of our history, arts, culture,   scriptures, music, and Vedas is amazing. Besides Vasanthi she is ably supported by talented singers, dancers, and actors in the community.

 Vijay`s life story is an example of how one can convert challenges into opportunities and make life meaningful and interesting. 

Vijaya spent her early years in Bombay, where her father was working as a director in the Textile Commissioner's office.  The family was living in a four-room apartment in Matunga. Eldest among four siblings Vijaya was a bright student. Though she did her schooling in South Indian Welfare Society`s high school, Wadala , for her college education she was taken to Trivandrum where her grandfather was staying. He wanted her to become a doctor.

Vijaya says, “ I was a state rank holder in PUC and got a seat for medicine with a scholarship. But as my mother  was concerned about my health condition in Trivandrum, she took me  back to  Bombay. I gave up the idea of pursuing  medicine . Instead I got a BSc degree with distinction from S.I.E.S college. When I was  all set  to pursue an MSc fate intervened “

 Her would-be husband Rajagopal, a transport pilot with the Indian Air Force saw her at a family function. It was love at first sight. He made it clear that only  Vijaya would make an ideal wife for him. With determination, he overcame all the objections from both families and married Vijaya at a simple ceremony in their home.

Vijaya says, “ It was such a hurried affair that they forgot to get a photographer to cover the event. You know,  I don't have any photos of my wedding”

Post-wedding she was taken to Gwalior where her husband was posted then.

“ Air Force life was like a bed of roses`` says Vijaya. With her linguistic skills, she adapted herself to the new life well. She actively participated in many of the family events.  The arrival of a daughter and son also made life more challenging and interesting. When life was cruising along beautifully, fate again intervened. Due to health reasons, her husband decided to take voluntary retirement from service. The family first moved to Chennai and then to Madurai. In 1986 when her husband died at the age of 52, she was only 39, faced with the task of bringing up her two teenage children as a single mother.

‘ My daughter was a pillar of strength to me during those trying times. I acquired a B Ed degree from Madurai Kamaraj University, managing challenging assignments in government schools as part of the curriculum” says Vijaya

Then began her long journey as a school teacher where she had an opportunity to tell stories to children based on our epics. Both her son and daughter were well settled by now with their own families- her son living in the USA and her architect daughter who has a daughter, also an architect, settled in Pune. Vijaya successfully ran a Play School from her home in Pune where she moved to be close to her daughter`s home. After 25 years the Covid pandemic prompted its closure.

Vijaya says,” My husband used to say that we should help children as long as they want and then we should live an independent life without responsibilities. When I decided to act upon this idea, I looked at many senior citizens' Homes. With help from a relation, I  zeroed in on Nana Nani, Phase 4 in Coimbatore. I moved into the facility in November 2021.

“The first person I met in the dining hall where I had gone with my granddaughter on the first day was  Vasanthi. She told my granddaughter,  “Your Paati (Grandmother) will be happy here”.

At that time  Vijaya didn`t realize that she would be embarking on a new action-filled life and that with Vasanthi she would be involved in organising many memorable programmes in Nana Nani.

Vasanthi says, “ I was very impressed with Vijaya.  She looked very vibrant and full of life. I knew she would be an asset in our community.”

Vasanthi was brought up in Srirangam, the temple city.  During her student days she was a keen sportswoman. Badminton & basket ball were her favourite games in which she had won prizes at the district level. In 1968, she married  Sampath Kumar, a brilliant student and a rank holder who was working then in Bombay. Within two years he started his own business. The couple  spent the next 53 years in Bombay before they moved to Nana Nani in February 2019 after discharging all their family responsibilities.

“ During my long stay in Bombay, I was never involved  in stage activities. It was Vijaya who discovered me  and trained me to be her deputy in organising events. I have learned a lot from her and continue to do so”

 The first programme the duo organized was Anthakshari. The duo had to persuade the residents to participate in good numbers. It became a hit.  The second event was a Medley with 15 residents participating. In music, a medley is a collection of different tunes and songs that are played one after the other as a single piece of music..The event became so popular in Phase 4 that the team was invited to repeat it for the benefit of residents in Phase 3 & 5 of Nana Nani.

The first theme-based programme, a musical drama scripted and produced by Vijaya, using classical music was, Nandanaar, a Nayanar Saint, who is venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the eighteenth in the list of 63 Nayanars. Though she had not learned Carnatic music, Vijya listens to it every day and believes there is nothing like Carnatic music.

“In Aug 23, I had a stroke and foot drop. I didn’t know if I could ever move but I recovered soon managing with a walker and stayed at home. Thanks to very supportive and helpful friends  I was back in action. I like challenges, that Is why I keep getting challenges, I think” says Vijaya.

