WHAT HAS AGE GOT TO DO WITH IT?

To be on stage again after 55 years or so? I would never have thought it possible. But it was a dream come true.

We Silver Surfers, were told that it would be a two month work shop. I just added my name to the list thinking of having fun and my God what fun it turned out to be. Here we were, about twenty of us, all excited as ever, trying to learn how to act. All senior citizens, over 55. We were a mix of, black dyed, henna dyed, salt and pepper and silver haired beauties raring to take on the stage even at this age. We were an active bunch, ignoring our creaking bones, sometimes climbing up two or three flights of stairs, huffing and puffing our way up to @Atta Galata – a performance space in Bangalore.

Glimpses of our practice sessions

The workshops were initially conducted by the brilliant director Vivek Madan, who charmed all of us at the very first meeting. No absentees at for those first few sessions. One reason, I suppose due to Vivek’s charm and another due to the excitement of maybe getting to be on stage. Everyone was prepared to do better than their best!!! There were breathing exercises, bonding exercises and and a Hu Ha Ho session by Kavya Srinivasan, which was meant to help us to concentrate. Oh! The fun we had. The amount we laughed. It rejuvenated us all!

At that point, we weren’t sure all of us would get to act in the proposed play. We assumed only the best actors would actually get to be on stage. So it was a delightful surprise to know that we would all actually get to act. Prior to this, for fun, we started to woo UmaMadan, Vivek’s mother, to get us roles. The fun loving Vijaya Shenoy started wooing Uma with the following gimmicks.”I want to sit next to you Uma.” “Can I give you a lift Uma.” I remember Nandini saying, “Uma, I took delivery of a brand new car today. It is bigger than Usha’s Nano.” Oh goodness, we were in splits while vying with each other at Usha Varma’s place to sit next to Uma. Uma Madan was thoroughly embarrassed but I think she was secretly enjoying the fun and the attention!

After a month of the workshops, Vivek got too busy with other assignments and we were all sooo disappointed. I think we almost cried.

Anyway Kavya Srinivasan was roped in by Vivek to direct us. She is a bubbly youngster and was as delightful as they come. She brought in a lot of energy and fun into the workshops.

The date for the play was set for the 11^th of July and practice started in earnest. We took the workshops seriously now.

We assumed we would get a script and parts to act out-all tailor made we thought. But that was not to be. We had taken a collective decision to come out with ideas to enact with a message for senior citizens. It was a challenge really. But there was no choice. We were divided into three groups for the convenience of commuting to the workshops in Indiranagar.

So we put all our grey and silver haired heads together to come out with the stories. Three stories emerged finally from the three groups and Kavya made sense of them and came out with 3 brilliant scripts. We were free to add or subtract to the script. With the fluidity, the scripts kept changing and the final dialogues were totally different from the original. We would keep forgetting our cues and lines. But Kavya just said it doesn’t matter and to have fun. And in the end it didn’t matter really as long as we made sense and understood the gist of the play.

11^th July was a cloudy day. We didn’t have to worry too much about attendance since the attendees were mostly family and friends and we knew that they would come to see us perform, rain or shine. We were confident also because our families would surely overlook and forgive our mistakes. Still, in the green room we were a bunch of nerves before we went on stage.

Don’t we look like professionals on stage?

Finally, the show started, we gave it our best and we all sailed through. The laughter and the applause gave us a high. We shouted as loud as we could since the sound system was not loud enough. The play was a huge success. It had been worth our while after all. We had done it and HOWWWW? .WOW. All unprofessional actors, we had done it.

Thanks to the Silver Surfers’Club, Vivek and Kavya, our young volunteer Aaron, Shraddha, Dilpreet and of course our very own special Dipti for bringing out the best in us. Everyone was so brilliant and the team work was excellent. Cheers to more and more such events. And what better proof that we did well – Brigade Group inviting us for a repeat performance at The Sheraton. HIP HIP HOORAY!!!

The fun audience picking up our witty humour

Sharing here some reviews that really made our day!

“A well thought of initiative, which was brilliantly executed, highlighting various messages and deserves a definite repeat on a larger scale. Simple, funny and heartwarming to see performances by done by non professional actors.” – SHYAM MADHAVAN

“Our Pleasure Aunty. You did a fantastic job. Also it was good to see how people are finding new meaning in life….Very inspiring.” – MALINI PRAVEEN

“The plays were very good. They definitely send out a msg and it was very well portrayed…The topics were relevant yet presented in a light hearted manner which always leaves a very good impression.” – SIDHARTH MADHAVAN.

