TV coverage clippings of World laughter day

Here is the link to all the TV coverage clippings of the World Laughter Day celebrations at Nana Nani Park

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nana-Nani-Foundation/118401738170463

Laughter day celebrations

Early morning at 6.45am on 2nd May our Nana Nani Park at Girgaum Chowpatty was full! Bustling with energy of senior citizens and kids and middle aged people! For the first time in the history of Nana Nani Park, the park was open for all irrespective of age! What an exciting time it was!

The reason? World Laughter Day organized by Priyadarshini Laughter club International and Nana Nani foundation.
The slogan was apt! “Laugh Mumbai Laugh” And the timing was perfect. Our state of Maharashtra completed 50 yrs of creation; we wanted to give something back to the state capital where all our parks are housed! What better gift than the gift of laughter! Ridding the city of pent up stress and negativity!
Under the guidance of Shri Kishore Kuvavala, our Nana Nanis and all our guests and visitors underwent laughter therapy. Each laughter style was enjoyed perfectly! Each joyful laughter rang out loud and clear across Girgaum Chowpatty! It was a fantastic sight to see a thousand hands go up in the air and laughter ringing from over 500 people. As Shri Kuvavala egged on one and all to perfect their “HE HE HO HO” all enjoyed each and every laughter type! Be it the Patiyala laughter or Lassi laughter!
The media was present by the dozens to capture these rare and wonderful shots of youngsters and elderly laughing out loudly.
A pictorial journey of the fantabulous event

A new begining...

Greatest associations and friendships happen in just an instance and last forever!

My meeting with Ms Vinoo Hinduja, Member-Board of Management and Secretary General, HInduja Hospital, was one such incident! The brief interaction and customary exchange of cards and there we were; discussing about collaborating for a cause dear to our hearts! Senior citizens! Nana Nani Foundation, the weekly medical visits to parks and such topics flowered into a wonderful acceptance by the Hinduja Hospital of sending over a fully equipped ambulance and a medical team to our Aaji Ajoba Udyan, Shivaji Park and Euro Enviro Park, Dadar, once a week on Friday mornings! Further discussions meant possibilities of collaborating in decisive and concrete ways like assisted living within Mumbai, to ensure the cause of the elderly is pursued in full earnest and dedication.

We at the Nana Nani Foundation along with the Hinduja Hospital are keen to tie up with each other in order to provide subsidised health care to the foundation members and in a way pave way for health and wellness of our Nana Nanis!

Talks and rounds of introduction with key members of the Hinduja Hospital meant consolidation of the resolve to work together.

Ms. Vinoo Hinduja has been working in the health sector for a long time and is a strong believer in CSR. With her enthusiasm and dedicated approach we are sure our association shall be strong and fruitful!

Looking forward to a wonderful association with Ms. Vinoo Hinduja and P D Hinduja National Hospital and Medical Research Centre!
-Shhyam Singhania

Gudi Padwa celebrations

Gudi Padwa!


The Hindu New year! The Indian New year as we would like to look at it!Gudi Padwa heralds the New Year, a new season- spring and a joyful atmosphere as well! The era begun by Shalivahan from whom the year count takes its name!

It is said that Shalivahan infused life in clay soldiers and won a battle! In order to commemorate this victory a new era began with the name of Shalivahan- a humble potter’s son!

What we need to understand from this story of infusing life in clay soldiers and winning a battle is, in today’s world when everywhere around us we see people who have become dull and lifeless like clay dolls, they need to be infused with feelings of hope, optimism and enthusiasm. The battle we need to win today is the battle against our own complacent selves! A battle against mediocrity! A battle against all negative energies and thoughts! We need to hoist the flags of success to proudly announce our victory over the negative forces within and around us! This reflects the ethos of Gudi Padwa in the real sense of the word!

And our senior generation are the true torchbearers of positivity and enthusiasm! Our seniors celebrated Gudi Padwa in all the three parks with enthusiasm and lots of positivity!

The New Year was welcomed just the way it should be!

