An introduction to Indian Shakespeare, born more than 2000 years ago.
By Durga Dutt Gaur
If Sanskrit were the lingua franca, Kalidas today would have been the most popular poet and playwright in the world. Unfortunately, due to lack of Sanskrit knowledge in India and abroad, he is known only to a small percentage of people. He was such a popular and versatile writer that over the centuries, it is said that many subsequent Sanskrit writers adopted his name to gain popularity.
In the ancient times, Sanskrit used to be the language of conversation and discussions amongst the elite. The 8th century great scholar and Hindu philosopher Mandan Mishra had so frequent discussions in Sanskrit about the Indian scriptures that even the parrots in his garden used to talk in Sanskrit. The decline of Sanskrit in this materialistic world was quite obviously due to its inability to provide good job opportunities. Both my father and father-in-law were great Sanskrit scholars but I was told by my father to become a doctor to help alleviate the miseries of millions of poor ailing people including himself.
Who Was Kalidas?
Kalidas was a great classical Sanskrit writer. He was known as the greatest poet and dramatist in Sanskrit language in India. Kalidas had great imaginative powers and knowledge about the natural behaviour of humans, animals and even plants. This is clearly reflected in his various mega poems and plays he has written. His most popular play Abhigyan Shakuntalam has been translated in various international languages. The other popular mega poems are Ritusanhar, Meghdoot, Kumarsambhav and Raghuvansh. Though they are all in Sanskrit, they have been translated into various Indian languages. However, the translated ones sometimes do not convey the exact meaning and lose some of their charm (as explained later in a scene in Abhigyan Shakuntalam).
After reading few of his mega poems, I felt that he is no doubt a great poet, dramatist, philosopher and an outstanding Sanskrit scholar and his writings are so good and versatile that they can be easily compared to those of William Shakespeare. However, some of his writings have some degree of mysticism and are difficult to understand in spite of your having profound knowledge of Sanskrit. In case you cannot make out anything, just remember what the Jain Teerthankar and Sanskrit scholar Mullinath said about the writings of Kalidas. He said, “only three people can understand the real meaning of his writings: Lord Brahama, Godess Saraswati and Kalidas himself”.
There is a lot of controversy about his early childhood and place of abode. However, most believe that he was a courtier of king Vikramaditya of Ujjayini. That means he lived in the Vikram era which is 57 years older than the Christian era. He was supposed to be an ignorant person till he deceitfully got married to a highly educated lady called Vidyotama. After a shock treatment by his wife, who threw him out of the house, he diverted all his energies towards getting educated and became a world renowned poet and playwright.
An Overview Of ‘Abhigyan Shakuntalam’
This is a beautiful stage play depicting the love story of a king called Dushyant and a jungle beauty called Shakuntala. She was an illegitimate daughter of King Vishwamitra abandoned in the jungle by her mother Menka. She was taken care of by a bird called Shakun till she was picked up Rishi Kanva, who gave her shelter in his ashram and brought her up as his own daughter. Kanva called her Shakuntala after Shakun, the birds who initially took care of her in the jungle.
King Dushyant met Shakuntala in the jungle during one of his hunting expeditions and got married by the Gandharva method. A Gandharva marriage is one of the eight classical types of Hindu marriages. This ancient marriage tradition was based on mutual attraction between two people with no rituals, witnesses or family participation. Due to a curse, the king forgot about this marriage and Shakuntala was forced to live in the jungle as an unwed mother in the ashram of Kashyap Rishi with the king’s son called Sarvadaman. He was also called Bharat and that’s how our country came to be known as Bharat.
Sarvadaman was brought up in the jungle atmosphere in the company of wild animals. King Dushyant regained his memory after seeing the wedding ring recovered from a fish’s stomach, which Shakuntala, had lost while bathing in the river. He then apologized to Shakuntala making it a happy ending.
Serene Atmosphere
Kalidasa has beautifully described the serene atmosphere of the ashram, where the humans, the animals and the birds lived fearlessly in an atmosphere of non-violence (ahinsa).
It is a popular stage play not only in our country, but also abroad. How translation spoils the show is shown in the following scene where young Sarvadaman escapes the eye of the baby sitter and is seen running towards a lioness feeding her cubs. How craftily the baby sitter manages to call Sarvadaman back from where he was, barely a few feet away from the lioness.
The baby sitter at that moment happened to carry in her hand a clay Shakun bird toy. This is what Kalidas made her say:
The child got confused as Shakuntala was his mother’s name. He could only understand that his mother’s name was being uttered.
So he said: Kutra va mum mata? (where is my mother?) and came running to the baby sitter
So, now if you only read the English translation of the dialogue, why Sarvadaman should remember his mother, after hearing “look at the beauty of this bird” from his baby sitter.
The dialogue also shows the child psychology knowledge of Kalidas. In that situation what you would have done? Instinctively, you would have shouted “Sarvadaman don’t go further, come back, the lioness will kill you” But we all know that a child at that age does not have this type of understanding and will do just the opposite. So, Kalidas got the child confused by showing him a toy of the Shakun bird, which his mother was named after.
In another scene, Sarvadaman is shown playing with a lion cub, which he has pulled out forcibly while it was being breastfed. The cub is half fed and the milk trickling out from its mouth during forcible traction has made its mustache stiff.
If you have some knowledge of Sanskrit, you may be able to appreciate the apt description of this scene by Kalidas in this couplet:
Ardhapeetastanam maturamard clishtakesaram
Prakriditum singhashishum balatkarena karshati
In another scene, Kalidas employs the child psychology of Sarvadaman, when he asks a lion to yawn so that he can count his teeth:
Jrimbhasva singha dantaste ganyishye
(yawn o’lion teeth want to count)
How beautifully Kalidas has described the feelings of the birds, animals and plants when Shakuntala was leaving the ashram to join king Dushyant, can only be enjoyed by reading the original script.
A healthy lifestyle is more effective than any other drug, said Dr Darius Soonawalla in the Health Live @ Seniors Today session on Saturday, June 27.
On Saturday, June 27, Health Live @ Seniors Today hosted Dr Darius Soonawalla as part of the weekly interface with leading doctors. An interesting session about osteoporosis and bone health in general. Dr Soonawalla answered questions from attendees and shared tips on how to maintain bone health and posture.
Dr Soonawalla is one of the leading orthopaedic surgeons in the country. A specialist in joint replacement, and was one of the first surgeons in the country to perform a non-invasive hip and knee replacement, which was recently introduced internationally. He is connected with some leading hospitals in Mumbai like the Breach Candy, Jaslok, Parsi General and Saifee Hospitals.
Here are takeaways from the webinar:
Osteoporosis and Arthritis are different – Osteoporosisis a condition where the bones become weaker leading to fractures. This could be due to ageing or due to other health conditions. Arthritis is a condition which affects the joints – junction between the two bones, causing inflammation and damage to the joint. People suffering from Arthritisexperience pain, deformity and mobility.
Prevent bones from further damage – A good lifestyle and diet in your teens has a significant impact on bone health. After the age of 30, bones lose the ability to strengthen. However, with a proper diet and adequate calcium and Vitamin D intake, one can maintain healt of the bones. Once men cross the age of 60 and when women reach menopause, this would be the time to pay close attention to any bone-related discomfort and get them treated to prevent it from further damage.
Watch out for pharma-driven supplements – There are variety of supplements in the market and some of them are not required. Body requires 1000-1500 milligrams of calcium a day. The best source of calcium is through a well-balanced diet. People with good diet do not require supplements. However, people with poor diet may require supplements.
Vitamin D supplements are more essential – More than calcium supplements, Vitamin D supplements are important. A good source of Vitamin D is the sun, however, getting enough sunlight may be tough. Hence, Vitamin D supplements should be taken.
Bone density test should be done once in three years – Getting a calcium blood test may not accurately tell you if you are calcium deficient. A bone density test will give you a better idea about your bone health.
Vitamin D test should be done once a year – Blood test for Vitamin D will accurately tell you if you are deficient. But there is no need to get the test done every now and there, unless you are suffering from a health condition which requires you to do the test. Otherwise getting a test done once a year would be good.
Excessive computer use – The commonest cause of back pain, shoulder pain… is excessive use of computer. It is essential to get the computer set ergonomically and it is also important to do some core strengthening as well as upper body exercises and stretching.
Tips
Make sure your chair is comfortable
Your back is well supported and your hip should be around 90 degree
Make sure your computer screen is at the eye level
Your keyboard should be at elbow level, your elbow should be on the arm rest
Get up every half an hour move around and stretch for 2-3 minutes
Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI) – Unfortunately, mobiles have become an extension of our arm. If you are facing repetitive stress symptoms – pain in the arm, then drastically cut down the usage. It would be a good idea to minimise mobile usage by using earphones so that your hands are free or by using dictation instead of typing. There are a lot of stretching and strengthening exercises over the internet that can be done, however, to prevent it from worsening, you may have to cut back on mobile usage or use arm splints.
Right time to get a knee surgery – Knee surgeries are fairly successful but it is important to understand when should one go for it. If the knees are handicapping you significantly then that would be the right time to go for a knee surgery. Consult your doctor to check if you require to get a knee surgery done.
Hip replacement surgery – Hip replacement surgery can be performed two to three times. It is fairly successful and with recent implants, the replacement would last longer.
Women can opt for Hormone Replacement Therapy – For women once they reach menopause, their chances of Osteoporosis rise as there is withdrawal of estrogen. Estrogen is a hormone that protects the bones. Women can opt for Hormone Replacement Therapy which would last a couple of years.
Balancing and coordination exercises are important – Our body tends to get weaker as we age – loss of coordination and difficulty balancing which may lead to a fall. To prevent falls and injuries, it is extremely important to do balancing and coordination exercises.
It not possible to reverse Osteoporosis – Even with therapy it is not possible to reverse Osteoporosis but the idea of the therapy is to maintain bone strength. The treatment is done to prevent the bone from deteriorating.
Milk and milk products are good for the bones – Drinking milk is a good source of calcium. But people who have dietary problems with milk can opt for calcium supplements or other source of calcium.
Tele-consultation is a viable option – With telehealth one can stay at home and consult the doctor. In the current situation most of the doctors are on telehealth. It is one of the most comfortable ways of consulting without stepping out.
If you would like to consult with Dr Darius Soonawalla, you can book a tele-consultation at Breach Candy Hospital or you may reach him at his clinic on 9167872181.
Where Minoo Shah prescribes attending class reunions and as one plays catch up – each one sounds shrilling louder than the other
Class reunions and why I advise them. Have you been to one lately? I prescribe it with tons of wine, spicy idli sambar and depending on the region – their traditional thali.
I went to one earlier this year, before Covid took root. I seriously did not know what to expect as it had been almost 50 years since I had met any of my classmates. I descended on this adventure mostly to re-establish an identity for myself (NRIs are your proverbial DKK – dhobi ke ku….) Contrary to popular belief, we the USA NRIs are not as well put together as we portray ourselves. Whoa, for those NRIs snorting at my words, fuming and gritting your molars – I am just about to give a disclaimer – There are Exceptions to Every Rule. I said it! May I continue?
Girls came from every direction to invade Varsha Paradise (which Shakespeare would have described as a rose by any other name, in Baner, Pune). Pune, Kolhapur, Delhi, Thane, Bengaluru, Talegaon, Belfast, Houston and of course Mumbai were well-represented by sight and sound. Most of us had aged graciously with a few extra pounds that even a sphanx could not hide. Then there were those for whom time had stood still and at the ripe age of 65 still looked like blossoming debutantes.
And as we started to play catch up – each one shrilling louder than the other like only prep school girls can, much to the amazement of the Nepali wait staff (they are not just security guards anymore, now their uniforms have taken on the thrill of hospitality). At this point, it would be important to put things in context otherwise the readers will hmm and haw at the political incorrectness. And again, maybe a bit of venting could not hurt so I choose to let you make of it what you will with just one disclaimer that Nepalis are one of our own and I am allowed to make as much fun of them as I would of a fafdaben, a chhapatibai, a Punju bhangrist, or an idli tambi, So, where were we? Oh, yes context and such. Our group of 12 strong were hosted by a gracious class fellow in Pune.
Garlanded with leis and an abundance of gifts in forms of candles, scarves, shawls, mithai, ceramic necklaces were exchanged. Missing was that bottle of wine, which, clever readers you guessed it I am that Gujju NRI (Punekari previous life) who forgot to ‘bring’ the bottle. Lunch was Maharashtrian wedding thali which our hostess with the mostest compounded by surpassing all boundaries of culinary ecstasy. If delightful were a word that could be superlativised then that would be the adjective I would use for that weekend. For, what followed was an evening of competitive revelry and mouth-watering barbecue served on the terrace top, with chatter till the wee hours. Pressing forward, what’s a girlie story without a treat for some of you lecherous readers, poring over this article, hands clenched, lips pursed in anticipation – imagine an early morning slumber party with some 65-year-olds in negligees swooning over a cup of masala chai and a breathtaking view of the sunrise from a 3rd floor portal (I can hear a whisper from some Gujju NRIs in Houston – gandee saali translated – ‘dirty girl’). That was it, guys, show’s over.
Moving on, off we went to, where else? Our alma mater at which the netizens could not have envisioned what 12 past students could wreak in a single afternoon. We flitted unceremoniously from classrooms, lectured the diminutive 8th class natives on how it used to be and Yes!!!! Our one goal in life to de-scar ourselves of that room of horrors was rightfully achieved when in unison we sat at the Principal’s desk and sang. The notes leapt through alarmed windows while our lungs desperately pursued them. From what I hear, the walls have permanently closed their ears (to those who need this analogy explained – ref. ‘walls have ears)’, and the quietly dignified Ms S still wakes up with nightmares of 12 mature grey-haired (except for some who had jet black dyed hair) preppies trying to carry a note to the prestigious school song.
In tandem, we left for the Conrad Hilton with our fav teacher a mild hearted Parsee with a twinkle and a wit matching none other than the erstwhile Shaw. As we dispersed, we all saw each other as we were 50 years ago, pigtails, green uniforms covering unflattering bloomers with a tear which refused to fall and heads nodding in acknowledgment of the wondrous memories we had shared.
It’s the master music director’s 81st birth anniversary on June 27, so Narendra Kusnur’s presents some unforgettable songs that the multi-faceted Asha Bhosle rendered for him
To mark R D Burman’s 81st birth anniversary on June 27, we thought of compiling a list of solo songs sung for him by Asha Bhosle. Quite surprisingly, the task wasn’t as easy as it seemed.
Unlike most lists where one has to choose from a large number of deserving songs to fit in 10 or 20, there weren’t too many solo songs that the two worked on together, at least in Hindi films. They released many songs in Bengali though.
With Burman as music director, Bhosle has sung many successful duets with Mohamed Rafi and Kishore Kumar. There are many Bhosle-dominated songs where other voices come in. Burman himself appears on ‘Piya Tu Ab To Aaja’ (Caravan) and ‘Sapna Mera Toot Gaya’ (Khel Khel Mein).
Bhupinder chips in on ‘Jab Andhera Hota Hai’ (Raja Rani), and the voices of Amitabh Bachchan and Sharad Kumar are heard on ‘Do Lafzon Ki’ (The Great Gambler). Though Bhosle sings most of ‘Roz Roz Ankhon Taley’ (Jeeva), Amit Kumar has a sizeable portion at the end.
In the film Ijaazat and the album Dil Padosi Hai, Bhosle sings many songs. But here, we haven’t used two songs from the same project. Some of these numbers have choruses, and have been included. The list is chronological.
1. Dum Maaro Dum – Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971)
Picturised on Zeenat Aman and Dev Anand, who play siblings, the song was a rage in the early 1970s, with its infectious hook, catchy choruses, smart guitars and driving rhythms. Anand Bakshi wrote the lyrics, which referred to a group of drug-addicted hippies in Nepal. Even today, it is a club favourite.
The Sanjeev Kumar-Jaya Bhaduri film had big hits like Kishore Kumar’s ‘Meri Bheegi Bheegi Si’ and Lata Mangeshkar’s ‘Baahon Mein Chale Aao’. But Bhosle contributed with two songs, including this melodious number where Majrooh Sultanpuri wrote, “Jaaoon toh kahaan jaaoon, sab kuchh yahin hai; Tere ghar ke baahar to, na duniya na din hai”.
The magical combination of Burman, Bhosle and lyricist Gulzar worked wonders in this song picturised on Farida Jalal and Hema Malini. The composition had an effervescence, and the singing was natural on the lines “Bechara dil kya kare, saawan jale, bhadon jale”.
Burman marvellously used the disco sound prevalent those days in this song picturised on Parveen Babi and an ensemble cast including Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor. Bakshi wrote, “Pyaar karne waale pyaar karte hain shaan se, jeete hain shaan se, marte hain shaan se”.
The film was an Indo-Soviet production based on a Central Asian fantasy tale. Burman uses a sound that blends disco and Central Asian elements with choruses. Picturised on Zeenat Aman in a group setting, the song was penned by Bakshi.
6. Kitne Bhi Tu Karle Sitam – Sanam Teri Kasam (1982)
The hit song had two versions, by Kishore and Bhosle, filmed on Kamal Haasan and Reena Roy. Gulshan Bawra penned the lines “Yeh pyaar na hoga kam, sanam teri kasam”. Interestingly, the song was somewhat similar to Burman’s Bemisal tune ‘Ek Roz Main Tadapkar’, also released in 1982.
Burman and Bhosle combined on Gulzar’s song, picturised on Shabana Azmi. The song had a wonderful melody line, with Gulzar’s metaphysical lines, “Phir se aaiyo badra bidesi, tere pankhon pe moti jadoongi”. It was a rare beauty.
Besides this song, Ijaazat had other fabulous Bhosle numbers like ‘Katra Katra’ and ‘Khali Haath Shaam Aayee’. On ‘Mera Kuchh Saamaan’, picturised on Anuradha Patel and Naseeruddin Shah, Gulzar wrote intense words without sticking to the meter, and Burman delivered a gem.
9. Rishte Bante Hain – Dil Padosi Hai (non-film album, 1987)
One of the highlights of the album Dil Padosi Hai, it had the lines “Rishte bante hain bade dheere se, banne dete, kacche lamhon ko zara shaakh par, pakne dete, pakne dete”. Burman used a very pleasant orchestration with overdubs, and Bhosle’s voice is charming.
Bhosle sang in many Bengali films and private albums. Though most were with Burman, she also sang for Salil Chowdhury, Manna Dey, Bappi Lahiri and Sapan Jagmohan. This peppy tune was one of the later gems, composed by Burman and written by Mukul Dutta.
Odour of urine can be a sign of health condition, writes Dr Suresh Agrawal
For most people, peeing is such a mundane task that they do it without giving it much thought.
You are going about your day happily until you relieve yourself to a strange smelling urine. Maybe it’s extra pungent or fishy, but having a weird smell emanating as you urinate can be freaky. There are some perfectly logical and totally harmless causes of urine odour. However, some causes may be more serious than the other.
Here are 10 reasons why urine odour can be a sign of health conditions.
1. Dehydration – Staying hydrated is essential for proper body functions. By urinating, your body gets rid of body waste. Dehydration is one of the most common causes of smelly urine. If you are dehydrated, the colour of your urine will appear dark honey or brown with strong pungent ammonia like odour. When this happens, your body is telling you to re-hydrate with water and salt.
2. Food – What you eat can sometimes be the cause of smelly urine. Foods such as asparagus, onions, garlic, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, alcohol and even coffee can cause changes to the colour and smell of urine. However, odour caused by food is nothing to be worried about.
3. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) – If you are taking frequent trips to the washroom, have a burning sensation as you pee, and your urine smells funny as well, the chances are that you may have a urinary tract infection. This is the result of bacteria entering the urinary tract; the bladder and the urethra. UTIs are common but can become serious. See a doctor if symptoms do not ease on their own as antibiotics may be necessary.
4. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) – Diseases such as gonorrhoea, chancroid, chlamydiaand trichomoniasiscan cause urethritis – inflammation of the urethra. The inflammation can cause bacteria to build up, making your pee smelly.
5. Pre-diabetes or diabetes – If your urine smells sweet or fruity, you may be pre-diabetic or diabetic. When you have high blood sugar content, your body will get rid of it through urine, causing it to smell sweet. In diabetic and prediabetic condition, yeast flourishes giving rise to candidiasis– yeast infection.
6. Kidney stones – Does your pee smell like rotten eggs? This could be a sign of kidney stones. Cloudy, may be red, pink or brown and the pungent smell is caused sulphur found in kidney stones. Kidney stones collect bacteria leading to infection and bleeding.
7. Vitamin B – Excess of Vitamin B complex causes smelly urine. Your body does not store Vitamin B beyond its requirement. If there is excess of it then your body will flush it out.
8. Bladder fistula – Fistulais an abnormal connection between urinary bladder and intestine. When this happen bacteria from the intestines move into the bladder causing urine to smell of stool. This can cause recurrent UTIs.
9. Liver – Liver diseases can cause urine to smell of ammonia. The liver is responsible for flushing toxins out of our body similar to kidneys. Any kind of infection of the liver produces high level of ammonia along with a pungent odour of urine.
10. Genetic conditions – Phenylketonuria, an incurable genetic condition that causes urine to smell musky. Another genetic disease is Maple syrup urine disease – it is a rare genetic condition where urine smells like maple syrup.
If your urine smells funny and does not go away with a well-balanced meal and plenty of water, you should consult your doctor.
Can China Escalate Border Skirmishes into War - Seniors Today
Some analysts believe that post Covid-19 is an opportunity for India and China to resolve the ‘boundary question’, and seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution, writes Brig GB Reddy AVSM (Retd)
Can China escalate the ongoing border skirmishes – fist fights – in Ladakh and Sikkim into full-scale War? As per media reports, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is moving troops to the areas of border skirmishes as a show of strength. In hindsight, they may not even raise the threshold to cross-border fire exchanges.