“Crisp, effective stories. Lovely performances and the perfect dose of humour and reality. Absolutely wonderful.” – ARCHANA SHYAM.

USHA RAMANATH

As written and contributed by Usha Ramanath. Author, Silver Surfer, Blog Contributor and now Actor.

 

Marvellous Mondays with Bhanu

Presenting our Silver for the Week – Bhanu.

Down Memory Lane – “I’m a simple Bangalore hudugi who grew up studying in the city, then went away wherever marriage and life took me – to Bombay, Chennai and Calcutta, then Muscat, Bahrain and Al Khobar. Decades later, Ashok and I have returned to this city (Bangalore) to roost! What a livable, lovable city this was during my school and college days. Cool and verdant, sedate and gracious, there was a bit of Anglo India left yet in those early days of a post-Raj hangover.”

Careerwise, Bhanu is one of the “very lucky” to choose to do whatever she fancied, even changing professions on a whim! “With Ashok’s very successful career graph on an upwardly mobile track, I took whatever opportunity came my way at each city we were posted in. I initially taught kindergarten kids in Bombay (while settling in as a young bride and awaiting the first of our two girls). Years later in Calcutta, as a lecturer in home economics at the JD Birla Institute of Home Science” – Bhanu is an MSc Home Science Silver Medalist from Bangalore University.

“Thereafter followed a decade in the Gulf where I gave up academics to put my love for wordplay to creative use, as a copywriter in an advertising agency. Writing copy for sticky British and Arab clients was challenging but so worthwhile and fun!”

“Craftyness” runs in Bhanu’s blood – “I have craft itchy fingers that love to do anything creative and don’t mind getting my hands dirty even, literally. I’ve dabbled in mosaics, made large wall murals as well as smaller artefacts. I have been painting since my college days, and I still do – mostly acrylics on canvas and have participated in group shows and exhibitions in different cities over the years. A fair bit of crochet and knitting fills up those spare times and the latest interest I’ve revived is sewing – So thrilled to be making cutesy clothes for my little dollykins granddaughter!  Our 2 daughters are happily settled abroad and nothing gives us more joy than travelling to be with our 4 grandkids. Both Ashok and I simply love to travel (we’ve seen quite a bit of the world) and meet interesting people.”

“Reading and writing are my other hobbies I’m passionate about. I’ve been a prolific freelance feature and travel writer right through the decades, for magazines and newspapers both in India and the Gulf. But that short story eludes me yet! Give me a good book to curl up with and I’m in paper heaven! I meet up with my 10 avid bookaholic friends once a month to brainstorm over a mutually selected bestseller fiction title. Eclectic music tastes too, everything from Carnatic music to Bollywood to contemporary jazz.”

Bhanu is a trained Carnatic singer. She doesn’t sing anymore but she enjoys a good concert.  Her 15-minute claim to fame? Singing a popular Irish ditty solo to a crowd of cheering Irish drinkers at Murphys Pub near Limerick!

Being a member of the Inner Wheel Club and the Tangent club gives her the opportunity to give back to society through meaningful social work. And now as members of The Silver Surfers Club, “we’ve added a whole new dimension to enjoying life. What an amazing inspiring set of folks we’ve met, we are sure to have more than our share of both and look forward to some wholly enriching times!” 

Golden Words of Advice to the Millenials – “Do different things and do things differently” – that’s my mantra for getting the most out of my life and the time I’ve left in this beautiful world of ours! For today’s young – Fly high, go ahead, grab today’s wonderful opportunities and challenges and seize the day! But do stay grounded too, don’t lose sight of those traditional good old fashioned human values of compassion, altruism, empathy and caring.” 

She is Alzheimer’s!

She started by forgetting the little things in life, though she could recite what she learned several decades ago.

She went on to forgetting the routes to her favourite places, though she could clearly recollect the route from her house to her school.

We blamed it on old age cause we weren’t aware.

She greeted everyone with a broad smile and sometimes a grumpy face, when everything was normal with the world.

She was asked by everyone if she remembered them. She looked back blankly and said, of course quick-wittedly.

We blamed it on old age cause we weren’t aware.

She started forgetting how to go about her daily activities, never once giving up on her fight to live life.

She began asking our names several times every couple of minutes, just to engage in a healthy conversation.

