1. The document discusses various ways that residents at an old age home in Pune find happiness and purpose, such as through spiritual activities, hobbies, caring for others, and socializing. 2. It profiles several residents, such as a former actor who entertains others through mimicry, women who enjoy dancing and taking care of each other, and a man who finds solace in compiling Bible verses. 3. The organization that runs the home aims to provide small comforts and activities for residents to keep them happy, such as occasional treats, outings, and cable television.

1. cityfeatures dna.sunday Pune, June 20, 2010 2
A hectic, stressful job, a chaotic home life, bills to worry about
and bad habits such as unhealthy eating, drinking and smoking
Here, sad stories
can lead to a number of problems. DNA gets you some unique
GEM OF A REMEDY
ways to recover from emotional and physical problems
VILAS AVACHAT.DNA
await happy endings
o, crystal therapy is not about gazing into a crystal ball to foretell On Father’s Day, DNA institution. I feel better helping each other,” she
N your health. According to crystal therapy practitioners, crystals are
solid natural forms emitting positive energy It’s not one of the usu-
.
al therapies where you have to stick to a particular routine and go to
the spa for treatment at regular intervals. You could just place the
crystal in a nook of your room or wear it as a bracelet or a neck piece and the
crystal does what it’s supposed to do.
“Every crystal has its own power, its own different positive emitting energy,”
Agni
Mirajkar
visited an old-age
home and found that
for many fathers,
old-age homes are no
here, speaking to other in-
mates and helping them
out,” he said.
Ravi Kochar, founder of
this NGO, works closely with
the aged from the Ishaprem
Niketan. “We provide them
said with a smile. For the in-
mates of the Ishaprem
Niketan, life is beautiful
even though dusk has set in.
Shanta Bhandari, a 78-
year-old inmate, who is as
fit as a fiddle narrated her
said Agni Mirajkar, a crystal therapy specialist, who owns a spa in Koregaon things which they otherwise story. “It is useless having
Park. She says, “Natural therapy works better and fast than any other. Every less than heaven and don’t get. Small things like an three sons who don’t care
coloured crystal has its own benefit.” She said that the pink crystal called the walking into one is occasional ice cream or for me. I have a good time
Rose Quartz is beneficial for the heart and for love and care. When meditating, if sweets or a cable connection here, where people care for
one wears a white or transparent crystal (the Clear Quartz) it is said to get you to often out of choice makes them happy he said.
,” me and take me out on
a state of nothingness as it gradually reduces the whirlwind of thoughts in your The NGO has organised a strolls or to circuses and get
mind. It rejuvenates your senses. The black crystal known as the Black Turmu- than out of neglect trip for the elderly to Mulshi occasional goodies for me,”
line protects the body from bad spirits and helps in financial matters. Interesting on Sunday on the occasion of said Bhandari, who hails
as it is, it is up to the individual to believe in it or not. Father’s Day . from Nashik.
Vishakha Avachat Seventy five-year-old
Bernard Lobo, who has been
staying here since 2004, re- Bernard Lobo, who
“So, what sad stories do you
want me to tell you,” ques-
members the day he joined
the institution perfectly. He
has been staying
tioned 59-year-old Frederick came here after retiring here since 2004,
Matthews, an inmate of the from his job as he had
Ishaprem Niketan, an insti- nowhere to go. “My brother remembers the day
tution for the aged. From
times unknown, old-age
stays in Australia and has
promised to take me there.
he joined the
homes are often perceived as But I haven’t heard anything institution perfectly.
gloomy and depressing hide- from him since years,” said
outs. But on Father’s Day, Lobo. He spends his time He came here after
DNA discovered that for
many fathers, old-age homes
chatting with fellow inmates
and teasing them.