Why? They simply cannot afford to get embroiled in such a misadventure just as India cannot do it. At best, one can describe the ongoing fracas on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) along with Pangong Tso (one-third of the lake under Indian control) in Ladakh in the Western Sector and at Nakula in the North Sikkim in the eastern sector as cat-and-mouse game or shadow-boxing.
On scripted lines, each side is blaming the other side for the present escalating tensions on the LAC. The Chinese analysts are blaming India for aggression for “seeking to divert its domestic attention and pressure since the Covid-19 pandemic plunged its economy into recession”.
Since the outbreak of Covid-19, there have been some subtle and complex changes in China-India relations, which have created uncertainties for the improvement of bilateral relations, Qian Feng, director of the research department of the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University in Beijing, told the Global Times.Furthermore, “some scholars in India believe that the international environment for India is far more favourable than that of China. Under such circumstances, they believe the intensified confrontation between China and the US will be of greater help and benefit to India and advocate reaching out to the US,” Qian said.
On the military situation, as per Chinese media reports, Indian troops illegally crossed the boundary line in the Galwan Valley region along the border and entered Chinese territory. “More importantly, Song Zhongping, a military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times that “India intends to make the border frictions with China a new normal, because it has geographical advantages to send troops to the border regions frequently. Although China won’t provoke India, the Indian military won’t stop their small operations from interrupting the Chinese military. This will be a prolonged issue between the two countries.”
As per PLA military sources, the Indian side built defense fortifications and obstacles to disrupt Chinese border defense troops’ normal patrol activities, purposefully instigated conflicts and attempted to unilaterally change the current border control situation. As per assessment of Chinese analysts, since China has a military advantage in the Galwan Valley region, the Indian military won’t escalate the incident. If India escalates the friction, the Indian military could pay a heavy price – a veiled threat. In a re-conciliatory move, the Chinese military source has stated the “the border troops of China and India will keep in touch with each other on the current situation through meetings.”
Also, the Chinese military sources stated that the actions by the Indian side have seriously violated China and India’s agreements on border issues, violated China’s territorial sovereignty and harmed military relations between the two countries. According to sources, the border troops of China and India will keep in touch with each other on the current situation through meetings and representations.
Three years ago in 2017, China and India were engaged in a 72-day military standoff in Doklam during Xi Jinping’s visit to India. Since then, measures have been taken to avoid another similar major incident. Nonetheless, nearly three-quarters of the transgressions, as per data since 2015, have taken place in the western sector of the LAC, which falls in Ladakh. The eastern sector, which falls in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, witnessed almost one-fifth of the Chinese transgressions.
Let me highlight that border tensions have been endemic even after agreements reached in 2015 and Doklam in 2017. India and China have different perceptions about the exact location of the LAC in the Pangong Tso area, which results in high number of transgressions. While Pangong Tso tops the list, the other site of contention in the Galwan river valley had hardly witnessed Chinese transgressions, which was the scene of battle in the 1962 war. It is a “settled portion” of the LAC, where both sides agree on its location.
Maps have also been exchanged between the two countries and armies regarding the LAC in the Galwan River. However, construction of a new road in the Galwan area, well inside Indian Territory, has elicited strong objections from the Chinese who have moved soldiers, heavy vehicles, and monitoring equipment in large numbers. Sources said 70-80 Chinese tents have been pitched in the area, matched by strong Indian mobilization on the ground. Whilst one incident each was reported in 2016 and 2018 and four in 2017, there was no incident in 2019. So, the current situation in the area is a significant departure from the norms of previous disputes on the LAC.
As per official data, 80 percent of Chinese clashes in the disputed areas since 2015 have taken place in four locations, three of them in eastern Ladakh in the western sector. Trig Heights and Burtse have witnessed two-thirds of the total incidents. At Pangong Tso, Chinese transgressions almost doubled from a five-year low of 72 in 2018 to 142 in 2019. These transgressions occurred both in the waters of the lake, and its northern banks.
The first four months of this year, according to official data, witnessed 170 Chinese transgressions across the LAC, including 130 in Ladakh. Trig Heights recorded 22 per cent while Burtse/Depsang Bulge accounted for 19 per cent of all transgressions. The latest Chinese forays into Indian territory is in the Doletango area opposite Dumchele with 54 Chinese transgressions in 2019, after having recorded only three transgressions in the past four years.
Eastern Sector
The latest flare-up in the eastern sector is at Naku La in North Sikkim. In 2018 and 2019, there were two clashes reported each in 2018 and 2019 respectively. In Sikkim, there were 164 and 77 incidents reported respectively in 2015 and 2016. During the volatile 73-day confrontation at Doklam on the Sikkim-Bhutan border in 2017, there were 112 incidents. In the eastern sector, the highest number of transgressions by the Chinese — 14.5 per cent of the total – was recorded in Dichu Area/Madan Ridge Area.
Central Sector
The only location in the central sector to record significant Chinese transgressions is Barahoti in Uttarakhand which recorded 30 in 2018 and 21 in 2019. Least disputed, it is the only sector where both countries have shared maps, presenting their respective perceptions of the LAC.
In sum, the clashes on the LAC is a common feature that are escalated by the PLA on “His Masters Voice” from Beijing as part of their long-term strategy against India – their rival in South Asia. Viewed in the above context, if one wants to develop pragmatic assessments, one must follow carefully China’s past and present policies and strategies. No use in political and military jingoistic rhetoric.
During XI-Modi first informal Summit at Wuhan in April 2018, the two leaders “issued strategic guidance to their respective militaries to strengthen communication in order to build trust and mutual understanding and enhance predictability and effectiveness in the management of border affairs”. They also “directed their militaries to earnestly implement various confidence building measures agreed upon between the two sides, including the principle of mutual and equal security, and strengthen existing institutional arrangements and information sharing mechanisms to prevent incidents in border regions”.
However, on taking over reins, Xi Jinping endorsed former President, Hu Jintao’s; view that, “the first two decades of the 21st century as a period of “strategic opportunity” for its growth and development.” Xi Jinping has reiterated “respect each other’s choice of development path and each other’s core interests” to take advantage and prolong the window of opportunity. Unless compelled to do so, Xi Jinping may continue to pursue peaceful development path.
Xi Jinping is explicit with his “Two Centenaries” prescription for China to traverse: by 2021, when the CCP celebrates its centenary, complete the building of a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious in all respects, with a strong military to make China the world’s dominant power by 2049, when Peoples Republic of China (PRC) marks its centenary.
As per Western strategic thinkers, Xi Jinping’s China is displaying a superpower’s ambition. They believe precise intentions of opaque, authoritarian regimes are difficult to discern, which is true. China formerly disguised its ambitions; but now is asserting them openly. China has entered a “new era,” Xi announced in 2017, and must “take centerstage in the world.” Two years later, Xi used the idea of a “new Long March” to describe China’s worsening relationship with Washington. Its relations are drifting away from “competitor and collaborator” towards “rival” status. What is most disturbing for China is its ongoing “Trade War” with the USA.
China has dramatically transformed in all fields under Xi Jinping – social, political, economic, technology, diplomatic and military. Today, China is on the threshold of superpower status. Yet, China cannot get into a full-scare war with India on the border. Instead, China will apply strategy of ambiguity through the doctrine of “Creeping Incrementalism and Extended Coercion”, in a more assertive and aggressive manner to keep the border disputes alive to be settled at its terms in posterity when it gains dominant power status ASP.
China perceives potential external security threats on multiple fronts: in the Northeast, over sea frontiers with Japan and South Korea; towards East, over re-unification of Taiwan; and in South China Sea with Philippines, Vietnam and other SE Asian neighbours. On the land borders, the crisis points include: in South with Vietnam; in Tibet with India; and with others in the North. At the same time, China too is facing major internal security challenges like in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. Taiwan is yet another key challenge. Post Covid-19, China too has to emerge from the Great Economic Depression.
Today, China is at an advantage, which it may not like to squander away by one misstep. It has an enduring, multi-dimensional and deep-rooted relationship with Pakistan. Hu Jintao had described the relationship as “higher than the mountains and deeper than oceans”. Pakistanis have added “sweeter than the honey” to it. Xi Jinping refers to Pakistani people as “good friends, good partners and good brothers.” None should forget that China remain beholden to Pakistan for sponsoring Henry Kissinger’s visit in 1970’s from its soil and the “Ping-Pong Diplomacy that followed contributing to China’s rise. According to one of the US declassified documents, “China has provided assistance to Pakistan’s program to develop a nuclear weapon capability in the areas of fissile material production and possibly also in nuclear device design.” And, 80% of Pakistan Armed Forces are equipped with China’s combat systems and also the ongoing China Pakistan Economic Corridor leading the Gwadar Post and route to West Asia. Also, China is also at an advantage in Nepal, Sri Lanka, and has gained strong strategic foot-hold in West Asia and Latin America.
On account of an improved connectivity, infrastructure development and access to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the depth, frequency and intensity of such face-offs will increase, threatening a fragile peace which exists, with the last shot fired in anger in October 1975. Such incidents and standoffs like the one at Doklam in 2017 or Depsang and Chumar are the ever-present potential drivers of conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors — home to one-third of humanity.
Managing contested borders is a continuous costly drain on the armed forces and the ever-depleting defence budget. Once resolved, India will be able to optimize the defence forces, position itself as a military power and focus on the western borders by raising the costs of the proxy war by Pakistan, leading to relative peace.
Some analysts believe that post Covid-19 is an opportunity for India and China to resolve the ‘boundary question’, and seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution. Such an assumption is excellent if both nations manage their relations on “quid pro quo” basis immediately instead of dilly-dallying for eternity. For doing so, Modi has to forge consensus with the rebellious opposition rivals. At the same time, there is no need for analysts to articulate various war scenarios like whether India will be forced to fight its war alone singlehandedly, or lent diplomatic support by others or provide military combat systems or participate jointly to face China’s military threat.
Viewed in the foregoing, India’s strategic objectives must be to create a new and favourable equilibrium across not only Asia-Pacific region and the Indian Ocean domain, but also on the international plane. Admit all alike that India will not be able to stop every act of aggression by rival powers, but it can significantly raise the costs of such aggression and frustrate whatever strategic goal the aggression intends to achieve in all fields of national security.
Under S Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, India’s diplomatic approach is highly imaginative, calculative, deliberate and focused that is assertive and unyielding posture with a prudent recognition that, at times, flexible with adjustments and compromises. For example, if China deliberately provokes a major military confrontation on the LAC along the land borders, then India must make it clear diplomatically that the military escalation would also spill over into the Indian Ocean Region that would have major implications on Chinese oil imports or use of atomic demolition munitions in the disputed areas of the LAC.
To successfully counter the shifts in threat of force, or means of coercion (terrorism, cyber attacks, covert operations, trade wars, political subversion, climate change) to undermine India’s national interests by China, it goes without saying that it must be done from a position of strength from within and not weakness: social unity and quality, political consensus, enhanced economic power, technology parity or superiority and security forces capabilities and effectiveness.
At the political level, Xi Jinping, his Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the present Ambassador in India Sun Weidong gaveindications of a shift in China’s position to resolve the boundary row since March 2013. In public, they have been highlighting the need for an early settlement of the boundary question. Yet, there have been no significant breakthroughs.
If ever there was an opportunity for the two Asian giants to resolve the contested boundary, it was during Deng Xiapao time in mid-1980s, which India squandered. Now, it is too late with China having acquired almost superpower status.
If India wants to remain a sovereign nation, it must develop its power potential in all fields earliest. There is no alternative. After all, “Power respects Power”. China is attempting coercive diplomacy by escalating border tensions. Indian military must boldly counter the Chinese military aggression on the borders. Also, demonstrate its power in the Indian Ocean Region.Also, close the trade with China which favors China.
Washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds is one of the most effective ways to prevent Covid-19. However, if we are out and about, using a 70% alcohol-based hand sanitizer does the job. But how effective are these hand sanitizers in getting rid of germs?
Here are six facts about hand sanitizers that you should know:
1. Kills germs but does not clean hands – Soap and water do not kill germs, they remove them. Hand Sanitizers also don’t work, if your hands are visibly dirty or greasy, and they may not remove harmful chemicals.
So, when you rub and scrub your hands with soap between your palms and fingers, this creates friction that breaks down the structure of the bacteria and loosens the germs from your skin and when you rinse your hands under water, you wash those germs down the drain. A hand sanitizer kills germs but does not clean hands.
2. Sanitizers don’t work in certain situations – Sanitizers should be used as a backup to soap and water, ideally when you are out. Hand-washing is effective at getting your hands free from grime and germs.
Center from Disease Control (CDC) in the United States recommends using hand sanitizer as a first choice in certain situations, such as before and after visiting a friend or a loved one. However, wash your hands with soap and water as soon as you can.
3. Use 60% alcohol-based sanitizer – Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends using a hand sanitizer that contains minimum 60% alcohol. Any sanitizer with less than that in terms of alcohol content may not work well for many types of germs.
If you come across handsSanitizers that contain benzalkonium chloride instead of alcohol, do not use them. They are less reliable against certain bacteria and viruses compared to alcohol-based Sanitizers.
Also, homemade sanitizers can be ineffective and dangerous. DIY hand sanitizers should be avoided, because if it’s not made correctly, it can burn your hands instead of killing germs.
4. Sanitising technique – Take a generous amount of sanitizer to the palm of your hand and spread it gently all over, paying special attention to your fingertips. Continue rubbing the hand sanitizer into your hands until your skin is completely dry. It will kill all the germs provided you rub your hands for 20 seconds till the sanitizer dries out.
5. Cleaning products are not Sanitizers – Antibacterial sprays and disinfectants cannot be used as sanitizers. These products are designed for hard, non-porous surfaces and not human skin. Bleach on food products, applying household cleaning and disinfectant products to skin, and inhaling or ingesting cleaners and disinfectants are unsafe.
6. Hand Sanitizer can be dangerous for some – Sanitizers are toxic by the end of the day. When ingested, especially by vulnerable people, it can cause gastrointestinal issues leading to alcohol poisoning. Hand sanitizers are also flammable. The CDC advises hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities to store hand Sanitizer in a safe manner away from sources of ignition.
It is essential to keep a sanitizer handy. However, wash your hands whenever you can to keep them clean and germ-free.
On Saturday, June 20, Health Live @ Seniors Today hosted leading gastroenterologist Dr Prasanna Shah to address issues related to stomach ailments.
Last week, on Health Live @ Seniors Today, leading gastroenterologistDr Prasanna Shah addressed questions from Seniors Today readers. Amidst the unprecedented pandemic and stepping into the new normal, the Q&A session with on gut health for seniors got attendees a better understanding of digestion, constipation, and how the stomach is an important organ responsible for overall well-being.
Dr Shah also addressed the silent pandemic – Obesity. While hypertension and diabetes contribute to obesity and vice-versa. He points out that slowly we are becoming the most obese nation in the world.
Here are the takeaways from the webinar:
The process of digestion – Stomach is a small organ situated below the lungs – it is aligned with the heart and is part of the upper body. When someone experiences abdominal uneasiness, they put their hand around the abdomen, that is the abdomen while the stomach is a small organ that is responsible for producing acid and churning the food in puree form to pass through the intestines where the nutrients are absorbed.
Stomach is an organ that produces acid – It is an organ that produces acid to churn food, when there is an increased amount of acid in the stomach people experience a lot of acid issues. A common term used is acidity, the burning sensation that can flare up from chest bone to the throat. This sensation is also called reflux or stomach burn.
Know your bowel movement – Having one to two bowel movements every two to three days is constipation. Whereas having a bowel movement once or twice in a day is normal. While passing a stool more than five times is loose motions. It is also important to know whether you are having a spontaneous bowel movement or a forced bowel movement.
Understanding of the basic terminology – When you visit your doctor using the basic but correct terminology is better than just assuming the stomach problem. Whether its gas, bloating, constipation, acidity, heartburn’s… understand the terminology before using it.
Google gives too much information – Reading tons of medical conditions on Google is good, it gives a good perspective of the disease. But one has to read between those lines to understand the condition you may be suffering from. A doctor does that reading between the lines, do not try to self-diagnose because things can go horribly wrong. Let the doctor do the job.
Common causes of bloating – If one eats fast or drinks fast, they are swallowing a lot of air which causes bloating. So, eat and drink slowly. The other cause of bloating is Sibo – small intestine bacterial overgrowth, this causes gas and bloating in the stomach.
Refluxersand solutions – Fried food, cheese, coffee, garlic, onion, mint, alcohol, smoking – they are common refluxers. If one is experiencing prolonged reflux, cut back on these refluxers for six to eight weeks and then gradually consume them in moderation. The solution to acid reflux would be to have small frequent meals over a large meal.
Antacid, don’t overdo it – Over the counter antacid is helpful when you consume it in balance. If you consume more of it then it can lead to an antacid failure which can be serious.
The best probiotic is curd – A probiotic is good bacteria which reduces SIOB in the gut. SIBO, short for Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth is bad bacteria which causes gas. Consumption of probiotics will reduce bloating, gas, keep your colon healthy and a good bowel movement.
Diabetes can affect bowel movement – Diabetes slows down the intestine and this can sometimes affect the movement of the stool even when diabetes is under control.
Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis – This is inflammatory bowel diseases. If one is suffering from this, they should strictly avoid drinking milk – milkshakes, ice-creams, kulfi… but you can have dairy products such as curd, cheese, ghee, butter and like. Also, try not to stress because if you do the inflammation will get aggravated.
Depression can cause stomach problems – Our body has a brain-gut axis, this axis lets the brain to send signals to the stomach. It can respond with pain or loose motion or constipation depending.
A good diet – Good amount of proteins – 40 to 60 gms, some fibre, mild to moderate amount of carbohydrates, plenty of liquids. If consumption of rice or potatoes – carbs or starch is giving you stomach problems, then you may be intolerant.
Know what you are eating and what is eating you – When you consume a balanced diet and yet are facing stomach problems, it could be stress or anxiety eating you.
Erratic food habits – Late night binge-watching and snacking changes the circadian rhythm aka sleep pattern. This can lead to acid reflux, leading to indigestion and other stomach related problems – constipation, irritable stomach, affected concentration while working.
Waxing Waning Cycle of Obesity – Exercise and diet is crucial when it comes to staying healthy and fit. Bariatric surgery and various other endoscopy procedures can help reduce weight however, you will have to exercise and diet to maintain or continue the weight loss. But if you break, put a pause on dieting and exercising you will go back to a vicious cycle of eating and gaining weight.
Lack of fibre can lead to diverticular disease – They are small pouches formed in the colonic wall, which develops over a period of time, if there is a lack of fibre. There are be one to many diverticula varying in different sizes.
Chocolate post-dinner is bad – Cocoa is a refluxer and the sweetener produces a lot of weight. This will cause acid reflux and worsen diabetes or if you are prediabetic you will become diabetic. But to satiate your mind you can have a small piece once or twice in a week.
An oximeter is essential for seniors – A pulse oximeter is an important tool to have at home especially for seniors. The oximeter will show readings of oxygen saturation in your body. If the reading is 98-100, it is normal but if it starts touching 93-90, get in touch with your doctor as you could be developing a respiratory disease.
Eat small frequent meals, drink around 5-7 glasses of water and walk about 3000-6000 steps in a day. A happy gut is all we need!
Yoga is about how you do it and not how much you do it. So, breathe easy and hold on to your pose.
Yoga is a way of living, an ancient practice that helps strike a balance between the mind and the body. Yoga practice varies from person to person, the beauty of yoga is that you don’t have to do so much to reap the benefits. However, it is essential how you practice it. Doing any kind of pose will be beneficial as long as you do it correctly.
Some studies suggest that yoga can help seniors feel youthful again. Here is why yoga is good for you and why you should make it a part of your daily routine.
Keeps you mentally and physically fit – For seniors, yoga is incredible to maintain bone health, muscle mass and keep the mental health in tune. Daily yoga practice helps detoxify the body and improve overall body and mental strength.
Helps reduce weight and strengthen core – Mind and body go hand-in-hand. Something as simple as breathing can help shed not only the extra pounds that you must have gained recently but also help strengthen your core using your body weight. One needs to be patient with the practice, it is slow but effective.
Lowers stress and anxiety – Practicing few minutes of yoga every day will keep you calm. It helps you to focus on your breathing which results in reduced anxiety and stress. Yoga techniques such as pranayama (breathing exercises), asanas (postures) and meditation are effective ways to rid anxiety and stress.
Boosts immunity and energy levels – As practicing yoga strikes a balance between body and mind it results in better immunity and good energy levels. With a good energy level, we tend to get done with a lot of work in a short span of it, boosting efficiency. 10 minutes of any yoga technique of your choice will benefit you.
Improves flexibility and posture – As we age, posture and flexibility can cause a lot of trouble that was never experience before. A stiff back, or developing a hunchback can make your feel miserable. However, with yoga you will feel like your younger self.
Here are the 5 basic yoga postures you should make part of your daily routine.
1. Tadasana aka Mountain pose
A great pose for seniors to begin their practice, it is good for balance and posture. Balance and ground yourself by standing tall and taking deep breaths. Breathe five to eight times while you actively engage your leg muscles.
Tadasan – Mountain pose
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2. Vrikshasana aka Tree Pose
Improves balance, memory and concentration and strengthens knee and ankle. Begin this pose by taking support of the wall. This way as your practice progresses soon you will be able to do it without any support. Breathe three to six time while you hold the pose,
Vrikshasana aka Tree Pose
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3. Virabhadrasna I aka Warrior I
Improve the flexibility of your hamstrings while you balance yourself. It strengthens your leg as well as opens your chest and hips, improves circulation and energizes. Breathe three to six time while you engage in this pose.
