Dignity Dialogue celebrated 17 years of its existence 
Dignity Dialogue celebrated seventeen years of its existence on Thursday the 5th April at The Ladies' Club, Pune by staging a very enjoyable Event. The evening began with the singing of the Dignity Anthem by the Dignity music group and the staff of Dignity Foundation, promptly at 6.00pm as scheduled. Then there was a presentation made by Ms Lakshmi Ramamurthy reliving those wonderful years right from the first issue and touching other milestones of its history. Shri S. A.Joglekar, Ms Anu Aga, Ms Arnavaz Damania, Dr Vasantha Ramaswamy and Ms. Vinita Deshmukh who were the dignitaries were called on stage with a brief introduction of their work. Thereafter the writers for the magazine were felicitated with mementos in the hands of the special guests. Some were there to receive those mementos in person; others were represented by people who had come in their stead. Names of people who could do neither were read out to the people present.
We witnessed charming performances by Dignitarians; humourous poems and anecdotes on ‘Life after 60’ [in Hindi, English and Marathi]. This was followed by an informal chit-chat session in which each of the distinguished people presided over a given table and any of the Dignity members could access them as they wanted for a one to one chat. This was particularly enjoyable as the usual norm is to keep the celebrities inaccessible on stage as long as they are at a given function.
After this session, Ms Anu Aga came back on stage and shared her inspiring story with everyone and urged us all to turn inwards and discover our extra-ordinariness to make a positive difference to ourselves and the world around us. The evening ended with food of one's choice available at food counters at the venue. The whole evening was ably orchestrated by Volunteer Ms Madhuri Maitra as the Emcee[MC] and many Dignity volunteers shouldered the responsibility of staging the event by taking care of every minute detail.
Written by Ila Gautam.
Photos credit: Shekhar Gautam.
Go wild offer to Dignitarians
Pench is one of India's most renowned national parks, being the original setting of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book. This beautiful National Park spread over 758 sq. km is most famous for the incredible number of tigers within its reaches.
The itinerary for the tour would be:
Day 1: Leave Pune for Nagpur at around 5:30 pm by train.
Day 2: On arrival in Nagpur, you will be transferred to Pench (2 hours' journey). After freshening up, a sumptuous lunch would await you, over which we will discuss our course of action over the next few days. After lunch, an afternoon siesta would follow. In the evening we will go for a short walking trail through the forest after which our instructors would conduct an orientation session on wildlife in general and Pench in particular. Over a campfire, we will discuss about our fascinating wildlife. An early sleep is recommended.
Day 3: We leave for the morning safari before the sun rises. Over the next few hours we explore the forest, reading and deciphering clues, being enchanted by the mesmerizing world of pugmarks and alarm calls. We return to the resort for lunch, which will be followed by a short rest time followed by the afternoon safari. Till the end of the day's safaris you should have seen a tiger! In the night, our instructors would show you films on wildlife shot by our campers as also expert wildlifers. This will be followed by an interesting nature quiz conducted by our instructors. Dinner and campfire to follow.
Day 4: We will again do 2 more safari rides into the forest. This being our last night in the forest, an exciting fun-session would be arranged for you. You can sit besides the campfire till late at night. Our instructors will conduct a session on astronomy for those interested. Lots of games and activities will be planned for the night. Sleep late!
Day 5: Wake up at leisure, maybe go for a stroll through the lovely woods or just relax by the trees with a steaming, hot cup of tea. After lunch and the final farewell session we leave for Nagpur where you will board the train at around 6 pm.
Day 6: Reach Pune by 10 am. TOUR CONCLUDES.
Tour cost: 9200 INR ex-Nagpur all inclusive. Train cost: 3Tier A/c train cost at actual (approx 1100) or flight from Pune to Nagpur at actual(approx 5000). 2AC not available.
Book immediately. Call 9423083342 Shivaee Chavan/Mihir Mahajan 9372253468 Cheque in the name of 'Go wild'
PLEASE NOTE:
- The seniors would be accompanied by 2 / 3 (depending on the number of campers) of our best and most experienced instructors. The tour would be totally fun, free of any hassles and highly informative.
- We would ensure that the seniors are provided with everything they want, and that they have a very pleasurable and satisfying tour.
- All our camps are full of knowledge and information, and not just a picnic.
How is the Pench camp senior friendly (customized according to their needs)
- Seniors who need it will be given home pick-up and drop.
