Ugadi Sangamam Times

Volume 1, Issue 1

April 2008

Sangamam Times Invest in Old Friends - Vidya Tadanki Contributors: •

Vidya Tadanki

•

Yamini Chandar Roy

•

Saritha Dasari

•

Sridhar Babu

•

Jyothir Mai

•

Hari T.

•

Sri Lakshmi Sarath

•

Madhu Yetukuri

“One of the greatest titles we can have is "old friend". We never appreciate how important old friends are until we are older. The problem is we need to start our old friendships when we are young. We then have to nurture and grow those friendships over our middle age when a busy life and changing geographies can cause us to neglect those friends. Today is the day to invest in those people we hope will call us 'old friend" in the years to come.” Grant Fairley “Old Friend,” yes, aren’t we all of one another? Our friendships started way back in 1971 and continued till 1983, the year we passed out of High school. Some of these still continue to this day, standing the tests of time while, some have taken a back seat, in the hustle and bustle of our busy lives, To refresh our memories, Nirmala High School was first started on 17th June 1963.Then it had 196 students from Kindergarten to 3rd class. It all started in a cattle shed at Patamata center donated by a local benefactor Mr. Katragadda Raghuramaiah. The cattle shed was then replaced by a rented house and the school started its operations on 8th July of 1963. In 1964 the rented house was given up and the school moved to its present premises. The land on which the present school stands was bought from the Bishop.

Inside this issue: Joy of Giving

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Health Watch

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Travelogue

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Pictures

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Travelogue

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Beauty Spot

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Ugadi

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The buildings in which we attended our classes were designed by the Italian Br. Giani David. In 1964 the construction was completed and the present day school took its shape and started designing the destinies of its students. The first Headmistress was Sr. Lorenza. Then the strength of the school was increased to 500. In 1965 the school was recognized by the Dept Of Education. In 1969 Sr. Angelica Fernandez took over as the Second Head Mistress. She was a great Head Mistress who did the afternoon rounds with minimum of four scales and with her vision and dedication took the school to greater heights. The School had won an Award for the Best School in 1973 &1974 and Sr. Nancy took over and she remained our Head Mistress until we passed out. Twenty five years have passed since then. Come July It will be time to meet again –at our Silver Jubilee Reunion. ReunionWe all know what it implies. But why do we need to have a reunion? Twenty five years have passed without us thinking of any of our classmates. We have forgotten the names, the faces and sadly, even forgotten some of them completely. Then why rekindle those forgotten memories? We surely need to reawaken these memories, those times we spent for twelve long years in one building built not only with walls but with also our toothless grins. Contd. on p.8

Sangamam Times

Joy of Giving - Yamini Chandar Roy When Vidya wanted me to write as a Business Analyst for Sangamam Times, I was wondering as to the content that could really appeal to Nirmalites of 1983 batch… Well, I was contemplating on the following topics:

I am sure we can bring a smile to their faces and that, in my opinion, is the real joy of giving

Why one should invest in Gold even when an ounce costs over a grand? Why is the US economy spinning into a recession – Is this a temporary phenomenon or a permanent one? How should IT companies in India cope with the slow-down in the US economy? Why are crude oil prices so high? I thought of giving a simplified version as to what the possible answers could be to the above questions but then, are they not available on millions of websites? Nevertheless, please let me know if any of you want a simplified version of anything in the financial markets like ROI, bottom line, cost benefit ratios, portfolio management, net asset values, depreciation, etc. You can send me a private message and be rest assured about your anonymity. My column in Sangamam Times will have answers to all your questions.

