The View

The Pimplés - by Raj S. Rangarajan 

College sweethearts — Sonal and Vilas met in 1967 at the Sir J.J. School of Art in Mumbai, India, a venerated art school. Sonal specialized in textile designing while Vilas became a sculptor taking after his dad Vasant, also a J.J. alumnus. Later Vilas taught sculpture, ceramics and pottery for eight years at the same school. 

Tower West residents (Apt 23B) since 2008, the Pimplés landed in New York in 1984 and have lived in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and Battery Park earlier. They have two daughters Anuja and Anar, and seven months ago, Anuja became a mother to charming Priya. 

Sonal is also a yoga instructor and meditation practitioner. She ran her own textile art studio in Manhattan from 1999 to 2011, which she converted into a yoga studio that had its run from 2011 till 2016. Sonal teaches classic hatha yoga that reportedly dates back to the 2nd century BCE. Her style embraces a pleasing blend of dynamic breathing with profound emphasis on concentration. 

“Conscious, concentrated breathing helps calm one’s mind and nerves”, emphasizes Sonal. She talks of the concept of “trataka” or yogic purification where the practitioner gazes at a candle flame in the dark, while breathing naturally. While practicing, “focus, and resist the urge to blink or close one’s eyes”, recommends Sonal.

 

Sonal specializes in plant-based vegan cooking and her dining table is always adorned with gourmet delicacies. While relishing his wife’s cooking, Vilas has also been busy painting and sculpting. (See his creations here.) With a passionate interest in creating organic forms and abstractions, Vilas says, “Real life has been my inspiration”. His love for nature shows intimately in his paintings that touchingly emphasize textures, colors and forms. 

In 2012, Vilas participated in an art group show in Manhattan and in 2008, he held a solo exhibition of sculptures and another of digital prints on canvas in Mumbai, India. Good luck, Sonal and Vilas, from TW! 

 Dignity Dialogue

Debunking Myths about Dementia

Based on a book authored by Dr. Sanjay Gupta about dementia and the misassumptions that surround it, Raj Rangarajan tackles the myth about seniors supposedly doomed to forget or confuse things, places or dates as they age.

I am sure many of us know of incidents or are aware of friends or relatives who are victims of dementia, where the person is not fully conscious of where she or he is, or how she or he got there in the first place. As a senior, this writer does think of mortality – if not for my own self – at least for two older close friends – A and B – who seem to manage with sheer willpower and endurance.

Their caregivers are constantly on hand, but I am not sure if the patients are really ‘consciously present’ in the moment. Both of them in their nineties are perhaps aware and survive with what is termed ‘muscle memory’.

This is the ability to reproduce a particular movement without conscious thought, acquired as a result of frequent repetition of that movement or action.

Both A and B have lost the ability to communicate or to recall things, places or past events. Photographs or online appearances sometimes jog their memories. I am sure such scenarios are constantly noticed in many care facilities in India as also in other parts of the world. In his book titled ‘Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age’, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, MD, debunks myths about the ageing brain that many of us tend to incorrectly

assume through literature or hearsay.

This neurosurgeon says, “The brain is not a mystery anymore.” He reassures us that dementia is not an inevitable consequence of old age. Dementia can be a spectrum, ranging from mild to severe, and some of the causes of dementia are currently reversible. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for more than half the cases

of dementia in the United States. 

And, Dr. Gupta cautions, words such as dementia and Alzheimer’s are being used interchangeably, and they should not be so used. Each is a separate, unique condition. Unless a senior is being treated for a particular brain-related ailment, Dr. Gupta hastens to clarify: do not fret.

Sometimes, we tend to blame our forgetfulness to fading memory or ageing. However, Dr. Gupta clarifies that some of the concepts that seniors experience may include absentmindedness, blocking, scrambling, fading away, struggling for retrieval or muddled multitasking. More focused concentration on the task at hand helps.

For instance, typing an email while watching television or your computer, iPad or iPhone or android device

becomes a herculean effort. Some of us find it difficult to accomplish two activities simultaneously. Dr. Gupta

points out that our brain continually cleans out older memories to make room for new ones. That’s reassuring,

to say the least.