Despite Vijaya`s  mobility problem the duo  produced a musical drama on Ramayana using a unique concept.  A rare combination of three storytelling forms to present the venerated Ramayana story. With a running commentary narrated in her inimitable style by  Vijya, interspersed with 39 short and appropriate songs based on lyrics from the works of famous saints like Kabir, Kamban, Tulasidas, Theagaraja, and Mythili Sharan, sung beautifully by a team of 10 talented singers seated on the stage. In addition, the audience witnessed the enactment of selected scenes from Ramayana going with the flow of the story by veteran actors from the community, enhancing the impact of the narration. The repeated applause from the packed audience during the programme and a standing ovation at the end proved the resounding success of the programme.  

Vijaya says “I would write the story first. Team members good at music would provide their expertise. Simultaneously we would decide about the actors who can perform different roles. Then we would rehearse for several days until I  felt  we were ready to go on stage. It was all wonderful team work”

Inspired by the success of Ramayana, the duo presented a  similar show on Lord  Ranganatha of Srirangam fame. The story outline for this was provided by Mythili Narayanan @ Shylaja. This show also became a big hit. 

Their other acclaimed presentations include `Navagrahamum Diskhitarum` featuring the Navagraha Kritis by composer Muthuswami Dikshitar- tracing the evolution of Indian music and a Karaoke-based film music programme titled `Monsoon  Magic` featuring rain-related songs. It was interesting that while this show was going on it was raining heavily outside the Hall.

In addition to her involvement with music-based shows, Vijaya also started learning Sanskrit and Rudram (a vedic mantra)  after coming to Nana Nani. Everyday,  after lunch she also spends some time playing cards. Recently she started learning to play Bridge.

Vijaya  says, “ I don`t think I would have got such opportunities anywhere else. I have no time now. Despite  my  mobility problem, I am thoroughly enjoying my life here”

While Vijaya- Vasanthi duo is popular in the community as organizers of innovative programmes, Vijaya`s life story proves that age and physical problems are no bar to taking on challenges in life and living a fun-filled happy life.  Vijaya is certainly a role model among senior citizens in the community.

8th Anniversary and an Award!

 8^th anniversary of Phase 4 of Nana Nani was celebrated in a grand manner on 3^rd & 4^th June,2025. The first day, 3^rd June,  witnessed ` An evening of Cultural delight` with a variety entertainment progamme masterminded by Vidhya Venkatachalam, the popular leader of  Dream Team, which is famous for its dance-oriented programmes. Active participation by talented residents, including some Octogenarians (80+), was appreciated by the packed audience at the Meditation Hall. The event also recognized three residents for their achievements, including yours truly. I received the `Inspiring Writer Award` from Vidhya, dressed in a man`s costume for an item to follow. All three residents had missed receiving our Awards at the New Year Bash held on 2^nd January, as we were not in town. Vidhya was particular that the Awards should be presented to us only at the next big function organised by the Dream Team.. A thoughtful gesture from her. This is the first public recognition I am getting as a writer.

4^th June was reserved for celebrations at the In house Mahalaxmi Temple where different puja`s were performed from the morning, ending up with a grand procession of the presiding deities on a big  Hanuman shaped Chariot,  mounted on a Hand cart,  going around the complex,  visiting very block, where devotees made their offerings,  seeking divine grace! Though such anniversary celebrations happen every year, this was the first time I was attending. I was impressed with the amount of effort put in by both the management and the residents to make it a grand affair!

 

 

A CASE OF CARE & CONCERN

 I want to share a positive experience I had with our in-house clinic in Nana Nani. Two nights ago, I had a bad attack of Vomiting at 1.00 am, followed by a feverish feeling,  which made me feel drained.  In the morning, although I felt better, I called the clinic to have my basic health parameters checked. Kalimuthu, the sole male assistant in the clinic, came and checked me. While he found that I had no temperature, my blood pressure was slightly higher, reading 90/150. He gave me a tablet for immediate relief and advised me to visit the duty doctor at 10 am. While I was busy with my morning chores, I got a call from Kalimuthu at 10.15 am wanting to know why I had not come to visit the doctor. On his insistence, I met the junior doctor who, after a physical examination, told me that he suspected that I was suffering from gastroenteritis and prescribed a medicine to be taken for five days.  While I appreciated the care and concern shown by Kalimuthu, what happened the next morning when I returned to my apartment from a temple visit around 11.30 am took me by total surprise.

I had just entered my room and closed the door when Kalimuthu came barging in and stood transfixed, seeing me. He had run up the stairs to reach my home on the second floor and was gasping. `’You are alright, Sar,” so saying he hugged me tightly. I asked him what happened. He said, " I just received a call from Mrs Sushi Krishnamurthy living in the same block, that the maid who had come to do her duty at your apartment found it locked from inside. The light and the fan in the hall were on, but you were  not opening the door despite her ringing the bell repeatedly.”