We blamed it on old age cause we weren’t aware.

She tried her level best to stay active and engage in all the activities she could, even if it meant reading her Granddaughters comic books.

She could no longer speak as fluently and as fast as she could, but she held on to those dear lines lest she didn’t know what to say –

“See you soon.

God Bless you, my dear.

Cheers!”

We blamed it on old age cause we weren’t aware.

She could no longer recite all her favourite verses from the Bible, verses which she knew by heart and had taught two full generations the same.

She felt neglected and she was physically abused by the maid but she drowned in her confusion, not knowing if it had ever happened.

We didn’t blame it on old age anymore cause we were aware.

She is Alzheimer’s.

40 million people worldwide and a cure still eludes researchers.

To the victims of Alzheimer’s, who are unable to speak up for themselves and the caregivers of these patients who are too worn out to advocate for change – Join the Silver Surfers in continuing to celebrate age and help speak up for them.

Guest Post – Marvellous Mondays with Joyce

When The Silver Surfers Club had their first walkathon challenging ageism and bringing about a positive twist to it. We couldn’t help but reach out to Joyce as a fellow blogger to want to know her thoughts on “The International Day for Older Persons.”

Why we reached out to Joyce Williams? – Joyce Williams has travelled the world, written books, been a physical therapist and TV Presenter. She is a grandmother and was once a technophobe. At the age of 80, she took up blogging about being “ancient in a modern world” and experiencing everyday ageism. 

Down Memory Lane – Grandma Williams as she is popularly known reminisces the day she decided to take up blogging with pride. “I noticed that a class called Blogging for Beginners was about to start. I doubt they expected an 80-year-old to turn up. Clutching the rail, as you do at 80+ I hesitantly descended to be greeted warmly by a cheerful bearded young man. He turned out to be Paul. I think he was shocked by what his advert had turned up. I asked if it was Ok for me to come in. ”Of course!” was the answer.”

“Their patience was superb even when my first question was, “Could you please explain what a blog actually is?”” After her first couple of posts, her glass began to overflow and Joyce had found her niche. “I wanted to write about what it was like being old.” Hastening to reassure everyone, Joyce adds, “Much to my surprise and delight, being ancient is proving to be a great time of my life. Really! I found I wanted to challenge the unthinking ageism in today’s world.” She’s also got a big fan in her husband, who dotingly reads what she writes and corrects statements when needed.

 

With ageism seeing an all-time high, we speak about “Why we should celebrate Old Age?” Read on to find out what Joyce has to say. 

“Let’s begin with that word “we”. Who are “we”? Interesting question! The word can have two meanings: we the people of the world, and us, we the people who are old. A  look at success and achievement from the two angles and we realise both have every reason to celebrate.  Old age has become one of the world’s success stories.

Since  1950, we have added 26 years to UK Life Expectancy. UK Life expectancy at birth is now 79.2 for a boy and 82.9 for a girl. 100 years ago it was 54 and 57. Celebration due indeed!

Never have we had such a large healthy active group of older people, thoroughly enjoying bonus years and yet significantly contributing to society and the economy.

It isn’t just that many continue to work as reliable, skilled and enthusiastic employees, but of serious significance is their grandparent babysitting role in allowing younger women to pursue their careers. Have a look around Museums, Heritage sites and Parks during school holidays. Full of joyous granddads playing and cherishing grandmas patiently explaining.  Everyone, all generations, happy!

And such benefit to children. Older people are living history aren’t they? Have you ever thought about it? I am 82. My grandmother, who could talk to me about her grandmother’s life, was born in 1870! The ability to view life on that scale provides both children and modern society with a wonderful balance.

Though perhaps the key contribution of older people in the West is in the world of volunteering. Thousands and thousands of hours, thousands of hours, worth millions of pounds, are put in by older people in every aspect of community life. Some are formal, Oxfam, Marie Curie, Befriending, Fundraising, National Trust, RSPB, Age UK, Friends of Museums etc.  And none of these institutions could run without them. But the unsung, often unnoticed and certainly undervalued millions of hours Older People provide are as Carers, Good Neighbours (and even as local litter pickers! Met one the other day who does a half day per week ensuring a beautiful public space stays that way) are crucial to the economy and today’s society.