Sai Vrindavan—The old age home

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Please remember our motto ‘Truth, Joy & Service”. I always believed in the cliché’ the true joy is in serving the needy. It is a myth that, “Unless we are rich enough we cannot serve the needy”. I firmly believe that in India there is no dearth for donors to give money for the right cause and especially if the people behind the cause are

credible. Having stated this, I will cite few examples to support my statement. In a remote village in Rajasthan, an elderly lady (aged 90) who belongs to Marwari community heard about a Ghoshala in Pilani. She went to the nearest post office and sent a donation of Rs.10,000 through a money order addressed to ‘Ghoshala, Pilani’. We had a group leader by the name of Dr.Subrata Ghoshal and that money landed right on his table. He inquired into the whole incident and personally went to the ghoshala and handed over the money to the right person. In another incident, a couple of years back, we thought of building an old age home (Sai Vrindavan) for a group of elderly orphans (average age would be above 75). We had no idea as how and where the money would come from. We talked about the project with a few friends and as of today the project is completed at a cost of more than INR 35lakhs. To be honest, we never did sweat to collect such a big amount. So folks, I am sure you will agree with me that money is not a problem for the right cause. The biggest problem is however, time. If each of us can spend quality time with orphans, mentally challenged, or old age citizens, I am sure we can bring a smile to their faces and that, in my opinion, is the real joy of giving. For those of you who haven’t had the opportunity to give

something to the needy, I suggest the following. Please go to the nearest hospital, preferably a low cost one and check with any patient needing blood of your group. Do volunteer to donate and witness the happiness on the faces of the beneficiary’s relatives. I personally felt very happy when I first donated blood way back in 1991. Thus I first experienced the joy of giving. Ever since, nothing has stopped me in giving or to put it in a more selfish way, there is no stopping me in enjoying the bliss of giving. Start giving…,start enjoying. Watch this week….

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Mee Yamini [email protected]

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Volume 1, Issue 1

Health Watch—Saritha Dasari TIME TO WAKE UP I have been a silent participant of all our reunion activities till i was pulled out by Vidya. She asked me if i could contribute something in the interest of all our friends - something that was important for all of us Our Health. As a nephrologist with experience in both the developing and developed worlds, I feel there is a need for a lot of awareness to be brought about on kidney diseases, especially in our country. kidneys today are in the news for all the wrong reasons. They are the stuff of transplant rackets. On the occasion of World Kidney day on March 13, i also did an awareness programme in our hospital at Chennai. It is important to learn more about our kidneys. Kidney diseases are common and their incidence is on the rise. 1 out of every 10 people has a kidney disease. It is a silent condition because unlike the heart, there are no specific complaints, like pain in the kidney. Kidney diseases can affect anyone at any age. People with diabetes, hypertension, joint pains, repeated urinary infections are more likely to have a kidney disease. Patients with kidney disease are 10 times more at risk for heart and stroke problems. While there are multiple stages of kidney disease, dialysis is the last stage. If diagnosed in the early stages, dialysis stage can be prevented or delayed for several years. If diagnosed late,dialysis or transplant has Page 3

to be considered to give any due to a kidney problem? meaningful life. A proper dialysis schedule and quality Early diagnosis is easy. It of dialysis, will give a near requires a blood and urine normal life. test that costs Rs. 300. Control the known risk factors Dialysis in India costs Rs. 20000 per month and so not as BP-120-130/75-85 is the many can afford it. A legal only number acceptable at transplant costs Rs 3-4 lakhs any age. Anything above is for surgery and Rs. 20,000+ not good. check sugar levels HbA1C every three per month for six months months, should be <7%. followed by Rs. 10,000+ month for the rest of the life Avoid using pain killers on a of the patient. There is also regular basis. the risk of rejection and immune-suppression. In India, not many can afford it and so not only the patient but the entire family pays, emotionally, financially and

If you are having urinary infections repeatedly, insist on knowing your kidney function. Blood urea and creatinine are the tests done, to calculate the kidney funcControl the known risk tion. Creatinine above 1mg/dl factors as BP-120in an Indian female and 1.5mg/dl in a muscular male, 130/75-85 is the only number acceptable at any is abnormal. Any protein and blood in the urine is abnorage. Anything above is mal.

not good. Check sugar levels HbA1C every three months. It should be <7%. Avoid using pain killers on a regular basis.