While puzzles, crosswords, games or brain-training videos can improve working memory, brain functions such as reasoning and problem-solving help in generating cognitive reserve. This is the brain’s ability to improvise and navigate around impediments. The concept was discovered in the late eighties by a group of scientists in the Department of Neurosciences at the University of California, San Diego. 

New skills such as learning a new language or to cook or paint or learning a new computer code or say, learning salsa dancing or even writing a novel will help in the cognitive reserve department. To use an analogy,

just as a car has a braking and acceleration system that helps navigate trafficon a normal road, Dr. Gupta

affirms, “The brain has the ability and resourcefulness to avoid unexpected roadblocks or diversions or other

vehicles.”

Switching gears now, Dr. Gupta adds, “Male and female brains differ in ways that dictate learning abilities and intelligence.” Surveys suggest that Alzheimer’s strikes a disproportionate number of women compared to men. It is attributed to women’s physiology, as also pregnancies. However, women seem to score better than men on standard tests that are used to diagnose early states of dementia. We are all aware that we are dominated

by either the right or left brain and that both are intricately co-dependent. Both are equally involved in handling grammar and pronunciation as also reading and mathematics.

Research has also shown that people with greater quantities of cognitive reserve are more likely to stave off the degenerative brain changes associated with dementia or Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis. However, Dr. Gupta cautions: “Vascular dementia could be caused by adverse cardiovascular conditions including massive stroke or by damaged blood vessels in the brain as a result of diabetes, high blood pressure or atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries).” His advice to patients: constantly monitor all parameters regularly. Nevertheless, people diagnosed with cognitive decline or dementia or Alzheimer’s disease could continue to learn things. 

Dr. Gupta adds that no known dietary supplement improves memory or prevents cognitive decline or dementia, irrespective of what the manufacturer claims on the internet or through TV and newspaper advertisements. When it comes to trusting sources, we have to be particularly careful these days with the proliferation of agenda-driven false information. We also need to constantly revise our thinking on what to believe. 

In a shout-out to the humble Indian turmeric, Dr. Gupta says that prevalence of dementia is lower in homes where turmeric is a staple. 

Meanwhile, an international team of researchers identified a brain disorder known as LATE. It has similar

symptoms to Alzheimer’s disease but appears to be caused by the buildup of the toxic protein TDP-43. This

finding will help distinguish between different brain disorders and develop precise and personalised treatments.

In conclusion, we have got word that Aduhelm has been approved recently for people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Teresa Carr, an American journalist, mentions in ‘Consumer Reports’ magazine that The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States approved Aduhelm, the first new drug for Alzheimer’s

disease in almost 20 years – and the first to potentially slow progression of the disease. Only time will tell.

Dignity Dialogue | December 2021

 https://thebalconystories.com/sita-forever-an-inspiration/

• BOOKS / CULTURE

Sita – Forever An Inspiration

• 5 minute read

• By

  RAJ RANGARAJAN --  

• October 26, 2021

Spread the love

Bhanumathi Narasimhan’s ‘Sita: A Tale of Ancient Love’ is an easy-read and welcome addition to the plethora of publications already adorning libraries and homes the world over.

‘Sita – A Tale of Ancient Love’ by Bhanumathi Narasimhan (Ebury Press- An imprint of Penguin Random House India – 304 pages, Rs. 340) on the Mithila princess glides from the past to the present seamlessly with kaleidoscopic imagery. If not attentive, one could miss the context for its contemporary flow of explanations so well packed with minuscule detailing of emotions and incidents.

Narasimhan’s literary background, scholarship, and knowledge of traditions are distinctly manifest in her book ‘Sita,’ where her graphic descriptive nuances vividly. With tranquil peace in her soul, the author imagines how Sita looked at Rama and how the vibes between them were brief but magical for a “love at first sight”!

“Life is full of duality,” and the reader has to be prepared to accept certain basic concepts without debate. Some assumptions are what they are and cannot be challenged. One need not question the “how” and “why” of events or situations as they reportedly happened centuries ago. 