Take a trip back into the life of most of the UKs 80 year olds. They are the ultimate survivors! Born just as war broke out, their future was indeed dodgy. Fathers, relatives and homes were lost. If you survived the bombs and the Blitz, you had to get through a childhood of measles (it was really serious back then), chicken pox and diphtheria, polio, and TB. It was of course before the world acquired penicillin. Post War, the NHS and modern medicine improved life chances. But we lived with nightmare housing shortage, food rationing and clothing coupons for years. That’s what probably toughened us! But we did it. Brought up our families and with them created this amazing modern world we are all now exploring.

We made it! We got through! Three score years and ten, plus bonus years.  And now to enjoy them. This wonderful creation of a long healthy active old age as part of normal life is a credit to everyone to our society. So yes, these are not ‘rubbish, dustbin years’. They are quality life years. Quite right that we should be celebrating, us, we the Oldies.”

Golden Nuggets of Wisdom to the Millenials – “There is nothing much left to die of! You, youngsters, have got it really easy. Go out there and make the difference, if I can start blogging at the age of 80 and change the views of a few people on ageism. What you do and how you make a difference with so many more years is all up to you.”

Reach out to Grandma Joyce and add to her long list of unthinking everyday ageisms –

Grandma Williams Blog

Grandma Williams Twitter Handle

 

 

 

 

Marvelous Mondays with Vikram

Presenting our Super Senior this Week, it’s Silver Surfer Vikram

Down Memory Lane – Vikram graduated with honours in Philosophy from St. Stephens College, Delhi. Following his childhood love and passion for automobiles, Vikram joined Mahindra & Mahindra in Mumbai as a Management Trainee. Vikram like a lot of people in his generation spent a little more than 3 long decades in different places and capacities from Material Management to Administration to Sale and Marketing to Manpower Development to CRM.

On being questioned about what made him stay with Mahindra for 3 long decades, Vikram reminisces, “There has been a paradigm shift in the way people look at employment. When I started working in 1970, one looked for a career. Loyalty was recognised and often rewarded. However, the focus shifted from ‘career’ to ‘profession’. Corporate employees seek fulfilment of their professional aspirations wherever they can best find them. Aspirations are usually a combination of professional fulfilment, earnings and position. This change is not a bad one as it does provide the ‘changers’ with a wider spectrum of experiences.”

Vikram goes on to add, “I was very fortunate to have my career in Mahindras take frequent turns resulting in my working in various different capacities and in various different locations. I must add that it was a very professional organisation with high levels of empowerment to its employees.”

In 2001, Vikram decided to work independently and moved to Bangalore where he got involved with various change management consultancies in manpower deployment and business development. In 2011, Vikram “very audaciously accepted the position of CEO at Sankara Eye Hospital, Bangalore” where he continued to address the challenges of providing free eye care to the rural and economically disadvantaged community.

What Vikram looks forward to doing as a Silver – In the coming years, I look forward to spending more time with my family and friends and to indulge in my love for music, reading and travel. “I literally stumbled into the Silver Surfers through a friendship with Dipti. Preoccupation with work has severely inhibited my involvement. The very warm welcome from the Silvers when I came on board, their response to a request for participation in community eye care initiatives and warm response during personal interactions have been completely overwhelming.”

Golden Nuggets to the Millenials – “The lesson in life learnt from both my children that I would like to share is ‘to have a dream in life and to pursue it with passion.'”

On being prodded for more, “I believe that it is critical for each one of us to identify what our real calling in life is, and having done that, to follow that calling with passion. Sadly, a lot of people don’t do this. They end up meandering through a life of mediocrity. Not all are fortunate in completely realising their dreams but at least they enjoy trying to to do so. If this comes across as being sanctimonious, it is not intended to be so. There are no absolutes in life and many of us are constrained by circumstances beyond our control.”

Marvellous Mondays with Arun

Presenting our Super Silver for the Week – Arun

Arun is an Army veteran from the pre-independence generation.

Down Memory Lane – Arun got into uniform in 1962 from NDA. After his graduation from Defence Service Staff College, Willington, Arun spent almost a decade in the Indo-China theatre in the East. Towards the latter half of his career, Arun served in the Ladakh/Siachen sectors, and later in J&K. While in J&K, Arun was the human equivalent to a superhero – “it was always running after and ambushing terrorists, nabbing them and ‘neutralising’ them. My pistol trigger was my best friend.”. Having served in the Army for over 30+ blissful years, Arun took the maximum “pangas” with life and yet surfaced alive.

