Author Archives: Anil Aggarwal

The Gathering Place

On Monday, September 9, 2024, Ginny went to Menards to pick up some household items. There she met a started talking. Ginny told her how we had moved away from here in 1993 and were gone for over 20 years. We had returned almost eight years ago in 2016 and were still not quite settled. We hardly have any friends here and hardly know anybody. Since we are retired, there are not many opportunities to meet new people.

This lady told Ginny about The Gathering Place in Milton, about seven miles from our home. The way she described it, it sounded really interesting. They are housed in a beautiful building with nice backyard and have over 700 members. They keep a busy calendar, and have a lot of activities. They even have writers group that meets every Wednesday. When she heard that, she was really excited. She couldn’t wait to get home and tell me about it.

When she described this place to me, I was really curious. It seemed promising. We decided to go and check it out. We had things to do for the next few days. Three days later, on Friday the 13th, 2024, we went over there. I immediately liked it. The building and environment did not like a typical and drab senior center. This place was beautiful, spacious and lively. There are many sitting areas and several small groups were sitting here and there. One nice lady gave us a tour of the facility. We had a nice conversation with these ladies. I told them that I have done a lot of work in happiness are and that I am in the process of developing some happiness workshops. I also told them of my interest in yoga and cooking. They were quite intrigued and told me that their program’s coordinator will get in touch with me. We promised to come back again in a few days. Writers group was scheduled to meet on coming Wednesday, in five days.

Three days later, on Monday, 9/16th, Goli, their program coordinator called me. I had a very nice long conversation with her. I could sense that she was also intrigued with me and wanted to know more. She invited me to come and visit in two days on Wednesday, 9/18th and check out the writers group.

I dutifully went there on next Wednesday and met the writers group. There were about twenty people there. Most in there mid to late 70’s. Four of them stepped up to the podium and read from their memoirs. One gentleman remembered when the electricity had arrived on their farm in mid 1950’s. He had written a piece about and titled it, When the Farm Got Electrified. He read a few pages from this memoir. It was beautiful. Another lady wrote about a single room school that she, or her mother had attended. How the boys used to pull pranks and bully the girls. Very poignant. Some things never seem to change. Another woman read a beautiful poem. When everyone was done, I was also couldn’t hold my excitement and found the nerve to get up and say a few words about something I had experienced just the evening before. I expressed my thoughts on how do writers write, how does writing happen. It was very well received. I felt quite happy. I had enjoyed this first visit very much.

Afterwords, Goli, the programs coordinator invited me to her office to discuss my programs for seniors ideas. We had a wonderful meeting. Goli has asked me to visit again on the 24th. A Swedish professor from UW-Madison is coming to talk about Hegge, a Swedish practice of happiness. I am looking forward to it.

Thoughts of the Day

Anil Aggarwal
Waves
Morning Waves

I had a restless night. My cough is not going away. I can’t fully enjoy even sitting on a beautiful table in the restaurant overlooking the ocean. Wind seems to trigger cough. My chest feels congested and uncomfortable. Research on the internet says that cause is likely GERD and/or post nasal drip. Or could be something else like COPD or Asthma which needs to be determined through proper testing. I should set up an appointment with Dr Tuck as he is hard to get to.

I also did some research into natural remedies. Apparently, Yoga and Ayurveda has suggestions. They propose a series of Pranayama exercises that include Bhastrik, Anulom Vilom, and Kapalbhati. I have started them today and plan to continue. In addition, they suggest ginger lemon honey tea, eating small meals, and dinner no later than three hours before sleep. I went to bed last night thinking about all of these things. Talked with Bootri a little bit. That was further irritating as the connection was really bad and kept breaking. Finally, we gave up and decided to talk another time.

I got up this morning, still feeling down and lethargic. Not motivated to go even for my morning walk on the beach. I made my pour over coffee, brought it on the balcony and sat down. It was already 6:45am. The sun had already come up a few minutes ago. I was still debating if I wanted to go for my walk. Then phone rang. Ginny was calling. She was concerned and wanted to check up on me. We talked for a while. That made me feel better.

I talked with her about applying my theory of 4 Pillars of Happiness to how I was feeling. My issues were falling mainly on two pillars – health and mind engagement. I was concerned about my cough and my mind was preoccupied with it. So, applying my own theory, I needed to do something about both.

