With an invocation on Ma Sharada by a young team of amateur enthusiasts, in Mandolin, flute, guitar, mouth-organ…, to the thunderous applause of sixty or seventy participants, the exclusive programme for SFV seniors took off to a fabulous start this evening in Club House.
Soon to follow was a popular Kannada foot-tapping folk song. Some found it irresistible to wait for the programme to warm up. They came forward to the ‘stage’ for a dance. Guess who was the first? Yes, none other than Vasantha Madam - in her eighties (?). Very few know that though she now tends to limp while walking, she was a champion in four sports events in her college days - as she confided to me the other day during a morning walk.
Not expecting the audience to get into a trance so soon, the music troupe too changed gear and played some haunting Hindi numbers of the good old days - Pukarta Chala Hun Main (Mere Sanam, OP Nayyar), Aage bhi jaane na tu, peach bhi jaane na tu (Waqt, Ravi). By then many became restive and couldn’t remain silent spectators. Manikutti and Geetha, Viswanathan and Usha, Lakshminarayanan, and Vivek Jain’s parents visiting him from Bhopal sprung from their seats to jump into the fray with their own steps, and entertain the rest.
No, it was not all play, and no work. That was it, before coming to brass tacks. Dr Aarthi Bellary gave a pep talk on how the seniors, more prone to a fall, should avoid it, and suggested practical ways for that. Then she did a spot check of the footwear the seniors were wearing. She was appalled to see most sporting chappals, and strongly recommended to switch over to belted ones that would hold on to their feet firmly, and not slip away. This was followed by a brief question-answer session.
Ms Subhangi Jadhav, an SFV resident who teaches Yoga, demonstrated some simple exercises, more so in sync with breadth control. Everyone responded enthusiastically. So much so that Mr Lakshminarayanan (in his eighties - I disclose this without his permission) came forward to demonstrate some of the workouts that he does every morning to keep himself fit. His Uttanasana where his hands touched the ground with his legs staying unbent, attracted applause from the audience.
No event is complete without refreshments. But knowing that sugar, BP, and a few other ailments have a knack of holding seniors to ransom, the organisers, Ms Jyoti to be specific, had very thoughtfully prepared a snack that is filling, tasty, plate-full, nutritious and is a diabetic-diet as well. She then explained its features and also gave a snapshot of how one’s lifestyle can aid diabetes to make its foray into the human body.
Earlier, on arrival at the Club House, seniors were treated to coffee and tea (with or without sugar), and snacks to go with.Yes, kudos to the SFV ladies who have by now earned a name for themselves for such initiatives as this. Who says, the seniors miss their daughters or daughters-in-law to take care of them?
Their plan is to make this a monthly event. And, if the going is good, perhaps they could even think of a day-long trip outside Bangalore exclusively for the seniors. Or, is it far-fetched?
V V Sundaram
Maple 3195
19 Feb 2017
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