Superhero Arun – “I decided to be an operational paratrooper in the Artillery, I also decided to learn Chinese with intent to be in the secret service. I became a professional mountaineer, participated in several expeditions, even as an instructor for civilian boys & girls. I served mostly in the operational areas in J&K and on the Chinese border in Ladakh. I held several instructional assignments including the much coveted “Instructor IMA” which came to me as a consolation, for not being accepted by Mr Giri the then President of India as his Aide-de-camp. I also served as an instructor to train Black Cat Commandoes in Anti-Hijack & Anti-Terrorist operations. In the earlier part of my career, I was assigned on a secret mission of national importance. I came back alive and that’s the tall and short of it all.”

During the 1971 Indo-Pak war, Arun volunteered to be posted to an operational unit and fought the battle in Rajasthan. Arun was also involved in getting Sikkim into India, which to Arun was a mini operation. Arun finally hung his boots in the year 1997.

The glamour didn’t come on a Silver Platter – All was not hunky dory in Arun’s career. Arun took risks, served in inhospitable regions, confronted the Chinese, fought a war, led expeditions into glaciers, went on classified missions abroad, all leading to a compromise in his personal life. “Half of my 30 years in the Army, I served in field areas, leaving my wife to bring up my two children single-handedly. She did so, as a loyal & understanding wife.”

Arun reminisces, going way back in time, “Once I came home on leave after over a year and my young daughter called me ‘uncle’ and did not want me at her home.” Arun lost his father when he was serving in the Far East, lost his in-laws when he was operationally deployed. Those tough times saw a void of his presence and comfort to his wife and family. “When I was on a ‘mission’ my wife lost 5 KGs in that one month+. A silent tear was all that she showed. An understanding wife she was.”

What has been demanding Arun’s attention now? – “Subsequent to my retirement, I was a ‘Guest Columnist’ with Times of India writing extensively in their Friday Assent pages. This was followed by my being a ‘Guest Speaker’ to a large number of Corporates, educational institutions and PSUs.” Arun was a regular speaker at IIM B, Institute of CAs –  South India Chapter, Board for Development of College Education – South India. Arun also went on to hold training workshops in “The Art of Assimilative Instruction” –  Teaching teachers/professors the art of teaching. Arun also served as Director – Operations for two Software companies – migrating them from USA to India. One was a Software development company and another a Product development company. Both these companies started with a ‘Bhoomi Pooja’. NESS Technologies (Software company) is around 8000 strong now. A decade back, Arun was a consultant (Member secy) with the govt of Karnataka working directly under its then CM during the last BJP Regime.

All Work and No Play made Jack a dull boy and Arun didn’t want to be Jack – Being the President of Residence Welfare Association keeps Arun busy other than golfing. The Silver Surfers Club was a club that Arun’s wife wanted to join and Arun being the doting husband, initiated the conversation with Dipti on it around last Oct. Unfortunately, Arun’s wife did not live to see them as members of TSSC.

However, TSSC seems just the organisation for Arun with like-minded folks, mostly veterans (sic) in their respective fields and fun loving members.

Golden Nuggets to them Millenials – Being an Army personnel – “Integrity, Loyalty and Self-Contentment” are what Arun urges the millennials to stand by. “Be happy with what you have, be loyal and have integrity, never envy another person cause you never know what they have gone through.” Arun goes on to bring up an analogy with the most envied parties an army personnel attends but never has anyone seen when they’ve got to melt snow to drink water, warm oranges to peel them, the list is endless.

Marvelous Monday with Silver Surfer Abha

“Nothing is Impossible” – She says. Presenting to you all, Silver Surfer Abha – Our Super Senior this week!

Married at the tender age of 20, Abha embarked on her career in the booming IT sector at the of 35, where she found her niche.  She then went on to work her way around her new-found passion to prove to the world that Age or Sex was no bar, of course with a little luck on her side and blessings from above. With a background in Arts, she today has built a successful career in the Tech Industry.

 

Down Memory Lane – Originally from UP, Abha got married and moved to Germany where she lived for a total of 13 years. She was an active housewife during her first stint in Germany. Being a woman who has been active for as long as she can remember, she is quick to mention, “I was a housewife for two main reasons – I did not have a work permit and my children were young.” The zealous bug bit her and she found herself actively doing volunteer work at her children’s school. She was an active member in forming a close knit Indian community in Germany. During the year 1989, she and her husband formed a high fashion men’s garment company, where they worked with some of the big labels. At this point, she realized that the sales and marketing gene was inborn in her. 

