This Joy of giving week.....support Tanker!

Dear Friends, TANKER Foundation is taking part in the India Giving Challenge and with your contribution through this iGive page, we plan to expand our activites and reach out to more people than ever before. TANKER is a registered, non-profit charitable trust, founded on 30th June 1993.We aim to provide healthcare and financial help to the underpriviledged with kidney ailments. So far, 72845 dialysis have been given for 620 patients through our 3 subsidized dialysis units in Chennai and Madurai. We have also opened our HIV Dialysis Unit with 2 Machines. At present we have 140 patients in the TANKER Fold. So far we have given Rs. 60.2 Lakhs to 1034 patients for financial support. We have conducted over 161 Awareness Progs about kidney disease reaching out to over 40,000 people. Most of our patients have a monthly income of less than Rs. 5,000/-. Dialysis is unaffordable for them in Private Hospitals and unavailable in Govt. Hospitals. While we provide our dialysis free or at a subsidized rate of Rs. 375, the actual cost to us is Rs. 800.We aim to give more free dialysis for our patients and set up more subsidized dialysis units. Rs. 800 will sponsor one free dialysis, Rs. 5 lakhs will sponsor one dialysis machine. Every paisa we get goes towards giving patients better treatment. Indian donors will get tax benefits. GiveIndia will process every donation and send you a receipt. If we are one of the top NGO's to raise funds we will receive a prize of matching funds from GIVE! Your gesture of giving will help needy people who are suffering under the financial, physical and emotional strain of having this terrible disease. We would be grateful for any contribution from you. Please visit http://www.tankerfoundation.org/. Warm Regards, TANKER Foundation.

Dance, Music and Health

Dr Yamini Saripalli, a kuchipudi dancer, dermatologist enlightened us on the effect of music and dance on health. A beautiful dancer, she showed us a presentation on the effct of music and dance on the various parts of the body. Music is indeed therapeutic. From helping relieve stress, to relieving pain, helping in neurological problems, psychological problems and a lot more, music has a lot more to offer than just ragas and talas. Dr Yamini said the heart beats lub dub and she links to takki ta tha the dance beat! and Yes she says dance is like yoga and helps with problems like Ashtma, gynaecological disorders and since it is a kind of weight bearing exercise also helps to build bone density and prevent osteoporosis. An alumni Judy shared with us an incident where the flutist Ramani was recently operated upon for a tumour in the throat and his students took turns at for 48 non stop hours the ragam ananda bhairavi. A similar experience has happened with Lalgudi Jayraman who had a stroke and his students played the violin for him. He can now sing again and occassionally plays the violin too! There probably is some connection between music, dance and health. So the next time you are plugging on your head phones to listen to music remember the rock music can make your heart palpitate! and may be a good dance can help make your bones stronger.

Gulzar Sahab @ the Duchess

छोटे थे, माँ उपले थापा करती थी
हम उपलों पर शक्लें गूँधा करते थे
आँख लगाकर -
कान बनाकर -
नाक सजाकर -
पगड़ी वाला -
टोपी वाला -
मेरा उपला -
तेरा उपला -
अपने-अपने जाने-पहचाने नामों से
उपले थापा करते थे

हँसता-खेलता सूरज रोज़ सवेरे आकर
गोबर के उपलों पे खेला करता था
रात को आँगन में जब चूल्हा जलता था
हम सारे चूल्हा घेर के बैठे रहते थे
किस उपले की बारी आयी
किसका उपला राख हुआ
वो पंडित था -
इक मुन्ना था -
इक दशरथ था -
बरसों बाद -
मैं श्मशान में बैठा सोच रहा हूँ
आज की रात इस वक्त के जलते चूल्हे में
इक दोस्त का उपला और गया.

These lines are still echoing in my ears! It was indeed a memorable evening for all of us at the Duchess club! Gulzar Sahab being in our midst to launch the tamil version of raavi paar by Sivasankari amma. He left us mesmerised with his impeccable style, his poetry and his warmth. As we went through the formal book launch ceremony I think we were all just waiting to hear Gulzaar ji speak. His speech was just as good as his poetry.He spoke about his meeting with amma and was humble enough to credit her as the writer of the book and not the translator. AVM Sarvanan was other chief guest who with all his humility spoke in tamil. ( I interviewed him in tamil for my column and impressed him! after all a punju interviewing him in tamil)!. The big moment for us came when Gulzar Ji stepped forward to read his poetry. Upla was the first poem he read. Followed by a longish one on books which was so true n relevant to the present day. A couple of short poems followed on. Then he answered questions. Ranging from films to his passion as a writer Gulzar sahab shared some amazing moments with us. He even explained how Jai ho was penned! Just as we finished singing the National Anthem the hall resounded with Jai ho which was spontaneous. We mobbed Gulzar sahab for autographs and pictures with him. I still cant get over the meeting. The poetry which I enjoyed listening to in urdu for the sweetness of the language and Gulzar sahab's expression left me speechless. I just managed to go introduce myself as a writer and yeah he immediately shook hands...shld I say with a fellow writer! Dont know how far I am going to get as a writer but the moment was big for me! Thanks to the Fab 5 for organizing such a lovely meeting. Its definitely a Jai ho! for the Duchess.