Virabhadrasna I aka Warrior I
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4. Virabhadrasana II aka Warrior II
This is the advanced version of Virabhadrasana I, once you find easy to hold Virabhadrasana I, you may proceed to this posture. It strengthens your leg as well as opens your chest and hips, as well as hands and shoulders. Hold the pose and take five to eight breaths as you progress.
Virabhadrasana II aka Warrior II
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5. Marjariasana-Bitilasana aka Cat-Cow Pose
This is a flow posture, a combination of two poses done one after the other. This helps relieve lower back pain, increases neck and shoulder flexibility, improves postures and spine health. Breathe in as you stretch your neck looking up and breathe out as you look down. Do this flow four to six time as you begin.
Marjariasana-Bitilasana aka Cat-Cow Pose
These yoga postures are simple and effective. But make sure you practice it under some guidance and do not try it alone until you are well verse with the technique.
As an ‘overwhelmed’ Bollywood mourns the death of Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, there are more Sushants, Divya Bhartis and Marilyn Monroes on their way to glamourland, writes Minoo Shah
Something that glitters on the outside and stinks on the inside. What is showbiz? Be it Hollywood or Bollywood, it’s a cesspool!
So, what is it about fame, fan following and the glitzy life that attracts a person to sell their souls, ethics and integrity? It is an adrenaline rush you get from face recognition, the paparazzi forever your shadow and dates with the pick of the litter. What more could a person want? A mental break, maybe.
This is what went unrecognised in the case of some popular Hollywood and Bollywood stars that passed before their time. To be precise, they took their own lives. Some left notes and others did not. It was left to the forensic experts to decide if it was an accident or suicide.
Such is the human mind that when we cannot fathom tragedies we tend to clutch at any straws. We want answers, we want to understand the whys, the wherefores, the what could have beens and in our grief we lash out. The horrific news of actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death by hanging has shaken Mumbai, India and non-resident Indians globally. Many videos and many a talk show host and at least a few celebrities have cast aspersions on the nepotist bullying fraternity of Bollywood.
Let us take a step back and look at facts. The actor was suffering from depression, this was confirmed by his ex-live-in girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty. One of his former manager Disha Salian had committed suicide a week prior. He had almost no movies on his roster and felt like an outsider in an industry where the power-brokers were ganging up against him. All of the above was a perfect storm and his stress level broke leading him to commit the one act that one too many in Bollywood and Hollywood have committed.
Marilyn Monroe – a globally recognised blonde bombshell who even had a President yapping at her heels. Death by overdose.
Guru Dutt, an icon known for his black and white movies with a crowd pull like none other mixed sleeping pills and alcohol. No note left behind but ruled a suicide.
Robin Williams, the lovable alien from an 80s TV show Mork and Mindy who went on to play amazing character roles with the likes of Marlon Brando, Matt Damon et al., suffered from clinical depression and took his own life. We don’t know what demons chased him.
Then there is Michael Jackson, Divya Bharti and scores of others whose deaths have been ruled an accident, but conjectures continue, and conspiracies abound.
From many accounts, it is clear that Sushant Singh Rajput was an impassioned actor, an intellectual and a genuinely good person. Yet he chose to be in a profession where nepotism, casting couch sexism, backbiting and the media-whoring are all a given. Very few with no godfathers in that industry, namely Sanjeev Kumar and Deven Verma survived, their talent was their calling card but early on decided how deep they wanted to step into the murky waters. In comparison, take an example of star kids that did not make it. Abhishek Bachchan had really big shoes to fill. He had failed even before he entered because the fan expectations were immense. No amount of star power from Big B could resurrect his or Aishwarya Rai’s career. Talent personified Abhay Deol is a has-been in spite of his lineage which did not help his half-sister Esha Deol either. Star kids have a different type of pressure because not only do they have to prove themselves better but also measure up to the masses’ expectations. It is what it is.
If we are to play the blame game, then let’s begin with the media. There was a time when integrity and ethics were the watermark of journalism. That is now a fable of the distant past. Sensationalism, commercialism, and various ‘isms’ tantamount to all that is greedy abound in the press and the new mantra is ‘if it sells publish it.’
All that said, let us zero down into the gist of this narrative. Why did someone like Sushant Singh Rajput with all his intelligence fail to grasp what he was stepping into? He, like many before him, lived in a fool’s paradise. Like quicksand, the industry engulfed his dreams and aspirations, leaving him heartbroken, friendless and bereaved of trust. All ingredients that can make a person feel like the walls are closing in on them leaving them with only one course of action. End it all!
As this goes to print and an ‘overwhelmed’ Bollywood mourns, there are more Sushants, Divya Bhartis and Marilyn Monroes on their way to glamourland. It is the nature of the beast that spreads its tentacles luring innocent wide-eyed youth into a world of artifice and hypocrisy. Lest we forget, Sushant Singh Rajput was one of them and he succumbed.
The third session of Health Live @ Seniors Today saw the leading psychiatrist address specific queries around mental health for senior citizens given the Covid-19 pandemic scare
By A Staff Writer
Last week, on Health Live @ Seniors Today, we had well-known psychiatrist Dr Milan H Balakrishnan speak with Seniors Today readers. While the ‘unlock’ continues to makes it way to the new normal, an exclusive Q&A with Dr Balakrishnan on mental health for seniors got attendees a better understanding of how mental and physical health go hand in hand.
The impact of the Covid-19 crisis on mental health needs to be addressed across the spectrum. Loneliness, depression and anxiety put the elderly in a very vulnerable spot.
Here are takeaways from the webinar that will help you take better care of yourself.
A routine is important – Maintaining a basic routine will help you keep busy through the day. Try to sleep and wake up at the same time every day. Some 20-30 mins of exercise or pranayama will keep your physical health in check – this could be walking around for 15-20 mins in the house itself.
Anxiety makes people misinterpret situations – Financial worries often drive anxiety; this leads to interpreting things in unusual ways. If people wish well, the person suffering from anxiety will interpret it differently.
Find your motivation – Now that you are at home and don’t feel the motivated to do anything? Well it’s time to look back and get in touch with things you wanted to do earlier. It could be anything as long as you enjoy and feel motivated.
Better self-care than hospital visits – Adequate self-care will not only help you physically, it will help you mentally and as well as financially. It is a cycle, if you care for yourself rest will fall in place.
Importance of a social support system – A social support system could be your friends, your neighbours, an organisation, or a community it could be anybody as long as you can open up to them about anything and everything. Create a group of people around you with whom you can laugh as well as share your anxieties. This will ensure that you have people to turn to in times of mental health crisis or otherwise.
Lack of sleep affects immunity – Anxiety, depression…tends to impact the quality of sleep which in turn effects immunity. If you are facing difficulty to sleep, get to know the cause of it. Once you know the reason behind your sleepless nights, share it with your support system. This may ease the intensity of sleep impairment.
Mental illnesses are genetic – Dementia, Parkinson’s and like are illnesses that gets passed down genetically. If your family had a history of these illnesses you are likely to get them. Dementia… progresses slowly, thus can be controlled. Sitting ideal may aggravate the illness, so keep your mind active and alert with activities that you enjoy. It can be cooking, gardening, reading a book, painting or even playing an instrument.
Restrict overload of information – Too much of news will cause anxiety and worry. This will affect your quality of sleep further affecting your immunity. Watch news once or twice in a day to catch up with the headlines. Refrain from consuming news through the day.
Too much alcohol consumption increases chances of dementia – Alcohol helps reduce anxiety but if the short-term consumption turns into a long-term consumption, alcohol increases the chances of dementia. The more alcohol you have the less effective it will be.
Say NO to stimulants before bed – A good sleep hygiene will ensure a good night sleep. Avoid tea, coffee, tobacco, alcohol… instead create an atmosphere that will induce good sleep such as warm water bath, comforting music, dim the lights, read a soothing book…
Take adequate care for your physical health, this will ensure a better mental health.
Across ages and socio-economic groups, by and large there has been a spirit of positivity in facing the pandemic, writes Nagesh Alai
The pervasive pestilence of the year has snatched the corona of existence from humans and driven them to the confines of their four walls variously called as homes, hovels and huts. The lockdown in our country since March, as all over the world, to move social closeness to social distancing may have at best temporarily stemmed and deferred the spread of the pathogen, but has not stopped it from afflicting millions and tragically ending lakhs of lives. Another tragic fall out has been the plight of stranded migrant workers in Indian metros, forced to plod pack and back penniless to unwelcoming hometowns. The recent truncated reopening of cities and countries has been a Hobson’s choice forced by economic compulsions rather than human concerns or cures.
If ever a leadership was lacking, it was now as many governments were knee-jerk, reactive and insensitive in their responses. The global politics being played out in these dire circumstances is another sordid story altogether. The palpable fear of Covid 19 spread and affliction, with the reopening, notwithstanding the much touted rationalisation of herd-immunity, is sure to keep people in their homes for a long time to come. Hospitals and healthcare resources are woefully inadequate to treat the patients. A potent pathogen mix that!
Having said that, the human spirit rose to the challenge of the century old Spanish flu in 1920 and the same human resilience will see them rising again to the occasion and beating Covid in 2020.
Cooking is a hidden passion that men now find time for
Outlier situations also have a positive impact from a different perspective. Location-neutral was an accommodative corporate jargon in the word of brick and mortar; now it has become a reality with the forced shift to work from home (WFH). Live work conferences have given way to endless business webinars with people Zooming to MS Teaming.
The curtailed commuting has added extra usable time to 24 hours. The din and dust in the cities have come down, families are getting more time with each other to hear and listen to each other, traffic and pollution have come down, animals in land and sea are seen to frolic sans human trespass into their space and so much more. Behavioural changes and consumption shifts have brought about a healthier socio and eco environs and are set to significantly alter the world that we had grown up in and had been used to.
A fundamental aspect of life is the inveterate traverse from birth to death as we keep discovering ourselves. This commute can be wonderful if we can handle the various facets of life with temperance and equanimity. One of ways that we can keep growing as an individual is learning new skills and stoking the creative passion in each of us. This curiosity factor has kept many of us enthused about life and living even when the world around has been locked down.
A professor friend and ex-marketer, who is nudging 70, was worried about how to continue teaching his students when colleges have been shut down, used as he was to the classroom sessions in his college. The college enabled a digital way of conducting classes, but he was not comfortable with the use of technology except for his cellphone. But the passion for teaching drove him to learn the use of digital conferencing and over the past few months has mastered the art of video conferencing with his students, having discussions and debates, slide sharing, etc. without compromising on pedagogy or rigour in any way. All, sitting at home and feeling safe and secure.
Another friend of mine, in his early seventies, has rekindled his childhood passion for fish tanks. He managed to buy a lovely fish tank from a neighborhood and fill it up some exotic fishes. He tends the fishes every day with loving care, feeding it with the right food, planting weeds in the tank and admiringly gazing and watching his pet fishes swim and swarm in the large tank. He has also taken to planting vegetables in his terrace garden and distributing them to his neighbours. His wife, a tech dino, has used the confining times to turn into a tech geek and has happily taken to conducting digital counselling sessions.
A couple of friends in a very active whatsapp group have taken the trouble to scour world news and collate the latest information on the war against Covid, all related statistics of affliction and recovery, the remedies that are under testing, the precautions to be taken, sourcing essentials, etc. A very useful service to keep everyone updated and safety measures to be adopted. They are spending time and efforts to give apt inputs to people in facing the scourge with courage.
Some people have begun growing vegetables in their balconies or even windowsills
Many have taken to collecting as groups and cooking and serving food to the starving migrant families and providing PPE masks to the deprived healthcare workers. Many others have been supportive and cheering them by heartily opening up their purses and contributing their mite to the gargantuan efforts.
Another friend has taken to the digital medium like a duck to water, creating videos of his astrology lessons and predictions and has gone viral. Today, he has a packed schedule consulting with international clientele. As is a daughter of a friend, imparting yoga classes via Zoom to many in Asia. An ex-sailor, 70, is honing his Japanese language skills while another, 62, is sprucing up his Sanskrit. A well-being entrepreneur has taken to digital mediation sessions and doing a wonderful job of it.
Life is spice, if you know how to mix condiments well. Yours truly, who is restless by nature and a gourmand by palate and childhood helper to his mother in the kitchen, learnt cooking and has turned a full time chef at home dishing out Tamilian and Maharashtrian vegetarian fare to his family. And in the bargain realised the extraordinary passion and patience of mothers and cooks that go into making delicious food. Can there be a better service than serving food to the hungry? Remember Sudama serving simple puffed rice to Krishna?
Across ages and socio-economic groups, by and large there has been a spirit of positivity in facing the pandemic. Their enthusiasm in making the most of a situation has been contagious and has helped transform the mindsets of the scared and bored ones too.
In vedantic learning there is a concept of ‘svanubhava’ – this means direct experience – in the spiritual journey. Our life journey is no different – you can discover yourself only if you experiment and experience. Circumstances may veil our métier, but decisions reveal our métier.
It has been a mixed bag of responses to the restrictive lockdown. But many have come out better due to their basic joie de vivre. After all, living is not passing frisson but a steady passion. Live on, shine forth; no virus can unseat your crown!
The Big O, osteoporosis, is among the things we dread as we grow older. Dr Darius Soonawalla tells us what is osteoporosis, and how to manage it
Osteoporosis is a condition that results in loss of bone strength, making bones fragile and more prone to fracture.
It occurs when bones lose minerals and proteins, more quickly than the body can replace them. This leads to loss of bone thickness (also called bone mass or density). This is a normal part of ageing for everyone.
About normal bone strength
Normal bone also contains collagen, a protein that forms the physical framework of bone. On this framework is a mixture of minerals like calcium, phosphorus and magnesium, giving the whole frame strength and rigidity.
Bone is constantly being broken down and reformed. From birth upto age 25, bone is largely built up and little broken down. From our mid 30s onwards, more bone is broken down than formed. This results in a gradual decrease in bone strength as we age.
Hormones such as oestrogen play a role in maintaining bone strength. When women go through menopause there is a significant fall in oestrogen. This means there is rapid bone loss in the years immediately after menopause. However, the rate of loss slows 4-8 years after menopause. This is why osteoporosis affects women much more.
With osteoporosis bones become thinner and brittle, and in severe cases even a minor bump can cause a fracture (break or crack). Any bone can be affected by osteoporosis, but the most common sites are the spine, hip, wrist, ribs, pelvis and upper arm.
Often, there are no signs or symptoms of osteoporosis until a fracture occurs. This is why osteoporosis is called the “silent thief”.
A loss in height or an increasing stoop may be signs of osteoporosis.
What is Osteopenia?
Osteopenia is essentially lower bone density, where bones have lost some mass and strength. In osteopenia the bone density is between normal bone density and osteoporosis. A woman with osteopenia has a risk of broken bones that is higher than normal, but not as high as with the more severe effects of osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis in India
The Osteoporosis society of India estimated the number of osteoporosis patients at approximately 36 million in 2013.
The commonest fracture due to osteoporosis is in the spine, affecting 60% of women above 80 years. The second most common osteoporosis fracture involves the hip, affecting 25% of women above 80 years.
Besides normal ageing, poor lifestyle, certain illnesses or hormonal ad nutritional deficiencies can also cause osteoporosis. These risk factors help in identifying people more likely to develop osteoporosis.
CAUSE
EFFECT ON BONE HEALTH
Family history
You are at increased risk of osteoporosis if you have a family member with osteoporosis, especially a parent or sibling who has had a hip fracture.
Physical inactivity
Lack of physical activity reduces bone and muscle strength.
Calcium
A lack of calcium in the diet weakens bones.
Vitamin D
Low vitamin D, due to inadequate sunlight, can reduce the body’s ability to absorb the calcium.
Low oestrogen
A drop in oestrogen causes a loss in bone strength
late onset of menstrual periods
absent or infrequent menstrual periods
early menopause
Eating disorders
Malnutrition cause a loss of bone strength. It also affects hormone levels which results in bone weakening.
Alcohol
Excessive alcohol intake increases the risk of developing osteoporosis.
Smoking
Excess smoking cause a significant reduction in bone density.
Hypopituitarism-
pituitary gland failure
Hypopituitarism can cause a deficiency in cortisol and the usual treatment is long-term replacement with steroids. This causes Osteoporosis.
Hyperthyroidism- overactive thyroid
High levels of thyroid hormone can lead to more bone breakdown than bone formation and causes osteoporosis
Chronic diseases
Certain diseases, and sometimes their treatments, affects bone strength including chronic liver disease, chronic kidney disease, coeliac disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and asthma.
Drugs
Certain therapeutic drugs cause bone weakening
steroids
chemotherapy drugs used in cancer
some drugs used in epilepsy
a diuretic Furosemide
heparin
Lack of physical activity can reduce bone and muscle strength
Vertebral (spinal) fractures
Spinal fractures are common with osteoporosis and can cause significant pain or lead to distortion, particularly the development of a stooped posture (kyphosis). Some spinal fractures may lead to no symptoms or signs, with women being unaware that they have had a fracture. Changes in posture can also increase the risk of a fall or lead to difficulty with digestion or breathing. In addition, people who have had spinal fractures are more likely to have further fractures in the future.
Hip fractures
Hip fractures are often the result of osteoporosis, particularly if you are over 75 years of age.
Hip fractures require hospitalization and surgery. Recovering from a hip fracture and surgery can be long and painful and may mean there is some permanent loss of mobility. This loss may lead to reduced independence or the need for long term care and you may be more likely to have further fractures in the future.
Complications can arise in the elderly following surgery for hip fracture, and these are associated with an increased risk of death, so follow-up medical care is critical.
Wrist fractures
Wrist fractures can occur with a fall onto an outstretched hand, and can result in immobility, inconvenience and loss of function, especially if the fracture occurs in the dominant hand (ie your right hand if you are right-handed).
Other fractures
Wrist fractures can occur with a fall on an outstretched hand
If you have severe osteoporosis, minor trauma such as sneezing, coughing, minor knocks to limbs or minor falls can lead to fractures. Therefore, any fractures resulting from minor trauma should be investigated to determine whether there is underlying osteoporosis.
How is osteoporosis diagnosed?
To assess your bone density and risk of developing osteoporosis, your doctor may ask you questions linked to the causes of osteoporosis including:
LINKS TO OSTEOPOROSIS
QUESTIONS YOUR DOCTOR MAY ASK
Alcohol
How many alcoholic drinks do you have per day?
Do you have alcohol-free days each week?
Calcium
What was the level of calcium-rich foods (such as milk, yogurt, broccoli, beans, almonds or salmon) you had as child and teenager?
What is the current level of calcium-rich foods in your diet?
How many caffeinated drinks do you have each day?
How much salt do you have each day?
Corticosteroid
therapy
Are you taking, or have you ever had to take, a course of:
prednisolone
cortisone
hydrocortisone
dexamethasone?
Exercise
How much exercise do you do in an average week?
Family history
Is there anyone in your immediate family (mother, father, sibling) who has had osteoporosis or fractures, and at what age were they diagnosed?
Fracture
Have you suffered any fractures?
Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
Have you ever had any thyroid problems?
Medication
What medications do you take?
Menopause
Are you experiencing any of the symptoms of menopause?
Have your periods stopped and when did you last have a period?
Have you noticed a change in your posture or loss of height?
Smoking
Do you smoke and if so, how many cigarettes do you smoke per day?
If you smoked in the past, when did you stop smoking?
If your doctor finds you have significant risk factors for osteoporosis, then your doctor may arrange tests as outlined below.
DXA scan
A dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scan (DXA, previously DEXA) is a specialised X-ray used to measure bone mineral density.
A DXA scan may be used to:
confirm a diagnosis of osteoporosis
identify the extent of any bone loss
determine whether any treatment for osteoporosis is working
What to expect when you have DXA scan
Having a DXA scan is a similar process to having a normal ‘X-ray’. It does not hurt, is fast and has a lower radiation dose compared to other X-ray methods.
Usually only the bones in the lower back (lumbar spine) and hip region (proximal femur) are measured. In special cases the bones in your forearm (radius) may be measured.
Understanding your results
The result of a DXA scan is presented as a T-score and Z score
Your T-score reflects how much your bone density differs from that of a healthy young person (when peak bone mass is at its best), measured in ‘standard deviations’ (the average distance from the average). A negative T-score means you have reduced bone density which will happen as you age. It is the extent of the negative score that is important to consider.
The stages and progression of bone mineral density loss from normal to osteopenia to osteoporosis are:
T-SCORE RANGES
Normal bone density
-1.0 to 0
Bone density for osteopenia (thinning of the bones is present but there is no increased risk of fracture)
-1.0 to -2.5
Bone density for osteoporosis (thinning of the bones is present and there is an increased risk of fracture)
-2.5 or less
Assessing the risk of fracture
A low bone mineral density measure is associated with an increased risk of fractures. For every reduction in T-score, the risk of fracture doubles so someone with a T-score of -2 faces twice the risk of fracture compared with someone whose T-score is -1.
Other risk factors mentioned earlier also influence the likelihood of fracture, not just the bone mineral density reading on a DXA scan.
Frequency of DXA scans
Generally your doctor will arrange for you to have a repeat DXA scan every two or three years to monitor the status of your bones and/or assess the effects of therapy.
X-ray
A plain X-ray of your upper and lower spinal column (thoraco-lumbar spine) may be ordered to determine whether there are already features of osteoporosis affecting the spinal column. Up to one third of women with osteoporosis may have had a fracture of the spine without knowing it.
Blood tests
It may also be necessary to have blood and urine tests to look for any contributing causes for osteoporosis. This may include assessment of vitamin D levels, calcium levels and thyroid function.
Ultrasound
Currently ultrasound measurement of the heel is available to diagnose osteoporosis. Ultrasound tests are not as accurate in assessing for osteoporosis as a DXA scan.