retiring from his job
are no less than heaven. Chandrashekhar Go- as he had nowhere
Walking into one is often out latkar, 60, shows his Akhil
of choice than out of neglect Bharatiya Marathi Chitrap- to go
from families. at Mahamandal’s identity
Matthews, finds solace in card and announces proudly ,
compiling verses from the “I was an actor and have Julie Jantas, 62, nods her
Bible. He has worked with done small roles in Marathi head in agreement. “I like to
different hotels in the city and Hindi films.” He is a dance and here, there are no
before coming here, six good mimicry artiste and inhibitions about what peo-
years ago. He spends his day finds an eager audience in ple will think and we can do
by compiling the verses fellow inmates. whatever we want to,” said
from different publications The women here have Jantas, who was a babysit-
and by helping in the also found a way to keep ter. She said that her day is
kitchen by cutting vegeta- themselves happy Julie Jan-
. kept busy as she takes care
bles and serving food to oth- tas, 62, likes to break into a of her roommate who is ill
er inmates. “I have faced jig when the television plays and can’t move.
many problems in my life - an interesting song. “We “I feed her, give her medi-
PARASITE PHYSICIAN failed marriages and job keep ourselves happy by cines and take care of her
hen you hear the word leaches, you might feel slimy and problems. I find peace in this playing antakshari and hygiene,” she said.
W yucky But these ugly creatures are donning on the doctors’
.
coat and helping in treating various ailments. Since an-
cient times, Ayurveda has turned to leeches for preventing,
curing and treating various illness and diseases through a
process called bloodletting. Leech therapy has become big in Hollywood
with Demi Moore endorsing these slimy creatures as the secret for her
good looks and health. Many youngsters are using it for treating their
pimples and boils.
Dr Sachin Nandedkar at Appa Balwant Chowk, who has been practicing
leech therapy since 15
years, said, “After coun-
selling the patient about
his illness or disease and
analysing which body
part should the leech be
put on, we use one to five
leeches (depending upon
the problem). They suck
out the impure blood. A
single leech can suck up
to 10 ml to 30 ml of impure
blood. This way all the
toxins from the body are
thrown out and pure Members of Ishaprem Niketan will be going to Mulshi on Sunday on the occasion of
PAINTYOUR PROBLEMS AWAY blood is pumped into that Father's Day —VILAS AVACHAT.DNA
rt therapy gives a person an outlet to vent out infected region, making it
A all the emotions and feel relieved. Not many
know that art therapy dates back to the Vedic
age and has been mentioned in the Rigveda
and Ayurveda. “It is a type of psychotherapy
and gives a person different ways of expressing himself,”
said Dr Vikas Chothe, an Ayurvedic doctor and managing
director of the Centre for Creative Healing Art Therapy
heal quickly,” said Nand-
edkar, on whom National
Geographic channel made
a documentary for their
series called Taboo under
the section Creature Cures. On YouTube too, one can find this documentary
under the name leech cure.
Breaking musical
BOUNDARIES
(CHAT) at Sangam Research Centre near Kelkar Muse- Nandedkar uses leeches called Indian Cattle and one session of this
um. therapy can last from 20 min to 40 min, costing anything from Rs200 to a
To undertake art therapy, one doesn’t need to be an few thousands.
artist. “People from the field of health care can use this Dr Suneeta Hirlekar Deo from Nigdi has done her MD in surgery and
therapy if their patients don’t open up. Art therapy can later her PhD in surgery using leeches. “Leech can be used as a para-sur-
be used with everyone, starting from children bullied by gical instrument in surgical disorders of vital organs. Thus, we use leech- VILAS AVACHAT.DNA
classmates to those who have faced abuse and trauma and es on our patients suffering from fissures, piles, cyst, ulcer, inflammation,
even introverts who cannot open up,” said Dr Chothe, avascular necrosis along with nerve and muscular disorders like arthritis, Nisha Garud
who has worked in the field of de-addiction. The patient gangrene and diabetic foot,” said Deo, whose forefathers have been into
draws his thoughts on a canvas and then the work is as- Ayurveda.
sessed and analysed to find out what is bothering him. Dr Sufiyan Ahmed Ghawte, MD in Unani Medicine and owner of Herbs Spoons, knives, buckets,
In art therapy, patients are encouraged to visualise and Hakim centres in the city, said, “Anyone can turn to therapy except for cups and pots! Sounds like
and then create thoughts and emotions that they cannot people with heart problems who are under anti-coagulant treatments. The taking a tour of a conven-
talk about. Art has been shown to trigger the release of leeches have a claw-like structure in their mouth which they bury into the tional Indian kitchen?
endorphins, our body’s natural pain killers and activates patient’s skin to suck blood. It’s not painful and feels just like a mosquito Think again, for these are
the creative part of our brain. bite. It leaves no scars as no incision is done like in surgeries.” the sounds that will fall on
your ears if you happen to
pass by when Ajitabh Gau-
tam is composing a song.