Bhanumathi Narasimhan

To a question about why she chose to write about Sita, the evocative author who holds a Master’s Degree in Sanskrit Literature from Bangalore University says, “Answer is in the question! This time it’s all about Sita. It is about seeing the Ramayana from Sita’s eyes. The more I learned about her through the scriptures, the more I was fascinated and felt an intimate connection. Sita is such a delicate balance of strength with serenity, sensitivity with sensibility, beauty with brilliance, courage with compassion, so ethereally brilliant – yet approachable. The more you know her, you cannot but love her”.

For instance, Sita converses with sparrows and sunbirds, flora and fauna with enviable ease – whether at Ashoka Vatika or in her humble hut. Narasimhan’s observations on Sita’s environs would make a zoology student envious. However, her metaphors tend to be onomatopoetic, making the read more pleasant.

On being Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankar’s sister

To a query by this writer, “the fact that you are the sister of a world-famous guru, did you have any problems or handicaps prepping for the book?” the author says: “Having a Guru is what opened my eyes to the deeper meanings hidden in the stories. My father would tell us these stories when I was younger, and I would also have so many questions. Later, when I heard Gurudev speaking about the wisdom beyond the events, a new dimension of understanding opened up for me, which I have tried to share in my narration of this endearing epic. The wisdom makes the stories practical and relevant even today.”

In an interesting tidbit, it is revealed, King Janaka was very particular about the education of his daughters Sita and Urmila. So, the learned king organized a grand debate and discussion among brahmavadins – wise sages. The winner of the debate would be awarded 1,000 cows. As a result, many celebrated scholars from distant lands arrived in Mithila. Among the participants were Rishi Yagnavalkya and Brahmavadini Gargi.

“Sita was drawn to Gargi, who was clad in a simple sari … and adorned with a tulsi mala.” Following the friendly back-and-forth repartee between Yagnavalkya and Gargi, “Sita said, ‘O revered one, from what I understood of the conversation, I feel that there can be no loser in a debate on the Brahman. Either you have shared knowledge, or you have gained supreme knowledge. So it is a win-win situation.’

We are all aware that the character of Sita is the epitome of everything good – noble, beautiful, peerless – as portrayed in the Puranas or even now contemporaneously interpreted in local sabhas.  But was Sita without blemish and any fault whatsoever?

Illustration from Sita by Pratibha Kumari

Are our ancient texts overdoing this description? Is this not an exaggeration? Narasimhan says, “Rama and Sita played their roles as human beings. Even for an avatar, when they come in the form, some limitations can be perceived as flaws because the form is limited. It will have pluses and minuses. Our whole journey is from the form to the formless, from the gross to the subtle, finite to infinity. And this is an inward journey. Yet, even in the form, they were strong and handled situations according to the need of the hour. Today no one has to lift a bow, but the challenges are different.” But she quickly adds, “it is the brilliance of the mind that stands out in the way situations are handled by them. See, these epics are there to spark contemplation so that you can reflect and imbibe these higher qualities in your life. The scriptures say kavya sastra vinodena kalo gacchati dhi matah. The intelligent ones invest time in the epics, arts, and culture when you take an interest in them – it is already a sign of a mature and refined mind. And when you become a gunagrahi, focused on the positive aspect, then there is so much to learn and imbibe that will enrich our lives. For example, Rama has ten good qualities and one flaw – but even the perceived flaw was only for loka kalyan. So refining our understanding is the key to unlocking the hidden secrets in these epics.”

Deft Turn of Phrase Appeals

A certain familiarity has to be assumed when reading Sita. We are fortunate to be part of today’s technology with a liberal mindset that encourages the flowering of the mind through metaphysical explanation since this ancient epic is challenging to describe with modern paradigms and parameters. Narasimhan’s deft turn of phrase as she edits at appropriate places adds to the suspense and goads one to continue reading. This, even though many of us have read the story earlier. Undoubtedly, an intriguing blend of philosophy and history as perceived by the author, meditation teacher, and singer has been handed down without question.