Health – I went for the walk, did Panayama exercise. Had a nice breakfast in a restaurant on the beach. Had ginger lemon honey tea too. They were playing beautiful meditation music. That helped as well.

Mind Engagement – I decided to write this post! This shifted my attention from negative thoughts and made me feel better. As if I managed to push the depression demons away. ⁃ Now, I am already feeling better and looking forward to rest of the day.

It is only 10:28 am.

JNI-Main

JNI Retreat

Jindal Naurecure Institute is a beautiful oasis for rejuvenating. It was set up by Dr. Sita Ram Jindal of the famous billionaire dynasty of Jindal Aluminum in 1978. It focuses on naturopathy treatments to cure various ailments, as well helping improve general health through detoxification and body reset.

Jindal Naurecure Institute is a beautiful oasis for rejuvenating. It was set up by Dr. Sita Ram Jindal of the famous billionaire dynasty of Jindal Aluminum in 1978. It focuses on naturopathy treatments to cure various ailments, as well helping improve general health through detoxification and body reset.

Jindal Naurecure Institute is a beautiful oasis for rejuvenating. It was set up by Dr. Sita Ram Jindal of the famous billionaire dynasty of Jindal Aluminum in 1978. It focuses on naturopathy treatments to cure various ailments, as well helping improve general health through detoxification and body reset.

Jindal Naurecure Institute is a beautiful oasis for rejuvenating. It was set up by Dr. Sita Ram Jindal of the famous billionaire dynasty of Jindal Aluminum in 1978. It focuses on naturopathy treatments to cure various ailments, as well helping improve general health through detoxification and body reset.

Delhi Four Brothers

Delhi

Delhi is all about family. Most of my family is there. So, naturally, it is always my first stop. I visit with my brothers and cousins. I had a wonderful visit with all of them. I always visit Satish’s place first. It represents home to me as that’s where I grew up and spent my childhood and my parents lived there. Then I visited Sunil, Mesho, Pappoo and my Mamaji’s home (mother’s brother). Then I venture out other familiar places.

Delhi has completely changed since I left there in 1984. It has expanded so much that it is not even considered one city anymore; it is now referred to as NCR for National Capital Region. Yet, it still retains a lot of old charm, especially in the historical heart of Delhi, also called the Old Delhi – quite appropriately. The same street food and traditional delicacies like Chat, Gol Gappa, and Kulfi still taste the same.

New Delhi has also completely transformed. When I left, there were only 3-4 fancy 5-star hotels with good restaurants. One of them was Maurya. It had my favorite restaurant Bukhara. It is still a special place. It has even hosted several US presidents including Clinton and Biden. I stayed there last year and had a great time. I enjoyed several meals at Bukhara.

This year, however, I decided to try another highly acclaimed hotel called Andaz by Hyatt. It is in a brand new city called Aerocity, created at the edge of the Indira Gandhi International Airport. They gave me a beautiful room facing the runway. Views at night were spectacular from the bay windows. I couldn’t hear any outside noise. Where Maurya offers traditional elegance and laid back hospitality, Andaz offers more modern architecture and efficiency focused on fast moving business travelers,

Aerocity is also very well planned. It has a great promenade with beautiful shopping and great restaurants. And Real convenient. There is a Metro station about three blocks from the hotel which has direct train service to the Connaught Place, the city center. I could there on Metro in 20 minutes. The same trip in a cab could have taken up to 90 minutes. Delhi roads are really congested. The traffic just snarls.

Yet, I can’t take Delhi for more than a week. Pollution is really bad. I begin to get allergies and start having respiratory issues. I bid bye bye to Delhi for now and headed towards Bangalore on November 22nd to attend a one week health care retreat at the highly acclaimed Jindal Naturecure Institute (JNI). More on that in my next post from there.

Varkala

I came to Varkala on December 1st.

also did some research into natural remedies. Apparently, Yoga and Ayurveda has suggestions. They propose a series of Pranayama exercises that include Bhastrik, Anulom Vilom, and Kapalbhati. I have started them today and plan to continue. In addition, they suggest ginger lemon honey tea, eating small meals, and dinner no later than three hours before sleep. I went to bed last night thinking about all of these things. Talked with Bootri a little bit. That was further irritating as the connection was really bad and kept breaking. Finally, we gave up and decided to talk another time.

