SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #43 | JANUARY 2023 First Person | Health | Tribute 1 Travelogue by Archana Mariwala with a detailed account of her adventure-of-a-lifetime to Antarctica Spotlight Ramanand Sagar: From Movie Mogul to TV Czar Issue #43 | January 15, 2023 The Frozen Continent

2 https://bit.ly/theseniorskitchen

SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #43 | JANUARY 2023 3 Publisher’s Note like status and in the rural areas people literally fell at their feet. It’s a pity that they didn’t stand for elections, they probably would have one hand’s down. Seniors Today pays tribute to Pelé the king of football who moved on in December 2022. Dr. Nandini Saini writes about Biological ageing versus chronological ageing. Diet, exercise are the key factors that play a major role in ensuring that our biological age is less than our chronological age. This is also the time when everybody’s basking in that - one - of - a- kind - beginning - of - the - year –optimism. God is in heaven and all is well with the World. We all make New Year resolutions in the hope of bettering ourselves and sometimes, they don’t last beyond January. I guess that is the fun of it. Have a great year ahead! Vickram Sethi Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Archana Mariwala writes a log about her trip to Antarctica. It’s a fascinating account and even more fascinating photographs, climate change has taken a huge toll on the arctic and Antarctic continents. The future of the human race depends on the ice, the Thwaites glacier in western Antarctica is the widest glacier on Earth and its rapid deterioration could end with the ice shelf’s complete collapse in just a few years. Thwaites is sometimes referred to as the “Doomsday Glacier,” as its collapse could trigger a cascade of glacial collapse in Antarctica, and the latest research from the frozen continent suggests that doomsday may be coming for the dwindling glacier even sooner than expected. It is not an expedition for the weak hearted Ms Mariwala is made of sterner stuff. Deepa Gahlot writes on the Life and Times of Ramanand Sagar the man besides making movies, made Ramayan a serial based on the Indian epic, Ramayana, the serial used to be telecast on Sunday morning at 9 am and such was its popularity that traffic on the roads stopped. Everyone was glued to their television sets. The Actors Arun Govil (Ram) and Dipika Chikhlia (Sita) acquired a God A fascinating log on Antarctica

4 Other Stories: First Person: New Year Resolutions by Vickram Sethi- 24 Alaimentary: Pause and Pursue by Nagesh Alai - 28 Health: The A to Z of Ageing by Dr Nandini Saini - 31 Tribute: RIP, Pelé. Soccer superstar, cultural icon by Simon Chadwick - 35 Spotlight: Ramanand Sagar: From Movie Mogul to TV Czar by Deepa Gahlot - 38 Cover Story : The Frozen Continent - 6 by Archana Mariwala Editorial & Business Office: FGP Centre, Commercial Union House, 3rd floor, 9 Wallace Street, Fort, Mumbai - 400 001. Email - editorial: [email protected] Email - advertising: [email protected] Contents January 15, 2023 Issue #43

SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #43 | JANUARY 2023 5 Contributors Deepa Gahlot is one of India’s seniormost and best-known entertainment journalists. A National Award-winning film critic, she has authored several books on film and theatre. Nagesh Alai Alai is Co-Founder of an enterprise AI startup, having traversed for long the consultancy and the corporate worlds prior to that. He mentors startups, selectively serves on company boards and loves writing about his life experiences. He can be reached at [email protected]. Archana Mariwala is a consummate traveler and has issues concerning the environment very close to her heart Dr Nandini Saini is a leading Mumbai-based homoeopath and aesthetician with experience of over 15 years.

6 Cover Story Archana Mariwala decodes the enigmatic ice-covered wilderness at the bottom of our world – Antarctica The Proposal came via email. I accepted immediately, stars in my eyes. As the momentous occasion drew closer the last few months turned hectic – planning, preparing, thinking things through. Tasting sessions, lists being changed and chopped, planning meals and most importantly, shopping for my “trousseau”. Oh!! And dieting and exercising as well (err…as best as I could). Had to “listen to my body”, as one repeatedly hears. Pay heed to a knee-joint that had seen better days. As the “big day” loomed closer, grand visions and thrill gave way to apprehension, tension, and self-doubt. Wasn’t it crazy, this decision to take the plunge? Too late now. As ‘D-day’ approached, out came the bags. And the “trousseau.” Must-have and The Frozen Continent All photographs by Archana Mariwala & Urvi Piramal practical apparel waged a war with sheer indulgences. Bags were filled. Emptied. Filled again. Time melted. Dali-esque. Normalcy, long gone, had been replaced by paranoia. Will everything be O.K.? What if I forget something? There would be no going back. The “big” day arrived. Finality set in. Messages and wishes poured in. A sleepless night, and I was on my way. Along with 6 others. To the ‘Frozen Continent.’ ANTARCTICA. We flew 5.30 hours to Addis Ababa. From here to Buenos Aires via Sao Paolo, a mind-numbing 16 .5 hour flight. After an overnight stay in BA, we flew over the Valdez Peninsula to reach our port of embarkation, Puerto Madryn. Where we would board our ship the next day, at 4.p.m.

bags covered the entire space. A slim cupboard to be shared by us both, a small cabinet and meagre bedside tables completed our storage space. Add a small bathroom. This was to be our home for the next 21 days. All our clothes, heavy winter wear, boots, food and camera equipment crammed into these tiny spaces. Soon the tannoy boomed out loud, calling all pax to the lecture room on Deck 3 for briefings regarding safety guidelines and procedures. Followed by a mandatory lifeboat drill on Deck 6. Clear warnings were issued that not following safety procedures could result in injury or serious falls. And as our route did not make it feasible for air-rescue, the ship would have to return to base. Which would be the end of the journey for all. The day closed on a glorious sunset as we made our way towards the Puerto Madryn narrows and the open South Atlantic Ocean. We were about to enter a belt known as the “Roaring Forties”. DAY 2 Wednesday, 26 October Wind Force – 3, Sea state – slight swell At Sea Days on ships began early, with a “Good Morning” call booming over the tannoy at 7 a.m. Post a well laid-out breakfast in the single restaurant on Deck 4, all passengers filed into the Lecture Room on Deck 3 for briefings on how to board and exit the zodiacs – the rafts that would take us ashore to various islands. How to grip crew hands while boarding and exiting the zodiacs, how to don our life jackets and layer our clothes including wet suits and muck boots were taught. Post these briefings and lunch, most passengers moved between the various The Ortelius Bar cum Library cum lecture room

life jackets. A pole-marked trail through massive clumps of yellow-green Tussock grass led to the enormous colony of Black-Browed Albatross and Rock Hopper Penguins. Unfortunately as is wont to happen in Antarctica, the weather did a volte-face, winds gusting at Force 12, the waves 4 metres high. On returning

SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #43 | JANUARY 2023 9 DAY 4 Friday, 28 October Wind Force – 6, Sea state – heavy swell FALKLAND ISLANDS - SOUTH GEORGIA AND ANTARCTICA Waves through the night had been 10 to 15 metres high with wind speeds of over 40 knots. Neither of us was in shape to do/ eat anything. Sitting up for over 3 minutes was enough to get our nausea welling up. Regular announcements were made, to take great care while moving around, with one hand gripping the safety rails – and to keep our fingers out of door frames. Weather forecast predicted further deterioration. We were in the eye of a hurricane. The swaying and rocking of the ship was horrific. At one point, I was sitting up on one side of the bed – in a nanosecond, I was thrown to the other end. The portholes were double sealed, like airplane windows yet, the curtains would fly up. Ramrod straight. Stay suspended in space. Then suddenly, slam back. Our dustbin too, was possessed. It would run from under our bedside table and crash into the door at the other end with every swing of the ship. I very cleverly placed a heavy muck boot in it, since the weight would hold it in place. Hah!! Bin and boot, both kept racing up and down constantly. Had us in hysterics, even between my bouts of throwing up. Not only the bin, even both of us kept slipping down our beds through the night. Going to the loo, all of 5-6 feet away was a terrifying feat. Sometimes you are thrown back, other times, hurled forward. Or slammed into something sideways. So immense was the rocking of the ship that our bedside drawers – both locked, flew open and were thrown 10-12 feet away, with all their contents scattered all over. Dinner was our first meal in over 24 hours. Mashed potatoes. Brought by staff who must have done a major balancing act, holding a plate in one hand, the other clutching the staircase railing for dear life. The winds, by this time, were gusting at over 70 knots with the swells well over 50 feet. For those who made it to the dinner tables that night, the Captain had to change Beaufort Scale – Temperature, wind force etc… many found it extremely challenging to walk up the now wildly swaying gangway and had to crawl up on their hands and knees. Towards evening, around 5-6 pm, the sea turned even choppier. Though a warning had been issued earlier that the weather would turn very rough, another announcement told us to batten down everything. Absolutely nothing loose on table-tops. It added – “Either knock yourselves out with sleeping pills or drink yourselves into oblivion.” And, God, did the weather turn nasty!! In spite of nausea patches in place, domstal already taken, nausea set in. We crawled into bed, the massive rolling and rocking of the ship at unbelievable angles and slants. No condition to even talk, leave alone have food or sip water We were caught in a live nightmare!

and well over 6 feet busted his ribs – he was thrown across the mezzanine. The other broke his leg. He remained in plaster and on crutches for the remainder of the trip. FACTOID: 27 Nationalities on board Total No of passengers - 80 Total No of Crew - 50 Day 5 Saturday, 29th October Wind force – 8, Sea – very rough At Scotia Sea A combination of force 8 winds with 6.6˚C air temperature, drove wind chill factor to -0˚C, with the waves slamming our portholes on deck 5 at night. However, the good news was that wind speed would drop through the day and with the swell too, would ease. However, all decks, excepting deck 6 would remain closed for safety reasons. To protect biodiversity and to avoid introduction of any invasive plants or animals, laws in South Georgia are extremely strict. Every piece of outerwear – boots, waterproof pants, jackets and backpacks had to be cleaned by us with brushes and paper clips to dislodge the tiniest bits of mud, grass or seeds. All of our cleaned equipment was vetted by the Wandering Albatross expedition team. FUN FACT: Ivan, the young and handsome chef had more than a couple of youngsters giving him the glad eye!! Day 6 Sunday – 30 October Wind Force – 6, Sea state - rough Heading towards South Georgia First ice floes Though the worst was over, the seas were still rough. The ship had crossed the Antarctic Convergence (i.e., the biological boundary of Antarctica) at night. We woke up to Albatross, Petrels, Sootys swooping and diving around us – a visual delight. The Ortelius was now in whale friendly waters and it wasn’t long before whale blows were spotted. Unfortunately, at a distance, and very fleeting glimpses of females with calves were caught. A frisson of excitement ran through the passengers as people started spotting their first tiny ice-floes. Around 4pm, we passed Shag Rocks with their awesome ragged peaks. Shag Rocks

SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #43 | JANUARY 2023 11 Come evening it was bar and dinner time. Windows were blacked out to prevent bird hits. Nausea was a thing of the past. FACTOID: All marine animals - seals, whales and dolphins, penguins etc. have a thick layer of blubber which insulates them from frigid ocean temperatures. Day 7 Monday, 31 October Wind – 5, Seat State – Slight roll snow Grytviken and Jason Harbour, South Georgia Post breakfast, both Urvi and I rushed up to the room to don our “armour”, to go ashore, to an island called Grytviken. This “armour” consisted of 4 layers of thermals, fleece, regular clothing, waterproof pants and jacket. Over which came 7 lb muck boots and a 12-15 lb life-jacket. Over that came the backpack with cameras, lenses, water bottle etc..,. Earlier a zodiac had been sent to King Edward Point, the admin centre for South Georgia, to collect the Government officer who came on board to conduct the necessary bio-security inspections. “Grytviken” is Norwegian for “Pot Cove” and was named after bygone sealers trypods found on site. We got there, snow flurries swirling around us, wind whipping our faces. Welcomed by snorting, yelping, barking, belching and farting Fur and Elephant seals. And their overpowering “fragrance.” The entire beach and inwards, was littered with 100’s of them lying around, resembling Fur Seal Laundry Winch huge logs of wood or boulders. This island also boasted a church, museum and post office cum gallery. Three decaying whale catchers (boats), stood on the beach in front of the whaling factory. Amidst the seals, penguins and birds, lay massive, rusted tanks, drums, machinery and humongous whale bones – all witness to a bygone era. Walking on the beach was by no means an easy task. An uneven stony surface, heavy muck boots and layers of clothing one is not accustomed to, made walking very awkward. I plodded on to witness a massive elephant seal – 13-15 ft look up lazily, snort, belch and then slide on his belly (called galumph) towards the water, resting every few feet, then moving again. The black rocky hills in the background, Grytviken Island

12 dressed in places with sheets of snow added to the raw beauty of the island. By now, snow was swirling thick. After 3 hours, we headed back to the ship. And a well-deserved lunch and rest. Late afternoon, boarding our zodiacs we headed to Jason Harbour. It presented a unique landscape, with huge Tussock grass, growing out of seemingly barren rock. Light snowfall had already powdered the tops of these grasses. The Seals had penetrated these grass thickets and lay almost invisible among them. We had been warned to keep a healthy distance from these – at least 10-15 ft, since if they feel threatened, they can attack. And bite hard into you. Proof of their aggressive fighting showed in a lot of them – their hides scarred with open wounds where they had been gouged. Back to ship and bar. FACTOID: The seals lying on the beach would keep flinging sand on themselves frequently, to keep cool. Even when the weather turned froid. Day 8 Tuesday, 1 November 2022 Wind Force – NW 6, Sea – Slight swells Fortuna Bay and Stromness Morning saw us alongside South Georgia’s King Penguins rugged coastline, approaching Fortuna Bay. Cold gusty winds and sleet showers mocked us as our zodiac pilot warned us to “batter down our hatches” for the very choppy ride. We were welcomed onto the uneven beach by …..What else? The Orchestra of Southern Elephant Seals and gorgeous King Penguins with their utterly gorgeous yellow-orange dotted neck and beaks. Some standing statue still flippers out. Others walked gingerly in single file, bodies swaying side to side, heads suddenly ducking as they too, negotiated difficult patches. Groups stood at the water’s edge, ready to plunge in – but kept waiting as if for the right wave to come in. Truly delightful to watch. Meanwhile their friends, the fur seals seemed to love the frigid waters as they frolicked and swam flipping round and round like toy tops. Returned to the ship a couple of hours later, fingers frozen stiff trying to get decent shots in that bone Fur seals Southern Elephant Seal

SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #43 | JANUARY 2023 13 chilling rain, sleet and wind. Late afternoon saw us on the shingle beach at Stromness Bay. Towering peaks and a glacial terrain formed a stunning backdrop to the home of fur seals, Snowy Sheathbills (birds) and Skuas that harassed a small colony of Gentoo Penguins, waiting to snatch their eggs. Day 9 Wednesday, 2 November 2022 Wind Force – E1, Sea – calm Gold Harbour and Ocean Harbour Black Browed Albatross The stuff of nightmares!! Wake-up call at 3.30 a.m. The 1st rays of the sun hitting this harbour island is meant to be a spectacular sight. Dragged ourselves out of our warm snug beds to find cloud cover. No Sun. Later, left for Gold Harbour which was packed with seals, isolated moulting King Penguins and aggressive male Fur seals. Elephant bull seals have harems of up to 150 females, which they guard zealously. If a young adult male dares to approach one of their harem, a huge battle ensues, usually resulting in the younger bull retreating. The bulls, 15-17 ft in length, mate with any female, age notwithstanding. The Bertrab Glacier formed a spectacular backdrop to the surroundings. Meanwhile, the snowfall had grown heavier, turning the black sand Baby Fur Seal to pure white. Truly magical!! The beach gave way to patches on which grew big clumps of grass, in the midst of which nestled albatross, seals – humongous, large, medium, small were lying around. Just about everywhere. We were warned to keep a healthy distance from them. It was akin to walking through a minefield. They were everywhere. And resembled rocks so closely, it was difficult to spot them. They just to lie in one place, almost immobile, till they decide to snort or grunt. Their upper bodies then come up, faces skyward and then, opening their red mouths and exposing their teeth, they let forth bellows and grunts. Albatross flying around, would land among them and walk around, huge wings outstretched to dry. Some were indulging in some sort of mating (?) dance, ducking their heads up and down, then clapping their beaks against each other. This ritual would continue for 2-3 minutes, to the non-stop seal orchestra. I witnessed a giant bull elephant – at least 15 ft in length charge South Georgia Pintails

14 Gold & Ocean Harbour towards a very small 5 ft seal – obviously a juvenile, threw a flipper around it, and proceed to copulate. This went on for about 20 minutes. With a couple of 100 seals lying on the beach, albatross and terns swooping around, and the seals lolling in the water occasionally raising their heads and snorting, releasing a fine but huge spray, the whole scene was truly fascinating. Late afternoon we landed at Ocean Harbour, a tiny sheltered bay surrounded by spectacular rock mountains. The sandy beach was home to the usual seals and highly sensitive nesting Giant Petrels. This island had a whaling station until 1920 and houses plenty of relics including an old steam locomotive which was used to transport coal and other goods from the jetty to the whaling station. Arctic Terns and South Georgia Pintails ran around the green areas like little rabbits. FUN FACT: On board romances blossomed. Set in gossip mills churning. Day 10 Thursday, 3 November 2022 Wind – WNW 3, Sea – slightly choppy ST. ANDREWS BAY and AT SEA St. Andrews Bay greeted us with finger numbing cold, the wind whipping in our faces. The bay was a huge C shaped one with 3 giant glaciers tumbling down from the craggy peaks to a vast plain, King Penguin colony with their chicks home to King Penguins, Skuas and seals. An estimated 1 1/2 million penguins and their little brown chicks. An eye-popping visual. New-borns to a few weeks old, cloaked in fuzzy brown fur. An absolutely delightful visual. The squawking volumes of that entire colony had to be heard to be believed. A superb morning!! Early afternoon the tannoy boomed out calling for an emergency meeting in the Lecture room on Deck 4. Captain Ernesto announced the weather would be changing rapidly. So to ensure our safe passage we would depart and change course immediately. Not only was the frozen continent known for its amazing wildlife but also for its severe and chameleon-like weather. A molting chick Day 11 Friday, 4 November 2022 Wind – NW force 8, Sea – Rough With South Georgia slowly receding in the distance, we awoke to the lurching and

SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #43 | JANUARY 2023 15 Poseidon raging juddering of the ship. The wind was quite ferocious, the vessel whipping up dramatic white caps on foaming crests of huge waves. Those who ventured onto the bridge were treated to the spectacular sight of Ortelius rising over the massive crests and plunging violently into the troughs of the next wave, creating a wall of water which rose to bridge height like an enormous white fan from the bow. Tons of water cascaded in swirling lines across the foredeck and poured out through the scuppers. The outside decks were closed for the safety of guests, many of whom chose to stay in their cabins. To be horizontal in bed was the safest option. The doctor was busy dispensing seasick patches and giving advice to those who felt unwell. The many gaps at tables during meals indicated that quite a number of guests were opting to ‘lie low’, rather than struggle and stumble along the corridors and face the prospect of food. Day 12 Saturday, 5 November 2022 Wind force 7, Sea state– rough AT SEA Petrel Blue Petrel

16 Skua Skua Conditions remained much the same as the previous day. From vantage points within the ship, we observed Blue Petrels and Southern Fulmars whizzing past the bay windows of the bar, like snow flurries. Cape Petrels with their black and white chessboard plumage, soared too and fro, enjoying the high winds and big waves. White-Chinned and Giant Petrels, Black-Browed and Light-Mantled Sooty Albatross added to the bird medley. The birding highlight of today were the rarely seen Antarctic Petrels, gliding along at eye -level. Day 13 Sunday, 6 November 2022 Wind force 8, Sea state - rough AT SEA Nature continued showing us its might as we progressed on the long passage from South Georgia to Antarctica. While listening to a talk on Antarctic Krill and its importance in the Antarctic ecosystem, we approached a giant tabular iceberg, Penguins and their chicks named A76. Currently the largest freefloating iceberg at around 160 km long and 25 km wide. It measured around 4320 Sq.km when it calved (broke off) from the Ronne Ice Shelf in mid-May 2021. It was a spectacular site, as it emerged through the mist, its ice cliff estimated at about 150 ft high. That only 10% of an iceberg sits above the water surface made it more stupefying. For over an hour, we sailed parallel to this colossal beast. The big swell crashing against this massive wall of ice rebounded, causing a very confused sea state to navigate through. It made the spotting of small but dangerous chunks of ice, called growlers, a challenge to navigate. All of this put together – the raw power of nature, afforded a sight both breath-taking as well as humbling. A76 – Giant Tabular Iceberg

SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #43 | JANUARY 2023 17 Late afternoon we heard a talk on Henry Shackleton, dubbed an explorer by the British. He massacred whales by the 1000’s in the early 1900’s, setting up numerous whaling stations in Antarctica to extract oil and blubber. For trade (and profit). For which he was promptly knighted and declared a pioneering hero. It seems to run through British blood to exploit, ravage and destroy - and then declare these deeds as heroic. Amundsen, Peary, Edmund Hillary – all explorers. None of these massacred other living beings to attain their goals. Day 14 Monday, 7 November 2022 Wind force 9, Sea state – rough AT SEA – PASSING ELEPHANT ISLAND Elephant Island The ship had crossed the 60th parallel of latitude at night. Since this marked the geographical boundary of Antarctica, we had officially arrived in the “Great White South.” Clocks were set back by 1 hour. The vast menacing glaciers and black rock mass of Elephant Island loomed on the horizon. Gale force winds tossed the Ortelius around causing it to pitch into the very choppy waters, spray slamming the decks. The vessel’s speed dropped as it navigated large lumps of hazardous ice, difficult to spot in the heavy swells.

18 Day 15 Tuesday, 8 November 2022 Wind force 7, Sea state – slight ANTARCTIC SOUND AND DEVIL ISLAND, ANTARCTICA Brown Bluff in Antarctic Sound was the venue for today’s off-shore expedition. However, the sea God’s flexed their Elephant & Fur Seals muscles and conditions turned stormy. The Captain actioned ‘Plan B’, changed course and we made our way to ‘Devil Island’. Sailing through the Antarctic Sound we encountered large stretches of sea ice on which we spotted Fur, Crabeater, Leopard seals and numerous bird species in large numbers. It had begun snowing and so windy was it that the snowflakes were doing a mad dance, swirling round and round and then upward. Both sides of the ship were bordered by enormous glaciers. Absolutely stunning icy-blue at the base, the middles and tops snowy white, with deep icy-blue veins cutting through them. Simply spectacular!! Smaller Large stretches of sea ice/glaciers

SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #43 | JANUARY 2023 19 ice-floes, as in smaller compared to the massive glaciers, floated by, looking like origami cut outs, foamy waters smashing into them, throwing up swathes of what look like white paint. Reminiscent of Hokusai’s waves. Through my binoculars, in the distant rocky terrain could be seen 1000’s of penguins on the craggy rock cliffs. Penguins in orderly straight files, as if waiting in a school line, penguins in groups, seemingly handing out and chilling (ha ha!!), in hurdles, or simply flopped onto their bellies. Scanning these floes and glaciers, something stunning caught my eye. A frozen waterfall. Which, from this distance, seemed not to be cascading down, but rather, the other way – solid at the bottom and spray at the top. SPECTACULAR!! All this I witnessed out on the deck. Not able to take photos with my gloves on, my hands and fingers were completely numb from the icy winds and snow. Afternoon saw us headed to Devil Island, named for its 2 horn-shaped peaks which resembled the devil’s horns. The entire island was snow clad, save a few patches of bare brown ground, showing defiantly through the white. The Ocean wide expedition team had chipped away at a vertical ledge of snow, carving steps into it with a rope on one side, to haul oneself up with. Refusing this challenge, Urvi and I opted to return to base. Given that we could go back at a leisurely pace, Alan, our pilot, stirred the zodiac to an Adelie penguin, all of 15-18 inches, staring back at us as intently. Figuring that we were of no use to it, or a threat, it hopped away, head down, flippers flapping, on its way to its next pit stop. We were among stunning icefloes, each with its own unique patterns of deep icy-blue slashes criss-crossing within it, much like geometric jigsaw puzzles. So clean and pure were the waters that we could see right to the bottom!! Back on board and out of our “prison” outfits, I headed to a very empty and quiet bar for a cup of hot-chocolate and a nibble to revive my frozen self. FACTOID: The freeze was so severe that icicles had formed on the ships railings. While, in the zodiacs, the spray that rose from the waves, turned into ice as it fell into the rafts. Ice formed on our waterproof jackets as water spray hit us. Day 16 Wednesday, 9 November 2022 Wind force 1, Sea state – slight BROWN BLUFF and PAULET ISLAND Kelp Gulls A 4.30 am wake up call. And the living dead arose! Including me. Landing on the stony beach at Brown Bluff we encountered 1000’s of breeding Adelie Penguins. And Gentoos too. Snowy Sheathbills, Arctic Skua, Kelp Gulls and Snow Petrels nesting in crevices in the snow-free areas of rock, flew overhead. A beautiful scene

20 of Antarctic wilderness. On our way to our next off-shore, Paulet Island, we were mesmerised by breath-taking scenery with glossy calm waters and towering tabular icebergs. The island, dusted with a fresh frosting of snow, was home to a 100,000 pair strong colony of Adelie Penguins. Gentoos, Antarctic Shag (aka blue-eyed cormorants) and Weddell Seals mingled with the Adelies. These little Adelies were a sheer delight to watch. They were like little clockwork toys, and I wasn’t the only one who so longed to pick up a couple and take them back home. Their polka-dot-like black eyes were ringed by a circle of white. They had the cutest of walks – flippers out, they waddled away on their 3-toed pink feet. In the nestery, where their squawking rose to unbelievable crescendos, many were busy hopping around, heads down searching for stones and pebbles. The right ones. Finding one, they would pick it up, waddle back to their nest, place it there and head back to hunt for the next stone or pebble. Back and forth, back and forth. In that thick crowd, we chanced upon something very amusing. One little guy would drop a pebble in his “space” and go back to forage for the next. As soon as his back was turned, another clever little fellow would promptly pick up the pebble in his beak and run back to deposit it in his nest. The first one kept at his task innocently as did the other one, Adelic Penguines Day 17 Thursday 10 November 2022 Wind force - 6-7, Sea state - moderate HALF-MOON ISLAND, EDINBURGH HILL AND DISCOVERY BAY Adelic Penguines Sunshine bathed Half-Moon Island with its magnificent backdrop of snow-covered jagged mountains. King Penguin on its stomach With the wind gusting at 40-50 knots, the zodiacs ferried the passengers to HalfMoon Island. Long lens cameras with their rapid-fire shooting caught Chinstrap Penguins and a few lounging seals. In a cleverly. Little crook!! The weather, for a change, decided to humour us and was copy-book perfect. What a satisfying day. One of the loveliest. Of course, that is not to say it wasn’t cold. It was. Freezing. Numb hands and fingers. But then this is the Frozen Continent. Right?

SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #43 | JANUARY 2023 21 Day 18 Friday, 11 November 2022 Wind force – 7-8, Weather – Snow DECEPTION ISLAND Our final day in the South Shetlands saw us sailing through a very narrow, spectacular passage called “Neptunes Bellows” into the flooded caldera of the island. The volcano of the island is still active with geothermal activity present inside the caldera. The sea water temperature around here can reach 70˚C. very short time, however, the Captain called the zodiacs back to the ship as the weather Gods whipped up their wind dance. Chinstrap Penguins Deception Island Bleached whale bones and rusted oil tanks, among other artifacts lay on the volcanic black sand beach. Large patches of Krill, fried by the high water temperatures lay scattered amidst the Chinstraps, Gentoos and Adelies. Moving out into the Bransfield Strait, we were lucky to encounter several Fin Whales, the second largest animal on the planet – average size being 70 ft and weight 45 tons. A fitting end to the day. The wind had picked up considerably as the Ortelius turned North to journey towards Drake’s Passage. Day 19 Saturday, 12 November Wind force 7, sea state – moderate AT SEA – DRAKES PASSAGE Drake’s Passage is known to be the most dangerous and treacherous sea stretch in the world. It is said that if you are lucky, you will sail through “Drakes Lake” (calm waters). If not, you will experience “Drake’s Shake” which means, go through a nightmare of stormy and violent weather. We were lucky to sail through a calm passage (already having survived 3 hurricanes). A few fortunate passengers caught glimpses of Humpback Whales and very distant whale blows. Calm seas and a relaxed second last day saw the bar at peak attendance starting early evening. The mood was “elation” and the bar was swinging. Day 20 Sunday, 13 November 2022 Wind force – 2, Sea state - Calm AT SEA – DRAKES PASSAGE The most notorious body of water in the world was in a quiet, gentle mood. The sun shone down, and the temperature showed 12˚C. We had crossed the Antarctic Convergence and returned to a more temperate region. As Cape Horn appeared on the horizon, bird life increased, and we had a neverending escort of sea-birds. Magical!!

22 Graffiti on a wall in Ushuaia Day 21 Monday, 14 November Wind force 1, Sea – calm USHUAIA The Ortelius had docked in Ushuaia at night. The ‘End of the World’, or Ushuaia as it is named, is located at the southernmost tip of Argentina. Here is where our journey ended. Our adventureof-a-lifetime had ended. The last 20 days had seen a gradual blossoming of friendships. Cards and cell numbers exchanged, promises to keep in touch mode. Hugs and kisses rent the air. End of a dream come true. One more scored off my bucket list. I walked off the dock not only with loads of photographs but also a treasury of memories. Spectacular nature, its mindnumbing raw power. The marvels of God’s creation had me overawed as well as humbled. The ‘Frozen Continent’ is truly magnificent. Untouched, raw beauty. Antartica is clearly victim to ‘God Proposes, Man Disposes’ . Our actions and deeds, with unabated air, sea and waste pollution, are bound to have far-reaching and very, very extreme consequences in Antarctica as well as the Arctic. We, the SENIORS, will escape witnessing the unconquerable and unimaginable fury of nature unleashed in all its raw power. But what future will our beloved grandchildren inherit from our lifestyles? And actions??

