eSamachar - Ontario Konkani Association

eSamachar
Volume 28 - Issue Mar 201 5
In this Issue:
President's Message.....1
Note from VPs...............2
CIL Youth Program........4
Yugadi.......................,...5
CIL 201 4.......................6
Mentos/Sammellan.......7
Newcomers..................8
Naurag.........................1 0
Famous Konkanis........1 2
Seniors Forum.............1 3
Ruuchi Randap............1 8
Miscellaneous..............1 9
Contact Us:
[email protected]
om
Facebook us at :
'Ontario Konkani
Association'
Sponsors:
Presidents' Message
Ugadi 201 5 turned out to be yet another blockbuster event, with Konkanis old and
new cranking up entertainment to a gear that we did not know existed, the fun
meter rising to a fever pitch as the night closed out with a rip roaring fashion show.
More about that in the next issueRR.Meanwhile check out the awesome pix
posted to our FB.
We have been blessed with an abundant shower of new contributors and content,
coinciding with our New Year, Ugadi. I am happy to share it in the next few pages.
It gives me great pleasure to announce the arrival on the scene of a “Forum for
Newcomers” to our beloved adopted country, under the stewardship of Ananth &
Varsha Kamath (They have also contributed the humour - look for the :) symbol!).
This subject is very close to my heart, and it was my aspiration for OKA to be
among the first resources that konkanis could rely on, not only upon landing in
Canada, but also while planning the move from their home country. We will create
a section on our website to post content published here, as a “Konkani Help Desk”
for future Canadians, including contact info of OKA members (inviting volunteers)
who are willing to serve as first respondents.
An accomplished Konkani, and a published author to boot, has been hiding in plain
sight amongst our midst. Divya Nayak reached out recently to OKA, and has
contributed a piece to this edition.
Sadanandmam’s initiative in launching a “Seniors’ Forum” has been a spectacular
success, having motivated as many as FOUR writers (thanks to each one) to
contribute articles of interest to the inaugural segment in this very issues. Well
Page 1
done Sadanandman, this is so very inspirational.
OKA is proud to be among the Community Associations invited to participate as a Welcoming Partner
for Indian PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Canada, including a Community Reception on April 1 5, 201 5.
Thanks to Niranjan Kamath for giving advance notice of the opportunity.
The 5th CIL Event is round the corner, scheduled for April 25, 201 5. After attending last year’s CIL, I
acknowledged having been converted from a skeptic to a Big Fan and supporter of the Event. In this
issue, we publish a speech given by one of our budding leaders, Aparna Udiaver, at last year’s Ugadi,
Here is a revealing extract “The workshop was a great reinforcement of all the skills which we often
tend to ignore, or forget on a day to day basis. Therefore, I encourage all youth and adults to come
out next year and participate in the 5th Annual Communication and Leadership Workshop!”
I wish to sign off by touching upon yet another small step forward this year. Hopefully you will have
noticed the change in the format of OKA general communication emails. We have completed our
transition to a new mail platform, Mailchimp. Lots of great features,
including improved look and feel, ease of administration & tracking,
a USP for our key sponsors like ICICI! Thanks to Pramod Udiaver
for the idea, and Kapilesh for the execution. Your Association is
keeping pace with the times, and in style!
Ajay & Chitra
A Note from the VP's
I am delighted to announce the names of the joint office bearers that will
join the OKA’s EC for the 201 5-1 6 year and will then take over the
mantle for the 201 6-1 7 year:
They are :
Kashinath and Kasturi N ayak - Vice Presidents
Narendra and Niveditha Kamath – Joint Entertainment Coordinators
Vinayak and Deepali Shanbhag – Joint Food Coordinators
Prasad and Shilpa Ganguli – Joint Secretary/Treasurers
Sachin and Sadhana Rao – Joint Webmasters
Sujeet and Vanita
As you will all agree this quite the DREAM TEAM and please join me in welcoming them to the EC!
Page 2
Page 3
CIL Youth Program
By Youth Coordinators
Our session this year will include:
Impromptu Speeches:
Become comfortable with public speaking!
Constructive criticism and positive feedback will be provided to help you improve
At the workshop we will learn how to present and improve speeches
University Life Q & A Session:
Learn what it’s like to live in a dorm away from home
Learn about co-op programs offered in some Universities and the pros and cons of co-op
Helpful tips about applying to University and handling workload
Great for youth grades 8 - 1 2
Mock Interviews
Youth will be given the chance to experience what a real job interview is like for the first time.
Helpful tips to present yourself confidently and remain calm in an interview situation
Career Booths:
Career booths will include:
Dietician, Graphic Design, Medicine, Pharmacy, Public Offices/Politics and many more!
Learn what it takes to get into a field from the professionals themselves.
Talk one on one with professionals and get the answers you want to know.
Great for youth in highschool who are still deciding what to pursue.
Other:
Heated debates about current, relevant topics
Guided group discussions which help to improve communication in a team setting
Certificates will be given out at the end signifying that you completed this years C & L Session.