I got up this morning, still feeling down and lethargic. Not motivated to go even for my morning walk on the beach. I made my pour over coffee, brought it on the balcony and sat down. It was already 6:45am. The sun had already come up a few minutes ago. I was still debating if I wanted to go for my walk. Then phone rang. Ginny was calling. She was concerned and wanted to check up on me. We talked for a while. That made me feel better.

I talked with her about applying my theory of 4 Pillars of Happiness to how I was feeling. My issues were falling mainly on two pillars – health and mind engagement. I was concerned about my cough and my mind was preoccupied with it. So, applying my own theory, I needed to do something about both.

Health – I went for the walk, did Panayama exercise. Had a nice breakfast in a restaurant on the beach. Had ginger lemon honey tea too. They were playing beautiful meditation music. That helped as well.

also did some research into natural remedies. Apparently, Yoga and Ayurveda has suggestions. They propose a series of Pranayama exercises that include Bhastrik, Anulom Vilom, and Kapalbhati. I have started them today and plan to continue. In addition, they suggest ginger lemon honey tea, eating small meals, and dinner no later than three hours before sleep. I went to bed last night thinking about all of these things. Talked with Bootri a little bit. That was further irritating as the connection was really bad and kept breaking. Finally, we gave up and decided to talk another time.

I got up this morning, still feeling down and lethargic. Not motivated to go even for my morning walk on the beach. I made my pour over coffee, brought it on the balcony and sat down. It was already 6:45am. The sun had already come up a few minutes ago. I was still debating if I wanted to go for my walk. Then phone rang. Ginny was calling. She was concerned and wanted to check up on me. We talked for a while. That made me feel better.

I talked with her about applying my theory of 4 Pillars of Happiness to how I was feeling. My issues were falling mainly on two pillars – health and mind engagement. I was concerned about my cough and my mind was preoccupied with it. So, applying my own theory, I needed to do something about both.

Health – I went for the walk, did Panayama exercise. Had a nice breakfast in a restaurant on the beach. Had ginger lemon honey tea too. They were playing beautiful meditation music. That helped as well.

What Does Goddess of Wealth Want from Us?

Anil Aggarwal
Laxmi
Goddess Laxmi

What does Goddess of Wealth, Laxmi, want from us?

Wealth and money is a funny thing: When we don’t have it, we crave it and worry about it.  When we have it, we don’t use it wisely.  When we leave it behind, others fight over it.

So, what does Goddess Laxmi expects of people when she blesses them with wealth.  She expects people to appreciate her blessings and use the wealth wisely.  Only in doing so people can derive positive benefits of happiness and bliss from it.

In some ways, people are custodians of her blessings.  People need to use the wealth entrusted to them to help other less fortunate human beings, the environment, the Mother Earth, the planet.

Most people don’t realize that wealth is a two edged sword.  If you don’t use it wisely, it can also make people utterly miserable.  Multiple homes, cars, yachts, planes and even private islands don’t really make people happy.  They think they are, but are they? Really?  How many wealthy people do we know who are utterly miserable!

Most really wealthy people don’t use even a fraction of their wealth in their own lifetime.  It happens because they have been unable to recognize the custodianship nature of the wealth and a purpose for it.  So, it remains unused and unfulfilled.

I recently read that a former chief minister in an Indian state spent over $60 Million dollars on his daughter’s wedding that included over 50,000 guests and many days of celebrations.  Does this kind of excessive behavior serves any meaning purpose other than ego fulfillment?  I cannot conceive of one.

They end up leaving it behind for their children, whose relationships often get entangled and strained because of it and the inheritance issues.

Does it mean people should not aspire wealth? No, they should.  But they must also recognize that great, or even not so great, wealth comes with the responsibility to use it wisely and purposefully.  Only then it can make people happy.

Real happiness does not come from accumulating stuff, objects and trophies for the ego.  It comes from basic things like good health, a purposeful life, and positive relationships.  

So, whatever we have, we should treat it with respect, be grateful for it, and use it wisely.

Varkala Beach Needs Fixing

There was an article in The Indian Express on 23 December 2023 about the poor conditions of Varkala and Kovalam beaches. It prompted me to respond and I sent the following feedback to the editor on 29 January 2024. If will be interesting to see if someone responds.

The article was, “Varkala, Kovalam beaches in dire straits”, by Shainu Mohan.