In the year 1992, life had other plans for her. She came back to India minus the marriage tag with her two children in tow. She decided to start working, first with a multimedia training institute in the year 1993. After which, in 1994, she decided to join the software industry at the age of 35 as  ” .com” was a booming industry back then. She grew in the IT industry even though all her colleagues were young. There were points in which she was reporting to colleagues who were much younger to her, but that did not deter her. She prodded on and within 8 years in her first company, the title of Head of German Ops was captured below her business card. She stuck on to IT for another 3 – 4 years as the Key Account Manager for US Operations.

In the year 2008, the year that the big bad bubble burst – Recession; Abha decided to help startups during this rough period under the sales and marketing tag and also consulted NGO’s on strategic management. Meandering into the field of CSR happened around this time and Abha found herself working for Nasscom at the VP level in the same field. Abha heads an advisory company on CSR, which is mandatory now in India. She helps and prepares NGO’s to be part of that. She works more towards Accessibility and Inclusion of persons with disability and less towards CSR now.  

The way Abha kicks her shoes and relaxes – Abha has been an active Rotary member since the year 1997. Embroidery, Knitting, making things, cooking all forms of cuisines and learning new skills forms her strong suit till date. Her loving granddaughter has diverted her attention as well. She doesn’t think she would ever stop working till her brain stops, there is no earlier stop to dim her activities – Commercial project or otherwise. Abha is now actively involved in The Silver Surfers – Silver Cause Foundation. 

Those Golden Nuggets for them Millennials – “I came back to India in such a time where business and academic scenery had changed drastically. My mother country seemed alien to me. What I can tell everyone around me is that nothing in life is unattainable, if you don’t know a skill, work around learning the skill. If you don’t know something and would love to know more about it, learn it – the World Wide Web is at your finger tips. Or ask the people around you to help. God will keep showering you with opportunities, it’s up to you to grab it with an open mind and an open heart and work on it.”

Marvelous Monday with Silver Surfer Ravi

This Silver grew up in a former small fishing village in Bombay called Bandra, was schooled at St. Andrews High School and completed a Bachelors degree in Chemistry & Botany at R.D National College. This Silver has never stopped learning since then, he has over 40 years of experience under his wings. He’s expanded his wings to cover a whole lot right from roughing it out under the construction division to learning what them millennials talk so much about and add his bit to this generation, by adding his strengths to it. He’s been a walking talking example of how belief in God, luck and a whole lot of hard work can really work wonders.

Presenting our Silver for the Week – Ravi.

A walk down memory lane – A year after graduating in 1975, Ravi packed his bags and set sail to Dubai, where the whole city was one big construction site. As the old adage goes, “When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.” Ravi roughed it out for many years under the Construction Division of his company, before he was transferred. In a day and age when Indians had to work hard to prove their mettle a whole lot more outside their home country, Property came to him after several rounds of interviews within and outside the company with the top management, where his team was tasked in looking after the multiple properties of their boss, the then UAE Minister of Communications. It was also around that time, that their company entered the hospitality arena and started the Dubai – Sheraton on the Creek, where Ravi was actively involved during the construction phase.

Ravi had an arranged marriage, “in the sense, my parents had shortlisted a number of prospective brides, whom I went down to see during my annual vacation from UAE.” Ravi’s wife, Saro joined him in Dubai in 1982 and started working at the Indian School, Dubai. “It was a nice period in our life with no worries, but soon we wanted to start a family, but nothing was working.” They went through a long and expensive journey of clinics and hospitals to solve the mystery, but nothing seemed to work. They had almost given up hope and were thinking of adoption, when a friend of theirs recommended them to her gynecologist, a young lady who was writing a thesis and was curious about Saro’s condition. She found out the problem after a round of exhaustive tests, an operation, and medications, and informed us that she has done everything from her side and the rest was up to God.

“It was around this time that my boss, the Minister, asked me if I could move to Abu Dhabi where our company had come up with two brand new luxurious buildings, to manage the properties.” Never a person to back down from a challenge, Ravi agreed, and so they reluctantly left Dubai in 1989. In November 1992, “my wife said she did not feel well and we made a rare trip to the hospital, where we found out that her “illness” was a pregnancy. Our daughter, Anya, was born on August 18^th, 1993, on my birthday, which felt like a sign from God for believing in Him.”

