2021 Celebrations of the Center:

 

While welcoming viewers, President hoped they had a nice Thanksgiving event thanking God that the pandemic was receding. Alas, within days the nerve-breaking news surfaced about the Omicron variant. Let’s hope that it will go away. 

 

1 (i) Pujya Ben Shree Vijuben Rajani’s Presentation:

 

President welcomed Pujya Ben Shree and thanked our member Mr. Himatbhai Parekh, Fl, for recommending her to IASCCOFNY. Mr. Parekh briefed about her sterling background and her incessant lectures for the last 65 years in India and abroad. 

 

Ben Shree in her 90-minute presentation provided an in-depth explanation on કર્મના લેખ મીટે ના રે ભાઈ. Readers of this report are encouraged to listen and enjoy her lecture placed on YouTube. 

 

કર્મ done for self interest, religion, or social duties is not real કર્મ since the underlying purpose there is seeking some self-serving benefit. Bhagavad Gita, which embodies the basic life principles, narrates in chapters 1 through 6 કર્મયોગ which requires everyone to perform their duty and their action should be without any attachment. It emphasizes on action to be performed regardless of relationships, e.g., Bhakta Prahlad against his father, Meera against her husband, Krishna against Mama Kans, Lord Rama against his mother, Narsinh Mehta against community. 

 

In order to understand the principles of કર્મ, let’s see the role played by બુધ્ધિ, મન and ઈન્દ્રિયો. Only human beings have Buddhi બુધ્ધિ – intellect, which is lacking in others such as animals and birds. બુધ્ધિ overcomes મન – Man (mind) and મન overcomes Indriyo – ઈન્દ્રિયો. Atma – આત્મા overcomes બુધ્ધિ. Endless thoughts pass through મન some of which are bonding. 

 

Ben Shree gave an example of Dhrutrashtra whose Karma was selfish since he was not prepared to hand over kingdom to Yudhisthir; instead his desire was to give it to Duryodhan. His ill motive led to the Kurukshetra battle. Therefore, refrain from selfish Karma. કર્મયોગ – Karmyog teaches us that Karma should  benefit others and provide happiness to others. Therefore, a donor should refrain from a deep Pragatya; instead, it should be done by a child, aged person, or a poor person which will provide immense happiness to such person — this is a real meaning of કર્મયોગ. 

 

Ben Shree also cited an example of Bhishma Pitamah who was a great man but his Karma was wrong since he remained silent and did not stop his daughter-in-law Draupadi being stripped off her clothes. He should have prevented her disrobing which he failed to do. Krishna came to her rescue. Bhishma was punished for his bad Karma as he had a very bad and painful death. 

 

Ashvatthama, the son of Guru Dronacharya, killed sons of Draupadi who urged not to take a revenge on him but on the contrary she begged Pandavas not to kill him as he was a Brahmin Putra. Ashvatthama, being immortal- Chiranjeevi, is said to be alive, crying and roaming on earth for his bad karma. Ben Shree also described Raja Bali and his bad Karma sent him to Patal Lok. Ben Shree mentioned that three individuals who really knew Krishna were Bhishma, Vyasji and Mata Kunta. 

 

Viewers were glued to their seats for an hour and a half listening to Ben Shree for her excellent presentation on the real meaning of Karma. They applauded her. Thanks to Ben Shree for her time and the quality of her discourse. She suggested viewers to listen to her discussion on Gita on December 14th. 

 

(ii) Dr. Vasundhara Kalasapudi’s Presentation on Grants: 

 

Considering the growth of IASCCOFNY, Dr. Vasundhara Kalasapudi, pioneer and Executive Director of India Home, advised that it should strive to explore the possibility of grants from government and foundations. In this connection, she suggested to hire a part time staff member who is conversant with grant writing, and familiar with the necessary follow-up in the matter. She briefly narrated how India Home approached the subject matter initially and contributions collected from the  community. India Home had undergone hardships in the beginning, learned from other organizations and its tireless efforts proved beneficial in the long run. 

 

Dr. Kalasapudi referred the recent grants India Home was awarded from the Department of Aging and NYC Council members regarding mental health and substance abuse and for educating people for Covid. She volunteered to collaborate India Home with IASCCOFNY since some seniors are members of India Home as well as of IASCCOFNY. The cost of hiring a part time staff can be shared by both the organizations. The bottom line is a win win situation for both. 