- On the stations they won't have to carry a single thing. We will arrange porters, our volunteers to carry the luggage for the seniors' convenience. At Nagpur station, our vehicle drivers would come inside on the platform to carry the luggage.
- We will be travelling by AC vehicles from Nagpur to Pench and back.
- We will be staying at an AC property in Pench.
- Plain, simple vegetarian food would be provided (non-veg also available)
- Some of you may think that going towards Nagpur in the summer is not a good decision. I would like to bring to your notice the following points though:
- In the summer, due to much less vegetation and leaf cover and due to a shortage of water, animal sightings are exceedingly high. This is the best time to see a tiger, leopard, sloth bear in the Indian jungle.
- Also, because of the micro climatic effect a forest is always a few degrees cooler than its surroundings. This is because of a huge forest cover, shade, lots of water bodies like small ponds, waterholes, streams and lack of pollution.
- Our safari timings are till 10 am in the morning and after 4 pm in the evening. So, during the peak hot time we are in the AC rooms relaxing.
- A doctor would be accompanying you throughout the tour. She would take all the care needed as regards your daily medications (if any), back problems, etc.
- Diabetic and hypertensive seniors would be given food and help accordingly.
- You are more than welcome to join in this tour with your relatives, friends with whom you would love to enjoy for a few days.
- There is minimum walking throughout the tour as inside the forest we travel through open-air jeeps and aren't supposed to walk.
- There would be lots of sessions on wildlife, photography, nature games, wildlife films, etc to ensure you all have a very interesting time. Also, we make it a point to make the trip much more than just a picnic.
Hope you all have an amazing time exploring the Pench wilderness with us.
Mihir Mahajan, For Go wild Team
Pls note: Dignity Foundation does not get any monetary benefits from Go Wild. We negotiated and customized the tour for seniors, because many seniors were interested. Dignity does not take any responsibility if anything goes wrong in the trip. Go Wild and Dignity Foundation are two separate organizations. We are doing this to bring the best facilities to you, and in the interest of seniors.
Enrichment Schedules
- Click to Download Enrichment Schedule for Wanawadi April 2012
- Click to Download Enrichment Schedule for Aundh April 2012
Music Sessions at the enrichment centre in Wanawadi
The musically inclined people meet every Tuesday evening(4.30-6pm) to practice music (vocal and instrumental). Every month, we are having a special session for them to perform at the centre. We look forward to seeing the hidden talent in all of you.
Silent Thursdays
We have also started a Silent Thursday session. This session is anchored by Volunteer Prem Coelho. We sit in silence (starting with half hour and extending it to an hour) and undertake an inward journey. This is followed by a reading from a text that is inspirational. Post that we do a round of sharing our experiences around that topic. We invite more members to come and join these sessions.
Helpline update
Helpline services and Professional counseling services are being delivered to the people in need. 3 new companionship programmes started in Feb 2012.
Bollywood Dance Classes at Wanawadi
We are resuming Bollywood Dance Classes every Friday from March 2nd bet 11am - 12noon. Do register with Margaret. Fees: Rs 200/month. Trainer: Mrs. Rudra Acharya: proficient in Kathak and professionally trained in Shiamak Davar's school. Do wear comfortable clothes like salwar kameez or trousers/pants, so that foot movement is visible
New Spoken French classes
The third module of the basic French class will begin on March 7th. The focus is 'only' conversation. This class will be applicable for those who have done the first two modules and to those members who already know French but want to brush up their conversational skills. Fees for Module 3 is Rs 1500 per person + 200 (study material). Classes every Wed and Thursday: 11am-12.30pm. Classes for 6 weeks (12 classes). Trainer: Ms. Binita Sen. Please register with Margaret immediately.
New Music class
We are starting a music class from March. The trainer, Ms. Maya Rana is an accomplished Hindustani Vocal singer who has also taught music for more than 25 years. She is open to teach music to a group of seniors(a mix of light music, ghazals, bhajans and film music). Class starts on March 7th. Every Wednesday: 4pm-5pm. (Enrichment activity will start at 5pm on Wednesdays rather than 4.30pm). Fees: Rs. 250/- per month. Please register with Margaret immediately.
Session on Emotional Freedom Technique
Life Transformation and Spiritual coach, Shilpa Kanungo conducted an introductory session on Emotional Freedom technique(EFT), a form of intervention that draws on various theories of alternative medicine including acupuncture, neuro-linguistic programming and Thought Field Therapy. During an EFT session, the practitioner will focus on a specific issue while tapping on "end points of the body's energy meridians".