Physical activity can help maintain bone strength
Management & treatment
In youngsters it is important to achieve a high peak bone mass with exercise and a healthy diet. After that bones usually weaken with age, so the focus from early on is to prevent bone loss, maintain existing bone strength, and treat existing osteopenia (before the bones develop osteoporosis) and osteoporosis.
Lifestyle management
A diet that includes: Calcium, limited caffeine, limited alcohol, adequate vitamin D and 45 min of sunlight exposure per day, calcium and vitamin D supplements if you have a deficiency, physical activity – especially weight-bearing exercise, not smoking, and fall prevention strategies in the elderly.
Illnesses & medications
If you have an illness or take medication, which increases your risk of osteoporosis, it is important to be aware of this impact, discuss the effects with your doctor, and have regular testing of your bone density.
Medical management of bone health
Oral contraceptive pill (OCP)
Who might be helped by taking the OCP
The OCP may help extreme athletes, women with current eating disorders, or those with low oestrogen levels for other reasons who have either stopped having their periods, or have periods very infrequently. A lack of periods is associated with low oestrogen levels, which reduces bone density.
How it works
Using the OCP can restore oestrogen levels to normal, and research has shown that this may allow bone density to be better preserved.
Possible side effects/risks
There is a small increased risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (blood clots in the veins) with the OCP
Women who smoke should not take the OCP as the risk of DVT is increased
It is not clear whether the OCP improves bone mass in those with already lowered bone density
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Who might be helped by taking HRT
HRT can help women at the time of menopause because with menopause there is a dramatic fall in oestrogen levels and the loss of bone is accelerated.
How it works
HRT can lead to higher levels of oestrogen which can increase bone density.
Possible side effects/risks
The use of HRT is for menopause symptoms and is not currently recommended as a first line therapy for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women
HRT has been linked to a slight increase in risk of breast cancer after 4-5 years of use in those who take combined oestrogen and progesterone
The effects of HRT last only whilst you are taking it and as soon as you stop, the rate of bone loss returns to the rate it was progressing before you started HRT
Bisphosphonates
Taking bisphosphonates can assist men and women at high risk of fracture, with a history of low trauma fracture and who have other risk factors for osteoporosis.
There are several kinds of bisphosphonates:
Tablets (weekly or monthly)
Alendronate
Risedronate
Intravenous infusion (once yearly)
Zoledronic acid
How they work
These medications are taken up by the skeleton and reduce the rate of bone loss
Bisphosphonates reduce the risk of spinal and hip or other fractures
These drugs usually become effective within 6-12 months
Possible side effects/risks
They are generally well tolerated
Acidity
Heartburn
abdominal discomfort
ulceration of the oesophagus – but when taken correctly the chance of oesophageal ulceration is low
For bisphosphonates to be effective in increasing bone mineral density, it is important to have an adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D. It is also important to have a dental check-up and tell your dentist you are taking bisphosphonates as they can affect the bone in your jaw if you need to have a tooth removed.
Raloxifene (brand name Evista)
Taken as a daily tablet
How it works
This is a selective oestrogen-receptor modulator drug or SERM that improves bone density and reduces the risk of spinal fractures
It acts like oestrogen at some sites in the body and as an anti-oestrogen in other sites (such as the breast and uterus and so reduces the risk of breast cancer)
Possible side effects/risks
Hot flushes, which can make it difficult for women who are going through menopause
There is a slightly increased risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT or blood clot in a vein deep in the body), so if you are going to be immobile for some time such as a long air trip you should get your doctor’s advice about whether to stop this treatment
Other medications
Other medications used to treat osteoporosis include:
MEDICATION
WHO THEY WORK FOR
HOW TO TAKE
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS/RISKS
Strontium Ranelate
Moderate & severe osteoporosis.
Taken daily as granules mixed with water.
Should not be used in those at significant risk of cardiovascular events, unless otherwise advised by their doctor.
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) – Teriparatide (
Patients with severe osteoporosis who have already been on other osteoporosis medications
A daily injection for 18 to 24 months.
There may be an increased risk of bone cancer with long-term use.
Denosumab (
Severe osteoporosis.
An injection given twice a year.
There may be a slightly increased risk of skin infections.
For information on any medications to treat osteoporosis you should see your doctor.
Calcium
The importance of calcium
Calcium is one of the essential nutrients necessary for healthy bone development. Bones contain most of our body’s calcium, so they act as the body’s ‘reservoir’ of calcium. Calcium is critical for the function of cells in the body and a certain amount of calcium circulates within the blood, with the body maintaining the levels of calcium within a very tight range. Our bodies cannot make calcium, and if blood calcium levels fall, the body will compensate for this by drawing calcium out of bones and putting it into the blood. Calcium is also excreted by the body daily.
This means it is important to have an adequate daily intake of calcium through your diet, so your bone mineral strength is not compromised.
While dairy products are a good source of calcium, your daily calcium requirements need not necessarily come from these
Recommended daily calcium intake
There are critical times in life when it is vital to ensure that calcium intake through food and/or supplements is adequate and meets the recommended requirements. The following table lists these requirements:
WHO
AGE
RECOMMENDED DAILY CALCIUM
BONE HEALTH ISSUES
Children
1-3
500mg
During this growth phase the foundations for peak bone mass are laid, so it is essential calcium intake matches the needs of growing bones.
4-8
700mg
9-11
1,000mg
12-18
1,300mg
Adults
19-50
1,000mg
Between 20-30 years bone gain and loss is quite stable – a healthy lifestyle during these years supports good bone health
From the mid-30s onwards, bone loss starts to increase more than bone gain
50+
1,300mg
When women go through menopause, there is a rapid loss of bone because of decreased oestrogen and this process may last from 4-8 years after menopause
After this period of time the rate of bone loss is reduced and stabilises
The gastrointestinal system and kidney become less efficient at absorbing and conserving calcium in the body and this creates a state of potential calcium loss in the blood so the body compensates for this by drawing calcium out of the bones
The reduced exposure to sunlight and lower vitamin D levels of many women over 50 can reduce the absorption of calcium for bone strength
Pregnant and lactating women
14-18
1,300mg
Pregnant women and breastfeeding women have higher requirements for calcium to be absorbed through the mother’s gastrointestinal system. The calcium is needed to support:
skeletal growth of the foetus
milk production
Normal pregnancy and breastfeeding is associated with a certain amount of bone mineral loss, which generally recovers 6-12 months after birth and/or stopping breast feeding[1]
19-30
1,000mg
31-50
1,000mg
Source: National Health and Medical Research Council. (2006) NZ
Calcium content of various foods
While dairy products can provide a good source of calcium, daily calcium requirements need not necessarily come only from these. Two serves of dairy products and another serve of calcium-rich foods like broccoli, beans, almonds, tinned salmon and sardines equate to about 1,000mg of calcium.
If you choose alternative calcium sources, note the quantity of calcium found within the particular food source. The following table lists the average calcium content of a variety of foods:
FOOD
SERVING
CALCIUM PER SERVE
Regular milk
1 cup (250ml)
285mg
Skim milk
1 cup (250ml)
310mg
Natural yogurt
1 tub (200g)
340mg
Low fat yogurt
1 tub (200g)
420mg
Cheddar cheese
40g cube
310mg
Low fat cottage cheese
100g
80mg
White bread
1 slice
15mg
Cooked spinach
1 cup (340g)
170mg
Cooked broccoli
1 cup (100g)
30mg
Canned salmon (+ bones)
½ cup
230mg
Canned sardines (+ bones)
50g
190mg
Almonds
15 almonds
50mg
Tofu
100g block
0-100mg*
* The calcium content of tofu depends on how the tofu has been processed. If it is processed using calcium chloride or calcium sulphate, tofu may have up to 100mg calcium per 100g block. Otherwise the calcium content of tofu is very low.
Calcium supplements
Calcium needs are generally best met through diet. However, calcium supplements may be required by those who do not obtain adequate calcium from food products to meet the 1,000-1,300mg per day required for girls and women.
Most calcium supplements in Australia contain:
calcium carbonate (sold as caltrate) or
calcium citrate (sold as citracal)
Calcium carbonate
Caltrate requires an acidic environment for maximum absorption and should be taken with meals.
Calcium citrate
Calcium citrate does not require an acidic environment and therefore can be taken on an empty stomach (but is better taken with food). It is the preferred calcium product for people who need to take anti-reflux medications.
When to take calcium supplements
It is best to take calcium supplements at night, as this is when bone ‘turnover’ increases.
High dose calcium supplements may be linked with heart disease. Beneficial effects of calcium are found with relatively low doses (500-600mg). Elderly individuals and others with impaired kidney function may be at higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
The body’s main source of vitamin D comes from sunlight, which reacts with the skin and produces the vitamin
Vitamin D
Vitamin D has many important roles in the body including helping with calcium absorption, cell growth and maintaining a healthy immune system to fight disease and illness. Find out about these important roles as well as vitamin D deficiency, how to test for vitamin D deficiency and where to get vitamin D.
The importance of vitamin D
Vitamin D is essential for bone health. It helps increase the absorption of calcium from the stomach, regulates the amount of calcium in the blood and strengthens the skeleton.
The main source of vitamin D is production in the skin after exposure to sunlight. Small amounts of vitamin D are available in some foods. For vitamin D to work effectively it needs to be activated by the liver and kidney, which then turns it into a hormone.
Vitamin D has many roles within the body. The most understood role is its ability to help the body absorb calcium and phosphorus and vitamin D also assists with bone development and strength, cell growth, maintaining a healthy immune system, hormone function, and nervous system regulation.
Apart from its important role in maintaining bone health, vitamin D may also have an important role in other diseases such as diabetes, cancer and infection. These are currently areas of intense research.
Vitamin D deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency is a common condition in Australia, affecting a large number of women.
The body’s main source of vitamin D comes from the skin being exposed to UV radiation in sunlight. When sunlight hits the skin, it reacts with a cholesterol-like substance and produces vitamin D. The amount of sun exposure needed depends on your skin colour, where you live and the time of year.
Even though Australia has one of the highest UV radiation levels in the world and is well known for its abundance of sunshine, research has found many people are deficient in vitamin D because of the amount of time they spend indoors.
Those at most risk of having a vitamin D deficiency include:
older people and people living in care (such as hospitals or rehabilitation) – particularly those who stay indoors or cannot walk and have limited exposure to the sunlight
people with gastrointestinal disease
people taking certain medications (e.g. anti-epileptics)
people who cover or veil their skin for religious or cultural reasons
dark-skinned people
pregnant women
postmenopausal women
Vitamin D levels are seasonal and fall in the winter and early spring when people are less likely to be outdoors.
How do you know what your vitamin D level is?
Vitamin D levels can be measured through a simple blood test.
Vitamin D levels are classified into ranges. The Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society, the Endocrine Society of Australia and Osteoporosis Australia (2005) state that adult serum 25-OHD levels show:
LEVEL OF VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY
RANGE (IN NMOL/L – A MEASURE OF THE MOLECULAR CHEMISTRY)
Mild
25-50
Moderate
12.5-25
Severe
Less than 12.5
Where to get vitamin D
WHAT YOU NEED
WHAT TO BE CAREFUL OF
Sunlight
Usually 10-15 min exposure to outdoor sun per day is necessary for the production of adequate vitamin D.
As a general guide expose face, arms, hands or legs for:10 minutes in summer5-20 minutes in spring and autumn30 minutes in winterCheck the map of Australia for guidelines on the recommended amount of sun exposure based on your location, the season and your skin pigmentation.
You can get daily updates on the UV index at: sunsmart.com.au
Avoid excessive exposure to sunlight, particularly in summer because of the risk of skin damage and skin cancers
Don’t use solariums as a substitute for sunlight because the UV radiation in solariums:
doesn’t help to produce vitamin D
will not help with vitamin D deficiency
increases your risk of skin cancer
Diet
Dietary sources of vitamin D are limited and can come from:
plants (vitamin D2) such as mushrooms – shitake and button mushrooms are good options
animal sources (vitamin D3) such as liver, fish (tuna, salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel) and egg yolk – one egg can supply 10% of your daily intake
fortified foods (boosted) with vitamin D such as milk, soy drinks, margarine, breads and cereals
It is very hard to get adequate amounts of vitamin D from these sources alone.
Supplements
For the elderly who are in care, taking additional vitamin D supplements and calcium supplements may reduce the incidence of fracture[1].
Get your doctor’s advice about whether to take a vitamin D supplement after you have been tested.
What you need to know
Vitamin D helps with bone health
Exposure to sunlight each day is important to maintain vitamin D levels
See your doctor to have a blood test to determine your level of vitamin D
If you are vitamin D deficient, it may be necessary to take a vitamin D supplement
Your treating doctor can recommend whether you need to take a vitamin D supplement
Healthy living & bone health
One way to increase your chances of having healthy bones is to have a healthy lifestyle. Below you will find information on the management of bone health through a healthy diet such as the foods to include with calcium, vitamin D, phosphorous and protein. There are also tips on the best exercises for bone health and what to do before you start an exercise program.
The following general information provides a summary for management of bone health through having a healthy lifestyle.
Diet
INFLUENCES
WHAT TO DO
Healthy eating
Include in your daily diet:
cereals
vegetables
legumes (lentils, beans)
fruit
milk, yoghurt, cheese
lean meat
fish
poultry
nuts
Calcium
To meet your calcium needs, include in your daily diet:
2 serves of dairy foods
a serve of calcium-rich foods – e.g. broccoli, beans, almonds, tinned salmon or sardines
Vitamin D
To meet your vitamin D needs in order to have normal absorption of calcium, choose foods that are known to have higher levels of vitamin D such as mushrooms, fish, liver and egg yolks.
Protein and phosphorus
Protein intake is important for bone development as it provides the necessary building blocks in bones. High-protein foods include beef, veal, lamb and pork, chicken and turkey breast, tuna and soy beans.
Phosphorus is a mineral and nutrient we all need for strong bones and proper cell functioning. Phosphorus is found in milk, grains like rice and oat bran, seeds, bacon and protein rich foods.
Diets that are very high in protein and phosphorus can disrupt the calcium balance causing the body to take calcium from the bones. If you have an adequate calcium intake, then the effect of high protein and phosphorous is not as significant, which means adequate calcium intake is a priority.
Caffeine and salt
High intake of salt and drinking more than three caffeinated drinks per day can reduce calcium absorption. In addition, people who drink very high quantities of caffeine also tend to eat/drink less calcium rich foods and drinks.
If you suspect your salt or caffeine levels may be too high, it can be helpful to see a dietitian even for one visit to work out some alternatives
Any exercise activity should be discussed with your doctor
Physical activity & exercise
Weight bearing & high impact activities
Weight bearing exercise, which is exercise done while on your feet so you bear your own weight and support your skeleton, is the key to good bone health. This includes fast paced walking (to have an effect on your bones), running, tennis or dancing. Walking at a fast pace and jogging have been found to help strengthen bone mass – sedate and slow walking may not be as protective of bone.
High intensity, rapid impact exercise stimulates bone cell formation. This form of exercise generally refers to weight bearing exercise that involves more load placed through the leg bones and spine, during landing after lifting one’s own body weight off the ground. Examples of this include running, skipping, jumping, high impact aerobics and team sports such as netball.
Fifteen minutes of weight bearing exercise, four times per week is helpful for bones. This might include gym resistance training (set by a trained instructor), medium impact aerobics, skipping, dancing, and jumping exercises.
Certain physical activities can increase your risk of fracture, so any exercise activity should first be discussed with your doctor.
Strength training
These activities are also known as resistance exercises. Strength training uses weights of some kind (e.g. machines, dumbbells, ankle or wrist weights) to create resistance, which helps to build muscle mass. It includes activities that use one’s own body weight as the load (e.g. push-ups, where load is placed through the arms and shoulders).
Load placed on bone leads to increased bone formation at the site where the load is greatest. The benefit is site specific, so if you are using weights on your legs, it only benefits your leg bones.
Ideally strength training programs should be performed regularly, 2-3 times per week. Strength training is most beneficial when a small number of repetitions (e.g. 8-12) are used, and the weight is progressively increased. As your strength improves, it is best to increase the weight used in the exercise rather than increasing the number of repetitions.
There is evidence to suggest high impact loading and resistance type/strength training activities probably provide the most benefit for improving bone mineral density.
Physiotherapy
A physiotherapist can provide assistance with bone strengthening exercises and fall prevention by addressing posture, balance, coordination and muscle strength.
If you have had a fracture, a physiotherapist or exercise physiologist can tailor an exercise program to suit your needs as part of your rehabilitation.
Hydrotherapy
Using warm water activities is particularly beneficial if you need to be careful with exercise. The buoyancy of the water allows for easier movement and less chance of pain. Supervised muscle strengthening exercises can help both rebuild bone and improve balance and posture, thereby assisting in the prevention of falls.
Risky exercises if you might suffer a fracture
If you have osteoporosis it may be best to avoid some of the following exercises:
TYPE OF EXERCISE
EXAMPLE
Dynamic abdominal exercises
Sit ups
Twisting movements
Golf swings
Trunk flexion
Bending forward
Sudden jerking movements
Tennis
High impact exercise
Jumping
Source: Everybody’s bones: a handbook for the prevention and management of osteoporosis (3rd edition), Osteoporosis Australia, 2001
Activity programs
Before you start
If you have not been active regularly, see your doctor before you start any exercise or physical activity program
If you have osteoporosis, see your doctor and seek advice from a physiotherapist or exercise physiologist
Starting your program
Start slowly and progress gradually
Choose something you enjoy
Join a group or a gym
Wear appropriate footwear such as supportive runners
Keeping your program on track
Vary your activity
Get active with a friend – start a walking group, join a line dancing group or take up yoga or Tai Chi
Pay up front for activities that incur a cost to motivate you to keep going
Keep an activity diary and schedule your activity at the start of each week
Match your activity to the weather and seasons – outdoor walking, gardening, Tai Chi for warmer weather and indoor line dancing, gym and yoga for cooler weather
Listen to your body – if there is any pain, seek professional advice
If any pain is experienced during exercises, the exercises should be stopped and if the pain persists you should consult your doctor.
A word on excessive exercise
If you do not have periods, the emphasis of treatment is to restore normal period patterns and this may mean:
changing training routines
if you are underweight, making sure you have an adequate intake of calories from a wide variety of foods
using the oral contraceptive pill to restore oestrogen levels
Smoking & alcohol
Smoking and excessive alcohol are known to have a negative effect on bone health and lead to a significant reduction in bone density. For more information go to smoking or alcohol.
Match your activity to the weather and seasons
Managing the risk of falls
Falls are a particular problem as you age as they can lead to fractures especially of the hip. Find information on what increases the risk of falls, things you can do for yourself to lower the risk of falls and who to see if you need expert advice on how to lower your risk of falls.
What increases the risk of a fall?
Factors that may lead to an increased risk of a fall, especially for older women, include poor vision, a decreased sense of joint position, poor balance, poor physical strength, and increased frailty.
Actions to minimise the risk of a fall
Frequent falls may lead you to lose confidence in your ability to move and this can affect your sense of independence. It is worth taking action to minimise the risk of a fall. These actions include:
Lighting
Ensure you have enough lights in and around your home to make navigation in darker areas and at night easier.
Furniture
Move small items of furniture to keep the number of things you might fall over to a minimum.
Rugs
Limit the number of rugs in your home if they create an uneven floor surface.
Stairs
Choose accommodation with a minimum of stairs.
Rails and/or mats
Install rails and/or non-slip mats near stairs and slippery surfaces such as the bathroom floor.
Shoes
Choose shoes that give you enough support and traction.
Medication
Check whether your medications can affect balance because your doctor may be able to find an alternative.
Vision
Check your vision regularly to ensure your vision is correct or corrected.
Medical check-up
Have a regular check-up so your doctor can assess your bone strength and how you are walking.
Balance and muscle strengthening exercises
Get advice from a physiotherapist or join a class at a local community health centre because:
muscle strengthening
balance training and
Tai Chi exercise
have been shown to reduce the incidence of falls
Walking aide
If your doctor recommends a walking aide, use it as a preventative measure so you avoid falls.
Tai chi and other exercises can help reduce the incidence of falls
If you are falling because you are fainting as a result of a disorder of your heart rhythm you may need to be assessed and treated by a heart specialist (cardiologist).
The use of hip protectors for the very frail elderly may also reduce the incidence of hip fracture although further research on their use is needed.
If you need expert advice:
Physiotherapists can provide assistance with aides for walking.
Occupational therapists or your community health centre can advise you about making your home environment safer.
Kumaon is an ideal location for a holiday in the hills and one can make the most of the sights and the sounds of nature. By Navneet Sahni
In North India there is another claimant to “God’s own country” – Kumaon. Where every peak is somehow connected to a Goddess or God, this is the Land of Lord Shiva and Shakti. Blessed with magnificent views of these majestic and revered mountains, Kumaon is the ideal place for soaking in solitude, green meadows with carpets of wild flowers and cool crisp air. When aunt Jogi and uncle Samar asked for recommendations to go for a 10-12 days holidays in the hills, I had no hesitation in recommending Kumaon.
Bhimtal is a less crowded version of Nainital
A flight to Delhi and a Shatabdi journey to Kathgodam, we all were soon driving in the hills for two hours to reach Ramgarh. The drive took us to Bhimtal – a smaller and much less crowded version of Nainital.
Guest House at Ramgarh
The road from here on wards to Ramgarh was rewarding as you pass by thick forests of tall firs, and Rhododendron trees (the local name is Buransh – and while you are there you must have the tasty Buransh juice). Ramgarh is a sleepy small town and is famous for being the epicentre of the “peach valley” of Kumaon. Wherever you gaze you see lovely fruit orchards against the back drop of mesmerising mountain ranges. The first views of the mighty peaks you get from here is a sight to behold and takes your breath away – you pay respects to Nanda Devi and Nanda Ghunti, Nanda Kot, Trishul and the Panchchuli range. One can hear the birds chirping, see the flowers blooming and feel the gentle rustling of the pines. The bracing cold air is very refreshing and clears the lungs of the putrid air we inhale in the cities. The small boutique hotel had a beautiful garden and to sit in the garden for lunch, affording a 180-degree view of the peaks, is the stuff of dreams.