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24 First Person It’s that time of the year again, when making New Year resolutions is a part of fashionable conversation. When you are between 20 and 30, it’s all very well wanting to make a New Year resolutions on quitting smoking, quitting alcohol, exercising and giving up some habit or the other. Between 30 and 40 these resolutions persist and you add a few more on eating correctly, choosing a spouse, career path, family etc. etc. Between 40 and 50 drinking becomes a serious problem, diet, weight control, exercising and sex life are on priority and new resolutions are drawn up. Between 50 and 60 the priorities are all changed, health, money, retirement, family issues, takeover people’s life and the New Year resolution is not a subject on the radar. It’s that time of the year again, when making New Year resolutions is a part of fashionable conversation, writes Vickram Sethi “New Year Resolutions” So why do we make New Year resolutions? It’s a symbolic fresh start to assess our priorities, values and hopes for the future. It’s also the time when millions make resolutions, setting goals for the future. Some of these resolutions don’t last beyond January, especially the ones to quit drinking, smoking and diet. They are all great ideas and everyone has big plans to transform their lives but the harsh reality is that most people will be unsuccessful. Some of these resolutions are very celebrity inspired, people with seemingly perfect body and perfect lives that are thrust upon us at every opportunity by Media and we are told time and again that these are the ideal people. We put these people on the pedestal, compare our lives with theirs and find that we are not good enough.

SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #43 | JANUARY 2023 25 So, when New Year comes, we decide to make an appropriate changes to mimic their life style and appearances, our reasoning is built on this false notion of perfection and Media messages that encourage us to be people we are not. We don’t consider what we want and what is important to us and neither do we have a solid reason to get on particular diet or an exercise plan. After a few weeks of trying to keep up this façade, we cave in and get back to our old ways. When you are older and wiser you let go of the idea of perfection, it’s an illusion, a fictional story that has been made up. The perfect celebrity body has been photo shopped and the apparently perfect lifestyle, still has struggles and issues for sure. We see a warped view of what’s really going on, we get a neatly packaged narrative as opposed to the rough edge reality. As we get wiser, we understand, who we are and embrace our imperfections. We make a few changes and become better versions for ourselves and not waste time trying to be a second rate version of someone else. It’s okay not to be perfect, it means you are human. At 60 our needs and requirements change completely, we all have our values, things that are important to us. For some of us it is health and family. For others it is wealth and business. You are at a stage, when you value your family and friends above all. They come first and even before your own needs. Recently you have started to experience a few health problems and you figure out that you should make a few changes to be a bit healthier and you don’t need a New Year resolution to decide on these changes. None of us has an exact same value system as another, and our values can evolve and change throughout our lives. Sometimes, we get so disconnected from ourselves, we forget what we really care about and at this stage the Doctor probably asks questions about how you spend your time, how do you fill your space, are you reasonably organised and inspired. What would you do if money was not an issue, when you are clear what you stand for, you can than relate the changes you want to make to your values, your life and increase your chances of success. Again let’s look at a person whose top of priorities is family but they also want to exercise regularly for their own health instead of setting the goal with sole purpose of being healthier. They link these goals

26 with other family priorities. Sometimes, family issues do not go the way you want them to be or as per your plan and you fail to meet a goal and you experience a hit your self-confidence and may blame yourself for what you’re perceived as failure, emotional reappraisal can help you find a new route. Once you set a goal and discover that it’s not a good fit, you don’t have to cling to it. Macro goals are larger overall goals and micro goals are smaller goals and more immediate. We find ways on what we need to do to achieve these goals rather than focusing on the goal itself. I am a big fan of a gratitude journal, two bouts of COVID helped write this journal. Thankful for all the good things that happened to me, I keep making weekly resolutions on exercising, losing weight and connecting with the family. To change any goal into New Year resolutions is a recipe for disaster. When you are young you want a magic wand or a special pill that will take you from where you are right now to where you want to be. We want that quick fix for better or worse. Things rarely work like that. For most of us lifelong habits that have been ingrained over the years are not easy to drop. This habit change takes a lot of work, whether it’s your relationship with alcohol, cigarettes or weight loss, take it easy, instead of looking for quick fix and making big jumps. Be patient, commit to the long haul and build gradually and don’t forget to enjoy the journey. Nothing sums it up better than George Michael’s immortal song “Last Christmas I gave you my heart and the very next day you gave it away” Happy New Year

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28 Alaimentary Procrastination is a much maligned attribute that I would not consider undesirable, contrary to the world view. It basically means putting off something intentionally or habitually. I would say that “intentionally” intrinsically is driven by some rationale and “habitually” is a consistency of behaviour brought about by ‘decision and action’ based on that rationale. The entrenched negativism towards procrastination could be probably to do with the relative time frames of different people in decision and action, whether in personal or professional lives. It is but natural for a person of speed to think poorly of a person of pause. The effect of either’s behaviour can only be felt in the future and the success or failure of either lead to either encomiums or censure of the procrastination which in turn makes it a virtue or a vice in peoples’ eyes. Procrastination is a much maligned attribute that I would not consider undesirable, contrary to the world view, writes Nagesh Alai Pause and Pursue I should confess that this attribute of procrastination is quite entrenched in me, but I would also say that I have had happier effects than unhappier ones as a result of this attribute, both on the professional and personal front. Unfazed by the inevitable pressure of deadlines for any decision and action, the quality of the final product and the beneficence of the execution has been far superior than I could have probably imagined. In very many cases of my speed of action, I have had to regret and rue. Pause is indeed welcome rather than speed. To bring it alive, let me share a few experiences. During my growing up financially independent days in the 1980s, there was a galore of investment options and schemes. I was excited, unthinkingly I should say in hindsight, by the teak plantation and holiday timeshare

SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #43 | JANUARY 2023 29 investment schemes. Both had the investment potential in them on the face of it and I rushed into them based on the information leaflets, driven by immaturity and greed rather than doing my homework and mulling. In those days, there was no on-the-platter Google information to give you any insights or wisdom. Suffice it to say, I lost my investments completely. Contrastingly, in the case of public issues ( IPOs) and retail share investing ( in those days, except for UTI there were no mutual funds ), I devoted enough time and effort and researching the companies, their balance sheets, market share, potential, expansion plans, etc. before I invested in them. This ‘pause and pursue’ approach based on solid rationale, which pejoratively get termed as procrastination, has paid me richer and assured dividends, pun intended. So, has been my approach in my corporate and professional career of near 5 decades. Less to ruminate, more to celebrate, as I look back. On the flip side, some of my indulgences which turned into obsessions and consequent stress were due to the absence of this ‘pause and pursue’. The corporate world is surfeit of failed expansions/acquisitions as a result of lack of ‘pause and pursue’ approach by irrationally and exuberantly giving into the so called ‘strike while the iron is hot’ mould, only to regret at leisure. Almost all of them have been due to the absence of doing a deep dive across the key metrics. Some notable examples are Time Warner and AOL (America Online), Daimler -Benz and Chrysler, Microsoft and Nokia, Google and Motorola. Closer home, we have the examples of, to name a few, Tata Steel – Corus, RCom and Aircel, Bharti Airtel and Zain, Tata Tele and DoCoMo. The reasons for these failures are aplenty, but it does point out to a hurry and burry and lack of adequate due diligence and long term thinking. Take the case of Arjuna. At the crucial stage of the Kurukshetra battle, he hesitated and stalled, not being sure if he was doing the right or the wrong thing. It was certainly not because of cowardice, but more to do with the need for the war and its aftermath. It was at this instant that Krishna counselled him and imparted wisdom about life itself and how to approach it. If it were not for Arjuna pressing the ‘pause and pursue’ button at the crucial juncture, mankind probably would not have benefitted from Krishna’s pearls of wisdom in Bhagavat Gita, which makes for meaningful and mindful living. Rama could not have emerged victorious over the formidable Ravana, without pausing, planning and deep thinking before waging the war. It was about

