"THE ART OF AGEING" BOOK RELEASE FUNCTION AT NEHRU CENTRE WORLI

Book release at Nehru Centre Worli, Mumbai on 28^th December 2013

 

When everyone gets worried about the post retirement period, Mr S K Kulkarni started with new innings in his career, after he turned 60. After retiring from a responsible position in the Indian audit and accounts service, he joined the Nehru centre, as a finance director and then an author was born! He started writing columns to news papers and got into writing books on varieties of subjects.

‘The art of ageing’, the title itself is interesting enough to kindle thinking! Ageing is a natural process, all of us have to go through, there is no escape but art of ageing is the process of growing old gracefully and it requires an effort and one needs to work towards it. In a nut shell this book is about growing old gracefully and leading a healthier, happier and peaceful life.Now to talk about the book “ The art of ageing” Planning for a comfortable old age.

In chapter 1. The author talks about four stages of life, as stratified in ancient Indian context. Brahmacharyashrama, Grahasthashrama, vanaprasthashrama and Sanyasashrma .

In chapter 2

He views the first two stages of life in modern context. The young age of child hood and this time is specially for acquiring knowledge. Humans are different from other animals, because of their well developed brain and their capacity to think, learn and express. One must focus on learning and acquiring knowledge during this period, of course learning is a lifelong process, as acharya Chanakya puts it अजरामरवत् प्राज्ञो विद्यामर्थम् च चिन्तयेत्।( Ajaraamaravat praajno vidyaamartham cha chintayet) meaning, one should think of acquiring learning and wealth as if one will never age or die.

Most of the molding of character and personality takes place during childhood and hence a greater responsibility on the parents, teachers or I would rather say, all the adults around. Here Mr kulkarni even voices his concerns about the modern day problems faced by the parents in handling their children, even talks about Cyber crime.
In the latter part of this chapter he discusses the responsibilities and duties of a house holder.

Chapter 3.

Introduces the reader to the various aspects of the third and fourth stages of life to help one to live a quality life with happiness and commitment. Here you will get a view of demographic factors, marital status of the elderly in rural and urban areas, the problems they face, living in relationships, widow or widower remarriages and caring for the aged and protection of life and property of senior citizens.
Next part of this chapter deals with general well being of the senior citizens and intergenerational gap. This chapter is extensive, packed with loads of   useful information.

Chapter 4

Mr Kulkarni gives information about old age homes.
Chapter 5 A.
Is all about a geriatric medical care, written by Dr Rajesh Jaria, an expert in the field, informing the readers about the common somatic problems faced by the elderly and the ways to handle them.

Chapter 5 B.

Contributed by Dr Dhanajay Chavan takes you through the mental health and how mind is connected to one’s body and informs about the psychosomatic problems that are common in old age.
Chapter 5. C. “Alternative therapies for fitness and good health” is written by me.
All of us today are chasing something or the other, whether it is knowledge, money, fame or glamour or whatever it may be. Well we might get what we want but not without paying a price! Yes we can’t avoid the by-product of stress and tension that leads to a variety of psycho somatic disorders. Life style diseases like diabetes, blood pressure and depression are targeting the younger generations these days.

Well,  every time we need not rush to an allopath and pop up pills which have no doubt palliative properties but not without a side effect. With modification in life style and practicing age old Indian wisdom of alternative medical therapies we can lead a healthier, happier life.

Here in the first part, I have given a comprehensive account of home remedies that are easy to understand and follow.

In part two I have given information about psychological or mind control techniques for health management, like Reiki and Meditation, which of course need to be learnt with the masters in the respective field.

Part 3 is on Chinese wisdom of Reiki and Pranic healing  and how it is useful.

Part 4 is about healing by balancing the chakras, or psychic energy centres in human body, crystal healing and cosmic ray therapy.

Part 5 : I have discussed music therapy, which many people are not even aware of. Music has the power to soothe, inspire, energize, uplift and heal. Research on music has shown that, it can help in chronic pain management, cures depression and insomnia. Music therapy is used in medicine for thousands of years but emerged as a formal means of cure and care in USA in the 1940s, after the doctors learned that music helped restore world -war II soldiers suffering from the Shell shock.

Here I have suggested particular ragas for certain common health disorders. Well everybody need not be trained in classical music, but one can certainly develop a taste for listening to good music. For instance listening to Neelambari cures insomnia, raag Hemavati and Rohini can relieve back pain and joint pain. But this has to be done on regular basis and one should exercise patience in getting result. It is not like taking a strong painkiller like Proxivon or Hifenac and getting rid of the pain after next 20 minutes.

Part 6

 I have described Mudra therapy in detail, which is easy to follow and practice and it gives very good results. Then I have described the techniques and benefits of normal Pranayama or breathing techniques,  that can be commonly practiced. The other rigorous ones are to be learnt under proper guidance. Then there is a list of asanas of therapeutic yoga, where you can decide on the practices as per your problem but I again insist don’t try to read any book and learn Yogasanas but learn them with an expert in the field.
Chapter 6:
Is focused on effective finance planning, details of saving schemes, managing the house hold responsibilities and saving for future. This is written by a finance expert Mr Kaushik Ramachandran, who has explained strategic planning and saving schemes, that are really good to follow.
Then the last part of the book is about all facts and figures, writings of senior citizens.
Well to conclude, age is more of a mental factor than physical. You can be 16 at sixty and 60 at sixteen!
Mr Kulkarni is a living example for this! This octogenarian is full of enthusiasm, bundle of positive energy and never grumbles about work or time crunch. Usually by the time he releases his book, already he will have conceived his new project and so I am curious to know, what topic SK uncle has selected for his next book.
The book is published by :
INDUS SOURCE BOOKS
PO box 6194
Malabar hill PO
Mumbai 400006

I wish him all the very best in all his future endeavors, and wish him good health and long life.