However, when you ask her, “Did you feel you had an obligation to necessarily tread on the beaten path as documented by earlier commentators without sounding irreverential?” she responds: “It was not a sense of obligation, but I thoroughly enjoy and respect the sincerity and devotion with which the earlier scriptures like the Valmiki Ramayana and the Ramacharitamanas have been written. However, my book is a perspective from the eyes of Sita as I have understood her.”

The book tells how Sita constantly admired the Shiva-Dhanush whenever she stepped into the room where the Mithila King Janaka’s Bow was housed.  Any particular reason why Sita wasn’t allowed to browse too long in Janaka’s Bow room? Says Narasimhan, “Sita moved into a transcendental state of consciousness in the presence of the bow even as a child. This is the reason they watched over her while she was with the bow.

Sita felt that she was a part of that divinity. She felt a sense of belonging with everything. For, in that space, you begin to understand a little of this deep mystery.” The Brahman runs everything on earth, but it cannot be explained; we know from the book. It is like good cooking, even without knowing the recipe.

That is something all mortal cooks can relate to, excellent natural cooks!

(Raj S Rangarajan is a freelance journalist based out of New York)

 Dignity Dialogue, September 2021

In Defence of Spontaneity

Does everything have to happen like well-oiled machinery? Does one really

need to stick to a definite routine? Raj S. Rangarajan doesn’t think so and

here is his argument.

Fisherman-hobbyist Billy Rey

my corner

Many books have been written about how advanced planning helps.

Many management gurus have waxed eloquently about how managing time productively helps people lead more meaningful lives. And, there are CEOs who who swear that planning ahead is the ultimate panacea for corporate success. How many of these management practitioners take the time to smell the roses or do anything on a whim? Why is doing things on a whim not acceptable? Why should everything be politically correct? Have you thought of popcorn for breakfast? 

And, I am not saying this for the sake of being contrarian. 

And this is so especially if one is a senior – more so when the senior’s responsibilities and obligations are only to oneself. More and more seniors these days live alone. Yes, more often than not, children and grandchildren are part of the mix. Why cannot seniors be spontaneous? I know some are. Is it because we are fearful of being labelled a freak by our near and dear? Or, is it because society and our neighbours mandate it?

Do something different every day. It keeps your juices flowing. Talking of seniors, a year after my wife passed away – on a whim I decided to surprise my 95-year-old father-in-law. Without informing anyone – not even his other daughter with whom he was residing in Carmel, Indiana – I took the three-hour flight from Newark to meet them. While I am not a great fan of surprising people, the ‘surprise element’ for this nonagenarian was priceless! It was my spontaneous decision, and at his age every moment was worth the effort and money. It was coincidental that both of us relished the same celebrated malts of Scotland!

Here’s another instance of being spontaneous: I normally walk around the lake in my North Hudson neighbourhood. The other day, I spotted a man with a bunch of hi-tech fishing rods and I was curious in view of his elaborate gear. I started off with small talk and soon fisherman-hobbyist Billy Rey was eager to converse. He spoke passionately about the different kinds of fish life – catfish, largemouth bass, rainbow trout and crabs – that this placid lake spawned. An avid aficionado, Billy has been fishing since he was six, and of late, after reeling them in, he has been freeing them back into the water. 

Continuing with the walking analogy, as a senior how often do you take a different fork in the road instead of following the trodden path? As creatures of habit, we are comfortable with the familiar, with greeting the same old friends, and cracking the same old jokes.

In his recently published, elaborately researched book, ‘Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age’, Dr.

Sanjay Gupta, MD, CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent and Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, says, “Try something different every now and then; try not to power up your computer first thing in the morning; try not to multitask; try not to respond to emails immediately, however strong the urge.” A strong proponent of both aerobic and non-aerobic exercises, Dr. Gupta prescribes that seniors should be constantly active. His five pillars for brain health are ‘move, discover, relax, nourish and connect’.Even as a younger person, I have always been a proponent of Plan B. For me Plan A does not exist. Thus everything I do is a surprise, and I enjoy it. And, I do not disturb or disrupt anyone’s peace of mind within the family, since I am single. 

