Bhagwati: Unstoppable at 75!

BHAGWATI OZA: NOT JUST YOUNG AT HEART!

The Sip of Life this week talks to a 75 year old medical practitioner who is not an ordinary septuagenarian. She is someone who scales peaks, has won swimming competitions and bicycles across the country. She has set an example for all of us and counts her feats not wrinkles for living an adventurous life of a youngster.

This Vadodara resident Bhagwati Oza is our newsmaker, sharing with The Sip of Life Moderator, Amit Roy, her health mantras and how she manages it. She also underwent training under Tenzing Norgay, the first person to conquer the Mount Everest. She has worked with Mother Teresa, also figured in the Limca Book of Records in the year 2009 and she has also featured in a short film, which was screened at the International Film Festival last year in Goa.

Bhagwati, we would like to introduce you as a young septuagenarian! Tell our readers what makes us say so? 

I will tell you how I landed up doing all these things. I come from Morbi in Rajkot district having a conservative society. When I was in school our dress code was saree and had to cover head with pallu. So there was no question of extra activities. After  passing out from school I joined science college in Bhuj, Kutch. I was only lady student in college and every one was discouraging me for science stream and advised to join arts. but I wanted to become doctor. I never consult any one, and never took permission for any thing. I always informed about my decision. When I was in college, I joined NCC and that changed my whole personality. I got confidence and courage and developed qualities of leadership. I started liking an Army life full of adventures and daily new challenges but at that time they were not accepting women. However, I have been to Kargil after Kargil war and worked with army for two months. I worked with Mother Teresa for two years after a calamity in Morbi in 1979. I got private pilot license and have 170 hours of flying to my credit. Age has never been a deterrent for me.

What is your profession and how do you manage to be so adventurous at this age?

I am medical practitioner. I have my own Oza  surgical  hospital in Vadodara. It’s a family hospital as my brothers and daughter-in-law all are doctors. I love living an adventurous life. Life without adventure is like food without spices.

How and when you thought to be different from others?

At a very young age of 12 years I decided not to marry and to become doctor. If I do not want to marry then I should be independent in my life. I come from family of teachers so education is always first priority. In my family they always insist that girl should be educated very well so that in odd circumstances she doesnt have to depend on anybody. I kept that thought in my mind and I prepared myself in that direction.

What is your daily routine from getting up in the morning to hitting the bed at night?

I get up at 4 a.m. in the morning and go to bed by latest 8:30 p.m. As far as possible I do not like to disturb my schedule when I am in Vadodara so I don’t attend any social function after 7 p.m. In the evening my hospital timings are 5 to 7 p.m. So I do not go out after 5 p.m except family gettogether. After getting up I sit for meditation for an hour. Then I go for my sports workout for two hours, which may be running or swimming or cycling. After coming home, I relax and watch news and read newspaper. By 9 a.m., I do my music practice in vocal classical or light music. Then I go to my hospital, return by 1230 p.m., have lunch and a short nap. For an hour I am on my computer and then read some books and after a light refreshment I go to hospital.

How do you keep yourself so fit? Any particular diet you follow in your menu?

I am vegetarian and have simple diet. I start my day at 4 a.m. with one glass of milk and banana. After my workout for sports, I take one glass of milk, chappati and after two hours I take either tomato soup or fresh fruits. I need simple Indian food and a little bit rice for lunch and dinner. In between I take curd, little bit of peanut and fruits and at bedtime one glass of milk. When I am in Vadodara, I do not like to eat outside except when it is family event. Actually in my family, everybody likes homemade food. For keeping myself fit I do regular workout. In 2005, I had been to Canada for athletic meet and we were 21,000 participants. Canada Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) telecasted my interview on secrets of my physical fitness. In 2006 in California I took part in a swimming competition and in 2009 University Grants Commission (UGC) made a documentary film on my life which was shown on Discovery and National Geographic channels.

You underwent training under Tenzing Norgay, the first person to conquer the Mount Everest. How was your experience with him?

At that time my age was 40 yrs. Very rarely one will go for mountaineering training at this age. When I was in a government job, I was not getting  leave so when I left job, I decided to relax and find solace in nature. So this was a great opportunity  for me. Tenzing was a very simple and humble man and he appreciated my efforts. I was in dilemma whether to take up non-vegetarian diet or not but he told me that food is immaterial and everything is in mind. If you are determined than you can do it and it relieved me for taking up non-vegetarian diet. There was no restriction from my family but I do not relish it.

Share with us some of your distinctions in adventure sports?

These days if you walk on road that is itself an adventure. Mountaineering is an adventure sport and I did basic and advanced course in snow and icecraft and then did many expeditions and took up treks. I pedal my bicycle on highway and daily we pedal 100 km which is again an adventure. I pedalled from Pune to Ahmedabad, Pune to Bangalore, and many other places with a message on safe motherhood. On the we way we visit villages and meet the people to make them aware for antenatal care and vaccine. I also went on six seater cycle from Mumbai to Delhi with a campaign to save enviornment. I also undertook the first women cycling expedition, Go Green Girls, from Kolkata to Kanyakumari in January this year. But actually beginning of my medical career was more adventurous. I was in charge of government women’s hostel in Rajkot district and it was between 1960-1970 was supposed to attend maternity emergencies. The condition of the road was bad and I used to go by bullockcart or tractor and at times even used to walk in the midnight even during the rains. I had to manage in unhygienic conditions and there used to be no electricity and no clean water and not even disposal syringes.

What is your advice to all the youngsters leading a sedentary lifestyle these days and also to the elderly how to be young at heart?

I would say its very important to keep watch on body weight. Eat less salt in diet and simple and easily digestable food. It’s important to do some exercise like yoga and if nothing is possible go for a walk for an hour. Try a new hobby, which keeps you active and energetic. My motto in life is, add a new hobby every three years and it keeps your life lively. That’s how I am able to do so many things and learn new things at this age. I started participating in competitive sports like fast walking and running at age of 60 and swimming at age of 68 yrs and got so many gold medals. I started with long distance cycling at age of 65 yrs and scuba diving at age of 73 years so it is never late.