The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Living to be a hundred with optimism

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Monday, Dec 01, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Living to be a hundred with optimism

J.S. Ifthekhar

101- year-old Narayana Chetty gives valuable tips

- PHOTO: K. RAMESH BABU

Healthful living: Retired IAS officer Narayan Chetty at a conference on ‘Living Hundred Years and Beyond’ in the city on Sunday.

Hyderabad: It’s not enough to add years to life but life to years. That’s what they have been doing. In fact age sits lightly on them. At 101 Gelli Narayana Chetty is active, lively and enthusiastic. And so is Bodhi Nathan, two years his junior. They are the brave hearts with a never-say-die spirit. Men of today with glory of yesterday with sight set firmly on the future. As they took a walk down the memory lane, there were no regrets. Only pride and pleasure.

Though they hail from different backgrounds there is a commonality - their positive outlook.

The two gave valuable tips on “Living hundred years and beyond” at a programme organised here on Sunday by the Success Unlimited Research Foundation. What is the secret of their longevity? Optimism and healthy lifestyle. For Chetty, the former IAS officer, the word ‘success’ has an endearing appeal. Life is a challenge, face it – is his motto. And he is living up to this adage during the last 100 years.

As his sons, daughter, friends and admirers listened in awe, he gave a peek into his book of life. What he received from his parents was not riches but ‘will power’ and this stood him in good stead. After retirement in 1968, he championed the cause of pensioners and succeeded in the Supreme Court declaring pension as deferred wage. Once a pensioner lost his cool arguing with him. “But I chose to smile back. There is no point in answering him in the same tone,” Mr. Chetty remarked. On another occasion, he supported his subordinate against six officers of Board of Revenue in a service matter as he felt the ‘conscious must prevail’. A family man, Mr. Chetty lives with his 90 year old wife, six sons, a daughter, 16 grand children and 17 great grand children under one roof. The other nonagenarian, Bodhi Nathan, is an architect by profession.

After retirement from the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad in 1957, he continues to lead an active life.

At the age of 87 he appeared for an examination of ‘Satsang’ at Ranchi. With a degree of Vaidyaraj from the Patiala Medical College, he practices naturopathy, ayurveda and homeopathy. “Even now I treat people freely,” he says.

One thing – he doesn’t hold back while eating. But then he practices yoga and walks 10 km every day. That’s the uncommon life of common men.

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