Some pictures from last years event
Page 4
YUGADI, NEEM AND
JAGGERY
By Sadanand Mankikar
Yugādi marks the beginning of Spring and is a New
Year's Day for many people in India. As we all know
the name Yugadi or Ugadi is derived from the
Sanskrit words yuga (age) and ādi (beginning) - "the
beginning of a new age". It falls on a different day
every year because the Hindu
calendar is a lunar calendar. This
year Yugadi falls on March 21 and the
yearr is called Manmath naam
Samvatsra.
Yugadi is known by different names in
different parts of India. In Karnataka
and Andhra Pradesh it is known as
Yugadi/Ugadi whereas in
Maharashtra it is celebrated as Gudi
Padwa. In Marwaris celebrate it as Thapna whereas
in Sindhis celebrate it as Cheti Chand. Manipuris call
it Sajibu nongma panb whereas Panjabis call it
Baishaki. It is known as seri Saja in Himachal Kullu
Vally, Puthandu in Tamil Nadu Pohela Boishakh in
West Bengal and Vishu in Kerala.
The popular legend states that Lord Brahma started
creation of the universe on Chaitra Suddha
Pratipada and he created the days, weeks, months
and years in order to count time and then created all
other elements in the universe. Yugadi also refers to
the start of Kali Yuga which started at the moment
Lord Krishna left the world. It is believed that the Kali
Yuga began on February 1 7/1 8 at midnight in 31 02
BC. The lunar calendar we use is based on the
Shalivahana Shaka, which begins from the day the
King Shalvahana founded his Empire. The beginning
of Shalivahana corresponds to 78 CE of the
Gregorian calendar.
On this day, Shrikandh-Puri, Bevu-bella (neem and
jaggery), Ubbatti (purna poli/holige) and other
delicacies are enjoyed. In a typical Konkani family, the
day starts with decorating house with mango leaves,
flowers and rangoli and a ritual oil bath followed by
prayers and the consumption
of neem and jaggery to signify
that the life brings both joy and
sorrow. Some may just eat raw
neem leaves with jiggery,
whereas, the others go the
elaborate way of frying neem
leaves in ghee and mixing with
jiggery and roll them into small
balls. With meals warm
Ubbattis are served with liberal
serving of clarified ghe. In the evening people go to a
nearby temple where after puja and Panchang
Vaachan (reading of the almanac and the general
forecast of the year to come) paanak and panwar are
served. Paanak is a drink made up of pepper, dry
ginger, cardamom, lemon juice and jiggery. Panwar is
mix of few tidbits like sprouted chana or mung with
coconut pieces, sliced fruits and various types of
pachadis (raitas/ salads). Pachadi with soaked mung
daal, ground coconut, chilli and raw mango is quite
tasty. Some use neem leaves in the pachadi too.
Certain ingredients such as neem, jiggery and raw
mangoes are given prominence on this dayR. so what
is the significance? It is a season for ripe mangoes
and the fully blossomed neem tree. Jaggery is made
with fresh crop of sugarcane which adds a unique
flavor to the dishes prepared to celebrate this festival.
Ugadi Pachadi has six different ingredients which
represent different flavors and different feelings Jaggery for sweetness (happiness). tamarind for
Page 5
sourness (disgust). chilli for hot and spiciness (anger), salt for saltiness (fear), mango for tanginess
(surprise) and neem for bitterness (sadness).
Neem tree has a lot of medicinal values and it is called "Pharmacy of the Village" and is used in many
Ayurvedic medicines. Neem has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties hence used extensively in soaps,
shampoos and body oils. Its flowers, leaves, bark of the stem and fruits have medicinal values. Neem is
used to treat skin diseases, viral fevers, diabetes, malaria and many other diseases. Neem is believed to
kill intestinal parasites. It is known to cure various conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout,
back pain and muscle soreness. It can overcome gastritis and hyperacidity.
Jaggery is considered as medicinal sugar as it is an unrefined sugar without any additives. It is rich in
minerals, mainly iron with traces of other mineral salts. As it is a complex carbohydrate, it stays in the
system longer. It aids digestion and prevents constipation. It is believed to clean the respiratory tracts,
lungs, stomach and intestines. It is less likely to cause acidity than sugar.
Happy Yugadi to you all. May the New Year bring you and yours health, wealth and ever lasting peace.
CIL - A Big Thank You
Speech at Ugadi 2014
By Aparna Udaiver
Good evening ladies and gentlemen! Happy Ugadi to you all! How many of you here think
you are leaders? Well, I certainly did not know how to respond to this question when I was
asked at the Leadership workshop last month. Since it was my first time attending a
workshop of this nature, I had even thought twice before entering my name because I had
no idea what was in store for me.