At our Nana Nani Park, Girgaum Chowpatty, our well wisher and MLA Shri Mangal Prabhat Lodhaji graced the occasion as our Chief Guest! A special mention about our Chief Guest! When informed about the acute water shortage at our Nana Nani Park, he swiftly moved into action and spent out of his MLA fund and got the whole problem sorted out! Now the park shall be greener and happier! A special mention of his graciousness and thanks for encouraging us in our endeavour!

Songs and poems and talks by seniors happened as always, a poem by our Chief Guest was the pleasant surprise package! Our Managing trustee, Mr. Shhyam Singhania was present as always, to cheer and encourage all our Nana Nanis!

A few glimpses of the Gudi Padwa Celebrations at Nana Nani Park, Girgaum Chowpatty!

At our Aaji Ajoba udyan, Dadar Shivaji Park, our members were eager to celebrate the Hindu New Year with absolute enthusiasm! The traditional Gudi(flag of Victory) was hoisted at the park entrance and arti was sung in praise of the Elephant God- Ganesha! all had bitter neem leaves as prasad for Gudi Padwa!
 Songs and rounds of tea and newspaper ensured the New Year was joyously welcomed into our Ajji Ajoba Udyan.

A few glimpses of the celebrations at the Aaji Ajoba Udyan, Shivaji Park.

The joy of causeless Love

Love, the flavor of the season, with the Valentine’s day just around the corner… the times have changed, romance has undergone changes rapidly and in all rapid changes it feels nice to have a loved one on the bench next to you…that is a matured golden love which has seen you through all the ups and downs of life…Love is also a manifestation of missing that someone special who is now no more…so many forms of love…But today we shall go beyond this special personal bond of delight…more towards the feeling called love! With each emotion we tend to attach some other subtle tag that of expectation, that of want or obligation. But when tagged with love it creates tensions, unpleasant reactions…hence we shall see love without its tags, free of expectation and in its pure pristine form.


Love without a reason, love without obligation, love without a cause…causeless love! It’s blissful and true. A child born is capable of this causeless love as its energies are not based on any opinions or logic or selfish interest. As we grow we start plotting all emotions including love on a graph of want and demand…that makes us unhappy, takes us further away from our own inner self. Our core recognizes true causeless love, it’s not an option to nurture this love, and it’s within us, all of us.

To each thing, person or circumstance we encounter instead of asking ourselves what we stand to gain from it, if for once we ask ourselves how can contribute to it, it would reawaken that spring of causeless love in us! How to better circumstances, how to improve lives, how to contribute to society…All these questions lead us to creating a synergy which in turn starts affecting all around us. This is that catalyst which has the power to transform situations, lives and circumstances. We see misery, squalor, failed relations, rotting governmental systems and apathy all around us. If we chose to merely ignore or complain about it, it just means we are simply being passive. The right way would be asking ourselves how we can better the situation, maybe not the whole system but some parts we can change, alter and make them better for us and all those around!

Contributing towards positivity without thinking about returns, sowing good deeds, and good words without expectations from others, all these are manifestations of true causeless love. It makes us more humane, more peaceful and more loving. With age we learn the importance of this love, our grandparents epitomize this love to some extent, we need the younger generation to understand and appreciate this love, this very universal human feeling. Caring for people around us, tending to their needs and being of some help to them, bringing a smile to their lips! It creates so much joy in our own hearts!

We have been experiencing this joy every single day! Our foundation strives to better the lives of the senior citizens, give them a home away from home in form of Nana Nani Parks. And the Foundation came to be built on the ethos of betterment of society, of contributing positively to society, not expecting anything in return! Our parks give us immense joy and pleasure, that love now rules all our decisions and drives us forth to reach out to more senior citizens and transform their lives…

Today we have set forth to reach out to the youth on the eve of Valentine’s Day; to teach them the power of causeless love, the power of loving and accepting their parents and grandparents and caring for the aged in the society at large. This expression of love is of the highest order; it in a way uplifts the giver and receiver to an altogether different plane of bliss.

The beauty of causeless love is such that the more we contribute selflessly towards society and its betterment the more joy we earn out of it, the more in touch we are with our own inner core, the more human we become!

Let us all embrace love not as a mere mortal passing emotion but as an all encompassing way of life.