The first view of the mountains from our resort
In the afternoon, we decided to take our first walk through the sleepy market, bought some juicy plums and peaches. Stopped at a dhaba for a cup of chai and delightful onion and potato pakoras – all this while soaking in the bracing mountain air.
Sunset from Mukteswar
The next morning we drove to the highest point in the area – Mukteswar, and walked to the vantage points of Chauli Ki Jali, the main temple and the old but beautiful forest rest house which Jim Corbett used for his visits. There can hardly be a better place anywhere else to view the mighty peaks than the gardens of the old inspection bungalow with a 360-degree view. However the pièce de résistance is a small herb garden run by a Mr Bisht. The sunset from the garden sipping herbal tea was one of the highlights of our trip. You can buy organically grown herbs like Oregano, Rosemary, Thyme, Peppermint, Lemon grass, Chives, and local red chillies from him. Because of its hilltop location, the views of the two sides of the valleys during sunrise and sunset are great.
The majestic mountain ranges as seen from Almora town
Leaving early the next day, we drove for about three hours through valleys and lush forests, before we crossed Almora town to drive to Binsar.
Views from BinsarBinsar Forest dwellersSunset over Binsar forestsLocation with million-dollar views
This is a nature reserve and access is restricted. The old hilltop rest house run by the government gives you the best views but little else. However, the superb mountain views during sunrise and sunset are to die for. We stayed at an old British era estate complete with a fireplace, large flower-laden porticos, good vegetarian food and a very large hiking area. This is an ideal area for a day hike through the forests of Rhododendrons, Pine, Oak and Cedar. The hotel gave us a hamper for lunch and we found a delightful place with million-dollar views. We had a cup of tea at the local village and talked to the locals. Needless to say that this is a birders’ paradise and one is truly transported into another world. I guarantee that you will never want to leave this place.
Alas, we had to leave this paradise but were told that our next destination was equally awesome – Munsiyari. This was a longish day and we stopped at the Baijnath Temple – a short detour from Bageswar. Dedicated to the Lord Vaidyanath (Shiva as God of physicians). Stopped on the way back for a quick lunch at an excellent dhaba where we got our first taste of local Kumaoni dal. Finally we reached our destination, Munsiyari, and felt that this truly was the land of the Gods. Also known as mini Kashmir, it is nestled in the lap of the Panchachuli range. The peaks of Nanda Devi and Nanda Kot seem so close that it feels that you can reach out to touch them. The height of Munsiyari is nearly 2300 mts and is a perfect base for a lot of treks, but is also the place for day-long hikes.
View from Munsiyari
Hotels here are small but comfortable and as they are open for about six months of the year only, they cannot be termed luxurious at all. They guarantee one thing which makes up for everything – and that is awesome views!
Spectacular sunrise
The next morning we set out to see the famous Birthi falls. The falls are spectacular and an ideal place for a hike around in the forests. Refreshed and exhilarated from our walk, on the return we stopped at the famous and highly revered Kalamuni temple. The Godess Kali, Lord Shiva and Ganesha idols here are said to be centuries old.
As per our plan, we had reserved this day to visit Khaliya top – this high ground is nearly 3500 mts and is a good day hike. Everyone told us that one should go only if the weather is absolutely clear so as to get good views. As luck would have it, it was clear and true to what everyone had said, the views of the many peaks were astonishing. We were told that earlier one could stay a night by pitching a tent in the meadow (Bugyal in local language) but is now not allowed any longer. What a pity, as I am sure that the sunrise and sunset would be nothing less than stunning.
The last day was kept open but on recommendation of the locals, we went to the Darkot village. This is a short drive away (just 5-6 kms) and one gets to see the old Kumaoni architecture and culture in the houses. We saw some local shops selling hand-woven shawls too – which some claimed to be made with Pashmina wool, though I am not so sure about that.
Nothing less than a stunning sunset
Finally, we could not leave without paying respects to the Nanda Devi Temple – a three kilometre walk from the main town. Needless to say the views of the mountain and temple of Nanda Devi together are awe-inspiring.
After a hearty breakfast we left for Ranikhet on our way back. The drive is about seven hours with a lunch stop at Bageshwar. Ranikhet is an old cantonment from the British times and an important city. Thankfully, the city has been able to control unplanned growth as most of the town is under the cantonment board. Some of the old hotels here are the legacy of the British era also, and have excellent food on offer – one such place is the West View Hotel. Even though Ranikhet is quite beautiful it seemed suffocating, especially after visiting the beautiful places in Kumaon – Ramgarh, Binsar and Munsiyari.
Our final stop was a place which had been recommended very highly to us. Located just a few kilometres from Bhowali, the small 8-room guest house was stunning, to say the least. Run by a family, the place, built in several acres, is known not so much for the beautiful accommodation, but for its gourmet food.
Guest House near BhowaliFood for the eyes too
It was manna from heaven to get outstanding Mexican, Chinese, Continental and of course Indian cuisine. If I had my way, I would have given a Michelin star rating. The best is that during lunch you are not confined to dine at the dining room but in a beautiful open space overlooking the valley in thick forests. This was the perfect ending to our tour. We had planned a day’s visit to Nainital from here but frankly just did not to venture out from the “heaven”. Having visited it earlier, you can take a day tour to the crowded Nainital city. The lake itself is very picturesque as is the Governor’s mansion. The Scottish castle with its beautiful grounds is open to the public at times. The Natraj statute in the main foyer is worth a look. The adjoining golf course is one of its kind and one can often see enthusiasts catching a leisurely game.
Raj Bhawan at NainitalThe rolling golf course near the Raj Bhawan, Nainital
The hotel estate is ideal for a hike down to the stream and the guests are given an option of carrying a nice hamper for a day-long picnic. This is precisely what we did, and had a really nice time.
It was with a heavy heart and a full satiated tummy that we left for Delhi by the afternoon Shatabdi Express. However, to console oneself some words of wisdom from Pat Conroy – “Once you have travelled, the voyage never ends. The mind can never break off from the journey.” So we can choose to relive our journeys at any point to get our highs!
When to go
The best time to travel to Kumaon is from March till mid-April, as well as from September till November as the skies are clear and perfect for photography. It’s an added bonus that the hordes of tourists are not travelling at this time so you can make the most of the sights and the sounds of nature.
Accommodation is of a high quality and ranges from luxurious to basic / comfortable at all places except at Munsiyari which is adequate. A must to carry are comfortable walking shoes, a camera, a couple of warm layers of clothes, a hat/ cap, an umbrella, a sturdy walking stick, a few good books and your favourite grog. Remember – this is a not just a sightseeing, but a very soul-satisfying driving cum walking holiday.
Flashback 1962: What really happened in the India-China War
This look at the history of the India-China rivalry leading to the 1962 aggression, written by the late Sati Sahni in 1986, throws light on our current tensions with China
The author at Leh landing strip on the occasion of the first civilian aircraft landing. Notice the signboard
The outbreak of hostilities of 1962 by China along the vast border between India and China was an important milestone in the long unacknowledged competition of the two of the oldest civilisations in Asia for dominance. It is by no means over as the aggression has opened up more issues than it could conclude. Perhaps it is by design that China intends to keep the border issue alive so as to keep India “occupied” otherwise how can anyone explain the repeated shifting of goalposts by the Dragon? Numerous border settlement meetings between the two have taken place prior to the Chinese aggression of 1962 but every time the Chinese side threw up a new map, argument and reference point. This has actually pointed out that the Chinese side have decided that the differences will always be kept on the boil so as to keep India unsettled. It seems that the Chinese strategy is three-pronged – 1) to force India to divert resources towards defense rather than shoring up economy so that India cannot match up to China. 2) Domination on the Afro-Asian and world stage. 3) Chipping away on India’s legitimate borders in mineral rich Sinkiang and Aksai Chin and gain a foot hold in the Arabian Sea by way of Pakistan as a dependant state.
A Yarkandi trader in Leh
Very few (including the Indian government) could have ever imagined the intense desire of China to possess Aksai Chin, an area in Nehru’s words”world’s bleakest, a land where no people live and no blade of grass grows”. The answer lays in the long term economic and political interests of both China and India – albeit with different perceptions.
For China it was strategic and economic as it was the only viable and safe route to both Sinkiang (North of Karakorum pass) and to Tibet (Lhasa). Sinkiang has known deposits of gold and other precious minerals, and politically it was the meeting ground of three powers – Russia, China and India. The Chinese wanted a buffer between the Russian and Indian border. One just needs to look at the map to understand this – to the North is Mongolia and to the South the tall Himalayas with Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim acting as buffer. It was only on the East where there was hardly a cushion. Of course it is also a fact that access to Tibet is best from South and West of Tibet – they had to have Aksai Chin and Sinkiang under their control. Incidentally it was the Southern route which the Chinese communists took in 1950 to reach Tibet. In 1956-57 the Chinese built a road through Aksai Chin without any hindrance from the sleeping Indian side. One might ask how the road was constructed through Indian territory without the Indian government getting to know and the answer lies in the fact that there was minimal work required to make the makeshift road (being a plateau and all it was required was to just clear a pathway) and that the restrictions put by the Chinese on the Indian mission in Lhasa completely stopped the traditional trade route thus ensuring no traffic along the route.
Brief history of region of Ladakh
The Last king of Ladakh
One of the first recorded treaties which has been cited is the Ladakhi–Tibetan Treaty of 1684 does touch on the areas which fell in each others’ territory, was conveniently ignored by the Chinese Communist regime saying that Tibet was under the suzerainty of Imperial China who did not recognize any such third party treaty. It is recorded that the Ladakhi Kings of the time used to send gifts to The Dalai Lama as he was the temporal and religious head of the largely Buddhist world – the Chinese interpret this as if these were symbols of political subordination to Tibet. Sometime in 1717 a Mongol force marched into Tibet from the little-used North route and took it. In 1718–19 AD the Ch’ing Emperor who was not prepared to concede Tibet, decided to march in 1720 and took control of Tibet. This is the event that the Chinese use to cite their “conquest” of Tibet. This event is the first documented direct connection between Ladakh and China as there was a Ladakhi delegation which reached Peking to talk about the future against the Dsungsar Mongols. Talks were held on both economic and political levels. It has been also established that Ladakh was treated as an independent entity by the Chinese.
It was during the early 1820–30s the British started taking an interest but decided that it would serve them best to let Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who was the all-powerful ruler of Punjab and Kashmir, take control of Ladakh and thereby indirectly control it. Maharaja Ranjit Singh in turn asked the powerful Dogra Generals to lead the force. In 1834 the famous Dogra general Zorawar Singh led a force to conquer ladakh- which he did and for the next five years consolidated the area of Ladakh. By 1840 he had firm control over Ladakh and neighbouring state of Baltistan to the west. He soon turned Eastwards towards the lucrative North Western Tibet – basically to control the lucrative wool trade. It is said that being a devout Hindu he was keen to visit Kailash Mansarover, but decided to capture the territory as he went along. Having reached as far as Taklatok on the Tibet–Nepal border, the alarmed British were concerned that if the valiant Dogras (along with the much larger Sikh force combined) and Nepalese got together and marched on Tibet then they would lose control of a very major area and more importantly lose face in rest of India. They wanted Zorawar Singh to return to Ladakh and stay put. Unfortunately, the Tibetans retook control of Taklakot and in that Zorawar Singh paid with his life. Later attempts were made to keep Ladakh under self-rule with the British and the Sikhs, but the Tibetan army having tasted success wanted to take Ladakh. A major battle between them and the Dogra reinforcements was fought in Chusul (near the Pangong Lake) in1842. The Tibetans lost very badly and retreated. Thus leaving the Dogras (now under Dogra King Gulab Singh in Jammu) as the supreme authority in Ladakh. A treaty (between the Dogras, Tibet and the Ladakhi kings) was signed on 17 September, 1842 where it was decided that the Dogras were the rulers of Ladakh (through the Ladakhi kings) and the Tibetans would keep control of their area ( Tibet). The treaty specified that all of Ladakh including Aksai Chin came under the State of Jammu & Kashmir and was formalized by the British and Dogras separately demarcating the boundaries. It was also decided that there would be deep friendship politically between Ladakh & Tibet (please remember that as both areas were Buddhist there was no problem with the religious side). Most importantly it was also decided that trade routes would remain open and allow unfettered trade.
Unfortunately the information given to the Chinese Emperor in Peking was highly distorted and furthermost from the actual picture. Conveniently this interpretation is what the Chinese refer to and not the actual happenings. They argue that Tibet was subordinate to the Chinese Imperial Court and could not take any decisions or treaties on political and economic issues. That treaty very specifically states that “not now or in the future the Tibetan state will interfere with boundaries of Ladakh come down from ancient times, and it’s surroundings”. The Dogras formalized this too with the British and thus Ladakh came to be as part of the greater State of Jammu & Kashmir.
Patrols and horseback supplies somewhere in the DBO sector
The period from 1900 to 1950 are said to be the most peaceful between Kashmir and Tibet, though each one had their own share of problems. In 1913, British India, China and Tibet met at Shimla to discuss and demarcate the international boundary as per maps available. Though China participated, they later backed off saying that the maps were not correct and could be taken as final.. The British at that stage upset at this flip flop attitude of the Chinese decided to bypass the Chinese totally and discuss India’s Himalayan border directly with Tibet. China, later rejected this McMahon line demarcated and maintained that the said treaty had no sanctity without China’s endorsement.
As far as Ladakh was concerned the main problem happened when the British left India and the two states of India & Pakistan were created. Having met with stiff resistance in the Kashmir valley, the pro-Pakistani forces pushed through Gilgit, Baltistan towards Leh. It was the arrival of Indian forces at the eleventh hour that the Ladakh, as we know of now, was saved. A hastily constructed airfield just outside of Leh brought in much needed reinforcements.
The newly built road from Kargil to Leh was just wide enough for 1 vehicle to pass through
After India’s independence, naively Nehru started deepening relations with China, who never looked at the friendship as India did. The government pursued non-alignment which China took as being a sign of weakness and without any backing. After the invasion of Communist China into Tibet in 1950, India lost it’s toehold in Tibet. India which was preoccupied with it’s own problems did not think too much into it, and China took advantage of that by showing some parts of Aksai Chin as part of their territory. India by then had recalled their mission in Tibet and thus were literally left blind to the happenings in that part of the world. Aksai Chin erroneous maps did surprise and raise resentment in New Delhi, but Chou En Lai deceptively kept on telling that that this was based on old maps and would be corrected soon. Obviously the diabolical minds in Peking had other ideas. India did pursue this in the world fora for a while, but nothing came out of it. India did not understand well enough Mao Tse Tung’s words which were perhaps said elsewhere but directed to India – “Power grows out of the barrel of a gun”.
Mortar shells being fired
The Panchsheel Agreement of 1954 was for “peaceful co-existence” based on the 5 principles of mutual respect, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference, equality & mutual growth, and peaceful co-existence. Nehru took this as though there was no outstanding issue and started promoting the Hindi–ChiniBhaiBhai slogan which meant nothing to the other side. It now comes to fore that the Chinese were only playing for time to strengthen their defences and build infrastructure. In 1956 word came to the Indian government that China had started building a highway through Aksai Chin – through Indian territory. This was completed by 1957 but yet again India did not recognize this development seriously. Finally some patrols were sent but the Chinese chased away one and captured the other. The reality of the situation finally dawned on New Delhi, but by then it was too late.
Road building activity in the Ladakh forward sector in 1961
In 1959 the communists had started enforcing their style of rule in Tibet. It was then that the Dalai Lama escaped to India and was promptly given asylum. This enraged China no end and there was nothing but hostility – gone was the bonhomie of the Panchsheel Treaty. In retaliation to India’s actions they decided to encroach further into Indian territory by ambushing patrols in Eastern Ladakh – specifically in the Hot Springs and Spanggur area of Chushul. They set up permanent posts without being challenged by India. Some 2240 sqkms of Indian territory was occupied by them by that time. Strangely even then Nehru’s government did nothing to shore up defences. In early 1960 Chou En Lai visited India – ostensibly to talk border settlement but the talks failed miserably. He further stated that the areas they had occupied were China’s now. It seems that he closed the door on any further negotiations. Thankfully some action was finally taken and India decided to shore up defences. With just one infantry brigade and a few J&K militia battalions to look after nearly 480 kms of hostile territory was woefully inadequate. There was no road infrastructure and everything had to be moved by men and on animals. Important issues like high altitude and lack of fodder were real challenges. It was only a year after the induction of the forces in Ladakh, the first post at DBO (Daulat Beg Oldi) – just 16 kms away from the Karakorum Pass – was established. Due to hostile terrain, only one route could be used through the year – via the Shyok river. Winter is very treacherous and even now there are skeletons of humans and animals which can be found in the area. Simultaneously small posts were being set up right from the Southern most area of Demchok till DBO in the north. Regular reports were coming in through local shepherds that the Chinese were consolidating positions and creeping forward. Cunningly they believed in the adage that occupation was 9/10 of the law.
It was then a new policy was formulated in India to combat that and was called the “Forward Policy Directive” and the India troops were ordered to move deep into unoccupied India territory as much as was possible and set up posts. With very limited manpower each post could only be manned by with 10-20 troops at the most. The Chinese had many times the number of men, and more importantly they had been building roads and communication network very close to their posts and so could quickly deploy and redeploy. It was a great achievement that the Indians recovered quite a bit of our territory with this policy even though it was tactically flawed.
A landing strip was created in July 1962 to service the many posts being created in the DBO area. This is still the world’s highest landing strip and has proved to be of immense advantage for the deployment there.
The first move made by the Chinese was in late 1961, when the a large unit of Chinese troops came right upto a post in the area , expecting the small detachment to give up and retreat but our jawans held on their nerve. This was apparently a test to see the resolve of the Indians. After testing our posts a few times at various locations it must have dawned on their local commanders that the Indians will not retreat in face of a numerically superior force and other tactics had to be used. I am told that this was the first time Army HQ had issued the order of “fight to the last man and last round” – at least on the China border.
An important post was set up in the strategically important Galwan valley. Soon after the post was set up a large Chinese force surrounded it and tried all tricks to dislodge the small Indian Gorkha detachment. The siege went for a long time, but the Indians did not budge and this probably is when the Chinese decided to change tactics. On 19 October, 1962 they decided to take two posts in the Despang plains by force. They came in strong with heavy artillery and with a force of nearly 10:1. Intense fire fights ensued that night but the outnumbered and ill-equipped Indians could not hold on and had to lay down their lives in a gallant fight. Word came that out of a total of 18 posts in the DBO sector only two were still with India. The Chinese aggression had begun. The next day the remaining two posts were also overrun.
Soon news came of the post Galwan came under heavy fire and was soon over run as were quite a few more posts – simply because of lacking in numbers and inadequate fire power. It has to be pointed out that the casualty in the Chinese side was far higher, but with overall numerical superiority of many times over Indians could not halt the wave. Simultaneous attacks were carried out on the Chushul and the Demchok Southern sectors, where too because of their superior numbers they just over ran the Indians. By the 28 October the Chinese halted operations to regroup and focus. They now held the frontline from Demchok–Sirjap (Chushul ) – DBO line which the Indians once held. The government promulgated emergency and the Defence of India ordinance was issued. Across the country massive fund collection drives were initiated and generally people offered any and everything they could give, including enrollment to help the frontline in any way. This really boosted the morale of our troops and one could feel a sense of patriotism everywhere.
The IAF too played a very valuable role as they kept on flying sorties after sorties with men and material to shore up defences all over Ladakh. Fairchild Packets, AN 12 and MI helicopters were relentless. Leh, DBO, and Chushul airstrips were used very frequently. The American company manufacturing Fairchild Packets wrote to the IAF that these aircrafts could not be used at such altitudes. Yet it is these men of valour who flew these to such heights. Only ingenious retrofitting of the AN 12 could produce miracles like the airlifting of tanks to Chushul. Just like the Americans, I am sure the Russians could not believe the Antonov aircrtaft could lifts tanks to those heights.
In the meanwhile, the Brigade made plans for defence of Leh – the capital city. Soon reinforcements arrived in Ladakh and the action now shifted to Chushul where it was expected that the Chinese would confront the Indian army. The existing brigade under the redoubtable Brig Raina (who later went on to become the Chief of Army staff) headed to Chushul. This is where the famous battle of Rezang La was fought. In the annals of Indian Military history this is probably the most well-known battle fought by a much numerically inferior force (1:10) and against all physical odds. The valour of the detachment of Kumaon regiment fighting in temperatures of 30 Degress C below are now legendary.
Chushul – Battle of Rezang La
Brig Raina began shoring up defences immediately upon arrival and identified the three main routes the Chinese could take to attack. From all strategic thinking it was the Spanggur gap area which was the most probable area where they would come down from as they could control the Leh to Dungti road. This was the lifeline of the area and whoever controlled that, was at the most advantageous position. Deployment of various battalions was done, along with detailed planning meticulously by Brig Raina. A squadron of tanks was airlifted from Chandigarh by the redoubtable AN 12 aircrafts and this really gave a very good equation of balancing out the defence as never had tanks been pressed into service at these altitudes. While it was the Stuart tanks which did commendable duty at Zoji La in 1948, here it was the AMX tanks. Operating at such altitudes soon become a world record.
