Learn to do it right and fast

Want to join Anna? Learn to do it right and fast

Thursday saw Aurangabad-born Navarathan Kaur Deora, 78, dropping in at a venue in Chennai where Anna Hazare supporters are fasting, not just to express solidarity but to ensure they can continue their protest without getting exhausted. For more than two hours, Navarathan spoke on the do's and don'ts of fasting. Settled in Chennai, Navarathan is herself a pro when it comes to fasting. Her son, Bhavanesh, who accompanied her to the venue says: "She has been observing fast on certain days every week for more than six decades. Over the years she has acquired a lot of knowledge and strategies to stay fit even as one avoids food." Most volunteers said they had never come across a person like Navarathan. "This is a new experience to me. As a child I have seen many leaders fasting in Chennai to express their solidarity with Gandhi. But there was nobody like this 'Maa' to take care of the freedom fighters," TA Chari, an octogenarian, said. Navarathan gave tips to the volunteers on how to undertake a fast without getting exhausted physically and mentally. "You should take water in regular intervals. While taking water, never gulp it. Pour the water in a tumbler and just sip it," she told the volunteers. For those who could not understand her chaste Hindi, son Bhavanesh translated it into Tamil and English. She also asked them not to take the water while lying down. "You should sit, breath normally and then sip the water. Don't forget to gurgle while you are about to finish drinking the water," Navarathan said. She also explained how to tackle 'pitham' (bile), a common ailment caused by indefinite fasting. "Those fasting for two or three days start getting a burning sensation in the stomach and numbness in foot and hands. This can be cured by applying sandal paste or a mixture of ghee and some medicinal plants," she said. No wonder, Navarathan was the star of Thursday's fasting. "We feel so encouraged and relieved that fasting has become a pleasant experience thanks to Maaji," one of the IAC volunteers said. Before leaving the venue she also explained how to break the fast in the eventuality of the Union government caving in to the demands of Anna Hazare.