A member of music band
BLOOM IN HEALTH be confused with aroma therapy, cautions Buk-
Dhwani Prayog, Ajitabh
manages to bring out music
f flower therapist Dr Jayashree Bukte is te at the outset. Bukte, who practices at her in the most commonly
I to be believed, flowers not just look good,
they can do you good too through a
unique method called the flower therapy
This alternative healing method is not to
.
clinic in Bhawani Peth, said, “We extract the
essence of various flowers that is then used to
treat behavioural, mental and personality-re-
lated disorders.”
The flower extracts are administered
through pills or liquids. “These extracts have to
be taken internally, unlike aromatherapy,” she
found household objects en-
riching the lives of not just
the objects, but of those
within listening distance as
well. “Music should be
spontaneous and not con-
fined to a few musical in-
Ajitabh Gautam makes music using utensils.
Ajitabh applies the
principles of
ple of classical condition-
ing by Ivan Pavlov. The
song suggests that the mo-
ment you possess some-
said. According to Bukte, flower therapy is sim- struments like the guitar or thing, you get possessed.”
ilar to homeopathy Flower therapy is effective
. the drums,” says Ajitabh, a psychology to his The 22 to 25 original
in various negative personality traits such as
fear and anxiety, depression, anger and resent-
percussionist. “When there songs. Phir Kabhi compositions of Ajitabh
were no musical instru- and his band members
ment, excessive worry, low self-esteem, guilt. It ments, man used his body Kaidi suggests that tend to connect the science
can be used to deal with exam fear and all kinds as the first instrument to of mind with music.
of phobias. Most treatments last for two to make sound or to give indi- the moment you “Halke is about a person’s
three months.
There are about 36 specific flower remedies.
cations. So why restrict possess something, experience of liberations
making music to a few in- from pseudo identities and
“We extract the essence from flowers. Most of struments?” questions you get possessed so is Mai (Bhaai) Ki
these are found in Europe. For instance, mimu- Ajitabh, who first started Chadar, a song dealing
lus can be used to treat fear for certain things, out with a conventional with the fear people have
agrimony can be used to treat people who find guitar. comes to me naturally, and in their minds.”
it difficult to express their worries, the chest- “My band members and I is a medium for me to ex- Among his favourite is
nut bud can be given for improving short term wanted people to have an press myself.” the song Hai Jawab Yehi,
memory and the holly flower can be used for unconventional approach Born and brought up in where the transcending
people who have feelings of extreme jealousy,” towards music, and so we Jamshedpur, the 30-year-old identities asks the person
said Bukte. Crabapple can be used to treat thought of mixing these musician moved to Pune for three questions. “The song
schizophrenia and dementia, she added. sounds while setting our his studies. While making was composed keeping in
compositions to tune,” adds music, Ajitabh applies the mind the prejudice people
Ajitabh, who is also a psy- principles of psychology to have towards those coming
chologist and works as a his songs. “Music is known from a particular caste,
consulting psychologist to heal people and get them community or religion.
with Kats International. out of their emotional prob- The identities ask the per-
Ask him about how he lems. Psychologists have son Hai Kaun Tu, to which
relates to music and psy- successfully used the art he replies Insaan, Rehta
chology and he says, “Psy- therapy in many clinical Hai Tu Kaha and Kya Karta
chology is academics to me. cases,” he says. Hai Tu and he answers
Contributed by: Preeti Devnani, Vishakha Avachat, Anuradha It is something that I have “Our song Phir Kabhi Rehta Hoon Yehan and Jeeta
Mane Wadhwani and Ishita Moghe acquired, while music Kaidi is based on the princi- Hoon.”