As we are celebrating our 25th anniversary of school graduation, we are also entering into our 40's. Can i request you to take care of yourself and your kidneys by going for a physiphysically. cal checkup every year??? Hence, prevention is the best method we have. Eve- Do not forget to question the doctor – Remember to ryone should get a health checkup done atleast once in ask “ARE MY KIDNEYS OK???” a year - for BP, sugar and kidney function tests. If BP is high, question the doctor about whether your BP is

Do not forget to question the doctor – Remember to ask “ARE MY KIDNEYS OK???”

Sangamam Times

Travelogue —Muscat

Al Hoota Caves

“According to local folklore, Sindbad came from Sohar, a port town in Oman that is about 200 kms from Muscat”

Wadi Picnic Spot

Wahiba Sands

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Volume 1, Issue 1

Muscat - Entertaining City—Sridhar Babu K Muscat, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman, is a beautiful city. It is the largest and the oldest city and still retains the charm of an Arabian town with all the modern amenities. When we see this place, one can recall the story of “Sindbad The Sailor” from our school books. According to local folklore, Sindbad came from Sohar, a port town in Oman that is about 200 Kms from Muscat. Many buildings in Muscat are of Arabian architecture which blends naturally with the surroundings. Some interesting places in Oman are Wahiba Sands, Al Hoota caves, numerous small lakes (locally called as Wadis) and Turtle Beach. In the middle Of Wahiba Sands dessert one can spend the night under the tents watching the stars of the desert.One unique thing every tourist must experience is a ‘ drive in the desert”.A drive in a four wheel vehicle is called “Sand Bashing”.It is an exciting and exhilarating experience where one drives on the sand dunes Page 5

in a 90 degree angle. The driver brings down the vehicle in the same angle and it is truly exciting! Boys can’t resist drives, can we? Al Hoota caves were formed millions of years ago and photography is prohibited inside the caves. It is a must see This city looks like a perfect blend between Middle Age Arabia and Ultra modern Arabia

for all the tourists. The lush green grass and small lakes are favorite picnic spots for the locals. Tourists from different countries enjoy these destinations . This city looks like a perfect blend between Middle age Arabia and ultra modern Arabia. Culturally, Omanis are active during the Tourist Promotion Festivals. They have their own national dance called the “Razah” and perform this dance form with swords, shields and guns. Even though Omanis dance with

swords they are very peaceful and friendly people. They are very tolerant of other cultures and religions. One can find Churches, temples and Gurudwaras along with Mosques. There are two temples, one of Lord Siva and the other of Lord Krishna. Telugu MahaSabha, Marathi Mithra Mandali, Indian Social Wing and Malayali Association are some of the cultural associations that celebrate Indian festivals. The Omani women wear Hijabs(veil) and abayas. Aabya is similar to a night gown. Only some Women cover their faces and hands. College going ladies wear jeans and wear a veil over the body. We can find Omani women along with other nationalities working in super markets, offices, hotels, and also as air hostesses. In an Omani household only men greet the male guests while women generally avoid them. There are several Indian Schools and they follow the same central syllabus as in India. Our Residential building is owned by our company. It consists of Indians from different states. The best part about the work culture here is that it enables us to have leisurely afternoon naps for 3 hours. Thursday is a half day and Fridays are holidays. Indians comprise the largest expat population here. The lifestyle of those Indians in managerial positions in the Middle East is enviable with luxury apartments, villas and one month annual paid vacation. Isn’t it cool? Overall Muscat is a great place to visit, work and live.

Sangamam Times

Hearty Stuff from Hari T

Sharing in Madhu Yetukuri’s Happiness: Madhu’s Son Varun got his Blackbelt in Taekwondo at the World Championship on March 24, 2008. Hearty Congratulations and we wish him the very best to achieve many more such accomplishments

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Volume 1, Issue 1

Beauty at Forty - Jyotirmai Guduru I have realized the importance of taking care of ourselves only after entering into this beauty profession. Marriage, children and work can make us neglect our beauty needs. Most of us think that with the onset of FORTIES we have aged and nobody would give us a second glance. This is totally untrue! All of us have crossed into our thirties, hence this is the time when we really need to take care of ourselves. When we were young we were all gifted with natural beauty. But as we age, our skin shows some changes like wrinkles. We can’t stop aging but we can age gracefully. So, let’s see how we can age gracefully?

creams ο Dry skin----- any oil even baby oil or cooking oil ο Sensitive skin–Fruit pulps will work wonders . Friendly skin-regular creams . The procedure to follow is to massage for 10 to 20 minutes and then scrub for 4to 5 minutes to remove the dead skin. Then finally put on a facial mask for 15 minutes. This entire process is ideal if done once a week and if not possible, do it at least once in a month.