 

India Home has been awarded so far capital grants of about $5 million and expense grants of about $3 million. Moreover, recently a Covid grant of $2 million was awarded of which $1 million for India Home and the balance for two other organizations (Church and Bangladeshis in Jamaica). India Home will also be getting a grant from a foundation in January for its co-living project. Dr. Kalasapudi will introduce IASCCOFNY to foundations due to her good connections and knowledge in this regard. 

 

Mukund Mehta thanked Dr. Kalasapudi for sparing her valuable time and suggestions and her selfless offer to help IASCCOFNY for exploring avenues for procuring grants from government and foundations. 

 

(iii) Bhajan Sandhya:

 

Adhyatmik Vikas Kendra (AVK) has been providing IASCCOFNY members the benefit of spiritual and religious Bhajans sung by its dedicated devotees for several years. Known for its uninterrupted bhajans for about 47 years on each Friday, AVK, under the leadership of its President Shri Paragbhai Patel with the guidance of the Past President Shri Dahyabhai

Patel, has made a tremendous progress with the help of a team of volunteers. 

 

Today’s Bhajan Sandhya kicked off with a deep pragatya by Dahyabhai Patel, followed by a series of bhajans sung by Manjulaben Mistri, Mayurbhai Trivedi, Padmaben Mehta, Ashaben Dharawat, Shailaben Patel, Bhikhiben Patel, Bhartiben Mehta, Ranjanben Patel, Chandrakantbhai Shah, Rasilaben Patel, Pushpaben Patel, Ganpatbhai Mistri, Taraben Patel, Jigishaben Vyas, Rameshbhai Patel, Pankajbhai Devashreye, Hirenbhai Vyas, Paragbhai Patel, Harshaben Jani, Kamuben Patel, Manjulaben Sakaria, Sumanben Patel, and Laxmanbhai Patel. 

 

Mukund Mehta informed viewers about Chandrakant & Renuka’s successful and impressive participation as Grandfather and GrandMom in the beauty pageant of Bharat New York and Bharat New Jersey at Royal Albert Palace, NJ. on 11/28/21. A brief video is attached. 

 

Viewers applauded melodious bhajans sung by the Bhajan group. Thanks to Paragbhai Patel, President, for arranging the Bhajan group. 

 

(iv) New Member:

 

We welcome a new member Mr. & Mrs. Navneet & Beena Kothari. 

 

(v) Congratulations:

 

*  Happy Wedding Anniversary to Dhiren, Jt. Treasurer, & Amita Gandhi. 

    Thanks for a contribution of $101.

 

** Belated Happy Birthday to Mr. Narendra Choksi, Past EC Member. 

     Thanks for a contribution of $101.

 

(vi) Contribution:

 

Thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Harendra & Pragna Sevak for a $151 contribution. 

 

(vii) Announcements:

 

Pankajbhai Parikh, VP, briefed about  the next week’s program of ગમતાનો કરીએ ગુલાલ -૨, dress code for X’mas program on 12/18/21 which has a Grand Sponsor Mr. & Mrs. Arvind & Kalpana Dharia, Sponsor Mr. & Mrs. Rajendra & Kokila Shah, and Co-Sponsor Drs. Srinivas Rao & Vasundhara Kalasapudi. Also provided information about a cruise in 2022. 

 

2. FISANA – Federation of Indo-American Seniors Associations of North America: 

 

FISANA honored Mukund Mehta with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Senior Community Services at a Diwali function attended by 500+ guests at Royal Albert Palace in New Jersey on 11/17/21. FISANA is an umbrella organization consisting of 18 senior associations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Other four recipients of Lifetime Achievement Awards were: 1. TVASIA’s CEO Padma Shri H.R.Shah, 2. Vraj Haveli’s Founder PujyShri Pramodbhai Amin, 3. GSNY’s Founder Shri Vishnubhai Patel, and 4.FIA’s Founder Late Shri Rameshbhai Patel. 

 

It’s gratifying to note that FISANA which has seniors’ activities in New Jersey and Pennsylvania selected New York for a seniors award. We’re thankful to Mr. Dipak Shah, Chairman and Mr. Ratilal Patel, President. 

 

During the Zoom meeting, Mukund Mehta profusely thanked EC members, general membership, supporters, sponsors and volunteers of IASCCOFNY for their cooperation and encouragement and dedicated the award to them. 

 

3. The Arts Class: