Our Bureau
New York, NY
The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO International) hosted its June 2026 webinar, “Diaspora Indians – Aging Gracefully,” on June 13th, 2026. Held virtually, the webinar brought together service providers to Diaspora seniors, Ayurvedic and Yoga professionals, and dietician/nutritionist as speakers from around the USA.
GOPIO International Chairman Dr. Abraham Thomas welcomed participants and highlighted the organization’s global reach and advocacy for the Indian diaspora and its achievements in promoting dual nationality.
GOPIO International President Mr. Prakash Shah mentioned about GOPIO’s monthly webinars and informed about a biennial convention to be held at Garware Club in Mumbai, India, on December 18 through 20, 2026.
Mr. Mukund Mehta, President of India Home, Inc. (Queens, New York City) and Chair, GOPIO Council on Seniors was the moderator. He described previous monthly webinars very informative and interesting.
The distinguished panel of speakers included Dr. Vasundhara Kalasapudi, Founder and Executive Director of India Home; Dr. Jaya Daptardar, Ayurvedic doctor and Healthcare Executive; Ms. Preeti Singh, Non-profit leader and Program Director of SASA, a service of the Ektaa Center, Irvine, California, and Co-Chair, GOPIO Council of Seniors; Ms. Rita Batheja, Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist with Integrative and Functional Medicine; and Mr. Tirlok Malik, Emee nominated Filmmaker and Founder of Happy Life Yoga and Ayurveda Wellness.
Dr. Kalasapudi discussed India Home’s efforts to provide culturally sensitive services for seniors in Queens, New York. She described India Home’s affordable housing development project in Queens, which has raised 3-4 million dollars from community members despite initial challenges convincing the community to invest in nonprofit initiatives. She explained that while the community is wealthy, members were reluctant to invest in nonprofits compared to for-profit ventures, noting that Jewish organizations like FJC – Federation of Jewish Communities provided crucial early support with loans. The discussion concluded with participants exploring potential locations for future senior housing development, with New Jersey and upstate New York identified as more viable options due to higher land costs in New York City.
Dr. Kalasapudi highlighted the importance of intergenerational activities, mentioning a new project funded by the Burton Foundation to bridge generation gaps through technology classes for seniors.
Dr. Jaya Daptardar presented on Ayurveda for graceful aging, explaining how the ancient healthcare system from India addresses aging through nurturing physical and mental well-being rather than reversing time. She outlined how the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, and space) correspond to the five senses and described specific care practices for each sense organ, including tongue scraping, oil therapy, eye care, ear care, skin massage, and nasal cleaning. She also discussed panchakarma as a cleansing process to remove toxins accumulated in the body as people age and mentioned her book on graceful aging and retreats for seniors.
Ms. Preeti Singh presented the South Asian Senior Association (SASA), a volunteer-based organization that partners with cities like Irvine and Anaheim to provide programs for senior citizens. She outlined five pillars for aging gracefully, emphasizing the importance of preventing isolation, engaging in purposeful activities, maintaining preventive care, understanding government resources, and planning ahead. She mentioned that while there are other cultural groups working with local government, SASA is unique in its city partnership model. The organization operates on a self-sustaining basis with minimal city grants, charging modest fees for classes while maintaining subsidized rates for instructors.
Ms. Rita Batheja discussed the importance of microbiomes in nutrition and shared insights on various products and dietary approaches for healthy aging. She emphasized the significance of electrolytes, particularly sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, for proper hydration, and recommended consuming foods rich in these minerals. She also highlighted the importance of a rainbow diet and suggested specific products and resources for maintaining gut health, encouraging attendees to consult practitioners for personalized advice.
Batheja discussed nutrition strategies for elderly patients, emphasizing the importance of protein intake and providing specific recommendations for high-protein foods like soy beverages, nuts, seeds, and chickpeas. She explained that functional medicine focuses on identifying root causes rather than treating symptoms. She showed several health-related books and mentioned a book titled “Optimal Health, Functional Medicine, and Nutrition Genomics” available for free download from AAPI’s website.
Emmy nominated Film Maker Tirlok Malik discussed aging gracefully and shared his three principles: eat right, think right and move right. He emphasized the importance of accepting aging, managing stress, and maintaining mental and physical health. He invited everyone to attend a Happy Life Yoga session the following week and encouraged laughter as a way to appreciate life.
GOPIO Council Chair Mehta expressed gratitude to all speakers, mentioning that more such seminars would be held in the future.
Founded in 1989, GOPIO is a non-partisan, not-for-profit, secular organization with Individual Life Members and chapter delegates from over 100 chapters in 35 countries. GOPIO’s volunteers are committed to enhancing cooperation and communication between NRIs/PIOs and the local communities, building networks, bonds, friendships, alliances, and the camaraderie of citizens and colleagues alike. GOPIO volunteers believe that when they help network the global Indian community, they facilitate making tomorrow a better world for the Indian Diaspora, the countries they live in and India.