For some strange reason the attack did not come till a month later. By that time the Indian troops who were all set in their trenches, could not understand why we could not attack rather than wait endlessly. It was not as if we had not been attacked earlier but the fact is that we have a holier-than-thou attitude otherwise what would explain this wait ? Poor military tactics as the Chinese could be seen building on their defences and arsenal. I am told that the orders to not initiate the attack came from Delhi. The Chinese had already killed many a fellow jawan and the troops were irked and wanted to take revenge. Knowing the overwhelming odds and unbelievable temperatures they were fighting against, one can only imagine the motivation and spirits they were in.
Finally on the dawn of 18 November the attack was launched by the Chinese hordes. As expected the Battle of Chushul was fought at the Rezang La and the adjacent Gurung hill. Wave after wave of Chinese soldiers kept coming and all ranks of the 118 Kumaon regiment fought very bravely. Intense artillery shelling from the Chinese could not dampen their morale, but it was known beforehand that it would be akin to fighting with one hand behind the back. Though the Indian were again outnumberedby atleast ten times, the troops did not lose their nerve. The fight on their hands gave a new meaning to last man to last bullet – but after they exhausted their ammunition they fought hand to hand. Major Shaitan Singh, the company commander – true to his name gave hell to the Chinese. Unfortunately the Battle of Rezangla was over that same evening and that of Gurung Hill the next day. Having given up positions, the rear guard troops retreated to save Chushul. It was only possible to collect our gallant dead troops in February 1963, and those who went to collect them say that each soldier’s body was found in a combat position holding/ firing their weapons with multiple wounds. Many were bayoneted as their own ammunition was exhausted. From a total of 118, only four managed to return alive. Atleast one ParamVir Chakra, eight Vir Chakras and four Sena Medals were awarded all posthumously (except for four). A monument to the memory to this battle has now been constructed at Chushul.
Monument to glory
The Battle of Gurung Hill is no less covered with glory where the Gorkhas were tasked. Famous for their hand to hand combat with Khukhris they fought like demons, but again overall numerical superiority of the Chinese was just too much. Similar battles were fought at Camel Back feature with very similar results. In hindsight I am sure the troops sorely missed having strong artillery back up and who knows that the results may have been quite different. Just like the battle of Rezang La, military awards and honours were given to many who fought.
Maggar Hill was another feature where our artillery gave a bloody nose to the Chinese, and although could not gain any further ground we consolidated on our position.
The Chinese had a much heavier price to pay with at least 4–5 times casualties. By now the first round had been squarely in China’s favour and positions were quickly erected for the second round expecting them to further gain ground. For some reason they declared a ceasefire on 21 November and the guns stopped booming. If they wanted to take advantage of our being down and out they could have pushed us further west and occupied much larger area, but perhaps it did not fit into their long-range plans.Very wisely our commanders were not fooled and expecting the deceptive Chinese to renew their hostilities, kept up our defensive positions. I am told that our fall-back positions were very well chosen, so if the attacks were renewed the Chinese would have had to expose themselves across Chushul valley.
Thus ended the Chinese aggression of 1962, with India getting a bloody nose. There is no doubt that we were caught unprepared but it cannot be attributed to our gallant frontline jawans & officers. One can point out to a few reasons and were hotly debated for a long time.
The first can certainly be attributed to the wrong assessment by our political leadership. The biggest mistake was that they took Chinese leadership on face value rather than reading their intentions. The communists did have only one agenda – which our leaders could not see through. Expansionist China who totally obscured historical data and information wanted an inept Indian leadership and got their wish. Indians totally ignored the military build-up including road constructions, and most importantly totally ignored the invasion of Tibet. They forgot to consult maps to see what the Chinese would need to consolidate their positions in Tibet and Sinkiang.
I also think that our tall military leadership did not stand up to the political leadership to tell them that India’s military was not ready for a well-prepared Chinese attack. Eyeball to eyeball confrontation would eventually lead to an all-out war. There was also much consternation about the order of last man to fight to last bullet against such a vastly numerically superior force. There was no way we could have won and so what was the reason for this order and lose precious lives? Similarly why was no artillery support provided at the Battle of Rezangla? Why could no additional guns be pressed into service? If the Army HQ realized that the full brigade has to be moved from Leh to Chushul they knew the importance of this battle and so accordingly additional artillery should have been provided. It is on record that there were two more field artillery batteries in Ladakh at that time and could have been redeployed and moved back in case of major reverses. It was just a massacre.
Finally, there were a few blunders like the Forward Policy Directive as it drove on limited resources too thin. I think that the miscalculation was on account of the thinking that the Chinese would not get into a fire fight. What gave that impression to our political leadership at that time is beyond me. We too did not take advantage of the most suitable and high altitude adaptive Ladakhi population and instead pushed on people from other parts of India who were ill-prepared for high altitude warfare. It seems that no provision, and more importantly, thinking was made to employ these local and highly motivated people. We surely could have saved many a lives. By the time the Indian leadership understood the value of these hardy and brave people, it was too late.
The Indian political establishment, including the opposition of that time, protested loudly to deal firmly with the Chinese and with added pressure wrong decisions got taken. Poor decision making and unpreparedness in the (then) NEFA (North-East Frontier Agency) was the worst scenario. China managed to capture much beyond Tawang up to Brahmaputra plains in the Eastern Sector and in the Western Sector they completely swept across Aksai Chin, captured Chip Chap valley, Galwan Valley and Pangong Tso lake. PLA had captured areas quite deep into Indian territory on both Eastern and Western Sectors. Thus, if China wanted, they could have easily retained captured territory up to Tawang which is equally important to the Buddhists. The Chinese even claimed that to be their own. Their unilateral decision to withdraw completely up to its claimed ‘Line of Actual Control’, in that sector has baffled many a pundit. On the other hand they decided to retain over 2000 sq km of barren Ladakh. Nearly 10 years after the 1962 skirmish Chinese Premier Zhou claimed that they had withdrawn back across the McMahon Line in good faith. Thus, this was the first admission on part of the Chinese that the McMahon Line was recognised by them as the de facto Line of Actual Control (LAC). This LAC is about 3400 sq km and runs along along with Ladakh, Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh. There is no known dispute on the Sikkim border and is known as the International Border.
PostScript – On Uncertain Ground
By Navneet Sahni
Apart from the Nathu La skirmish of 1967, there has been no other armed conflict along the LAC though there is still disagreement on the exact demarcation of the McMahon line and has led to several frictions from time to time. As far as India is concerned what China kept after the 1962 war is what they wanted to begin with. It will not be easy at all for them to take any more territory now as this is not the same India as earlier. Any military adventure will really push them back for many years and they will lose a lot economically, setting them back by a long time. China’s geo political policies too has undergone changes as they to want use their financial and technical prowess rather than military power as long as they have parity in dominance in their area – Asia.
I think that New Delhi knows that China will never officially accept the LAC as the IB, China too knows the ground reality is different and that this is the defacto border. However these events like the present one at East Ladakh, or the one at Doklam or at Nakula will continue as it serves a very important purpose – to keep the Indians engaged, ensure that there is always a threat perception so that India reacts to it. This they feel will always show who is in control and in the eyes of the immediate neighbours be the dominant country. Ofcourse this also ensures that India’s resources are constantly diverted which otherwise could be invested in overall development. That is the reason why you see such instances happening every year.
However this year a major shift in that thinking has taken place and is linked to the abrogation of article 370 and the fact that India is now openly calling for taking over POK – the call for Akhand Bharat. Considering the fact that India & China has had summit level talks in Wuhan & Chennai this latest aggravation just means that it has been sanctioned by President Xi ‘s to say the least. BJP & RSS call for reclaiming POK, Gilgit Baltistan & Aksai Chin territories has rattled the Pakistanis no end but has actually sent shivers down the Chinese. Till now China has not been too vocal in India’s western border issues. So what is the main reason ? Yes India has been building road & other infrastructure along the border to correct the historical lapses but then that has been going on for some time now. Most analysts feels that there are several factors but it is the fear that now India has road infrastructure till DBO which is just 18 kms from the Karakoram pass and can make things difficult for China. Clearly China cannot accept POK & Gilgit / Baltistan falling back in Indians hands as it would mean the end of the massive China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) where billions have already been invested. Without making any pretence they have been taking away POK territory from their client state Pakistan so that India would never attempt to take back that area. Everyone knows that there are local struggles & uprising in Gilgit Baltistan and if this area comes under India’s control they can choke of CPEC at will but more importantly will allow India access to Central Asia where anti China sentiments are at its peak on account of the indoctrination & subjugation of the Uyghur Muslims is taking place on a large scale. Thus with that very strategic area not being in their control their dreams of reaching the Arabian sea will remain so. What has also unnerved China is a series of geo political happenings with the US having called China’s trade bluffs, happenings in the Taiwan straits, Hongkong uprising and finally it being cornered by the west for Corona Virus. China’s economic growth too has just been on a downward trend and with the creation of the Indo Pacific strategic cooperation between Australia, Japan, US & India they seem to be getting threatened on all fronts.
General Tapishwar Narain Raina Padma Bhushan, MVC – the Brigade Commander at Chushul who led from the front. He was awarded the MVC for his role in Chushul
The growing voices across the Western world against China’s bullying tactics of One belt one road initiatives and takeovers of a few debt ridden institutions in a few countries has not gone too well also. The Chinese government’s strong backing, pushing & intent of Huwai’s 5G technology too sent doubts in minds of Governments across the world. India, a major trading partner of China, has consistently refused to be part of their BRI plan is very unnerving. I think the final push into some of action and flexing of muscles by them was given by PM Modi’s call of “ Atmanirbhar Bharat”. If India becomes a manufacturing base for China it will mean fear of losing a large trading partner as well as on the world stage will mean loss of face domestically where Xi has been talking about raising the domestic earnings of the average factory worker. The Chinese pride themselves in being a strong economy and thus an economic power backed by a strong army in domestic eyes looks invincible. However with things not looking rosy at all I am sure it must be very unsettling. Political analysts are also alluding to an internal strife within the ruling party and the fact that Xi Jinping’s vice like control has derailed a lot many aspiring power centers now that he has manipulated a life term for himself.
From the statements coming out of Delhi, there seems to be little chance that India will blink first as with a lot of the world is aligned against China. President Trump of USA is just itching to jump in and the political analysts feel that China will not take such a big risk. A new cold war has already begun and with clear alignments indicated China will be vulnerable and will not allow things to get out of control. Watch this space…
More than 70 years after our Constitution was formally adopted, most senior citizens still struggle for their rights and dignity, writes Sonavi Kher Desai
Seventy years ago, on 26 November 1949, the Constitution of India was formally adopted. It envisages Justice, Liberty, and Equality for all its citizens, of whom a large percentage today (8.6%) is senior citizens. The Justice sought to be secured is social, economic and political, and the Equality contemplated relates to status and opportunity.
In pursuance of this goal, the Constitution incorporates Directive Principles of State Policy. Unlike Fundamental Rights, these Directive Principles cannot be enforced by law but they form the basis on which legislation is formulated. So, for example, Article 41 of the Directive Principles of State Policy says that the State shall endeavour to provide the right to education and to work in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement, within the limits of economic capacity. Similarly, Article 46 states that the educational and economic rights of weaker sections of society (which includes senior citizens) must be protected by the State.
Provisions in law
With regard to legislation, a few years after Independence, The Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956, was passed. Under this Act, every Hindu son or daughter is obliged to maintain their aged parent(s). Under Muslim personal law, too, sons and daughters have to maintain their parents, if they have the means to do so. However, Christian and Parsi personal law does not have such provisions.
The Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, provides that a petition can be filed in a criminal court by senior citizens who cannot maintain themselves, to enforce maintenance by their child/children who have sufficient means to do so. This is applicable to all, whether married or unmarried, irrespective of religion.
The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, [sought to be amended by the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, 2019] was enacted to safeguard rights of senior citizens. Under this Act, senior citizens can enforce maintenance by their children and also seek relief in cases where their rights with regard to property, finance, and personal security are violated. The transfer of a senior citizen’s property, if made illegally, can be made void under this Act. Also, children living with their senior citizen parents and abusing them can be evicted from the home under the Act.
Areas of concern
But how far has legislation, and the Government, been successful in guaranteeing justice and equality as provided by the Constitution to its senior citizens, especially to the poorest among them? A few areas that concern them the most are reviewed below.
Most senior citizens live off their savings post-retirement, and are often not able to maintain themselves. Moreover, second careers are very scarce. There is a need to impart vocational training and to create employment opportunities for seniors.
Pension is not available to all citizens and sometimes the process of disbursement of monetary benefits is delayed or slow. The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index, 2018, shows that India is the second lowest among 34 countries providing retirement income systems with good benefits.
Good healthcare facilities, especially specialized treatments, are expensive and are not available to all citizens. Specialized geriatric treatment too is not available everywhere. A lot more needs to be done to provide specialized and geriatric treatments in state-run medical facilities.
Property of seniors is often usurped by children or others as can be seen from the number of cases filed in this regard. Most cases under the 2007 Act relate to maintenance and property issues. There is often delay in getting justice due to the sheer number of cases before the Tribunal and the time taken for the process. Moreover, the maximum amount of maintenance that can be awarded is Rs. 10,000, which is meagre. Several changes are required to be brought about to ensure speedy justice and protection of rights of senior citizens.
Old Age Homes run by the State are often sorely lacking when it comes to hygiene, healthcare and nutrition. Many homes do not have properly trained staff or counsellors. And cases of neglect and exploitation of the elderly in many such homes abound. With more numbers of the elderly population requiring State-run homes, it is imperative that the quality of these homes in the above areas is improved and checks are regularly done to ensure that the elderly get the justice and equality they are entitled to.
There is a lack of awareness of legal rights in a large percentage of the population. Education about legal rights, as also legal aid for those who need it, must be made available to all.
And finally, the above is the situation under normal circumstances. During unprecedented times, like the pandemic we are going through, the problems of senior citizens who are alone or economically backward multiply.
Seventy years after our Constitution guaranteed them equality and justice, most senior citizens still struggle.
Staying confined can lead to loss of desire to eat, at a time when it is even more important to get proper nutrition. Dr Supriya Antarkar Joshi explains how exercises can bring back your lost hunger
March 2020 saw life take an unexpected turn. The largest national lockdown due to Covid-19 put the brakes on everything. Though restrictions are now easing for others, senior members of the community are still asked to continue home restrictions, as they are more susceptible for infection and its complications.
Due to restricted mobility during lockdown phase, many seniors reported increased blood sugar level, raised blood pressure, restlessness, anxiety and loss of appetite, etc.
Loss of appetite can be linked to low energy levels, being uncomfortable all the time, disrupted bowel movements, stress, flatulence and even weight gain or loss. One of the main reasons for not feeling hungry is poor digestion!
Healthy digestion not only helps to eliminate toxins but also keeps your stomach light and detoxed. Indigestion, constipation, irregular bowel movements and other digestive conditions take a toll on overall health. Apart from healthy eating and sleeping habits, exercises can really help improve your gut health and ultimately appetite.
These exercises can help improve the lost hunger:
Walking
One of the simplest exercises to include in your workout regime. Brisk walking for 30-40 minutes daily keeps you away from digestive and other medical problems like diabetes mellitus. If walking outdoors is not a suitable option for you, in house walking can be equally effective and safe if you can take care for following points-
Take at least half an hour walk from one room to other.
Preferably wear walking shoes. Yes, even at home.
Be careful of any furniture or walls, slippery surfaces.
If the house is small, see if family members can give you time and space during your workout.
If possible try to match your outdoor walking pace.
More importantly, enjoy the walk!
In case walking outdoors is not possible, take walks in the house, and make sure to wear walking shoes
Mat exercises
You can also do some fun mat exercises! There are plenty of simple exercise videos on YouTube to choose from. Select the appropriate exercise intensity according to you physical capacity.
If your health condition permits, performing Sun salutation is one of the best exercises. But don’t overdo or under do anything!
If mat exercises are not feasible due physical restrictions like cardiac condition, imbalance, arthritis, vertigo or neurological conditions, etc. you may try simple chair or seated exercises. They can be equally effective if done properly and regularly.
Core strengthening
Core muscles are deepest group of abdominal muscles and play a great role in one’s posture and digestion. With growing age and accumulation of fat, these muscles start losing tone leading to “belly tires” and reduced control over digestive system causing flatulence and bloating. Planks, half curls, cycling in air etc are excellent abs workouts to improve the muscle tone and to bring back the digestive system on track. Even better these exercises can also help you lose belly fat when combined with proper diet.
Yoga
Some yoga poses like Pawanmuktasana, Shashankasana, Urdhwa and Adho mukhashawanasana,Virbhadrasana, Paravatasana,Ardha navasana,etc are excellent for improving digestion and losing belly fat. They help stretch and relax abdominal muscles and reduce problems like flatulence and hyperacidity.
Yoga can also help you reduce stress level which is another factor that causes digestive issues.
Breathing exercises
You might not be aware of this but even the simple breathing exercise can improve your digestion. Proper breathing pattern can help problems like heartburn, hyperacidity and bloating. All you need to do is sit up straight and practice deep breathing, deeply and slowly, using your abdominal muscles and focus on active inhalation. This also helps reduce stress levels.
Disclaimer: This content provided is generic information. Always consult your physiotherapist or specialist doctor before performing any exercise workouts.
Nutrition expert Manisha Mehta recommends monsoon-friendly foods that can strengthen your immunity and help you stay healthy
The arrival of monsoon is a pleasant experience after the scorching summer heat. The smell of petrichor, the sound of rains and the gushing wind through the windows, a cup of Adrak ki chai with bhajiyas and pakoras (baked instead of deep-fried) while you enjoy watching the rain. However, the change of the weather also brings infections and slows down digestion. Hence it is important to incorporate foods that will strengthen your immunity while you enjoy the rain. Also, drinking plenty of warm water throughout the day is essential.
Tulsi Leaves – The holy basil that helps prevent and fight infections, reduces stress, regulates blood sugar and has antiseptic properties. Add few leaves in your tea or simply boil them in water – Tulsi water.
Green Tea – Green tea contains natural antioxidants and provides various health benefits. A cup of green tea will regulate body temperature, aid digestion, improve heart and mental health.
Amla – A rich source of Vitamin C, antioxidants and immunity boosting properties. You can consume raw amla or have the juice every morning for stronger immunity.
Fresh fruits – Cherries, peaches, plums, pomegranates, jamun and litchi – the monsoon fruits. These fruits are antioxidant, and packed with essential nutrients and fibre that will keep the flu at bay.
Nuts – A handful of cashews, walnuts, almonds, dates and figs will keep your body warm and protect from any virus attack. They are a rich source of energy and antioxidants but consume in moderation.
Turmeric – The healing spice packed with anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and antifungal properties helps strengthen immunity. A warm glass of turmeric milk is all you need.
Garlic – Crush some garlic and add it to your food. It will not only enhance flavour but also ease digestion. Packed with antioxidants, immune boosting properties and health benefits.
Ginger – Ginger tea aka adrak ki chai, the monsoon drink. The fiery flavour will keep you warm and your health in check. Loaded with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Black pepper – A powerhouse of essential nutrients and micronutrients. The must monsoon spice to incorporate in your meals. Whole, crushed or powdered, but make sure not to overcook it.
Makhana – This crunchy snack for the monsoon is fibre-packed, low in calories, a good source of protein and gluten-free. Roast makhanas in some ghee, salt and pepper and enjoy snacking.
Pulses/legumes – It is the best season to consume pulses instead of green leafy vegetables. Lentils, kidney beans, chickpeas, black-eyed beans and such. They are rich in high-protein, essential nutrients and micronutrients. Also, they are excellent at regulating energy levels.
No ‘rain song’ playlist is possible without Zindagi bhar nahin bhoolegi… Deepa Gahlot looks back on the musical hit that is synonymous with monsoon moods
As the monsoon hits Mumbai, flashback toBarsaat Ki Raat (1960), in which a storm with rain and lightning ignites a romance.
Made 60 years ago, this is the kind of film that belongs firmly to another age of Muslim socials, mushairas, qawwali muqablas, simpering women and sherwani-clad men. PL Santoshi directed and co-wrote the screenplay from Rafi Ajmeri’s story, with his leading man Bharat Bhushan. With Roshan’s score and Sahir Ludhianvi’s lyrics, the film turned out to be a major musical hit of the time. The title song, Zindagi bhar nahin bhoolegi woh barsaat ki raat, is an unforgettable rain song, but the film’s selling point were the qawwalis (originally composed by Fateh Ali Khan, father of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, some altered and used with his consent).
Madhubala’s enchanting beauty and the immortal score are probably the highlights of Barsaat Ki Raat
Aman Hyderabadi (Bhushan) is a poet, famous but impoverished, who lives as a tenant in the home of a qawwal, Mubarak Ali (S.K. Prem) and his daughters Shama (Shyama) and Shabab (Ratna)– the film opens with the two singing the sublime Garjat barsat sawan aayo re over the credits. The older sister is in love with Aman, but too shy to let him know, while the younger one chatters and flutters around overacting the cutie part that sets the teeth on edge. (Ratna married Bharat Bhushan and went on to become a familiar face on Doordarshan.)
Mubarak Ali has been losing the qawwali muqablas and is in dire straits. He requests Aman to help him with some qalaam, so that he can save his sinking career, and Aman promises as soon as he returns from Hyderabad.
He goes there to stay with his buddy Shekhar (Chandrashekhar), a cop, and to take part in a radio programme and mushaira. Short of inspiration, he wanders around the city, smoking and thinking when it starts pouring all of a sudden and he takes shelter in a deserted spot (turns out to be a blacksmith’s workplace). Soon a soaking young woman also ducks in there, and when lightning cracks, cowers against him. She sees him nervously and runs off, but the poet is smitten—as anyone would be, because the woman is the gorgeous Madhubala.
Shabnam, the daughter of police commissioner Khan Bahadur (KN Singh), is a fan of Aman, without knowing what he looks like. When she hears him on the radio singing Zindagi bhar nahin bhoolegi, she realises whom she had bumped into. Her friend Shanti (Peace Kanwal) takes her to an event, where Aman looks dreamily in her direction and sings Maine shayad tumhe pehle bhi kahin dekha hai.
