Note from the Social Chair
Dearest friends, It’s wonderful to be back in the newsletter’s virtual space and reconnect with all of you in my new role as ICON’s social chair! The most awaited ICON Dhamaka — ICON’s Diwali & Cultural Night — is right around the corner. As always, the board has been working hard behind the scenes to make this a truly memorable evening for you and your families. Finding the perfect date and venue was a bit of a challenge, and we sincerely apologize if it didn’t align with everyone’s schedules. That said, it seems the excitement was unstoppable — the event is fully SOLD OUT within our member pool! Thank you all for your incredible support. We’ve prepared a full platter of festivities for you — complete with event photography booths, vibrant décor, a live DJ, and a kids’ entertainment corner (with dedicated watchers for little ones so the grown-ups can relax and enjoy). A well-stocked bar and a gastronomically delightful food menu await you — each dish carefully tasted and vetted by our (7Star) seven-member food committee! In keeping with our mission to promote and celebrate our culture among the younger generation, every age group will have an opportunity to shine on stage — with nearly 80 participants showcasing their dancing talent! All the teams have been practicing tirelessly over the past several weeks. It’s truly a phenomenal collective effort and a true community spirit. We invite you to come, enjoy, socialize, support, and cheer for all the performers. After all, this is your organization and your event — let’s make it a glorious celebration together! Sharing a few glimpses from the practice sessions below. Warm regards, Raja Shaikh Social Chair, ICON Ph:5013667274; Email: raja.shaikh@ICONeedham.org
Join us for Diwali & Cultural Nighton November 15
ICON cordially invites you, with family and friends, to come celebrate Diwali & Cultural Night! A few highlights of the night are a nicely curated cultural program, music/DJ and Bollywood Dance, photo booth, delicious food, and a lot of fun!
Member's Corner by Dr. Ipsit Vahia Aging, Culture, Migration and Community I spend a lot of time thinking about aging. Most of this is in the context of my work focused on the mental health of older adults. But it goes back many years. I grew up in Bombay (yes, still Bombay for me), very close to all my grandparents. All of them lived to ripe old ages and they were the major reason why I see growing old as a positive thing. Among the more striking differences in the fabric of Indian and American society is how older adults are perceived. While the Indian elder is typically respected and even revered, the role of the elder in American society is inconsistent and in flux. As the population ages however, there is new impetus to understand what drives successful aging, and the findings are often surprising. How older adults feel about their own aging is not always aligned with what we might think of as successful aging (i.e., good physical health, absence of memory loss, a higher standard of living). While these are important, many older adults with physical challenges, memory impairment and modest standard of living rate their well-being very highly. The true drivers of successful aging then, are surprising on the one hand, but well-aligned with the Indian social structure on the other hand – a sense of purpose, social connectedness and the opportunity for inter-generational interactions. Physical activity, ongoing intellectual activity and some foundational stability also matter. For aging Indian immigrants, or for those who may be younger but caring for aging parents in India or in the US, the science provides validation of rooted cultural values and some direction on how to plan. In a town like Needham, with a relatively young but rapidly growing Indian diaspora, there is an opportunity. Groups like ICON foster community and a place to bridge the duality of Indian and American identities. With time, annual events like the Diwali and Garba gatherings will become dearly held traditions. The organization may perhaps expand its footprint and collaborations to also become a forum for a deeper and more ongoing social connectedness. In an ideal outcome, ICON may become a key piece of how Needham strengthens itself as a place to age well. These are worthy anchoring goals!
About the author
Ipsit Vahia, MD, is a geriatric psychiatrist, clinician, and researcher. He is the chief of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry and the Corrigan-Minehan Endowed Chair in Psychiatry at McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School. https://www.mcleanhospital.org/profile/ipsit-vahia
ICON TownSquare!
Dear All (Active and Prospective) ICONians! The need for more efficient and direct communication among members and the board channel was felt for some time, for important ICON announcements, ticket sales, and to make it a 2-way street. Towards that end, we started a WhatsApp Group called “ICON-TownSquare” last November. Here is its overall framework. Main Objectives To provide an efficient 2-way communication among ICON members, prospects, and board members To enhance ideation, inclusivity, diversity, feedback, and participation Guiding Principle Helping ICON achieve its below-core mission is the overarching principle: ICON is a secular, non-profit organization aimed at celebrating and preserving the culture and heritage of India and surrounding South Asian countries; fostering friendships and unity among community members; advancing the educational, cultural, and charitable interests of the community; and representing the community to the people of Needham, MA, USA, and beyond. Working Framework Mostly used for ICON announcements, event ideation and planning No forwards of any kind at all, and no good mornings, good nights! Highest respect for each other is utmost expected Moderated by a few ICON Board Members, with windows for 2-way communication at times ICON Board reserves the right to tweak this working framework as needed Everyone is cordially invited to please join using the link or the QR code below.
Join ICON TownSquare here
ICON's valued sponsors! We thank all our sponsors for their continued support! ICON's 2024 & 2025 Silver-Level Sponsor Leena Agnihotri (leena.agnihotri@compass.com; M: 617-331-2647) ICON's Strong Supporter in 2023, 2024 & 2025