The learning never ends – After staying on in Abu Dhabi for 14 years, the full grown family decided to move to Bangalore. Not a person who likes the concept of sitting still, “I started a new career in Medical Transcription with one of the best companies based in the USA, called Healthscribe, and worked there for 6 years. It was a fabulous learning experience for me, as successful candidates were taught all about medicine, anatomy, and pharmaceuticals by professional doctors.” Ravi is currently doing web content writing for a Bangalore-based company, where he has put “my extremely strenuous language and writing abilities to good use”. As a full time Silver and a part time Web Content Writer, “I have been lucky to use the spare time to travel and relax. I do enjoy baking and cooking, which I had cultivated during my Gulf days, and which I do occasionally.”

Tryst with the Silver Surfers Club – Ravi found out about the Silver Surfers through Facebook, liked the concept immediately, and met Dipti at Milton Street Park, where they were exhibiting their home-made products. Ravi joined them in September 2015, and was pleased to have found a lot of like-minded individuals from all walks of life, with some very talented people, but all eager in the belief of enjoying and living this phase of life to the fullest. “This group has allowed me to meet some very exceptional people, and through the Silver Surfers Travellers Club, I have visited places that I have had on my bucket list, but always put off for the future; places like Hampi, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Goa.”

Ravi’s Golden Nuggets of Wisdom to the Millennials – “We lived in a time when life was so much more tougher. Especially, for those living out side the comforts of the home country. If we messed up or even made our bosses unhappy, we were at the risk of being fired, our visas cancelled and we could even have been put on a one-way trip back home.”

Take all those opportunities which life throws at you, work on enriching yourself personally and professionally, this topped with a whole lot of belief and luck will do wonders for you.

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” ― John Lubbock, The Use Of Life

 

 

 

Marvelous Monday with Silver Surfer Ravi

This Silver grew up in a former small fishing village in Bombay called Bandra, was schooled at St. Andrews High School and completed a Bachelors degree in Chemistry & Botany at R.D National College. This Silver has never stopped learning since then, he has over 40 years of experience under his wings. He’s expanded his wings to cover a whole lot right from roughing it out under the construction division to learning what them millennials talk so much about and add his bit to this generation, by adding his strengths to it. He’s been a walking talking example of how belief in God, luck and a whole lot of hard work can really work wonders.

Presenting our Silver for the Week – Ravi.

A walk down memory lane – A year after graduating in 1975, Ravi packed his bags and set sail to Dubai, where the whole city was one big construction site. As the old adage goes, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Ravi roughed it out for many years under the Construction Division of his company, before he was transferred. In a day and age when Indians had to work hard to prove their mettle a whole lot more outside their home country, the Real Estate sector came to him after several rounds of interviews within and outside the company with the top management, where his team was tasked in looking after the multiple properties of their boss, the then UAE Minister of Communications. It was also around that time, that their company entered the hospitality arena and started the Dubai – Sheraton on the Creek, where Ravi was actively involved during the construction phase.

Ravi had an arranged marriage, “in the sense, my parents had shortlisted a number of prospective brides, whom I went down to see during my annual vacation from UAE.” Ravi’s wife, Saro joined him in Dubai in 1982 and started working at the Indian School, Dubai. “It was a nice period in our life with no worries, but soon we wanted to start a family, but nothing was working.” They went through a long and expensive journey of clinics and hospitals to solve the mystery, but nothing seemed to work. They had almost given up hope and were thinking of adoption, when a friend of theirs recommended them to her gynecologist, a young lady who was writing a thesis and was curious about Saro’s condition. She found out the problem after a round of exhaustive tests, an operation, and medications, and informed us that she has done everything from her side and the rest was up to God.

“It was around this time that my boss, the Minister, asked me if I could move to Abu Dhabi where our company had come up with two brand new luxurious buildings, to manage the properties.” Never a person to back down from a challenge, Ravi agreed, and so they reluctantly left Dubai in 1989. In November 1992, “my wife said she did not feel well and we made a rare trip to the hospital, where we found out that her “illness” was a pregnancy. Our daughter, Anya, was born on August 18th, 1993, on my birthday, which felt like a sign from God for believing in Him.”

