Surviving Cancer

IN chiffon and pearls, it8217;s her night all right. The chandeliers shimmer and champagne glasses clink as long-legged women come and go a...

IN chiffon and pearls, it8217;s her night all right. The chandeliers shimmer and champagne glasses clink as long-legged women come and go at the J J Valaya fashion show. Amitabh Bachchan is the chief guest, but the show-stealer is the brave woman who has organised this evening to raise awareness and funds and is herself a survivor of breast cancer. The high-profile Devika Bhojwani is the epitome of Mumbai8217;s glitzy, ritzy jet-set.

Frequently seen in the company of a guitar, a mike and her industrialist husband, Devika is labelled the Joan Baez of India. The subject of a BBC film called A Girl Named Devika, she is always at the centre of all that8217;s hot and happening.

Behind that party persona lies a pioneering spirit, a deeply philosophical, thinking person. She has many firsts to her credit, be it promoting the use of khadi, or launching India8217;s first English television serial. And life seemed to be dancing to her tune in every way till two years ago, when a routine mammography showed her to be suffering from breast cancer. Devika went through surgery, a two-month radiation period, took her full course of medicine she is still on them before doctors declared her cured.

She still undergoes regular check-ups. Devika speaks with deep conviction, and I find it

difficult to distill the depths of all she has to say in a few words. But I am going to try8230;

8226; 8216;8216;Meditation has helped me become centred, focussed and also to take on crises. I practise primordial sound meditation, which my friend Deepak Chopra taught me.8217;8217;

8226; 8216;8216;Constant self-healing through reiki has been another source of great strength and calm.8217;8217;

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8226; 8216;8216;Regular aerobic exercise as well as surya namaskar every morning are essentials in my day.8221;

Devika insists that a correct diet is responsible for detoxing her system and recommends it to ensure of prevention of diseases too. 8216;8216;To build immunity, I started off with vegetable juices beetroot, carrot and tomato, spiked with celery and mint, sprouted salad with nuts and sesame seeds great for balancing out your hormones and even the juice of aloe vera,8217;8217; says Devika. Her nutritionist recommended eating fresh and living fruits and vegetables along with plenty of vegetable juices and Devika is enjoying doing that even now.

Of course, emotional strength is extremely important and it came to her from her magnificent family, her faith in God and her all-powerful and positive mind. That8217;s why she is now all out to tell women to get regular check-ups, to avoid bottling up feelings and to help themselves the best they can. Her latest project is setting up the Breast Cancer Foundation with the Tata Memorial Hospital. She has truly redefined the old cliche: when life gives you a lemon, make lemonade out of it! Let8217;s toast to that 8230; cheers, Devika!