Although this workshop has become an annual event, this year we had a variety of activities
that got us to build up our confidence. We did things like listening to and evaluating
speeches, engaging in small and large group discussions, learning how to prepare for a job
interview, learning about university life and even walking around to different career booths. Frankly
speaking, at the beginning of the session, when I was asked to speak in front of a large audience to answer
a simple question, it was very nerve-wracking. But personally, I felt that the group discussion was my
favourite part of the entire program. And that’s not because my dad conducted it! This was the main turning
point where I began to gain more confidence to speak in front of a large audience. What I noticed was
during the course of this session, we all opened up and indulged in great discussions. Overall, I thought
everyone did a fabulous job!
Aside from all the key things I learnt from this workshop, there was one major take away- it doesn’t matter
whether you are already a leader or not; we all can improve ourselves all through our lives. The workshop
was a great reinforcement of all the skills which we often tend to ignore, or forget on a day to day basis.
Therefore, I encourage all youth and adults to come out next year and participate in the 5th Annual
Communication and Leadership Workshop! I can certainly vouch that you will learn a lot! Let me conclude
by thanking Sadanand maam, his team and the KAO committee for all their hard work in organizing this
wonderful workshop. Also, thank you to Mahesh uncle and Srini uncle for giving me this opportunity to speak
today. Thank you all for listening, Happy Ugadi to you once again, and enjoy the rest of the evening!
Page 6
Call for Mentors!
At a recent brain storming session held to develop a program for the Communication and Leadership
Program the youth suggested developing a booklet consisting a list of mentors. They felt it would be nice to
have list of members of our community who have settled in their career and are prepared to share their
experiences and give guidance and direction to the youth in selecting and/or advancing their careers. They
have also suggested that this booklet should be made available at the 5th Annual Communication and
Leadership Workshop to be held on Saturday, April 25, 201 5.
Those who are interested in helping our youth, are requested to send the following information to
Sadanand mankikar at his e. mail [email protected] as soon as possible but no later then 1 5
March 201 5:
Name
The field/profession
Educational background (optional)
Place of work and Title (optional)
A short summary about your field/profession
Contact information phone # and/or e. mail address
The youth have also indicated that this list should be posted on OKA web.
Konkani Sammelan
For a while many who had attended previous Konkani Sammelans
have been asking “When and where will be the next Sammelan?”
Wait no more. The NAKA Board is pleased to announce that the next
Konkani Sammelan will be held in Atlanta in June/July 201 6. This
NAKA sponsored Sammelan will be organized by Konkani
Association of Georgia (KAOG). Members of the NAKA Board and
KAOG have been working together very hard for the past year or so.
More details will become available soon.
Election of the next NAKA Board will be one of the highlight of this Sammelan. For the first time all
Konkanis residing in North America and especially those who will be attending this sammelan will get an
opportunity to elect the Board.
In the past, a large group of Canadian Konkanis had attended the Sammelans and made our presence
known by enthusiastically participating in all the activities. A number of times, we celebrated Canada Day
on an American stage in a grand style. All are encouraged to plan on attending this Sammelan. For
additional information please contact Sadanand Mankikar at (905) 31 9-1 073 or at (905) 399-1 073.
Amchigele mai 1 : Hangel heartache operation korche aasa, Kasturba Hospital laik aasa veh?
Amchigele Mai 2: Bilkul Chang na, Tangel canteenantu thand goli bhajo ani kaapi thandi ditachi ..
Page 7
To Newcomers ­ With Love
It was meant to be a casual talk one evening with Ajay, present OKA President,
who took great interest in including this article in the newsletter. A NEWCOMERS’
FORUM happens to be very much close to his heart, something he likes to see
future Konkani community members to benefit from. We welcome all the
community members to contribute to this Forum in future issues of the eS.
Canada is a beautiful country which attracts
hundreds of thousands of people from all corners of
the world each year. People come to Canada for the
opportunities it offers, a truly pluralistic society in all
aspects which nourishes the dreams of its citizens
and new immigrants alike. We Konkanis, a
community which has a long, rich history of
distinguishing ourselves by stressing on education,
forward thinking and entrepreneurial spirits, started
immigrating as early as in the 70s to Canada and
have contributed to various facets of the socioeconomic fabric of this country. Today as we see our
community in Ontario standing strong with over 300
active members, we see a steady influx of new
Konkanis immigrating to Canada, and as they do, we
Cankonis wholeheartedly welcome them to our
community. In this multi-part series, we make an
attempt to collate our experiences and knowledge
which could benefit newcomers who are coming to
Canada for the first time & have little or no help from
a colleague or a relative. Members who could share
their experiences or provide useful pointers are
encouraged to bring forward their thoughts and
contribute to grow this series.
We have traditionally seen Konkanis
Varsha & Ananth
migrating/visiting or coming on work visas from
different countries -mainly India, Middle East, Europe
and USA. While visitors do not have to generally
worry about finding accommodation or having to find
a place to settle down, people who migrate or come
on work visas who do not have their employer
sponsored accommodation, have to plan ahead of
time and the whole process of settling down could be
exhausting both on the financial & emotional fronts.
