“Jeena Isika Naam Hai” - Song and dance by
the Seniors.
Text and photo by Mahadev Desai
The decision by the organizers to opt for a delicious luncheon
accompanied with vintage Hindi songs, animated dance and garba,
instead of a Bollywood movie, proved serendipitous for the
seniors, who gathered at Atlanta’s well-known Palace Restaurant
on Sunday, April 11.2010. The joyous, well attended event was
organized by Senior Citizen Program, (SCP) Inc.
After the customary and warm embrace of the attendees at the
entrance of the Palace Restaurant by the Volunteers of SCP, the
Executive Director Raj Razdan extended a hearty welcome to all.
She recognized with bouquets, Atlanta’s well known and respected
community members and philanthropists Drs. Prakash and Usha
Desai for their sponsorship of the April event and also Manju
and Arun Kothari of the Palace Restaurant.. Razdan then welcomed
and thanked the performing artists-singers Sameer Desai, Amul
Zarapkar, Gopal Menon, Vandana Vaidee and Prem Khanna for
entertaining the seniors with a repertoire of nostalgic songs.
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Arunaben with artists Gopal Menon,Amul
Zarapkar and Sameer Desai |
After the sound check, testing 1, 2 and 3, Vandana
Vaidee,launched the music party with a melodious and spiritual
Ganesh Vandana. Amul Zarapkar and his team of singers presented
a medley of vintage Bollywood hits to regale the seniors while
they were relishing the delicious lunch. The singers took turns
to sing a song or two in their inimitable voices. Sameer began
with ‘sama, sama hai suhana suhana’ Amul followed with favorite
Hemant Kumar songs ‘hai apna dil to awaara’ and ‘Beqaraar karke
hame yoon na jaaiye’. Gopal chose a romantic song,’kehna hai aaj
tumse, ye pehle baar’which beckoned some seniors to the dance
floor.Vandana followed with ‘piya tose naina laage re’ while
Prem Khanna sang ‘ye Sama, Sama hai ye pyar ka’.Some more
seniors got jazzed up and joined in the dance. The music got
louder and the song ‘dholi taro dhol baje’ got them in
performing a scintillating garba. After the garba, Vandana,
Amul,and Gopal sang few more request songs from the audience.
Prakash Desai too joined in the fun and sang ‘Jeena isika naam
hai’ which exhorts listeners to love each other, help someone in
need, live an upright life. Raj persuaded Naveen Tyagi to sing
and he obliged by singing poignant song ‘pinjre ke panchhi re’.
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Lilyben cutting the cake |
One of the highlights of the event was the joyous and befitting
celebration of Atlanta community’s well loved and respected
mother-figure Lilyben’s 93rd birthday. Lilyben and her late
husband Shri Vasantrai Desai have played an active role as
dedicated and steadfast volunteers in India’s freedom movement.
To make the occasion more special, Raj invited all seniors whose
birthday fell in April to join Lilyben in the birthday
celebration ceremony. Prakash Desai congratulated his mother
Lilyben and the seniors who flanked her and commended Lilyben on
her good health and sharp memory. In his brief remarks, he said
that long life is desirable and enjoyable only if one’s health
is good and one can lead a productive and fulfilling life.
Otherwise longevity can prove to be a burden. He further thanked
all the attendees for joining him in the celebrations. The
volunteers brought out a beautiful cake for the ceremony. As
Lilyben cut the cake, all the seniors clapped and joined in
singing ‘happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you’.
Arunaben Patel thanked the artists Sameer Desai;Amul Zarapkar
and Gopal Menon with presentation of bouquets.
Raj took this opportunity to inform the attendees about the
upcoming Shiv Mandir’s Grand Bhoomi Poojan ceremony on Sunday
May 16. She also appealed to the Seniors to help the Bhutanese
refugees who reside in mainly Clarkston area with transport to
Shakti Mandir, which will be hosting an event for them, and also
to help these refugees with household items, clothing items like
saris, salwaar kameez, Lehangas, footwear, toys, etc.
In his vote of thanks, Mansukhbhai Shroff echoed his Birthday
wishes to Lilyben. He also thanked SCP volunteers present ;
Aruna Patel, Chinti Bali, Isha Goyal, Shashi Sidhaye and Minesh
Modi for treating seniors to a feast of music and delectable
lunch.
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