The learning never ends – After staying on in Abu Dhabi for 14 years, the full grown family decided to move to Bangalore. Not a person who likes the concept of sitting still, “I started a new career in Medical Transcription with one of the best companies based in the USA, called Healthscribe, and worked there for 6 years. It was a fabulous learning experience for me, as successful candidates were taught all about medicine, anatomy, and pharmaceuticals by professional doctors.” Ravi is currently doing web content writing for a Bangalore-based company, where he has put “my extremely strenuous language and writing abilities to good use”. As a full time Silver Surfer and a part time Web Content Writer, “I have been lucky to use the spare time to travel and relax. I do enjoy baking and cooking, which I had cultivated during my Gulf days, and which I do occasionally.”

Tryst with the Silver Surfers Club – Ravi found out about the Silver Surfers through Facebook, liked the concept immediately, and met Dipti at Milton Street Park, where they were exhibiting their home-made products. Ravi joined them in September 2015, and was pleased to have found a lot of like-minded individuals from all walks of life, with some very talented people, but all eager in the belief of enjoying and living this phase of life to the fullest. “This group has allowed me to meet some very exceptional people, and through the Silver Surfers Travellers Club, I have visited places that I have had on my bucket list, but always put off for the future; places like Hampi, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Goa.”

Ravi’s Golden Nuggets of Wisdom to the Millennials – “We lived in a time when life was so much tougher. Especially, for those living outside the comforts of their home country. If we messed up or even made our bosses unhappy, we were at the risk of being fired, our visas cancelled and we could even have been put on a one-way trip back home.”

Take all those opportunities which life throws at you, work on enriching yourself personally and professionally, this topped with a whole lot of belief and luck will do wonders for you.

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” ― John Lubbock, The Use Of Life

Marvelous Monday with Silver Surfer Ashok

“Catching the first flight home after important meetings became a top priority as compared to the glamour of the places around.”

Most people find themselves drawing inspiration from their childhood heroes, Ashok was no different. His inspiration being his father. Climbing the corporate ladder in the world of Sales and Marketing for over 45 years, Ashok has has donned roles from Sales Manager to General Manager to Managing Director to Entrepreneur, having worked with some of the big names in the industry like P&G and Britannia. As if that wasn’t enough, he then went on to start a hospitality business in Bangalore. In his free time, Ashok has also been an Advisor, Coach and Mentor to medium size businesses.

Silver Star for the Week – Ashok R –

 

A walk down memory lane – On being prodded as to why he chose Sales and Marketing, Ashok went on to reminisce his childhood days – “My father spent his working life with the FMCG major – Hindustan Unilever in Sales Management. He would travel 15 – 20 days a month, he would fly to different places, stay in good hotels and he would talk at conferences. His life seemed exciting and I wanted that excitement, that experience of engaging with a wide variety of people and seeing a product being accepted in the market.”

He was quick to pitch in and tell us that it isn’t as glamorous as it looks or even sounds on paper. A work-life balance and a very strong focus had to be maintained. Work-Life balance is very important as when a family comes into the picture, the dynamics around work change drastically. Catching the first flight home after important meetings became a top priority as compared to the glamour of the places around.

The glamour doesn’t come on a silver platter – It was all glamorous for Ashok because of the dedication and focus that he put into his work. “I became the General Manager at a very young age and the only reason was because I kept learning, I ensured I was exposed to all other functions and knew what was happening around me.”

In a world filled with quick fixes, we asked Ashok what quick fix could guarantee that life. Ashok chuckled and came out with three strong points –

• Ambition
• High level of aspiration
• Willingness to learn something new every time

All work and no play made Jack a dull boy and Ashok didn’t want to be like Jack. Ashok has a fun side to him and prefers never to take the fun out of the equation, no matter what your age. He enjoys being a part of the Silver Surfers Club where he is able to interact with people his age group and occasionally a pesky millennial with a whole bunch of questions. Ashok is always on the lookout for like-minded people and loves to partake in any form of activity be it community service or fitness or travelling.

With a special emphasis on travelling around the world to meet new and interesting people, to see new cultures and striking off all those places on his bucket list. The Silver Surfers Club, to an extent, has helped Ashok achieve that life he desired after he retired. Ashok loves spending time with his family and his grandchildren in particular.

Ashok’s Golden Nuggets of wisdom for the millennials  – Live Life to the fullest.*

*The How?

• Be clear about your goals and focus on them. There is no substitute for hard work.
• Build relationships (Personal and Professional) – They make your life better and richer.
• Strive to be the best at anything you do
• Be Positive

Anything Else? – Go ahead and have an amazing Monday, trying to digest these nuggets of wisdom, while you have that fourth cup of coffee while trying to come to terms with that the weekend is officially over! 🙂