Govt of Canada provides very good resources in this
matter and there are programs that newcomers can
sign up for. Resources are available http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.asp
According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory, he
points at Physiological needs, Safety needs and
Love/Belonging needs of a human being in the
bottom three layers of the pyramid. [If you are
thinking – Wait a minute, I thought I was reading an
immigration experiences related article, not a theory
– hold on to that thought, we will come to it!]. A while
ago, a friend of mine who had applied for immigration
from India asked me – “I am planning to get my mom
along – do we get Indian groceries there, what kind
of food do we usually get there, what do I need to do
to find accommodationR etc.”, I felt the order of his
Page 8
questions precisely followed how that pyramid was
laid. Hence the theory! Probably following the same
order bottom’s up is the best approach to unfold this
topic.
Canada is multi-cultural, land of immigrants.
Naturally people have brought in different cuisines
along. Predominantly you will find Asian [includes
East Asian, Southeast Asian, South Asian, Central
Asian & Middle Eastern], European and North
American [includes Mexican, fast food] cuisines.
Assuming eat-outs are frequent until you setup
kitchen, Restaurants which serve one of these
cuisines are found almost in every corner of the city,
and most of these have both vegetarian and nonvegetarian options on their menu. If you are a strict
vegetarian who does not wish to eat in a restaurant
which serves both, then your options are limited &
may be hard to find. Pure veggie restaurant chains
like Saravana Bhavan or Nilgiris are found in areas
where large part of the population is of South Asian
ethnicity. So unless, you are in the vicinity of such
eateries, your best bet is to get ready-to-eat packs.
Ready-to-eat packs [like MTR, President’s Choice
etc.] are available in major grocery retail outlets, so
you need not carry a bag full of these, but it would
be ideal to carry a “survival kit” for first few days.
For those who love snacks – “Ikra ghanteche
tanniche” – there’s Starbucks and Tim Hortons for
some quick grabs like donuts & Tim-bits.
Once you have found a place & the kitchen it set,
it’s time to cook – a major part of the settling
process really starts falling in place once you start
cooking on your own and this is especially true for
people with special dietary needs, kids and who
have limited options to eat out. In a metropolitan
city like Toronto, all major grocery stores have an
Indian section where you will find all the basic stuff
that you would need – like rice, dal, chana, garlic
ginger paste, spices – Everest, MDH, MTR etc.
Most commonly they carry Basmati Rice, but of late
they also have red rice (boiled rice) & Sona
Masoori! Canned beans & pulses like chana or red
kidney beans are also available, which are precooked & save time on preparation time. In the
freezers you’ll also find stuffed Paranthas, Naan
breads, Samosas etc – these foods have are now
also found in mainstream Grocery stores.
Once the basics are taken care of, then it’s time to
look out for Indian grocery stores – google them,
you’ll find a Sri Lankan or Indian store which will
give you specialty items like grated coconut, tendle
(Indian mini cucumbers), Indian Spinach (vaali),
Keerlu (bamboo shoots), Ponosu (jackfruit),
Patrade Paan (Colocassia leaves) etc.
In the Next issue - we continue to discuss other
basics – finding an apartment, which
documents/proofs do you need to provide to secure
a rental etc.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs pyramid
Image reference Wikipedia
Physiological Needs –
Food [Khana – Jevana & everything in
between]
"Give a smile to at least one unknown
person in a day, while walking on the
road"
So that they forget their problems & start
thinking..."Kon Varrshikkk maraya toh"
???
Page 9
Naurag the Beginning
By D.R. Nayak
Adventure and fantasy - These are genres where anything can
happen as long as the author can weave a good plausible story. I
remember when I was in grade three my dad used to take me to
Paico, (a really large book store) and I used to make a beeline to
the Amar chitra katha section. I loved reading the Panch tantra the precursor of fantasy and adventure literature. Another
wonderful epic that sparked my imagination was Mahabharat –
imagine Uloopi the snake princess who revives Arjun using the
Naag Mani! When I was a teenager, I used to help my grandfather pick up flowers from our garden to weave
flower garlands used for puja. Some flowers had to be collected early in the mornings especially the
parjaktha. It had white petals and an orange stalk literally looking like snow on a fire stick. Story telling is an
art and as such has no rules. Sometimes, breaking the rules is the only way you can tell a fascinating story.
My first work Naurag is a fantasy adventure that will enthrall its readers with its vivid
description and witty dialogue, and strong story line. It is currently available in the Toronto
Public Library. You can also purchase it online at Naurag The Beginning.
The story takes place in a magic realm – Naurag. Ujjala is the young Asoor who is the heir
to the powerful King Marasu. The King sends her to Darawad the school of the gifted;
where she is trained by Ra Da Ur to become a powerful warrior. Everything is set for her
however; her step brother Kahl has created a monstrosity that is wreaking havoc for her
people. She has to set forth to seek help from the Sauragians an ancient powerful
nemesis of the people of Naurag.
Naurag shows the uncertainty, the burden that young Ujjala experiences especially when she knows that
the future of her people depends on her.