Trip to Chinmaya Vibhooti
A group of 31 of us set out on an outing to Chinmaya Vibhooti. The seniors enjoyed the walk through 'Chinmaya Darshan' an exhibition of huge paintings of Swami Chinmayananda, rare letters and some everyday articles used by him. The trip included a visit to the 'Pranava Ganesh' temple and the 'Chinmaya Maruti' temple. We also got to buy mementos and souvenirs at 'Chinmaya Vani'- the gift shop. The whole experience was very calming and spiritual.
Enrichment Schedules
- Click to Download Enrichment Schedule for Wanawadi Dec 2011
- Click to Download Enrichment Schedule for Aundh Dec 2011
New Computer Classes
| Start Date | 5th Dec. 2011 |
| Days | Every Monday & Tuesday |
| Time | 10:30 am to 12:30 pm |
| Trainer | Bal Gujaral |
| Course Contents | Click here to download |
| Fees | Rs. 1000 for 2 months Basic Course, Rs. 700 for 1 month Internet Course and Rs. 500 for Refresher Course |
| Registration | Kindly register with Margaret Pereira Dignity Foundation Savio Villa, 78 / 4, Divya Nagar, Near Jambulkar Chowk, Wanawadi. Pune - 411040. Office Phone No :- 020-30439190 / 30458092 Helpline No :- 020-3043 9100 |
Visit to the National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN)
Twenty eight Dignitarians of Pune visited the National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN) at Tadiwala Road, Pune on 25th May 2011.
They met Dr. Apar A. Saoji and his team, who explained what Naturopathy was, its importance in today's life. He also shared some tips and exercises on curing knee pain.
Dr. Saoji said that Naturopathy is known as Nature Cure, a drugless, non-invasive, rational and evidence-based system of medicine imparting treatments, with natural elements based on the theory of Vitality, theory of toxemia, theory of self healing capacity of the body and the principles of healthy living.
Dr. Saoji then showed the Dignitarians the various facilities provided by the institute, such as: 1. Hip Bath 2. Spinal Bath 3. Mud Bath 4. Underwater Massage 5. Steam Bath They also visited the health shop, from where they bought some hygienic and organic health food items, such as Brown Rice, Jaggery, Herbal Tea Honey etc. They were also shown the naturopathy clinic, where patients suffering from high/low blood pressure, over/underweight, Diabetes, Arthritis, Spondylosis, Digestive Disorders, allergic diseases and skin diseases are treated.
The NIN had arranged for a complimentary lunch and herbal tea for the Dignitarians. At the end of the visit, they felt refreshed and full of information on natural remedies.
Paper bag making session
A paper bag making session was conducted under the Chai Masti programme at the DF Pune centre by Mrs. Nisha Gujarathi, in association with the Rotary Club of Pune on May 16, 2011.
Mrs. Gujarathi taught how to make four types of paper bags to the 14 Dignitarians who attended the two-hour long session.Dignitarian and Rotarian Pankaj Mehrotra coordinated and assisted Nisha.
Volunteer Meeting
A session on Negotiation skills and effective communication was conducted by Ms. Sheetal Vaidya on November 19, 2010. She covered the basic principles and elements of good communication and negotiation. She talked about the common mistakes we make that we should avoid.
She also talked about the different types of negotiations that people get into.
It was a very interactive session where the volunteers participated in identifying the barriers in their own communication and negotiation skills & learnt ways to overcome it.
17 Volunteers participated in the meeting and renewed their skills.
Second Career Workshop
Being effective is learning to do 'which produces the desired result'. This workshop gave an insight to practical wisdom for people who want to take control of their lives, and their careers.
The workshop 'Seven habits of effective people' was conducted in 3 sessions by Ms. Elizabeth John who works as a consultant in IT process management. She had conducted various corporate trainings on subjects such as service level agreements, ITIL - IT infrastructure library and other related topics.
Christmas Celebration at Chai Masti
Christmas was celebrated at Chai Masti with Carols and a Jewelry designing and Fashion Show. The Dignitarians were divided in 5 teams and given cut vegetables and soaked seeds. Each team had to design jewelry using this material and dress up their 'model' The Dignitarian models representing each team walked the ramp to Arvind Patole's guitar, showing off their jewelry. Good fun and cheer was had by all.