88, Not Out!

PRIYANKA ROY, a dance instructor talks about what makes her 88-year-old Dadu, DR P P Chakraborty, a retired scientist from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre tick – his brand of Hasya Yoga and positive attitude that he says is what keeps him young, cool and healthy 

Dadu, my maternal grandfather, Dr P.P. Chakraborty, is one of the most liberated, rational and disciplined individuals I have ever come across. He has been my go-to person and the one who has been a part of all my major decisions about life.

Dadu being an ex-BARC scientist (Bhabha Atomic Research Centre) has broken all stereotypes and is a live example that one does not have to be anti-social or nerdy if one is a scientist. None of us – his two daughters or we grandchildren were ever forced to pursue science, for he respected and recognized our individual aptitude and encouraged us to develop it.

He is independent, and always up-to-date too. For example, he operates all the apps right from Facebook to Ola all by himself, takes care of the grocery, electricity bills, banking and many other household formalities single-handedly. All at 88, and all by himself. He is good with technology, just like us, youngsters. 

We often wonder what empowers him to be so independent, healthy both in mind and body and so upbeat and in pace with current times.

Born as a premature child in not-so-favourable conditions, Dadu used to be very unwell and weak and had to face a lot of hardships right through his childhood and youth.

What kept him afloat was his determination, zest and positive outlook. But what completely transformed his overall well-being was Hasya Yoga.

Dadu has been practising Hasya Yoga for 25+ years now and has been a huge advocate of this technique ever since the time when people did not really take it seriously. His practice would really intrigued and even when I was very young, I used to accompany him to the Hasya Yoga sessions early in the morning, every day. I used to practise Hasya Yoga with so many senior citizens when I was barely six or seven years old! Eventually, I became a regular because I started enjoying this fun way of exercising, not to mention the attention and pampering I got for being the only baby in that elderly group.

Dadu, along with his simple and disciplined lifestyle, practices Hasya Yoga every single day till date and is a strong advocate of it being a sustainable way of exercising and maintaining good health across various age groups.

According to yogapedia.com, ‘Hasya yoga is the name given to a style of yoga that encourages voluntary laughter for prolonged periods. The practice of deliberate laughter, even laughter for no reason, is believed to have the same physiological effects and benefits of spontaneous laughter. The name hasya yoga comes from the Sanskrit hasya, which can be translated as “humour” or “comedy” and is one of the nine rasas or moods. Hasya is said to lead to the exultation of the mind.

Scientifically, laughter boosts the immune system by decreasing your stress hormones and increasing white blood cells, thus improving your resistance to both physiological and psychological diseases. Dadu, who is 88 years ‘young’, happy and healthy is the biggest example of the benefits of laughter and Hasya Yoga. In the weekly online class he conducts on Sunday mornings called ‘Hasya Yoga With Dadu’ you will find him verbally instructing students and simultaneously doing the exercises, a feat that is not easy to execute, even for a much younger instructor unless one is totally fit! 

In Dadu’s words: Life comes with many ups and downs and I believe laughter can help us sail through all of them relatively easily.

Dadu was, is and will always be my one and only inspiration.

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Priyanka Roy is a dance instructor and teaches belly dance (Raqa sharqi) who has recently discovered the joys of blogging.   

Her current status is to make the most of life, getting inspired by the smallest thing and dancing away to happiness.

Featured Photo of Dr P P Chakraborty