“What has just passed cannot be undone.
Deep in the shadows we have waited for you the traitor that you are.
You will face me in your darkest hour, if in this you fail I will seek your soul and nothing less.
Tremble in fear for your course has been set.
We will not forgive. We do not forget.”
Naurag The Beginning
Gates of Hope: Helped by her friends Torak, Mitra, Anguly and her brother Ural;
Ujjala ventures on a perilous journey through the swamps of Gari and valleys of
Mardrid to reach the gates of hope. Crossing the gates of hope, Ujjala enters
Saurag the land of immortals. When she returns with the immortals, the games of
death are announced on Naurag where Ujjala realizes that she has been
selected as one of competitors in the games. Each task revealed in the games
uncovers new fears and uncertainties that Ujjala has to overcome. But this time a
chilling task has revealed itself in the scroll.
Art by Molee
Page 1 0
The die has been cast. The guardian of the scroll was found mysteriously dead and Ujjala has been assigned
to complete a task that no student has ever attempted. An evil that was destroyed was being revived. Who
was doing this? And how did this terrible catastrophe happen?
The first of a thrilling trilogy, Naurag is a visually rich and enthralling story of two children growing together
facing similar challenges, knowing the terrible prophesy looming over them and how each of them chose
their path, and how this choice shapes their destiny.
Page 11
Famous Konkanis
Shri T. V. Mohandas Pai 2015 Padma Shri Awardee
By Sadanand Mankikar
Every year on Republic Day the President of India
announces Padma awards. There are three
categories namely Padma Vibhushan, Padma
Bushan and Padma Shri. This year H.E. Pranab
Mukherjee, President of India approved a total of
1 04 Padmas - 9 Padma Vibhushan, 20 Padma
Bhushan and 75 Padma Shri. This year’s recipients
included L. K. Advani, Amita Bachan, Dr. Veerendra
Heggade of Dharmasthala, Dileep Kumar, Praan,
H.E. Agha Khan, Melinda Gates and Bill Gates. Of
the 75 Padma Shri recipients, two are Konkanis and
one of them is Shri T. V. Mohandas Pai in the field of
Trade and Industry, the other being Shri N.
Purushottama Mallya in the field of Literature and
Education. Shri Mohandas Pai was the chief guest at
the 201 2 Konkani Sammelan held in New Jersey.
branding the company among the investor
community and enhancing transparency and
disclosure levels.
He was voted 'CFO of the Year' in 2001 by IMA India.
He won the 'Best CFO in India' award from Finance
Asia in 2002 and 'Best chief financial officer in India'
in the Best Managed Companies poll conducted by
Asia Money in 2004.
He was also a Member of the Kelkar Committee, set
up by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India,
for reforming direct taxes, the Non-Resident Taxation
Committee, the High Powered Committee on eCommerce and Taxation. He is a Member of the
Board of Securities and Exchange Board of India
(SEBI). He was a Member of the Empowered
Committee for setting up the Tax Information
T.V. Mohandas Pai is the Chairman of Manipal
Global Education. He is well known for his insights of Network of the Government of India. He also works
with the Union Government and State Governments
the Indian system, international exposure, deep
understanding of the financial system, experience in in the fields of education, IT and business. He is a
member of the Board of CSIR-Tech Pvt. Ltd.
building an international brand and the personal
Mohandas Pai is also a Trustee of the International
credibility he enjoys with business leaders.
Accounting Standards Committee Foundation. He is
on the Board of 1 0 different organizations in 9
Mohandas Pai holds a bachelor's degree in
commerce from St. Joseph's College of Commerce different industries.
and a bachelor's degree in law (LLB) from Bangalore
Mohandas Pai is keen in improving literacy across
University. He is a fellow member of Institute of
the country. In 2000, he along with others, founded
Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).
the Akshaya Patra Foundation a non-profit
organization which started a midday meal program
He was a Member of the board of directors of
for school children. Today, the midday meal program
Infosys and Head – Administration, Education and
feeds over 1 .4 million children in over 1 0,000
Research, Financial, Human Resources, Infosys
Leadership Institute. He joined Infosys in 1 994 and government schools across ten states in India. This
served as a Member of the Board from May 2000 to program aims to feed 5,000,000 children by 2020.
July 2011 . He was the Chief Financial Officer from This has turned out to be the largest midday meal
program in the world. (Sourced from various websites)
1 994 to 2006. At Infosys he played a major role in
Page 1 2
Seniors' Forum
Forum Editor : Sadanand Mankikar
1. ASSISTED LIVING FOR SENIORS
By Janardan Acharya
I read with interest Sadanand Mankikar’s column on course the house is in good repair and comfortable
“Seniors’ Forum” in the January/February 201 5 issue plus the seniors are in reasonably good health ........
of e-Samachar. I support his idea wholeheartedly as it no dementia/Alzheimer or loss of mobility. It has
will give us a vehicle to discuss important issues,
proven that living in ones’ current home and
especially, those affecting the lives of seniors now and surrounding is less stressful and more peaceful. It has
in the future.
also proven to have a positive effect on longevity.
Even though my wife Padma and I are long time Life
Members of OKA, as we are not residents in GTA, it
precludes us from participating in any of OKA
festivities/functions and/or entertainments. Thus, I
have no input to make in those aspects of activities.
However, senior living is a new experience for our
community in this country and is food for thought and
planning. OKA can be a good platform to assist in this
aspect.
Each of us, seniors and soon to be seniors, will have
different issues of finance and health. Concurrently,
one wonders, ideally how & where would one desires
to spend the final years of one’s life journey. In North
America, most seniors end up in a ‘home’ , mostly run
by ethnic communities, churches of various
denominations, and private ‘for profit’ businesses.
It may be a good idea, if there is sufficient interest, to
explore pros and cons of sponsoring/work visa for
trained ‘home nurses’, from qualified Indian nursing
schools or facilities. Doing this collectively through
OKA or a temple or any social/cultural organisations,
gives us lobby power to obtain work visa for
applicants. Needless to say, issues of ‘contract’ and
financial outlay, ought to be upfront contribution by
interested seniors, to the kitty which may be held in
trust by OKA or its affiliates.
I am 79 and in good health. My genes tell me that I’ll
continue to live for many more years, self sufficient.
However, I am sure that there will be a time when I
have to have a live-in help, in order to “Die @ home .
This may sound morbid but it is time for reality check!
I know for sure many are in the same boat.
Most of my non-Konkani friends and colleagues have Establishing a collective “Senior Home” for our
died in their respective community/church owned
community is a desirable plan but I believe we have
homes and have had reasonable end of life followed neither the resources nor the finances and critical
by a ‘memorial/wake’ service. Some go the routes of numbers. Sadanand and many others in our
”private for profit homes” where one pays ~ $
community are well versed with above issues but I
8000/month for fully assisted living and ~$4000/month hasten to add my current and rudimentary thinking. I
for independent living. These are current rates for
value your friendship and courtesy.
upscale homes in BC. For “Die @ home” choice,
some have elected to sponsor ‘home nurse’ from
Janardan Acharya
Philippines and live out in their current home. This is Langley, B.C.
by far a better option and cost effective, provided of [email protected]
Page 1 3
2. INDEPENDENT LIVING FOR SENIORS
By Kamalakar Gokarn
The following is one example of a facility for seniors to live independently. The facility is called Shepherd
Village and is located on the North side of Sheppard Avenue between Birchmount and Kennedy Roads
immediately West of Agincourt Mall, 3760 Sheppard Ave East.
Shepherd Village consists of 4 different buildings catering to different levels of independent living.
SHEPHERD MANOR is a high rise 11 storey building with different sized apartments. Apartments are rental
and come with a fully equipped kitchen. Many seniors who don’t want to bother with home ownership and all
the maintenance work that goes with it, choose this type of living. Occupants are fully independent and can
come and go as they please.
SHEPHERD GARDENS is a 6 storey building with different sized apartments that seniors can buy just as in a
condominium. Buying and selling of apartments is done through the administration office at fair market value.
Outside real estate agents are not involved. Occupants are fully independent. These units are called “Life
lease apartments”.
SHEPHERD TERRACE is a 5 storey building of rental apartments. These apartments do not have a fully
equipped kitchen, but do have a mini fridge and a hot plate for tea, coffee, soups etc. Occupants have all
meals prepared for them and eat in a Dining Room on the ground floor.They can still come and go as they
please, but don’t have to worry about cooking meals. It is like staying in a hotel, but you get to know many of
the other residents.
SHEPHERD LODGE is the newest building in the complex. It is a 7 storey building for people who are no
longer capable of looking after themselves due to physical or mental limitations brought on by aging,
accidents, etc. This is essentially a Nursing Home or Long Term Care facility, with 24 hour nursing care.
Obviously all meals are prepared for residents and they cannot leave the facility unless accompanied by a
responsible person.
The entire complex is administered by “The Shepherd Village Foundation” whose offices are in the complex
on the ground floor of one of the buildings. The foundation arranges day trips by bus to various places in the
summer months for those who are able and choose to go. Other activities like music performances, plays,
etc. also take place throughout the year to keep the residents mentally and physically active.
For more details, tours, and a visual presentation, visit shepherdvillage.org or contact Sandra Hayman at tel.
41 6-609-5700.
Kamalakar Gokarn
Scarborough, Ontario
[email protected]
Page 1 4
3. THE ONTARIO DRUG BENEFITS PROGRAM FOR
SENIORS
By Veena Shanbhag
I am a community pharmacist and one of the common questions I get from some of my soon-to-be senior
patients is, "How does the Ontario Drug Benefit program work for senior patients?"
How does the Ontario Drug Benefits (ODB) program work: As far as the ODB program for seniors is
concerned, a senior patient is someone over the age of 65 years and a resident of Ontario with a valid
Ontario health card. Your medication coverage starts on the first day of the month after you turn 65 years.