MY LATEST INTERVIEW

This is my latest interview...a dream interview! It is in a local paper called On sale express.

THE YEAR THAT WAS

I just realized that we are being ushered into the last week of the year! Yes 2009 is coming to an end. The year 2009 has been rather eventful. I've had several beautiful moments, several learning experiences and made many good friends. The year gave me the opportunity to write a lot! I got a health column to write, a column on colleges and a column on inspiring leaders. I also got an opportunity to do a health supplement single handedly on Mylapore. With all this writing I learnt so much. The most beautiful part of the year was the time I managed to befriend Nina. Its been amazing knowing her. I wouldve been reluctant to interact with her considering the age diff n of course her status but she eased things out for me. And I certainly believe Baba is connecting us and will keep us connected for ever. I've spent some of my happiest and most memorable moments of the year with her. From being at her stunningly beautiful beach house to attending duchess meetings and all her 02 programmes every moment spent with her made me happy! The month of August wasnt great. I went through a bad bout of depression and messed things for myself. I didnt know if things would be like before for me. A trip to Shirdi happened on 1st September. With Baba's blessings I recovered and am back to being my normal bubbly self. I have joined the Duchess club which was a long standing promise to Nina. I have had tough moments during the year in terms of business as well. But have sailed through it all. I look forward to a more beautiful, a more fulfilling and a more prosperous 2010.

MRS CHENNAI FINALE....A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE

An event which I had been hearing about for the last couple of years but never had the chance to witness has to be the Mrs Chennai. Last year I went for the prelimary rounds but did not watch the finale! This year I decided to go. I had 2 reasons- My friend Rashmi Bothra being a finalist and of course Nina being honoured with the honorary Mrs Chennai crown this year! The latter is probably what drew me more to it as my mom said! I managed a press pass and was there on the dot at 6.30. But when do events begin on time? Yeah they began an hour late. The show started with a curtain raiser dance by all the finalists. Then came the question answer round which went well. Dr Kamala selvaraj released a brochure on the 10 years of Mrs Chennai. Just before the talent round Nina was crowned the honorary mrs chennai by actor Vivek. It was amazing to see her on stage with the crown and the sash! I could hear people behind me saying - " she looks cute." This was followed by the talent round. My friend Rashmi danced well. She made it to the final 6. The question answer round here messed up her chance. she is not someone who follows current affairs. the question put to her was " was it a wise and correct decision to give obama the nobel peace prize?
and she said yes!! Sadly she didnt feature among the winners! But no regrets! Am sure she has a good learning experience! This year they had a seperate competition for the forty plus and 50 plus as well! The event ended as late as 11 PM. After this we managed to take pics with Nina. Was a great evening and was amazing to see that so many of us had turned up there just to see Nina being crowned! It was indeed a befitting honour for her!

Celebration of Good life!

Two weeks ago I received this beautiful invitation from a well known doctor in Chennai. Amazed at the beauty of the thought of organizing such a programme I immediately accepted to attend the party!

Dear Friend

Every once in a while someone comes along in our lives
Whose touch, smile, hug, helping hand or kind word sinks deep into our hearts
Leaving an indelible mark which warms the soul
Parties,Get togethers, Conferences, Associations, sms, Email,Phones
We hang on to these activities for this very reason
We all need somebody to back us up
This is the GOOD LIFE
Each one of you have performed that service to me over the years and I would like you to join me to celebrate my Good Life.
This is just my way of acknowledging, appreciating and thanking each of you for your love and support.
I need you to be there for me in all that I do.
Please join me for a celebration of the GOOD LIFE
Note : It is not my birthday or anniversary, so just bring yourself and your good heart. No presents please.

As I walked into the party hall I was asked to write my contact details in a notebook. The fellowship and high tea was on and I met lots of new people. All of us were curious to know what the good life celebrations was all about! Sharp at 8, with our plates in hand, we sat and watched the presentation given my doc! An amazing PPT she had different thoughts about how all of us had given her a good life! Some by being good friends, some by giving her compliments when she needed them, Some my sending her emails which left her laughing and pondering and of course by just being our good selves! She thanked all of us! And then came the part which really left us pondering. She wanted us to do something for Caregivers. She told us how people who have parents, spouses, children with disabilities or disorders which require constant care are bound to their houses. they have no space,no opportunity for an outing, no one to speak to and how helpless they are. One gentleman whose wife has alzheiemers shared his experience with us. It was indeed touching. We decided to form an egroup and start brain storming on this. Each one of us can make a difference to these care givers. A small outing once a month can make a huge difference to someone who is stuck in the 4 walls of the house! Aloha our e group is all ready to act and to make a difference!