Since the maid was aware that I was not well the previous day, she had reported her concern to the resident where she had gone for her duty. Mrs Sushi Krishnamurthy, a well-wisher, promptly rang up the clinic. Kalimuthu, who took the call, came rushing up and was happy to find that I was alive and kicking.

I would like to record my sincere thanks to Kalimuthu for his prompt response to a call from a resident. He could have tried to reach me on my phone but since the clinic is just opposite my block, he decided to personally visit and check on me.

This is the third time I have had such a positive experience of the services of the in-house clinic in the last 15 months of my stay in N & N. I congratulate  Shantha,  Chief Nurse and her team for the dedication and commitment they show to their jobs. God bless them!

 

Alternative Therapy (Updated)

My friend Ramesh had to undergo a major surgery for a serious back problem at a five-star corporate hospital specialising in Cancer treatment. A biopsy after the surgery revealed that he was suffering from Multiple Myeloma in an advanced stage. Doctors wanted to start him on chemotherapy and other related treatments. Having heard that the treatment is worse than the disease, he took a bold decision that he would look at alternative therapy. He was already a believer in naturopathy and his Bangalore-based doctor agreed to treat him and promised him that while he may not be able to cure the disease at such an advanced stage, he could at least contain the disease and prevent it from spreading fast, thus giving him the chance to continue to lead a comparatively normal life. Of course, he had to submit himself to a strict regimen of diet and herbal medicines. His wife supported his decision and helped him adhere to the regimen. Whereas the cancer specialists had predicted that without the chemotherapy treatment, he would not live for more than six months, he lived for more than three years, leading as normal a life as he could. During this period, he attended all social gatherings and visited  the USA to spend time with his children and grandchildren. Only in the last two months, he was bedridden and was looked after at home by a full-time attendant/nurse. No ICUs and no life support system.  When his time was up, he made a peaceful exit from this world, surrounded by his family. I believe, besides the treatment, his immense faith in the alternative therapy kept him going.

 I want to share my own experiences with alternative therapy. When I was only thirty-eight, I was diagnosed with glaucoma, a dreadful eye disease that can lead to blindness if not treated in time. The eye specialist told me that I would have to live with specific eye drops for the rest of my life and that if the problem worsened, he would perform surgery. The drops had exactly the opposite effect of those used for dilating your eyes when you go for any eye check-up. The result was that I found it difficult to read or drive my car. I was shattered! Instead of bottling up, I always talk about my health problems openly, so that someone can refer me to a possible solution.   A  good friend recommended that I try Magneto Therapy as it had cured his uncle of double vision when all other systems had failed. I found a person in Kilpauk who was a specialist in Magneto Therapy. I underwent the treatment for nine months, after which, when I went to the same eye specialist I had gone to earlier, for a check-up, he was surprised to find that I was cured of the problem. Of course, I had to strictly follow some instructions to prevent the recurrence of the problem, such as not to strain my eyes by reading books lying down or with very small typefaces.

 About twenty years ago, when I was diagnosed with kidney stones and recommended surgery, I found a solution through a grandma’s remedy. For six months, every morning, I took banana stem juice. When I went for a check-up, I found that the stones had vanished.  It is another matter that the mixer-grinder, which was used to make the juice daily, broke down under the stress of churning out the juice every day!

 During the peak of my career, in my late twenties and early thirties, I used to suffer from frequent attacks of mouth ulcers–sores on the tip of my tongue—making it very difficult to talk or eat anything. Each time, the allopathic doctor would give me a B12 injection and put me on a course of Riboflavin. That would give me only temporary relief. I was cured of this problem by another grandma’s remedy. As soon as I get the first signs of a possible attack, I would buy a bundle of ‘Manathakali Keerai’- a variety of spinach- make juice from the leaves in a mixer and take it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. The very second day, I would get some relief. I have recommended this treatment to several friends with positive results. Recently, a long-standing stomach condition I was suffering from has been controlled through Ayurveda.

 Every time doctors recommended an urgent surgery for my other problems I have refused to go under the scalpel and found a remedy in alternative therapies. While my fissure problem was cured by Ayurvedha, I had to undergo  prostate surgery recently when it became impossible to postpone the decision. I believe in the theory–use Allopathy for diagnosis and emergency, but try alternative therapies for chronic problems. It has always worked for me.

Even if Allopathy, Homeopathy, and Naturopathy fail, I can always count on Venkatachalapathy and now Shirdi Saibaba, who entered my life four years ago. Miracles can and do happen in everyone`s lives. Om Sairam!