Now comes the part where the two have to find a way of meeting under the stern nose of the commissioner, and what better way than him tutoring Shabnam’s little sister, Razia (Baby Shobha). Shabnam’s father eventually catches on, threatens to break Aman’s legs, and declares that she will be married to a man of his choice, Aftaab (Haroon).
Aman and Shabnam elope to Indore, where he gets a job reciting poetry on the radio, which he does under a pseudonym, Kamal Lakhnavi. His voice is recognised by Shekhar, so they run off to Jabalpur to the home of another pal (Rashid Khan). Shekhar traces them there and Shabnam is reluctantly dragged back home.
Aman makes his way to Lucknow to stay with his friend (he seems to have a lot of them to stay with!), the very same Aftab. Coincidentally, Khan Bahadur and family also go to Lucknow to get her married, before her love story causes trouble.
While Aman writes, he allows another poet to pass it off as his own work, which results in a young qawwal Chand Khan (Khurshid Bawra) winning a competition against Mubarak Ali and his daughters. Their patron demands another competition—Chand Khan cheekily says that if he wins, Shabab will have to become his mistress, and Shabab retorts that he will have to clean her shoes if he loses. Aman comes to the rescue and the girls win.
If Mubarak has to finally regain his position in the qawwali hall of fame, they have to defeat the legendary Daulat Khan (Balam). They all go to Ajmer Sharif for the make-or-break faceoff. Coincidentally, Khan Bahadur and family also go there, because Shabnam has taken ill and her mother wants to pray at the dargah. Like all angry daddies, he melts — particularly when Aftab tells him he won’t stand in the way of true love.
The plot of the film (the credits spell it “Barsat Ki Rat”) with its contrivances is hopelessly outdated now, but the music is evergreen (there is one of the few Eid songs, Mujhe mil gaya bahana teri deed ka, kaise khushi le ke aaya chand Eid ka) and the qawwalis fabulous — Nigaah-e-naaz ke, Pehchaanta hoon khoob, Na toh kaarvan ki talaash hai/Yeh ishq ishq hai ishq ishq. Those can still make the viewer get up and dance.
Top 20 Songs that would want you to Dance in the Rains
The advent of the monsoon means a change in musical mood. Narendra Kusnur presents his Top 20 favourite baarish songs
There are different ways to musically greet the rains. A classical music fan would attend a monsoon melodies concert or play a recording of raag Miyan Ki Malhar, Gaud Malhar or Megh. A film music lover would create a playlist of rain songs.
Here, we choose 20 Hindi film songs that could be perfect for the monsoon mood. Some of them have shots of actors getting drenched, whereas others bring out the rain reference in their words.
The list begins in the late 1940’s and culminates in 2001, and has been made chronologically. While preparing it, one was surprised to discover that five of them were from 1960. Perhaps there were more rain songs that year than actual rain.
Interestingly, four of them are picturised on Raj Kapoor, who apparently loved using the Mumbai rains in his film situations. Enjoy the songs with your favourite beverage and snack.
Lata Mangeshkar’s career got a major boost with Barsaat, and this was one of the hits. Music was by Shankar-Jaikishen and lyrics were by Shailendra. Picturised on Nimmi and Raj Kapoor, the song was known for its catchy “Tak dhina din” chorus and its marvellous choreography.
The song showed Raj Kapoor and Nargis walking under an umbrella, singing Shailendra’s lines “Pyaar hua ikraar hua hai, pyaar se phir kyon darta hai dil”. Sung by Mangeshkar and Manna Dey, the music was composed by Shankar-Jaikishen. An evergreen love song.
There was no rain situation in the song filmed on Raj Kapoor and Nargis, but the lines “Yeh raat bheegi bheegi, yeh mast fizayen” made it apt to be played in wet weather. The combination of Mangeshkar, Manna Dey, Shankar-Jaikishen and Shailendra was perfect again.
4 Ummad Ghummad Kar Aayee Re Ghata/ Do Ankhen Barah Haath (1957)
From this iconic V Shantaram film, Mangeshkar and Manna Dey sang this rain song picturised on Shantaram and Sandhya. Composed by the brilliant Vasant Desai, it was written by Bharat Vyas.
5 Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si/ Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958)
Kishore Kumar and Madhubala combined on screen in this eternal classic, sung by Kishore Kumar, composed by S.D. Burman and written by Majrooh Sultanpuri. Again there was no rain situation, the only connection being the use of the term ‘bheegi bhaagi’ to describe the heroine. But the song had a fun element and pep that made it endearing.
One of the best rain sequences, this was picturised on Raj Kapoor. Music was by Kalyanji-Anandji who had one of their early successes. Mukesh, who sang most of Kapoor’s songs, rendered Qamar Jalalabadi’s words with effortless ease.
7. Garjat Barsat Saawan Aayo Re/ Barsaat Ki Raat (1960)
Though Roshan had composed a Lata Mangeshkar version of this song in the 1951 film Malhar, he chose Suman Kalyanpur and Kamal Barot to render the Barsat Ki Raat version in raag Malhar. Sahir Ludhianvi penned the lyrics (the earlier one was written by Indeevar) and the song was picturised on Shyama and Ratna Bhushan, wife of actor Bharat Bhushan. The film also had the rain song ‘Zindagi Bhar Nahin Bhoolegi Woh Barsat Ki Raat’ and the outstanding qawwali ‘Na To Karvaan’.
8. Rimjhim Ke Taraane Leke/ Kala Bazar (1960)
A beautiful song picturised on Dev Anand and Waheeda Rahman, and sung by Mohammed Rafi and Geeta Dutt. Music was by SD Burman and lyrics were by Shailendra. Besides the sheer melody, the song was known for its immaculate picturisation.
One of Mangeshkar’s most popular songs, this was composed by Salil Chowdhury and written by Shailendra. The song was picturised on Sadhna and was based on Chowdhury’s Bengali version ‘Na Jeo Na’, also sung by Mangeshkar.
10. Aaha Rimjhim Ke Yeh Pyaare Pyaare Geet / Usne Kaha Tha (1960)
The use of the words ‘rimjhim’ and ‘geet’ would make this pass off as a rain song. Picturised on Sunil Dutt and Nanda, it featured the combination of Talat Mahmood and Mangeshkar. Music was by Salil Chowdhury and lyrics were by Shailendra. This song has lilt in the truest sense.
Anand Bakshi’s lyrics talk of rainy weather, whistling winds and peacocks. Composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal, it was sung by Mukesh and Mangeshkar. Picturised on Sunil Dutt and Nutan, the song was a huge hit in its time, and was played on Doordarshan for years to come.
Another hugely popular song by Laxmikant-Pyarelal, this was penned by Bakshi. Mangeshkar is joined by Rafi on this romantic number picturised on Rajendra Kumar and Babita. Rafi’s rendition of the lines “Bheegi bheegi raaton mein” is immaculate.
Another gem from Mangeshkar, this song is based on raag Patdeep and picturised on Raakhee. Composed by SD Burman, it was written by Neeraj, who had some great songs in the early 1970s.
Picturised on the then superstar Rajesh Khanna and Zeenat Aman, it was composed by RD Burman in his typical style. Mangeshkar and Kishore sang Bakshi’s words which use metaphors effectively.
With its soothing melody and brilliant rendition by Mangeshkar, this song became a favourite. Composed by R.D. Burman, it was written by Bakshi. The song was filmed on Amitabh Bachchan and Raakhee, who had some fantastic songs together in the 1970s.
This song has two versions, both featuring Bachchan and Moushumi Chatterjee. The Kishore version, which was a big hit, was filmed indoors, whereas the Mangeshkar version had a rain backdrop. Music was by RD Burman and lyrics were by Yogesh, who passed away on May 29 this year.
Filmed in a rain scenario, this one featured Bachchan and Smita Patil. Kishore and Asha Bhosle got together on this tune composed by Bappi Lahiri and penned by Anjaan.
Yash Chopra’s film on a love triangle had some great songs. Sridevi and Vinod Khanna appeared in this one sung by Anupama Deshpande and Suresh Wadkar. Shiv-Hari created the tune to Anand Bakshi’s words.
Released after RD Burman’s death, 1942: A Love Story had some outstanding songs, written by Javed Akhtar. Anil Kapoor and Manisha Koirala starred in this one sung by Kavita Krishnamurrhy and Kumar Sanu.
A group song depicting the joy of receiving the first rain, this was composed by A.R. Rahman, written by Javed Akhtar and sung by Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik, Sukhwinder Singh, Shankar Mahadevan and Shaan. Aamir Khan and Gracy Singh appeared on screen.
An Indian brand whose mascot was a very Western cowboy, Dipy’s captured young imaginations. Prabhakar Mundkur looks back
It’s November 1977 and I meet Dipy the Kid.
Life was getting difficult. My pocket money was Rs 120 per month. Actually, quite enough for a young lad to live by in November 1977, but not if you have to spend on cigarettes and the occasional drink. I was getting tired of living off my parents. Those days, when you wanted a job you took recourse to The Times of India’s job columns which were quite a few pages those days. The size of the ad gave a rough idea of how big or important the company was. I responded to a DCM ad, but the job was located in Kota, not very attractive for a boy used to living in Mumbai. Then there was the National Productivity Council (wonder if it still exists) and the job was in Delhi, which was better than Kota, but the thought of leaving Mumbai was making me weak-kneed.
And then as providence would have it, there was an ad from daCunha Associates, which boasted of great accounts like Amul Butter, Lakme, Herbertsons, Sandoz and many others – what the ad industry has always called “blue chip” clients. I distinctly reading those words in the ad. Unfortunately, they were asking for five years’ experience for an Account Executive. Since then of course the advertising industry has become very lenient with their titles. Today five years’ experience would qualify you to be some kind of Vice President. And an Account Executive with five years’ experience would definitely be called… Failure. The guy who hasn’t made it.
Anyway, I decided to be cheeky and applied to the ad. I said the only difference was that daCunha was looking for the five years backwards and I was looking for it forwards. “So Mr daCunha would you please consider me for the job because I am looking for 5 years’ experience too.” The cheekiness seemed to work with Sylvester daCunha, the Managing Director of daCunha Associates. I was called for an interview, which I suppose I passed with flying colours because I was asked to start the very next day.
Your first job in my ways is one of the most memorable events in your life and mine certainly was. When I reached the office, I was told that the agency had just won the Dipy’s account and Vanraj Bhatia was recording a jingle at Western Outdoor. They had trusted me with the supervision of the radio jingle because I was a musician. This was exciting. A little later I found myself at Western Outdoor, introducing myself to Vanraj Bhatia. I was later to learn what an illustrious musician he was.
Vanraj had studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London and the Paris Conservatory after graduating from Elphinstone College in Mumbai. In 1960, he was appointed as Reader in Western musicology at the University of Delhi. I immediately felt a kinship with him because I myself had studied Grade VIII pianoforte at the Royal Schools of Music, London.
The jingle had already been composed. The band was about to play. I still remember the words of the jingle. Dipy dee, Dipy do, Dipy dum dum; Dipy me, Dipy you, Dipy yum yum yum. Very memorable. Paul McCartney once said that if you can whistle a tune after hearing it once it has to be a good tune. I would find myself humming and whistling the Dipy’s jingle. And then came the slug line “Yippee its Dipy’s.”.
I got back to the agency, thrilled to be working on such an exciting campaign. The mascot for the brand was a cowboy. Research had shown that cowboys were very popular especially in comics, the rage for young people those days. Not to mention books by Louis L’Amour.
And of course the Clint Eastwood films. Remember For a Few Dollar’s more?
Dipy the Kid, as he was called (reminiscent of Billy the Kid), was a lovable, fun kind of guy. And he appeared on most of our advertising. But the biggest draw was the Dipys BEST bus which went gaily about town with people’s eyes popping out because they had never seen a BEST bus in Mumbai so prettily painted. Needless to say, the launch of the brand was a big hit. We won Media Innovation of the Year for bus designs.
Of course, to many of you cowboys may seem as if they are from an era gone by. I am not so sure. I think cowboys just transformed themselves and changed location from the Wild West to outer space. What, after all, is Luke Skywalker but a cowboy in outer space?
Introducing an all-new monthly series in Seniors Today magazine – Communities. We kick it off with Minoo Shah writing on the very enterprising Gujjus, err, Gujaratis.
Those elite intellectuals who are reading this article with forehead furrowed and brows raised – phooey to you! What world are you living in? Are you even an Indian? Do you know Gujaratis? Because if the answer is yes, no or maybe to the above then here are a few home truths that should clear the fog which I see billowing over your heads.
A Gujju is genetically fostered from the Western region of Gujarat and has wandered all over the globe and beyond with a few priorities. Foremost, multiplying wealth and raas-garba with food not too close behind.
This native inhabiting the land of milk and honey comes in many forms and shapes. The one picked by scholars is the roly-poly bald-headed pot-bellied male sans an inch of sophistication. Why? Because if you come across this species he probably owns about 20 motels, 10 gas stations and has helped migrate an entire village to the USA.
The Student Visa Start
Let’s look into some of the yet-to-be-released Wikipedia files.
Take for instance Jethabhai from Karamsad, Gujarat, India who migrated on a student visa to USA in 1972. Jetha as fondly known to his Indian classmates at Trenton State College shared a 2-bedroom apartment with 3 other classmates. Duties were divided so it fell upon Jetha to cook. He did this with great zest and served varying varieties of khichdi and ‘ringan-bataka nu shak’ (translated for those whose culinary focus erstwhile has been ‘chhole’ is an eggplant potato curry). Well, Jetha with great aplomb took his lunch (he was a vegetarian, you see) to the cafeteria and would eat it with his fingers with nary a care for the American eyes staring him down. He was typecast as a vulgar, mannerless migrant and treated as such even by other fellow Indians. When he was not quite so politely asked to leave campus within 2 semesters, Jetha not to be outwitted took the rest of his tuition money (students on I-30 visa status had financial aid for a year’s worth of tuition deposited into their free checking account) and made a beeline for Hoboken, NJ. Hoboken, in the 70s was a Gujju’s mecca. It boasted of dilapidated apartment complexes run by slumlords regularly seen on the 1st day of the month to collect rent. This fit the Gujju mindset fine. There was no one within miles to see them in their boxers on the balcony chewing ‘daatan’ (toothbrush, if you will) while yelling to the balcony 2 stories below, ‘ala, dukaan ma thi thodu adu mara matey bi laavjey’ (bring some ginger for me when you go shopping).
Food is an important part of the Gujarati diaspora palette
Jetha sought out Popat who hailed from Kadi (known to his distant uncle’s in laws partners) and joined his 4 roommates in their studio apartment. Such was life then that while 2 worked nightshirts the other 2 used the beds and vice versa. Money was pooled and groceries bought with the priority that each one would be able to send at least $100 home every month. Jetha’s simpleton enterprising mentality led him to befriend the slumlord goon and he soon became the apartment manager himself. He would collect the rent from everyone a week ahead of time. He would use that money to stock up on essentials and sell them to the apartment dwellers to save them trips (Jetha did not work, he lived rent free, cooked for his roommates and ran a business).
In 6 months along with his tuition money, Jetha had saved up about $10,000. He used this as down payment to buy the 10-unit apartment complex with a loan from the slumlord. How does this story end? Well, Hoboken, NJ is prime real estate in the USA now and Jetha owns 20% of the commercial shopping strips there. Senators and Congressmen alike now address him as Shri Jethabhai Patel. He still eats khichdi and shak with his hands and the only noticeable change is he speaks Gujrati interspersed with English. In that, while addressing Governor Chris Christie at a garba-raas function, Jetha said, “Hello Christiebhai, everything ok ne? Bring your ‘baidi’ next time and we will ‘rape’ her in a sari.” Last heard, Christie is not to be seen in Hoboken, he seeked the safer shark-infested pastures of Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
Dazzling With Diamonds
Now let’s move on down South to California and the Shahs, not to be confused with the Shahs of Sunset Blvd, an Iranian reality show based in Los Angeles (this clarification is for the common American on the street, still bowled over by the different races cluttering their land stolen from – you got it, Indians!). Back to the task at hand, this sect of the Gujju community is well known for their shrewd and 1,001 ways of multiplying wealth with other people’s money. And, savvy reader that you are on the other side of the hemisphere – Enter! the diamond runners of Antwerp/Palanpore. With your nose turned up you query in a very Britty accent (cannot resist adding a cliché at this point ‘saaley goray chale gaye bhokatey kuttey chhod gaye’): ‘Now, now what is this Antwerp/Palanpore conundrum?’ To those not well versed in this vegan, eat before sunset, donning a yellow tikka on your forehead species, these are young Jain boys in their teens who apprentice for distant uncles in Antwerp (Antwerp, Amsterdam is the holy land for diamond merchants hailing from Palanpore). They consign about a $1 million worth of loose diamonds to different retailers all over USA but their Wall Street is LA. You ask why? My man, LA is just an acronym for Hollywood where bling is King.
The freshest arrivals are the millennial techies who run the user interface for banks and financial centres
Exploiting Hollywood’s addiction of all addictions that tops Coke and Ecstasy, this community dangled DIAMONDS and inveigled themselves into partnerships at major Production Houses and Studios. You don’t believe me? Have you seen La La Land – it’s a Bollywood musical with nasal sounding Jewish actors. Word has it that Priyanka Chopra marrying Nick Jonas was an arranged affair by these power monger Shah’s who want to slowly control the music industry. Why do you think the Ambanis inter marry into Jain families? How do you think every 10th production in Hollywood is ‘Annapurna’ production?
Right Up To The Top
If it’s Navratri it must be Dandiya Night, whether in Chembur or Calgary
Fast forward to the clear and present danger. The second generation with the right accent but protégées none the less have come of age with degrees from Ivy Leagues and as privileged as the WASPs (White Anglo Saxon Protestants – suffice it for now) who fund those colleges. Even the White House is now infested with Gujjus and Governor Christie is running for dear life, crying: ‘Are there no more safe havens in USA?’ The halls are teeming with a Mehta here, a Parikh there, and a Shah and Patel everywhere. Like locusts they have swarmed Pennsylvania Avenue, and many other metropolitan cities. Politics notwithstanding, the freshest arrivals are the millennial techies from Surat and Rajkot who run the user interface for major banks and financial centres. These H1B 3 year contract visa holders (otherwise known to you as baap lakh chhappan hajaar), have made pav vada and vodka noodles the talk of Michelin 3 restaurants.
Call them Gujjus, call them names but USA acknowledges that when Spacex explores the new frontiers there will be a Jetha somewhere with a bowl of khichdi and shak, a smile, a greeting of ‘halo re halo!’ and interplanetary beings dancing to the tune of ‘dholi taro dhol baajey, dhol baajey, dhol… ke dhum dhum baajey dhol.’
Introducing a new weekly column by Minoo Shah where she will present her unique take on life of the Nouveau Riche Indians. Enjoy
As a teen, I identified with Jaya Bhaduri (now Bachchan). All her movies from Guddi to Shor were juxtaposed in my dreams. Then came Zeenat Aman and Parveen Babi and sans the height all I could do was hang their posters in my room and sport their hairstyles – remember the long, straight hair? No straightening irons then so the ‘istree’ did the job. Sunday afternoons with friends taking turns and verandahs shrieking with many a howl when an ear was singed, or a forehead scarred.
Fast forward to age 20, marriage to an NRI and subsequent move to the land of Elvis Presley, Clint Eastwood and Terence Hill! Remember this blue-eyed heartthrob form spaghetti westerns? True story, in my first year in the US, I got to meet him at a premiere and shamelessly gushed over him. Somewhere archived are these special snapshots. Moments like that serving a temporary penchant but leaving unresolved that aching need for a ‘mara-mari’ scene where Editorjee and Sound masterjee never quite harmonised the sequence.
Nostalgia forthwith, here I am, in my senior years looking back at the last 40 years. What do I recall? Setting aside two weekends a month to attend a Bollywood show starring actors like Amitabh Bachchan, SRK, Salman Khan, Abhishek Bachchan and Vivek Oberoi or concerts featuring Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsale, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Shreya Ghosal and Sonu Nigam. What is this magical pull of Bollywood for NRIs, you ask? Well, it transports us back to a world we left behind.
This obsession with Bollywood amongst NRIs stems from a need to resurrect our youth and relive giggly teenage days. Although, Hollywood has its own charm, somehow, I do not see myself as Charlize Theron and yes, I did have a middle age crush on George Clooney, but again, he was no Amitabh Bachchan. George Clooney and Brad Pitt could momentarily distract us but they did not have the Svengali-like charisma of Ajay Devgan or the deep baritone of Amitabh Bacchhan nor the lazy-eyed romantic come hither look of SRK.
But for nought, life has come to a screeching halt with the advent of this pandemic that has taken away life’s simple pleasures from us retired NRIs living off of Uncle Sam’s monthly moolah (which we rightfully contributed to during our working days). Before this China-propelled infestation took over globally including our hometown of Houston, Texas, we thronged to an AMC (multiplex cinema theatre) on a weekday, armed with chai, pakoras and theplas. For 2.5 hours we became whistling, heckling ‘taporis’. It was a common site to see an Uncle-looking grey-haired male jump to the screen and mimic the moves to Salman Khan’s Dabang or a Sheila Aunty shaking a hip to ….’my name is Sheila… (sic!). Even the punk ushers (of non-Indian origin) sat down and watched the movies with us and comically rose a brow when a Champaben here or a Sukhwinder there yelled across aisles, “pass the chai, year.” The manager too joined at times and I have personally heard him sing in unison to Siddhartha, Varun and Alia’s, ‘Radha teri Chunri…’. Alas, Covid is here to stay for a few more months in Texas (even though Governor Abbott screams that it’s a hoax) with nary a care for a cowboy or a desi. We are resigned with a heavy heart but full of hope that those happy days will return soon and until such time, ‘Bollywood, be aware that we await your return with bated breath while watching re-runs of Mahabharat just like our compatriots back in Mumbai.