• We at the Nana Nani Foundation are celebrating Valentine’s Day in a very unique style this year! Along with HelpAge India we are organizing this unique celebration at our Aaji Ajoba Udyan where we are inviting the youth to come and profess respect and love for the evergreen Nana Nanis and Aaji Aajobas.

• This blogpost is based on an article”Causeless Love is the Ultimate” by Paramahamsa Nithyananda published in the Economic Times.

Visit by Mrs & Mr Y.M.Deosthalee to Nana Nani Park

The Nana Nani Park is always graced with the presence of many dignitaries from many walks of life! Today was no different that way, we had special visitors : Mrs&Mr Y.M.Deosthalee and Mr.Gumaste. What was different was the visiting guests were so much enthusiastic and mixed and mingled freely with the members of the park and seemed almost one with them! Mr.Y.M.Deoshtalee well known in the corporate circuits as Chief Financial Officer and Member of the Board for Larsen&Toubro Limited; was perfectly at ease with the elderly and chatted freely with them.Our members welcomed the guests and regaled them with poetry and songs and interesting snippets of information.
Here are some memories of his visit to our Nana Nani park at Girgaum Chowpatty.

Seen in the picture: Mrs Deosthalee, Mr Deosthalee, Mr Gumaste, Mr Shhyam Singhania and Ms Prajakta Dengwekar

Nana Nani Magic enthralls again!

Mr. Govindan our honorable guest for the Replic Day function was touched by the entire project and scope of work of the Nana Nani foundation.

Our Nana Nani parks always touch the chords of the heart of every visitor, General Manager, Union Bank of India, Mr. Govindan was no exception to this! His mail echoes his sentiment aptly...

“ Dear Prajakta

yes, it was a wonderful experience and I deem it a great privilege to join our senior citizens and share some moments of joy. I look forward to my continued association with Nana Nani foundation.
Thank you
Govindan “

We are really happy to get such feedback and encouragement!!

Cheers! Nana Nanis!! 

Republic Day Celebrations

One of the first Event of the year for our Nana Nani Parks was celebrated with super enthusiasm and zeal!
The Republic Day celebrations began at sharp 7 am at the Nana Nani Park at Girgaum Chowpatty.
Mr. Govindan, General Manager of Union Bank of India was the honoured Chief Guest.
Mr. Arun Poudwal was the Guest of Honour.
In all the three parks, the park members participated in singing the national anthem, gave thought provoking speeches about the contemporary state of affairs of the country, its strenghts and weaknesses. Yet that collective string running through all these was of profound patriotism and faith that India and Indians shall always lead the world in the days to come.

Seen here in the photograph, Chief Guest Mr. Govindan - General Manager Union Bank of India, Mr. Shhyam Singhania- Founder and Managing Trustee, Mrs. Loyalka, Mr.Madhu Kotak and park members of Nana Nani Park Girgaum Chowpatty

Followed next were celebrations at Aaji Ajoba Udyan, Shivaji Park. Mr. Govind Swarup, retired IAS officer, Mrs. Ameeta Trehan, Vice President Arcil, and Ms. Vandana Chouhan of Eureka Forbes alongwith Mrs. Indumati were present at the park for the Republic Day celebrations.Patriotic songs and short but inspiring speeches studded the event at Aaji Ajoba Udyan.

Seen in the photograph: Mr. Shhyam Singhania, Mrs. Ameeta Trehan, Ms. Prajakta Dengwekar, Mr. Govind Swarup and other park members

The celebrations at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Udyan were also full of enthusiasm and zeal.

The park was infused with patriotic fervour where the young and the old were happy to participate in the Republic Day celebrations. Ms. Vandana Chouhan and Mrs. Indumati were Guests of Honour at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Udyan.

Seen in the photograph Mr. Shhyam Singhania, Mrs Govekar and other enthusiastic members of the park

A wonderful celebration indeed at all the three parks!

The Year that was....Glimpses of 2009

The year that went by was indeed fun filled and full of events  for all our Nana Nanis...a pictorial journey of  the year 2009...