For example if you turn 65 in May, your drug coverage starts on the 1 st of June.
You need to provide your pharmacy with your health card information. You will pay a small portion of the
cost of your medication. This is called the deductible. The ODB deductible is $1 00 per year and you pay
a portion of this amount as you fill your prescriptions till the deductible is met. The benefit year always
starts on August 1 st. Once your deductible is met, you will only pay the dispensing fee for the rest of the
year which ends on July 31 st. Low income seniors can apply to have their deductible waived. They have
to fill out the co-payment waiver form and mail it to the address listed on the bottom of the form along
with the supporting documents. This form can be found on the ODB website or you can request it from
your pharmacist. It is not possible to get the co-payment waived without completing the application.
You are eligible for a 1 00-day supply of your prescription each time. When you are prescribed a new
medication your prescription is deemed a new or trial prescription and ODB will pay for a one month
supply for the first time. ODB also pays for a vacation supply for seniors traveling outside Ontario. If you
have a less than 30-day supply remaining of your medication, you are allowed to get two 1 00-day
supplies as vacation supply. If you have more that 30-day supply on hand, you are allowed a1 00-day
supply to take with you. If you are traveling within Ontario, the ministry will pay for one early refill of 1 00
days at one time.
What medications are covered under the ODB program: The ODB program covers about 3,800
prescription medications. You can find a list of medications that are a benefit on the ODB e-formulary.
Your doctor may need to write a Limit Use code for some medications in order for them to be covered by
ODB. The Ontario Drug Benefits program also pays for some nutritional supplements and diabetic testing
supplies.
Recent changes to diabetic test strip
coverage: There have been some
recent changes to the number of
diabetes testing strips you are
reimbursed for by ODB. This is based on
your current diabetes treatment. Please
see the chart to the right.
Page 1 5
Co-ordination of benefits: If you are covered by a private plan after you turn 65, you need to give this
information to your pharmacy. All prescriptions must first be billed to ODB and the balance is then sent
to the secondary plan.
If you have any questions regarding this topic please feel free to contact me at
[email protected].
References:
1 . http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/drugs/programs/odb/odb.aspx
2. http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/drugs/odbf_eformulary.aspx
3. http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/drugs/teststrips/docs/faq.pdf
Veena Shanbhag
Mississauga, Ontario
[email protected]
4. YOGA FOR SENIORS – MAINTAINING MOBILITY
By Rashmi Bhandarkar Macphee
Recently I asked one of my students, a retired senior, how he finds the motivation and discipline to come
to yoga regularly. His answer? I don't have a choice! If you don't move it, you'll lose it! This gentleman
and his peers, come to yoga class regularly to manage pain and maintain mobility. I often hear my
students express their areas of aches and pains, due to stiffness and/or muscle tension. This can be
caused by a variety of reasons including regular daily activities, carrying groceries, walking, exercise,
sleeping position, poor hydration, and the list goes on. There may also be additional issues such as
illness, injury, chronic conditions (such as arthritis), or “dis”-ease.
As we age, the connective tissues in our bodies - particularly bothersome in our joints - become less
elastic which can impede mobility and become a nuisance in our everyday lives, resulting in pain and
other imbalances in the body. For example, if our knee hurts, we may start favouring the other leg, which
may lead to issues in the hip, and so on. As children we were able to move our bodies easily with our
fresh young connective tissues full of collagen and experience a full range of motion in our joints. With
the passage of time, we may have noticed changes in our bodies, sometimes subtle, sometimes sudden,
for example after a fall or injury. Although we cannot regain our youth, we can increase our mobility to an
appropriate level, dispelling the myth of suffering from “old age”.
We can begin a yoga asana practice with a doctor's consent. In the beginning, we may notice that we are
increasing our mobility and eventually, we plateau and come to a state of maintenance. At this point we
can feel comfortable in our bodies, knowing our abilities and limitations, allowing us to enjoy the rest of
our daily activities with relative ease. The following are a few poses that can be done while sitting in a
comfortable position on the floor or on a chair, with the arms resting comfortably.
Page 1 6
Pranayama: Begin by lengthening the breath, inhale counting to 4 (1 ,2,3,4) and lengthening the exhale,
counting 1 ,2,3,4. Repeat 7 times and then go back to regular deep breathing...
Neck Stretch: Inhale the chin up to the sky, feeling the stretch in the front of the throat for a few breaths.
Exhale the chin down towards the chest for a few breaths, feeling the weight of the head and the stretch
in the back of the neck. Continuing to inhale and exhale deeply, slowly start rolling the head around in
circles, opening up the muscles in the neck. Repeat in the opposite direction. Bring the head back to
neutral.
Shoulder Opening: Bring the hands in front of the face, palms facing towards you. Inhale and lift the
hands up to the sky intending the elbows together creating space along the spine (protracting shoulders).
Exhale and open the arms out to the sides and down, with the elbows behind the line of the shoulders,
and squeeze the shoulder blades together (retracting shoulders). Repeat 5 times, linking each movement
with the breath.