I completely agree with all the woes about Varkala and Covalam beach cited in this article and would like to add a few more and some suggestions.

I live in the United States and have been coming to Varkala since at least 2007.  Over the years, I have only seen deterioration and progressive decline in infrastructure services here, if that is possible.  Here are my biggest concerns.  These relate to physical safety of visitors.

Concerns:

  • Cliff Erosion – The cliff has a narrow path from north to south end.  In various sections, the path is eroding and inches are getting washed away every year.  In the middle of the cliff, near Clafouti restaurant, the path has eroded to the extent that only about three feet width remains.  People can walk there only in a single file.  (See pic). I will not be surprised if the remaining path completely washes away in this year’s rains, leaves a gaping hole, and cliff is cut into two half sections. 
  • No Safety Rails – There is no safety railing on this cliff which drops precipitously on the edge.  It is a straight 60 feet drop. This is a death trap and a disaster waiting to happen.  Suppose there is a stampede on some fateful day, due to any reason, as the cliff gets very crowded on weekends and festivals, the disaster will be impossible to avoid.  There would surely be serious injuries and maybe even deaths.
  • Stairs in disrepair – There are three sets of stairs on Varkala Beach, going from beach up to the cliff.  These stairs have about 80 steps each.  At the beach end, it is very difficult to get on tonthe stairs at the north end as there are no steps for about two feet height.  (see pic).  One has to really hang on to something and somehow get on to the first step, which should be 3rd or 4th.  It is really precarious.  Notice in another pic, an elder lady trying to navigate it.  There are no rails for support or to hang on to.  Many other steps on the way to the top are broken.  Further, sand accumulates on the steps all day long and makes going up and down on them even more difficult.  Just imagine someone falling on them.  There should be a program to clean up these stairs periodically to keep them free of sand.
  • Garbage – The garbage is strewn all over the beach in “God’s Own Country!”.  Why isn’t there a creative promotion to encourage people to keep it clean, that says something like, “It is a sin to throw Garbage in the God’s Own Country.
  • Air Pollution– Plastic bottles are burned here every day.  Early in the morning, the air is hard to breathe.
  • Adventure Sports – This development has made the situation even worse.  Jet Skis, ATVs, and Paragliders pollute the air with fumes.  The air becomes so noxious that I can’t even sit on my balcony at Green Palace Hotel and enjoy looking at the beautiful ocean.
  • Noise pollution – All these motorized vehicles are extremely noisy.  We come here to enjoy the fresh air, listen to the music of the waves, birds and nature, not motorized sports.

Alas, the Tourism Department, ironically, is destroying all that is important with these wrong headed policies.  Their plans, policies, and priorities are all in the wrong places.  These beaches do not need adventure sports.  Foreign tourists do not come here for adventure sports.  They come here to escape from them from their own beaches!  They come to Varkala Beach expecting clean air and warm water in the ocean here.  They seek peace, yoga, meditation and unspoiled natural beauty which is getting harder to find on planet earth.  

What are they thinking in tourism department!  Who is devising these crazy plans!  Or everything is designed simply to generate more money for commercial interests from things like adventure sports.  That’s what it seems.  Boggles my mind!

Suggestions:

  • Tourists Input for the Master Plan – They say, there is a master plan.  What is it?  It should be published in media and open to public comments.  It should be discussed with the most critical stakeholders, the tourists.  There should be an online facility for real tourists to offer their comments and opinion.
  • Stairs – Fix the stairs.  That can be easily done, I believe.  Add a few steps at the bottom as needed.  Repair the broken steps.  Add a railing.  It should be able to be easily accomplished with poles and ropes.
  • Garbage removal – Attach sand sifters and garbage lifters at the back of these ATVs and a few tractors.  Run them on the beach for a couple of hours every morning.  Put the collected garbage on trucks near Papanasam beach and haul it away.  It can be done!  It is done in USA and Europe all the time.  Furthermore, it is not even terribly expensive to do, or require too much man power.  All it needs is someone in the right place and authority to make a decision and implement.  How hard can it be, if there is will!

Finally, there should be a timeframe for its implementation.  I am 70 years old and wish to keep coming here, if it doesn’t deteriorate any further, and some improvements are made.  At least safe stairs to navigate from the cliff to the beach,  back and forth.