Click on link for web story: 18 foods that make your skin glow

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Regular facials to prevent wrinkles, body massages for relaxation which will drive away stress and regular exercise will keeps us fit. • Manicures and Pedicures will keep ones hands and feet tidy and smooth. • Massage is the key for anything for facials, hands or feet. ο To massage on face we need to do upwards and in circular strokes. ο For hands and feet in circular motions. ο There are multiple products, to use for massages based on the skin type like massaging creams, oils or fruit pulp like papaya etc. ο Oily skin----oil control Page 7

All these treatments are not to impress our loved one’s or others around us. They are for our own self grooming .We all deserve it after all we work so hard and need a little pampering. The fresh and active we are, the younger we look. These remedies are for my male classmates too! Please feel free to question me on the subject of Grooming! Keep Active Be Fresh. Enclosed a document on tips for healthy skin

Ugadi—By Sri Lakshmi Sarath

Sangamam Times

Contd. From p. 1.

It all started in Nursery School, way back in 1971. We entered the school with baby steps in size 2 shoes, girls with little frocks and boys with their puppy fat thighs showing through their shorts. We learnt our first letter and coined our first word on the black slate. We learnt rhymes which didn’t make sense and took forced naps when we weren’t sleepy. Sometimes the mats were wet and quietly rolled up while other mats replaced them and it was the first we learnt of the art of secrecy. Who wetted in the course of these afternoon naps remains a mystery. Two years of Nursery were truly a period of adjustment, of leaving the comfort of the home and seeking the comfort of the new teacher. The transition truly began!

Science was an experiment, Social Studies was politically accepted and Math remained a puzzle while the languages were relatively easy. Education was a gift but so were the Values, Social Skills, and Friendships we acquired. We spent twelve years together and witnessed changes in each other - growth in height and weight and changes that come

with age and maturity.

Those were the years when we were nurtured by our teachers each of whom were special in their own way. Mrs. Kasturi for her tall stature, Mrs. Rukmini for her knowledge of Telugu, Sr. Cyril for her impeccable Hindi, Sr. Ancy for being so strict while she taught Science, Sr. Lancy for being kind and gentle; Mrs. Josephine for her perfect understanding of politics and geography and The tall buildings welMrs. Goretti for her dreams of our comed us into class one and every school winning the medals in variother class thereafter. Faces beous meets. Needless to say, each came familiar and so did the one of them left an everlasting imsmells of the lunch boxes. Our pression. Years rolled by and it friendships began and lunches was our turn to say farewell. were shared. Water bottles were emptied in a hurry and heavy Farewell, we did say 25 school bags were lugged back. years ago but now it is time to say Some of us became our teachers hello again? Come July, lets meet pets while some of us invited their and see the changes, listen to the wrath. success stories and sympathize with the sad happenings. Let’s all

share the excitement of meeting one another. Sangamam Times is our Newsletter and is penned by, of and for the 12th batch students of Nirmala. In this first fortnightly newsletter we have articles penned exclusively by our batch mates. We worked very hard to bring out this first issue. We included topics which will hopefully excite you and make you attend the reunion. We want everyone to be part of this event. We urge you all to invest in your old friends once again with your thoughts and actions. Lets make this newsletter a platform to rekindle our forgotten memories and make our ‘old friendships’ everlasting. MII Andariki Sarvadari Ugadi Subhakankshalu. Post your views and pose your questions to Dr. Saritha (our inhouse doctor) and Jyotirmai (our in house beauty consultant) respectively at Sangamam Times. I remain, Your friendly reporter Vidya

“Come July its our Silver Jubilee Reunion”