The year 2009 began on a sweet note for all our Nana Nanis...the celebration of Makar Sankranti on the 14th of January heralded the new year full of joy and sweetness.

The Republic Day celebrations meant pure display of enthusiasm and patriotic zeal!

The Independence day was full of spirit as the members proudly sang the national anthem and a medley of patriotic songs and reminisced the golden time of the 1st Independence Day they had witnessed!

1st October! that special day for Senior Citizens! The foundation celebrated International day for Older Persons, sending out a strong message to the society to be more emphatic towards the cause of the elderly!

Diwali! the festival of light and joy was celebrated at the Nana Nani Parks! the beaming happiness reflecting on the faces of our beloved members was the most delightful sight to behold!

What better end to the eventful year than getting a gift from Santa! The honourable Mayor of Mumbai,  Mrs Shradhha Jadhav along with Ms. Bhavna Shah and Ms. Jigna watch for gifts from Santa as the foundation's Managing Trustee Mr. Shhyam Singhania looks on...

The Christmas celebrations marked the end of the memorable year of 2009!!

Investing in smiles

(This blog post is based on the candid chat with its Founder and Managing Trustee Mr Shhyam Singhania.)

Being an Investment banker, life has always been fast paced...travelling, meeting, socialising...constantly changing the fabric of life. Even before embarking on my current vocation, I was seeking solace points during the journey; I sought to give back to the society...in my own way.

The immense sense of social awareness, coupled with blessings and heartfelt wishes of friends and family I embarked on a dream- the Nana Nani Foundation. Ten years have passed; looking back it seems my unique solace point, around which my hectic professional life circumambulates.

I firmly believe in giving back to society, in corporate social responsibility and my own individual responsibility towards the society and its well being. Coming from a family who is traditionally steeped in giving back to society, I was always aware of taking up my share in the tradition.

The cause of elderly was just the beginning, what began as an endeavour to improve a locality, soon transformed in a full-fledged cause touching lives of numerous senior citizens. If I trace back my memories to my own grandparents, I vividly recall my grandmother. A family matriarch, she was an extremely graceful and a well educated lady. Lived an absolute principled life based on values of hierarchy, family traditions yet embraced modernism. Her entire persona has had an everlasting impact on me as an individual. She insisted on imbibing rich values and right ethos in us, her grandchildren.  I am glad to see that same value system and tradition today being carried forward by my children.

My parents have also played an important role in the lives of my children, protected them, and offered them a culturally enriched environment to grow.  Ingraining seeds of spirituality and devotion for God at an early stage their teachings have transformed the lives of my children. Healthy debates and discussions are encouraged in the house, hence facilitating individual growth and enhancement at the same time respecting the elders and their wisdom.

Beginning on such a positive note, I began envisioning and expanding on the theme of Nana nani Park –a comfort zone for the senior citizens of our society, I was extremely aware and careful of their needs and demands. I have been accumulating and improving my understanding of the needs of the elderly. After running the 3 parks and conceptualising multitudes of parks and inspiring many more parks, I look back with utmost satisfaction and happiness. The innumerable blessings that have been showered on me and my family for the past 10 years have always guided me in my efforts to do my bit for the society, for the elderly. These parks have always been fountains of joy for me and my family, events and festivals celebrated at the parks have always bought out an altogether new dimension of celebrations!

One of the best memories through the years is the Nana Nani song, dedicated to my family and my mentor, Mr Pramod Navalkar for creating the parks for senior citizens. This I consider the high point of love and affection of the members of Nana nani Foundation. Another pleasant surprise came my way when the respected President of India, Mrs Pratibha Patil mentioned to me that she knew about the Nana Nani Parks and would like to personally visit one, during her visits to Mumbai.

With recognition and rewards coming from various quarters of the society, the motivation to not only run but also expand this concept is high.

The future plans for the Foundation include a pan India presence, footprints of which are slowly being created. I fully understand that it is indeed an uphill task, but an extremely vital one, in order to spread the message of caring for the elderly.

In capacity of being a common man, who believes in investing in smiles and blessings of the elderly, I am trying to do my bit for the society I grew up in. It’s my quest to provided relief, joy and wellness to the senior citizens of the society.