30 striking at the right time, neither before or belatedly, which ensured the victory. The recent epidemic scourge in Covid saw different countries and different people reacting and responding differently. This was a case where both the basis of thought and the speed of action were necessary for an effective containment. Most are aware of countries and people who failed miserably in containing it because of unthoughtful actions and bravura and those who succeeded because of the ‘pause and pursue’ and cautiousness in approach. While we can get into endless such examples, the key elements in life and living are prayatna (efforts), kaal (time) and daiva (God or Supreme or Cosmos). Nothing can be achieved without the right self-effort; nothing can be achieved before the right time and nothing can bear fruition without divine intervention. In the course of my discussions with some smart and bright NxtGen in the corporate world, a differentiated insight that I got was that procrastination could be a good personal trait, but not necessarily Aptly, it is the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti (Makar means Capricorn and Sankranti means the transition of the Sun to Capricorn in its journey to the northern hemisphere) and relates to the consequent change of weather. Makar Sankranti heralds the end of winter and the advent of spring. It marks the beginning of the harvest season when the new crops are worshipped and shared. The essence of the festival is captured in people wishing each other a good harvest – agriculturally and metaphorically. It is celebrated across India in various forms with a common thread sewing it together. “Sow well, harvest bountifully” is the true spirit behind the “pause and pursue” way of life. Happy Makar Sankranti. good for the team. It did take me back to my own corporate times, both as an underling and as an upper echelon with markedly different perceptions and perspectives whilst at those levels. A nuanced observation indeed, but enough to want us to ruminate and come to our own conclusions – in any walk of life.

SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #43 | JANUARY 2023 31 Health Grey hair, fine lines on the face, papery skin, the number of candles on a birthday cake – that’s what most people associate ageing with; a number, indicating the passage of time since your birth. Is it really that simple, though? In fact, it isn’t. We now recognize ageing to be of different types – namely, chronological and biological. Chronological age: The amount of time that has passed from your birth till date. Easy to determine, one you don’t have to think twice about. Biological age: This refers to how old your body tissues and cells are, based on physiological evidence. It depends on various factors, and is more accurate in predicting morbidity and mortality. Factors affecting Chronological age: Dr Nandini Saini spells out the difference in chronological and biological ageing with points on how we can stay younger – biologically The A to Z of Ageing Time – It is simply the number of years passing since your birth. Not affected by your environment or your lifestyle. Biological age: Genetics There are certain genes which determine age related traits, variations in these could affect you positively or negatively. Biomarkers Certain biomarkers are associated with faster ageing, like fasting glucose, cortisol, LDH, CRP. Diet A healthy diet lowers the biological age. The difference is more apparent in cases of chronic illnesses, obesity, and history of family disease. Studies also found that females were more particular about diets, than men. Exercise Studies found that people leading an active

32 lifestyle, exercising in some manner, had a lower biological age. Smoking Smoking has long been associated with increased morbidity and mortality; it is also known to increase the biological age. Fortunately, the changes are reversible, as found by studies conducted on former smokers, current smokers and nonsmokers. While the current smokers showed an increased biological age, there wasn’t much difference between the nonsmokers and people who had given up smoking. Sleeping habits Insomnia, reduced sleep, odd sleeping hours, all take a toll on our health, and increase bio age too. Whether it is the quality of sleep, or quantity, it will affect the biological age negatively. Correcting your sleeping habits can, however, reverse the process. Stress Stress, for obvious reasons, can cause biological age to increase. The effect, however, seems to be reversible. A study observed an increase in the biological age, when the body was exposed to stress due to infections, Covid, trauma. Though the bio age increased drastically when the body was under stress; however, once the stressful circumstances were removed, it reverted to the previous number. Environmental factors Where you live, work, the air around you, the pollution, all exposes you to toxic elements which affect biological age, increasing it. Unfortunately, not all of them can be removed from your life; however, you can counter it by taking a few protective steps. Determining your age Determining bio age requires study of two things: 1. Telomeres (part of chromosomes) Chromosomes are the building blocks of DNA, present on each strand. At the end of each chromosome is a structure called telomere, which reduces in length as the biological age increases. Measuring the telomere can give an indication of your biological age. 2. DNA methylation (how your DNA is ageing)

SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #43 | JANUARY 2023 33 Our body’s DNA is made of genes, and at any given point of time, there are some genes which are expressed, while others are dormant. The process of expressing genes, and making others dormant, is called methylation. Ageing causes a lot of changes in the methylation process. Studies have used this to make fairly accurate age predictors, called epigenetic clock. Supporting a healthy bio age 1. Exercise Exercise is, of course, very good for the body. It can also help lowering the bio age. Weight training, especially, is recommended by experts, as it helps build muscles, reduces free radicals and increases blood flow – all of this aids in reducing the biological age. Cardio exercises, like CrossFit, help in reducing weight as well as strengthening heart and lung muscles. Exercises like cycling and swimming keep you supple; researchers also found that these people had higher levels of T cells, responsible for good immunity. 2. Move Around It has been found that a sedentary lifestyle and a job that has you sitting at the desk for seven hours or more, can increase your biological age by almost 8 years. So move around, take an hourly break, a short walk. Practice stretches, not only do they help relax you mentally, they’re good for a supple and young body. 3. Do not overdo it. Pushing yourself daily into a strenuous routine can be detrimental; instead, try to exercise moderately, 45 minutes, 5 days a week or so… exercising in moderation can reduce your biological age by 9 years. Try combining various forms of exercise… CrossFit, cardio, cycling, etc. 4. Take your beauty sleep An adult requires close to 8 hours of sleep daily, to have a fresh mind and healthy body. Anything less than that can prove harmful. Studies have found that decreased sleep can leave you vulnerable to chronic diseases like diabetes, and can increase biological age, especially that of the heart, by five years. 5. Avoid Stress Stress has been known to increase your biological age exponentially. Studies show that stress redoes the length of telomeres, as well as increases free radicals in the body. Try to avoid stressful situations, whether at home or work. Try meditation and yoga to help you manage stress. Approach a physician, if you feel you require medical attention. 6. Maintain a healthy weight Overweight people tend to be vulnerable to chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension etc., which take a toll on the biological age. Underweight people, too, can have low immunity, leaving them susceptible to infections. Try maintaining a weight suited to your height and age. 7. Maintain your body shape Your body shape can determine your health- the manner in which the body distributes weight makes a difference ● Apple shaped body - the fat is concentrated on the waist and abdomen. This shape is unhealthy and can increase cardiac diseases. ● Pear shaped body – The fat is distributed to the hips and thighs. This is a healthier body shape to maintain.

34 8. Maintain a healthy diet A healthy diet does wonders for your body, keeping you young, with good immunity and the strength to fight diseases. A combination of proteins, carbs, fats, minerals and vitamins is a must. A few more pointers: ● Include foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids, such as oily fish, nuts, and seeds and avocado. These fatty acids are known to fight free radicals. They also have antiinflammatory properties and help maintain biological age. ● Try adopting the Mediterranean diet; it’s by far one of the techiest diets for with loss. Studies show that the Mediterranean diet, if followed correctly, can reduce biological age by about 15 %. ● Ginger and turmeric are known for their anti-inflammatory properties and should be a part of your diet. ● Probiotics help in maintaining your gut flora, which is very essential for good health. Have a healthy helping of curds daily, to help this flora flourish. ● Antioxidants counter the effects of oxidation in the body, keeping it young and, in turn, maintaining the biological age. Most green vegetables are rich in antioxidants, and should form a part of your daily meals. ● It has been noted that certain nutrients like Vit B12, B6, and folate are fundamental in keeping the methylation process normal. It is suggested that including foods rich in these nutrients could help reduce or maintain biological age. ● Choose foods with a low glycemic index. Not only are they easier to digest, they also strengthen the bones and tissues of the body. Include fruits, low fat dairy products in your meals. Equally, try to avoid fast food and processed foods, as they unnecessarily increase your blood sugar levels. At the end of the day, everyone ages. It is up to us to take steps to see that our biological age is less than our chronological one, so we can all lead a healthy life.

SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #43 | JANUARY 2023 35 Tribute Pelé, soccer’s first global superstar, died at the age of 82. To many fans, the Brazilian will be remembered as the best to have ever played the game. For others it goes further: He was the symbol of soccer played with passion, gusto and a smile. Indeed, he helped to forge an image of the game, which even today lots of people continue to crave. Pelé wasn’t just a great player and a wonderful ambassador for the world’s favourite game; he was a cultural icon. Indeed, he remains the face of a purity in soccer that existed long before big money and global geopolitics infiltrated the game. It is testament to his legend that everyone from English 1966 World Cup winner, Sir Bobby Charlton and current French superstar Kylian Mbappé to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva – the former and incoming president of Brazil – and former U.S. President Barack Obama have led tributes to him. Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pelé wasn’t just a great player, he remains the face of a purity in soccer, writes Simon Chadwick RIP, Pelé. Soccer superstar, cultural icon Early days at Santos Pelé was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento in Sao Paulo state, Brazil in 1940. His early years were the same as many soccer players who preceded him and countless who then followed and were inspired by him: born into poverty, introduced to the game by a family member, later becoming obsessed by a sport that taught him about life and gave him opportunities. Youth team football came first, in 1953, when he signed for his local club, Bauru. But it was his first professional club, Santos that propelled Pelé toward stardom. Having moved there in 1956, he played 638 matches and scored 618 goals before leaving in 1974. Not just the beating heart of the team, Pelé was also an immense, oneclub loyalist. Long before the feats of modern-day stars Cristiano Ronaldo or Erling Haaland, Pelé

36 the Brazilian when presenting him with a Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award, in 2000. Pelé’s talent has never been in doubt. Yet it was fortuitous that he played at a time when soccer was emerging from the shadows cast by global conflict, when the world needed symbols of hope and sporting heroes. The Brazilian was able to serve this purpose, though he did so during a period when television – first black-and-white, then color – brought soccer directly into people’s living rooms. At the time, Pelé was Messi, Ronaldo and Mbappé rolled into one – made globally consumable by this new technology. Inevitably, during his life, Pelé encountered problems: his commercial activities were sometimes mired in controversy; at one stage he was labeled a left-wing antagonist of the Brazilian government, then was later described as being too conservative in his views of the Brazilian dictatorship. He had numerous children – some the result of affairs – and one of them, a son, Edinho, was sent to prison for laundering money made from drug deals. However, the abiding memory is of a man who played soccer in a way that many of us – both amateurs and professionals – have all aspired to. Pelé was not only skillful, he also brought great joy to innumerable people across the world, over a period of decades. For all of us, even those with just the slightest interest in football, we will never forget him. Simon Chadwick is Professor of Sport and Geopolitical Economy at the SKEMA Business School. Republished with permission from: theconversation.com blazed a goal-scoring trail that marked him out as being significantly different to other players around him. Similarly, he displayed levels of skill which even today mean that some observers of the game place the Brazilian ahead of the likes of other contenders for the title of Greatest of All Time: Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona. Within a year of signing for Santos, Pelé made his debut for Brazil, three months short of his 17th birthday. He scored in that game against Argentina, and 65 years later he remains the Brazilian national team’s youngest-ever scorer. A year later, in 1958, this young player helped his national team win the World Cup in Sweden. Then again in 1962, at the World Cup in Chile, and once more at the 1970 tournament in Mexico. Ultimately, Pelé played 92 times for Brazil, scoring 77 goals. By comparison, England’s Harry Kane has scored 53 times in 80 matches. In addition to his national team achievements, for his club Pelé won six Brazilian league titles and two South American championships. The American years Later, in 1975, he came out of semiretirement to play for the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League. By then, Pelé was in his mid-30s but still managed to score 37 goals in 64 matches. Some believe that it was his brief stint playing in the United States that kickstarted the country’s interest in football. After his retirement, Pelé was venerated, adored and remained influential. He became FIFA’s Player of the 20th century, an award he shared with Maradona. In 2014, he was given FIFA’s first ever Ballon d’Or Prix d’Honneur and even Nelson Mandela spoke of his regard for

SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #43 | JANUARY 2023 37 Spotlight Prem Sagar calls his father a ‘maharishi,’ but he definitely was a television pioneer, writes Deepa Gahlot On January 25, 1987, Ramayan started its telecast on Doordarshan and broke all viewership records. Mythologicals that had once been a cinema staple had fallen out of fashion by then, and nobody expected that a TV serial would tap into the religiosity that has always been part of Hindu culture, seen in the way festivals are celebrated and rituals followed. When it was telecast at 9 am on Sunday mornings, people would bathe and garland their TV sets before sitting down to watch, with reverence. It was reported that streets used to deserted and shops remained shut till the episode ended; no functions were scheduled at that time, and in one incident, perhaps apocryphal, a bride held up her wedding till the show ended, because she did not want to miss an episode. Created, written and directed by Ramanand Sagar, Ramayan became the most watched serial in the world. Primitive technology by Ramanand Sagar: From Movie Mogul to TV Czar today’s standards, garish sets and costumes inspired by calendar images and Amar Chitra Katha comics, the serial followed the story the way it is imprinted in the minds of Indians, with no attempt to veer from the folkloric element, or reinterpret it to suit a modern sensibility. It didn’t matter to viewers then, and does not matter now, even after more sophisticated serials beam on satellite television and OTT platforms. Every time the serial has been re-telecast, it has got a huge number of viewers, reportedly more than Game Of Thrones. Ramayan ran for just 78 episodes, but its impact and recall value is such that even today, as Arun Govil who played Lord Ram, said in an interview, people touch his feet, like they used to do when the show was running. Deepika Chikhlia who had played Sita and Arvind ‘Raavan’ Trivedi had won assembly elections from constituencies in Gujarat riding on the popularity of Ramayan.

38 Ramanand Sagar’s son Prem Sagar, who wrote a bestselling biography of his father, An Epic Life Ramanand Sagar from Barsaat to Ramayan, says that he is the modern-day Tulsidas - he was destined to make this serial and take the story of the Indian epic across the world. Prem says that there are several versions of the Ramayan, the most wellknown being those written by Valmiki (in verse) and Tulsidas (in colloquial language); in every age, whenever it is needed, a new version is created-- it fell on Ram devotee Ramanand Sagar to take the message of the epic to people in this era, when Sanatan Dharma or righteousness is required. A son’s tribute to his father The story of Sagar’s life as encapsulated in the book, could not have been easily imagined by a fiction writer. It is full of astonishing ups and downs, tragedies and triumphs—all of which, writes Prem Sagar, were part of a divine plan to enable his father to create Prem Sagar recalls that when they were in Europe, shooting for their production, Charas (1976), they stopped for refreshments at a tiny pub, and the French owner wheeled out a large box and turned it on to play a film. It was the first time they had seen a colour TV. His father looked at it thoughtfully, and remarked that he would henceforth make TV serials. It was at the peak of his movie career then, as screenwriter, producer and director, but he had anticipated the power of the nascent medium. Everyone thought it was unwise to give up making movies for television and the initial days of dealing with state-controlled Doordarshan were fraught with problems. Born Chandramouli Chopra to a wealthy Punjabi family in Lahore, and renamed Ramanand, which was prophetic; the suffix Sagar he picked himself when his future would take him to Bombay and he would see the ocean for the first time. Sagar was raised by his maternal grandmother, who ill-treated him. In spite of a tumultuous childhood spent in Lahore and Kashmir, he excelled at studies and showed a talent for writing. When he was hospitalized for tuberculosis, at the age of 24, he wrote a series of articles for Adab-e-Mashriq, a local paper, titled Maut Ke Bistar Se, which turned out to be very popular. Unbeknownst to him, his writings in newspapers and magazines had made him quite a literary star. In Lahore, he did odd jobs, and even worked as a clapper boy on a film called Raiders Of The Rail Road (1936), before his life was upended again—the Partition took place, and the family had to move to India. Sagar was married by then, to Leelawati (their names combined spell Ramleela, points out Prem), and a father to three sons already (two sons the television show. A series of coincidences-- like all the people close to him being named after deities-- several encounters with holy men, and astrological predictions that foresaw that he was on a mission linked to a revival of the religious epic for the electronic age. The ‘maharishi’ Ramanand Sagar

SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #43 | JANUARY 2023 39 and a daughter were born later), when they had to leave everything behind and restart their lives from scratch. He wrote about the Partition tragedy in a book, Aur Insaan Mar Gaya, which is considered a classic. Prem has written about an incident when the family of 13 reached the airport, where military airplanes were evacuating refugees. They could carry only their meagre belongings, as no luggage was allowed on the plane. Sagar was carrying a trunk on his head. The harried army man controlling the evacuees angrily told him he could not take it aboard, and kicked it. It opened to reveal pages of his writings, which, he told the officer, was his only wealth. The man had read Sagar’s pieces and understood the value of the words in that truck. He apologised and permitted Sagar to take his precious cargo. Settling in Delhi was a struggle all refugees from Pakistan had to go through. His fame in literary circles was not enough to offer a life of comfort to his large brood. The film industry was growing in Bombay, and drew Sagar to the city to try his luck in the movies. For a while he shared modest lodgings with Dev Anand and Madan Mohan. His acquaintance with Prithviraj Kapoor gave him an opportunity to write two plays for his touring company, Prithvi Theatres, which eventually led to Sagar writing Barsaat (1949) for Raj Kapoor, which was a hit, establishing his RK banner, and starting Sagar on the road to a career as a writer and later, a filmmaker with his own Sagar Arts banner, founded in 1950. His first two films, Mehmaan (1953) and Bazooband (1954) were flops that sent him back to square one, but films based on his scripts were hits. His career as a director was rescued to some extent with Ghoonghat (1960) and Zindagi (1964), but zoomed with the massive success of Arzoo (1965). Films like Aankhen, Geet, Lalkar, Charas were money spinners and award winners. Films like Aankhen were money spinners and award winners By this time, the family had settled in a large bungalow called Sagar Villa in the Mumbai suburb of Juhu, where many film industry folk built their lavish homes. Sagar was famous for his hospitality, and their home was known for hosting many artistes, musicians, politicians; and with a large joint family living under one roof, the kitchen was always busy. Prem Sagar mentions his father’s many encounters with holy men and astrologers, all of whom predicted his great success and spiritual mission. He also mentions a cow giving birth outside the gate of Sagar Villa that was considered auspicious. Taking up the production of Ramayan at the age of 70 was, Prem believes, the fulfillment of his father’s destiny. However, getting Doordarshan to pass the serial and any corporate to sponsor it was an uphill task. Nobody believed that a

40 “mooch-mukut” (moustache-crown) serial would be accepted by viewers. It was then decided to launch a test project to see how it went, inspired by the idea of sneak peeks in Hollywood. With a laughably small budget of Rs One Lakh per episode, offered by RS Agarwal of Emami, they made Vikram Aur Betaal. Prem Sagar, an award-winning cinematographer trained at the Film & Television Institute, found ways of shooting it on that shoestring budget, in their own home. With typical bureaucratic cussedness, DD gave it a Sunday 4 pm slot, when kids were out playing, and grown-ups napping. The serial turned out to be a hit, but the path to getting Ramayan off the ground was still rocky. Then Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, wanted DD to telecast serials that projected Indian values and culture. After cutting through tremendous red tape, Ramayan started production in Vrindavan Studio in Umargaon, with some actors from Vikram Aur Betaal being repeated, notably Arun Govil as Lord Ram. Ravindra Jain composed the music and when the title track Mangal Bhavan Amangal Haari, was heard, the country came to a standstill for 45 minutes. Even though it was a weekly show, shooting went on 24/7, and tapes were often delivered to DD at the last minute. An unknown town of Umargaon was put on the show business map, with fans descending on it like it were a pilgrim centre. Ramanand Sagar, as Prem notes, went from being a “Movie Moghul to TV Czar.” Mangal Bhavan Amangal Haari- an epic title track! According to information on the net, Ramayan had a viewership of 82 percent. The repeat telecast was aired on 20 different channels in 17 countries on all the five continents at different times. According to the BBC, the serial has been viewed by over 650 million viewers. The serial had to be extended by the original 52 to 78 episodes, by force of public opinion so that the entire story could be accommodated. When Ramayan was rerun in 2020 during the pandemic, it still broke viewership records with 77 million viewers on 16th April 2020. Prem sees the brothers—Subhash, Shanti, Anand, Moti and himself—as a kind of Vaanar Sena for their father, who was immersed in making the serial--driven by his faith that made him indefatigable. Prem, who spent a lot of time with his father and recorded his memories that went into the book, which is full of interesting anecdotes that also give a glimpse of life in the 20th century, and the way the film industry worked (like a closeknit family) and developed into Bollywood and branched into a home entertainment revolution. In spite of the several uprooting’s, it is wonderful to see how carefully photographs, documents and clippings were preserved by the Sagar family. The success of Ramayan had unintended consequences—media and political commentators believe that Rajiv Gandhi was, ironically, responsible for the resurgence of Hinduism and the rise of the BJP. Shri Krishna was also successful

SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #43 | JANUARY 2023 41 What it definitely did, was set off a trend of mythological and costume serials on television. Ramayan was followed by Mahabharat (produced by BR Chopra). Ramanand Sagar was keen on a trilogy on Lord Ram, Lord Krishna and Maa Durga. He did make Shri Krishna (1993), which was also successful, but rivals and political interference, allotted Durga to another production house, The Sagar banner, however, went on to make, between 1985- 2015 -- Luv Kush, Alif Laila, Ganga Maiya, Mahalaxmi, Dada Dadi Ki Kahaniyan, for DD; and for other satellite channels, Hatim, Sai Baba, Brahma Vishnu Mahesh, BBajrangbali, Chandragupta Maurya, Prithiraj Chauhan, Shani Dev to name a few. Prem Sagar calls his father a “maharishi,” but he definitely was a television pioneer. Ramanand Sagar had fulfilled the spiritual destiny that had been foretold for over the years! Top Five Ramanand Sagar Films Arzoo (1965): The love story starring Rajendra Kumar and Sadhana indianised An Affair To Remember (1957), in which a man tries to break off with the woman he met in Kashmir, because he loses his foot in an accident, but true love, accompanied by Shankar-Jaikishen’s haunting score, conquers all. Ankhen (1968): One of the earliest international espionage films, starring Dharmendra and Mala Sinha, it was shot on exotic locations in Japan and Lebanon, with plenty of action, Bond-inspired gizmos and fine music by Ravi. Geet (1970): A romantic melodrama, starring Rajendra Kumer and Mala Sinha, had memorable music by Kalyanji-Anandji, as it portrayed the romance between a city-based singer, bewitched by the flute-playing of a villager. Lalkar (1972): Set during World War II, this actionadventure had Rajendra Kumar and Dharmendra playing brothers, one in the air force and the other in the army, who take on the Japanese army in Burma. Mala Sinha and Kumkum played the female leads. Charas: (1976): Shot on picturesque European locations, this was one of the first films to focus on the drug trade, along with a romance and revenge plot, starring Dharmendra and Hema Malini, at the height of their off-screen romance. Ramanand Sagar Milestones Born: December 29, 1917 1949: Wrote Raj Kapoor’s Barsaat 1950: Established production company Sagar Art 1960: Filmfare Best Dialogue writer for Paigham 1969: Filmfare Best Director Award for Aankhen 2000: Awarded the Padmashri by the Government of India 2004: Indian Television Awards: Lifetime Contribution to Television Died: December 12, 2005 Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan became most watched television series in the world

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