Spine Warm-Up: Place the hands on the shoulders. Inhale twist the upper body to the right. Exhale
back to centre. Inhale twist to the left, exhale back to centre. Repeat 1 0 times.
Notice and enjoy the increased mobility in the neck and shoulders and the added bonus of a calm
mind!
Rashmi Bhandarkar MacPhee,
Hatha and Yin Yoga Teacher, Reiki Practitioner, B.Eng.Mgt.
Ottawa, Ontario
www.facebook.com/sunrayyogapam
[email protected]
Note from the Editor of the Forum:
We are very pleased that we have received four articles for publication in the very first issue of Seniors’
Forum which are of interest to the seniors and soon to be seniors in our community. It is fitting that the first
article submitted for this column comes from Shri Janardan Acharya who has been a long time Life Member
of OKA and whose name appears at the top of our mailing list. It is hoped that in each of the future issues of
e-Samachar we will be able to publish at least 2 or 3 articles on topics such as Seniors’ Health, Seniors’
Living, Finance Management, Estate Planning, Travels and Tours etc. Articles for publication in this column
may be e. mailed to [email protected]. Comments, suggestions and questions on already
published articles or on any other relevant topics are also welcome. They will be published as space permits
and on a first come first served basis. For additional information, one may contact Sadanand Mankikar at
(905) 31 9-1 073
Page 1 7
R
uuch i R andap
Cooking/Recipes
Spicy Shrimp Pulav
2 cup cooked Rice (Basmati Preferable)
2 cups of cooked shrimps or 2 ½ cups of raw shrimp(small size)
½ stick of cinnamon
½ tsp whole black pepper
1 tbsp Red chili powder
2 tbsp garam masala(amti piti preferred)
1 medium onion finely chopped
1 -2 tbsp of oil for cooking
1 bunch of coriander leaves
4-5 green chillies
3-4 cloves of garlic
½ lemon juice
2-3 stems of mint
Salt to taste
1 cup of finley chopped green onion(green leaves only)
2 boiled egg halved (optional)
By: Sangita Amladi
Grind together coriander leaves,green chillies , garlic, mint and lemon juice together to make a
chutney like consistency, don’t add too much water.
In a pan add oil , add cinnamon stick , black pepper and finely chopped onions to the heated oil.
Once the onions are sautéed (light pink color) add the green chutney, garam masala, red chili
powder, cooked shrimps , salt , turmeric and then add cooked rice.
Mix it well , remove from the stove
Garnish with green onions and boiled eggs, when ready to serve.
Enjoy!
Page 1 8
Miscellaneous
Ugadi Feedback
Thanks Chitra for giving me an opportunity to sing.....I enjoyed every moment of it. I would also extend
my Congratulations to you Ajay and the EC committee for putting up such a great program
together......Chaitanya and I had a great time and I am sure each and every person young and young at
heart had a enjoyable evening......Kudos to you all.
- Roopa Baliga
Dodda
Mane
­
A
follow
Up
to
my
Article
in
the
first
e
S
Dodda Mane, our 1 50 year old ancestral abode - how proud I am to say that ! - is in the News, yet
again. This time in a recent Bangalore Edition of the venerable Times Of India. While I do vaguely recall
seeing some faded pix of the occasion back in the day, I was still (pleasantly) surprised to read that
Jawaharlal Nehru visited the house twice. And that M Visvesvaraya, the country's earliest technocrat
“marvelled at the house”. That really adds a Huge "Wow" factor to this story.
Dodda Mane is where my dad's 90th was celebrated in style in Dec 201 4, drawing family and friends
from far & wide.
The credit for Everything goes to Kasthuriakka and other named family members (in this article) of the
household.
Please Google:” Agumbe's Dodda Mane stands the test of time - Times of India”
- Ajay Rao
Feedback from the Community:
On Thursday, February 26, 201 5 4:1 8 PM, Nagesh Kamath <[email protected]> wrote:
Dear Chitra & Ajay,
It was interesting reading the latest edition of OKA's eSamachar. All the articles were informative. To
summerise:
Reading Sumeeta Chandavarkar's achivements was inspirational.
Your Health: Tips given by Veena Shanbhag is always useful & informative.
Ruchi Randap:Always brings old memories of my aunt's cooking in M'lore(also Ambe Satta Thambali) It
was pleasure to have met Vishnumam during one of his trips to Toronto.
Being confered Padma Shri to Shri Mallaya was certainly a proud moment for Konkanies
Enjoyed & refreshed reading write up on Adi Shankaracharya. Also glad to know the Konkani connection
to this great divine incarnation(there is always a Konkani connection to all good outcomes!!).
Article on Seniors Forum is definitely a worthy idea as we can continue to get right guidelines from those
who have crossed the bridge safely.
May be as a community we are small in numbers, but feel great to be part of a very positive & vibrant
society.
Nagesh
Page 1 9
Page 20