For an entire generation, Mehdi Hassan was the ultimate ghazal singer. On the maestro’s eighth death anniversary on June 13, Narendra Kusnur picked 10 of his popular and slightly lesser-known ghazals and nazms – all masterpieces.
By Narendra Kusnur
For an entire generation, Mehdi Hassan was the ultimate ghazal singer. His magical voice, choice of poetry, sense of classical nuances, and immense power of expression combined to give his music that rare uniqueness.
On the maestro’s eighth death anniversary on June 13, we choose 10 of his ghazals and nazms. Obviously, this isn’t a definitive list, as many other favourites could have been included. Yet, we tried to provide a mix of popular fare and slightly lesser-known masterpieces.
The poets mentioned range from the classic to the modern, and no writer has been repeated. For those new to his repertoire, this good be a good starting point.
Ranjish Hi Sahi
One of the most popular ghazals ever, this was written by Ahmed Faraz and set to raag Yaman Kalyan.The lines “Aa phir se mujhe chhod ke jaane ke liye aa” reflect the ghazal’s theme of pathos.
For many, this is the ultimate love song, as Hassan sings, “Zindagi mein to sabhi pyaar kiya karte hain, main to markar bhi meri jaan tujhe chahoonga”. The composition is set in raag Bhimpalasi.
The song that catapulted Hassan to fame in 1955, when it became a big hit on Pakistani radio. The Urdu phrases by Faiz Ahmed Faiz are complex, but the singer does total justice, singing “Chale bhi aao ke gulshan ka karobar chale”.
From the 1974 movie Chahat, this is another classic song by Hassan, written by Khwaja Parvez. Hassan sings, “Tu jo rahe saath mere, duniya ko thukraoon, tera dil behlaoon”.
Written by Munir Niazi, this is a song loved by the ardent admirers, with Hassan singing, “Kaise kaise log hamare jee ko jalaane aa jaate hain, apne apne gham ke phasaane hamein sunaane aa jaate hain”.
A classic penned by the legendary Mir Taqi Mir, this one goes, “Dekh to dil ke jaan se uthta hai, yeh dhuan sa kahan se uthta hai”. The song was used briefly in a scene in the Hindi film 7 Khoon Maaf.
One of the simpler songs sung by Hassan, this one is filled with nostalgia. Razi Tirmizi’s lines go “Bhooli bisri chand umeedein, chand fasaane yaad aaye; Tum yaad aaye aur tumhare saath zamaane yaad aaye”.
This song, written by Parveen Shakir, is a connoisseur’s favourite as the singer talks about how the word of one’s closeness with another person has spread. Another version sung by Abida Parveen is also popular.
One of Hassan’s later gems, it was written by Farhat Shahzad and used in the album Kehna Usey. The lines go, “Kya toota hai andar andar, kyon chehra khumlaya hai; tanha tanha rone waale, kaun tumhe yaad aaya hai”.
A 10-song list would have to include Mirza Ghalib, and this one’s a favourite. Numerous singers have presented it, including Begum Akhtar, Hariharan, Ghulam Ali, Jaswinder Singh and recently, Gayatri Asokan. Hassan’s version has its distinct charm, like anything he touched.
Expert’s simple advice on how to keep your brain healthy and prevent the risk factor for developing dementia.
Old age is the biggest risk factor for developing dementia. However, there are a lot of evidence that lifestyle factors can potentially make a big difference. According to WHO, one in 14 seniors as well as a significant number of younger people are affected by dementia. An expert, who has operated on over 5000 skulls – all different ages to examine the developing brain to the aging brain, has come up with the best ways to help boost memory, manage stress and reduce Alzheimer’s.
The expert says, “Since we don’t have a medicine for dementia, it is really about lifestyle modification. And doing it early – 40s, 50s, 60s. There is always a window to make a difference.” Fortunately, our brains manage changes efficiently – changing food habits, cutting down on sodium, avoiding fried foods, a bit of brisk walking. All these changes add up to a better lifestyle.
Remember, whatever healthadvice you follow right now, staying sensible and following the guidelines on minimizing the spread of coronavirus is everyone’s top priority. So, don’t adopt any lifestyle changes without considering your physician.
1. Standing and walking – With coronavirus on everybody’s minds, getting out and about is not advisable. Until the pandemic situation settles, you could try stretching and do some light exercises at home – simply standing and walking will help as well. The neurons and the supporting cells float in liquid – our brain is like densely packed tissue in an aquarium. The tissue doesn’t physically touch, it gets very close to each other and sprays chemicals at each other called neurotransmitters.
There is also something called as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) – the brain protein. 30 minutes of brisk walking will get you to a sweet spot where your brain is showering itself with BDNF – it’s a growth factor, fertilizer for the flesh of the brain. It’s something anybody can do, it’s free and can be just a micro-change in your week.
2. Healthy Heart – Exercisehelps with that, and good hearthealth with control of blood pressure, diabetesand cholesterol is fundamental to keeping the plumbing of the brain open, so it’s getting the blood flow it wants. Brain demands amazing amount of blood – 20 percent of out blood flow goes to our 1.3 kg brain.
3. Mediterranean ‘Mind diet’ – The most fundamental thing is the mind diet – essentially the Mediterranean diet. The brain’s 90 billion neurons share the garden inside the skull with supporting cells called glia. It creates fatty insulation for the neurons, so the electricity can bounce around inside our heads faster and more organised. They’re sort of the shrubs around the roses that protect the brain environment. This fatty sheath at the microscopic level is the good fat that comes from fatty fish – and there are some good choices for vegans as well. That’s an essential part of the Mediterranean diet.
Studies over decades show eating mostly plants, fatty fish, nuts, and drinking occasional red wine, really makes a dent in the chances of getting dementia. The nutrients have to get past the gut wall, into the blood, and are then filtered by the liver before passing through the blood-brain barrier. Getting to the brain requires passing three barriers and the Mediterranean diet and its nutrients, whether it’s flavonoids, antioxidants or all of them, really is an effective strategy.
The first thing to do is to switch to more components of the mind diet. Occasional cheesecake or burger or chips isn’t an issue – it’s not the indulgences, it’s the regular things we eat.
4. Socialising – With social distancing, socialising isn’t easy right now. However, it’s the time to make use of phones and laptops to keep in touch with friends you can’t see in person. When pandemic settles, we can embrace our social lives again.
Socialising is also considered an advantage because it’s forcing you to think – what to wear, where to go, etc. For people who are lonely, part of the risk is that they are thinking less and they are thinking negative thoughts.
5. Learn something new – The brain is thinking flesh – you need to learn in order to feed it. Engaging the brain, learning, reading, trying to learn a new instrument or language, even if you fail miserably, just the effort of trying to learn anything will engage wider swathes of your brain, and that serves as the engagement of those brain cells.
But it has to challenge you just a bit. If it’s too easy, your brain doesn’t need to think and you’ll rely on habits. If it’s too hard, your brain won’t engageand you’ll say it’s impossible. So, the trick is to find just that one level past your comfort zone. That’s the trigger for the brain to say it’s got to dial it up
People are likely to get infected in an enclosed space with a lot of people. However, with adequate safety measures one can move around in public transport as well as public spaces.
Being locked at home has certainly become the ‘new normal’. Over past few months we have successfully dealt with isolation and digital socialization. Covid-19 continues to challenge us in every way possible, the fear of the virus does not seem to have an end. As the restrictions are being relaxed and public transport has resumed, we are put in a spot with a new set of challenges. The fear to step out and get in a public transport can be daunting. However, with key safety measures you can safely commute in public transport.
Here are 5 key ways to stay safe while you commute in public transport.
1. Odd hours – Everyday hustle and bustle has resumed, with people on the street and public transport on the move. Make sure that you step out during odd hours. This will ensure few people in public transport and less congested roads. Try to avoid mornings and evenings as people who have resumed work will be commuting. You are safer when there are fewer people. Also, it is essential that you avoid prolong traveling.
2. Physical distance – If you have decided and feel confident about stepping out make sure that you do not come in contact with anybody. Maintain your distance as much as you can. Physical distancing will ensure and suppress virus transmission. You do not want to be a part of community transmission, so keep that distance.
3. Personal hygiene – Now that you are in a public transport keep your sanitizer handy. You may invariably touch surfaces for support, when you do, sanitize your hands immediately. And as soon as you get off the vehicle, wash your hands with soap and water, only then reach for your mask. Remember to keep your eyes, nose and mouth untouched no matter what happens. If your face feels itchy, resist the urge to keep the virus at bay.
4. Keep a spare mask – It would be wise to carry some extra masks in your bag. Chances are you may not even require to change your mask during a commute. However, if in case you touch your face and get paranoid, some hand sanitisation and a fresh mask will prevent you from being anxious.
5. Out and about essentials – The new normal calls for new ways. Your out and about essentials would be – wear a snug face mask, avoid paying by cash use digital payment method as much as you can, keep hand sanitiser handy, wear fitting gloves especially if you have any cuts or open wounds and most importantly maintain physical distance when you are out and about.
The pandemic is not over. The virus is still out there and you need to be careful. As restriction will be more relaxed with time there will be an increase in the number of commuters. Step out only if you need to, if you are unwell stay home.
Masks that were once reserved for hospitals has become a common sight on sidewalks. Thus, it is essential to be aware of when, where and how to use them correctly.
Since the pandemic it has become mandatory to wear a face mask everywhere. They are seen at every nook and corner. As a safety precaution it is necessary to keep our mouths covered. However, there are number of misconceptions about wearing face masks which needs to be busted.
Here are the 7 face mask myths you should be aware of.
Myth 1: If you don’t feel sick, you don’t need to wear a face mask
This advice prevailed at the beginning of the pandemic, but not anymore. Experts have learned more about the coronavirus, and now the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is that everyone – including people who feel perfectly healthy, should wear a face mask. It is important to cover your mouth in public settings where it may be difficult to maintain at least 6 feet of space from other people – grocery stores, pharmacies, retail shops, hair salons, crowded parks and such.
Wearing a face mask adds a layer of protection. Virus is thought to spread easily between people by respiratory droplets produced when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes. And because some infected people might be asymptomatic, and as such are at risk of unknowingly spreading the virus to others. Hence, a face mask will be an added layer of protection.
People who feel sick should stay home and not venture out in public. In fact they should wear a face mask when interacting with family members or caregivers at home.
Myth 2: Only surgical masks or N95 respirators
The CDCadvice’s the general public to wear cloth face coverings, not medical-grade masks. As they are best left for health care professionals on the front lines of the pandemic. It is recommended to purchase, sew or fashion face coverings from everyday household items, or clothes that you don’t wear anymore.
Myth 3: Wearing a loose-fitting mask works
Unfortunately, no. Wearing a loose-fitted mask should be avoided. The key is to make sure your face mask fits snugly but comfortably against the side of the face – CDC. A well fitted mask will completely cover the mouth and nose to help prevent respiratory droplets from escaping. It is also important to make sure that your mask is not too tight. It should be well fitted so that you can breathe without any restriction.
Myth 4: Face mask protects you from getting Covid-19
Face mask is an added layer of protection. It will help reduce your risk of getting infected, but there aren’t any hard evidences whether they can protect the wearer from getting infected – The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM).
The face mask will prevent an infected wearer from spreading the virus to others by minimizing the dispersal of respiratory droplets via talking, coughing and sneezing.
Even with a face mask on, it’s important not to abandon other preventative measures, such as frequent handwashing and physical distancing. It is not one or the other, all preventive measures are to be followed – washing hands, wearing a face mask, maintaining social distance, and keeping your hands away from your face.
Myth 5: Children should wear face masks
CDC says, Children under 2 should not wear a face mask. Neither should anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
Myth 6: Wear a face mask in the pool
You should not wear your face mask in the pool. Getting a mask wet and then breathing through it, is a setup for danger. If you plan to head to the pool or the beach don’t forget to pack your face mask. You will need to wear it when you are out of the water and around others.
When you are in the water, keep a distance of at least 6 feet from others around and wash your hands immediately when you are done swimming.
Myth 7: No need to wash your cloth face masks
It is important to wash them after each use as masks collect germs. The CDC has detailed instructions on how to wash your face mask.
CDC advises to wash the masks regularly – washing it in a washing machine with warm water and detergent or when washing it with hands, mix up a solution of bleach and water (4 teaspoons of household bleach per 1 litre of room-temperature water) and soak your mask for 5 minutes before rinsing it with cool or room-temperature water.
As face masks has become a part of our lives. For our safety and wellbeing, it is important that we stay well informed about the dos and don’t of wearing a face mask to continue with our daily life.
Takeaways from the webinar with leading Pulmonologist Dr Aditya Agrawal on Covid-19 scare
Seniors Today hosted a webinar on Thursday, June 4, 2020 with leading Consultant Pulmonologist Dr Aditya Agrawal given the Covid-19 scare. As we are progressing towards easing the lockdown directives, senior citizens need to be extremely careful and should stay indoors as much as possible.
Dr Agrawal spent quality time with a cross-section of readers most of who included senior citizens and answered many questions. Some of them were very basic and then there were others who posed doubts about more complex medical conditions.
Here are key takeaways from the webinar that will guide you into the new normal.
1. Seniors are more vulnerable to Covid-19 – Most individuals develop several diseases as they age – high blood pressure, diabetes, heart diseases, and like. Hence the chance of severe infection rises. When a senior experiences symptom such as fever which does not come down with paracetamol, followed by difficulty in breathing, it’s a sign they have developed a moderately severe infection.
2. Covid-19 causes a wide range of symptoms – In severe cases, the virus causes a wide range of symptoms which may not be specifically related to lungs. It can affect your heart, brain or muscles which may cause a stroke or other neurological problems.
3. Understand how the virus spread – The virus spreads when one comes in contact with respiratory droplets of an infected person – cough, sneeze, these particles settle on the surface. For instance, if you get in an elevator and perhaps the person ahead of you had the infection. S/he may have coughed inside and have left behind a lot of germs. If you come in contact with these droplets, chances of you getting infected rises if you don’t wash your hands immediately with soap and water for 20 seconds or 70% alcohol-based sanitiser. It is best to limit contact with any surface, unfamiliar places, or unknown sources, also you need to refrain from meeting people you don’t know.
4. Seniors can step out of their homes – Gradually the lockdown will be lifted but that does not mean we get carried away and socialise. The Covid-19 situation is yet to be controlled. However, this shouldn’t stop you from stepping out of your home. You will not get coronavirus if the infected person passes by you. It only spread from respiratory droplets. You can go for your walks – you body needs exercise but avoid socialising. Maintain social distancing do your workout and get home. Avoid gatherings, you may meet few people – who you trust.
5. People with uncontrolled comorbidity are to stay home – If you wish to step out, you need to keep yourself healthy. As well as it is extremely important to take adequate precautions. If your BP, sugar… are not under control avoid stepping out.
6. Part-time maids are best avoided – Given the circumstances it would not be ideal to have your part-time help over. They may carry the virus from one house to the other – every human is a potential carrier of the virus. It is best that to get your hands dirty and keep your home clean.
7. Covid-19 does not spread through air – There is no mutation of the virus yet. It does not spread through air; it spreads though respiratory droplets. Also, the intensity of the virus does not reduce as it spreads.
8. A caregiver can stay if… – It is important that your caregiver takes adequate precautions and maintains good hygiene levels as well as follows social distancing. If the caregiver for the elderly follows the guidelines and if you trust them only then let them care for your loved ones.
9. A double layered cloth mask will suffice – N95 masks are meant for healthcare professionals because they come across a lot of infected people through the day. For people, a two-three layered cloth mask will do the job – the virus does not penetrate the cloth. Whichever mask you use it is important how you handle your mask – make sure once you wear a mask, do not touch it as your hands may have the germs. Also, keep in mind that it is mandatory for people with the infection to wear a mask as opposed to healthy people.
10. Avoid wearing mask while exercising – Wearing a mask while exercising can be dangerous to your health. While exercising you will be exhaling more carbon dioxide and the mask will block the adequate supply of oxygen. This could lead to respiratory failure.
11. Public transport is best avoided – Avoid unnecessary travel. It would be best to travel in your vehicle than a public transport. Chances of you getting infected in a public transport is higher – for instance if the previous traveller had the infection and was coughing, the droplets would have stuck to the surface and you may come in contact with it unknowingly.
12. The virus does not survive more than 72 hours – Any object that comes from outside or unknown sources it is best to keep them aside for 2-3 days. The virus does not survive more than 72 hours on any surface. So, if you go grocery shopping it would be a good idea to keep things away for a day without touching them. For vegetables and fruits you can use food detergent – avoid using potassium permanganate or alcohol-based sanitizers – it will not only harm your health.
13. Avoid takeaway food unless you are sure – The person handling your food could be asymptomatic or has an infection. If they transmit the droplets through container, or vessels then the risk of infection rises. It is best you eat home-cooked meals for now.
14. When to seek help – If you get the early signs of the virus – fever, cough, headache, weakness, muscle pain or diarrhea, immediately seek medical help. Do not wait for it to progress – it progresses really fast with time. If you begin to feel breathless that means a part of your lungs has developed Covid-19 pneumonia or you are having a serious effect of the infection on your heart.
15. Contact government hospitals for beds – If in case you don’t find beds in private hospitals immediately dial the helpline number provided by the government. Government hospitals are large and they will help you in the crisis situation.
16. Wearing gloves is unsafe – Gloves is meant for people handling Covid-19 patients. There is no need to wear gloves while grocery shopping because while wearing the gloves you end up touching all the surfaces – the false sense of protection. Then you end up touching your phone, clothes, mobile – forgetting that the glove’s surface is covered with germs. It is safe to wash hands as often than wearing gloves.
Maintain social distancing, personal hygiene and exercise for good immunity. Try not to stress as stress can lower your immunity and make you more vulnerable to the virus. If you would like to consult with Dr Aditya Agrawal you may contact him on his clinic number 09022163859.
The ace filmmaker, who passed away today (June 4), ensured that songs were in sync with storylines, and had a slice-of-life element in them, writes Narendra Kusnur
Like the subjects of his films, Basu Chatterjee believed in simplicity and impact when it came to music. The filmmaker, who passed away on June 4, ensured that the songs went perfectly with the storylines, and had a slice-of-life element in them.
From his filmography, it’s obvious that his favourite composers were Rajesh Roshan and Salil Chowdhury, who did some memorable work with him. Among lyricists, a bulk went to Yogesh, who passed away on May 29.
Choosing 10 songs from Chatterjee films wasn’t easy, and one had to leave out Us Paar (specially Manna Dey’s ‘Piya Maine Kya Kiya’) and Shaukeen. Except Rajnigandha, where it was impossible to omit one of the two songs mentioned, we stuck to one song per film. The list is as per the year of the film’s release.
1. Yeh Jeevan Hai/ Piya Ka Ghar (1972)
One of the most emotional Kishore Kumar songs, ‘Yeh Jeevan Hai’ was composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal and written by Anand Bakshi. It had wonderful lines like “Thode gham hai, thodi khushiyan, yehi hain chaaon dhoop” and was picturised on Anil Dhawan and Jaya Bhaduri.
Picturised on the simple and beautiful Vidya Sinha, this Lata Mangeshkar gem was composed by Salil Chowdhury. Yogesh’s lyrics began, “Rajnigandha phool tumhari mehke yoon hi jeevan main, yoon hi mehke preet piya ki mere anuragi man mein”.
Another beauty from Rajnigandha, this song was picturised on Sinha and Dinesh Thakur, sitting in a taxi. It was sung marvellously by Mukesh, with Salil Chowdhury’s music and Yogesh’s words, which begin, “Kai baar yoon hi dekha hai, yeh jo man ki seema rekha hai, man daudne lagta hai”.
One of the best examples of the use of raag Yaman in a film song, this song was boosted by Yesudas’s amazing voice, with Hemlata pitching in. Music and lyrics were by Ravindra Jain, and the song was filmed on Amol Palekar, Zarina Wahab and Master Raju The film also had the Yesudas hits ‘Gori Tera Gaaon’, ‘Tu Jo Mere Sur Mein’ and ‘Aaj Se Pehle’.
The choice here was between Mangeshkar’s ‘Chhoti Si Baat’ and the Yesudas-Asha Bhosle duet ‘Jaaneman Jaaneman’. We chose the latter as it was peppy and easily sung along. Once again, Salil Chowdhury and Yogesh combined.
Based on a thumri popularised by Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, this version was sung by Yesudas. However, while the traditional tune was in raag Sindhubhairavi, this one was adapted in Kirwani. Rajesh Roshan provided the music and Amit Khanna wrote the improvised lyrics.
Sung by Kishore Kumar, the song was composed by Rajesh Roshan and written by Anjaan. Picturised mainly on Rakesh Roshan, it had shots of Jeetendra and Neetu Singh too. The words “Koi roko na deewane ko, man machal gaya kuch gaane ko” made it a singalong favourite.
8. Thoda Hai Thode Ki Zaroorat Hai/ Khatta Meetha (1978)
The main lines, written by Gulzar, were easily to identify with. Music was by Rajesh Roshan and the song was sung by Kishore Kumar and Mangeshkar. Because of its simplicity, it’s hummed even today.
One of those unforgettable rain songs, this was in two versions, both featuring Amitabh Bachchan and Moushumi Chatterjee. Lyrics were by Yogesh and music was by R.D. Burman. While Kishore sang one version, Mangeshkar rendered the other.
A fun song composed by Rajesh Roshan and penned by Amit Khanna, this was picturised in a group that included Amol Palekar, Tina Munim and Pearl Padamsee, who also joined Mangeshkar and Amit Kumar on vocals.