Here is another personal example of spontaneity: my brother worked for the German airline Lufthansa for 40 years. Thanks to his charity and benign graces, I could avail of many discounted flights whenever I flew internationally. Being a discounted ticket I would be allowed to board the aircraft only if a spare seat was available, which was most of the time. Perhaps only twice in 25 years I was denied a seat. But the interesting point is that because obtaining a seat was always iffy and tentative, I learnt the art of being patient. Don’t we all constantly wait as patients? I adapted my expectations and became a Plan B personality.

So my spontaneity principle: never worry or stress about getting a seat on a flight, take things easy, don’t panic! If I miss the flight, tomorrow is another day, another flight! So, this habit of not getting flustered, taught me two valuable lessons: Take one day at a time! Don’t plan too much.

Management pundits constantly profess that planning everything in advance is the only way to be in control. In my opinion, advance planning is overrated. 

Seniors, learn to relax, let your guard down once in a while. Your grandchildren will appreciate you – perhaps not your children. Admittedly, not all seniors can be spontaneous. Some may need physical help in accomplishing things. Not all seniors know how to relax, how to let their hair down. In conclusion, haven’t we all heard of Scotsman Robert Burns’ line about “best laid plans of men and mice that could go awry!” 

Dignity Dialogue | September 2021 

The View – Tower West – August 2021

Fiction or Fact, which is it? - by Raj S. Rangarajan

How much of what we read should we believe? How much of what we read is really true? Is there empirical evidence or factual confirmation that what we read is true? How do we know if something is fake?

 

These are some of the questions rational readers should be ask-ing these days, specially because of the amount of misinfor-mation, disinformation and mal-information being propagated in social media and in the guise of “news.” 

In some parts of the world, unchecked data are being spread in the name of Covid-19. They are seen particularly now in view of the Covid-19 Delta variant and the recently-named Lambda Covid-19 variant. All this tends to disturb one’s sense of well-being. 

According to the Council of Europe’s Information Disorder Report and further elaborated on by management consultant, Mike Kujawski (Centre of Excellence for Public Sector Marketing), Mis-information is information that is false, but not necessarily created to harm, such as someone mistakenly posting material out of date. Dis-information is information that is patently false and deliberately created to harm a person, a group, or say, a business. Mal-information could be information based on nuanced reality intended to create harm or hatred often seen in political or agenda-driven scenarios domestically or internationally. 

Al Tompkins, Senior broadcast journalist at Mediawise, a nonprofit, digital initiative, teaches us how to sort out fact from fiction. “Always ask: Who’s behind the information?, Why are they telling me this?, Who paid for this?” 

Unfortunately, we are inundated with sites that revel in misleading us. As unwitting members of the digital community, it is imperative that we ferret out fact from fiction, check what is trustworthy and what is not. Alex Mahadevan, senior multimedia reporter at Mediawise, cautions: “the pitfalls of sharing misinformation could be detrimental if one is not watchful”. 

Be skeptical, but don’t be cynical 

With social media such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, TikTok and others becoming primary vehicles of communication for many, we have to be particularly aware. We should be concerned about what is uploaded and disseminated 

While some of the forwards from YouTube or WhatsApp are perhaps humorous, we’ve to be alert and not let down our guard. We hear of folks signing up for websites without realizing that they have been duped. Often, there is no recourse! 

At times, someone in the family or perhaps a friend alerts you to a juicy story on the daily news or on social media. The item appears so believable, but is it true? How many of us really have the time, the inclination or the resources to investigate a story? 

Some indulge in the vicarious pleasure of being the first to inform others – of an outrageous rumor or a story; but without confirming that it is a reliable source, thus unconsciously spreading dubious information or images or gossip that is untrue. 

It is a given that today school kids and teens are savvier than seniors. It is normal these days for younger folk to help out technologically. Whether we have adults and kids in the same household or not, we have to be particularly vigilant because of the incredible amount of bizarre and wild stories that populate our airwaves. 

It behooves us to examine if a particular news item is true. We also bear the added responsibility and perhaps even an obligation to ensure that wrong information is not passed on to the gullible. 

Hence some cautionary notes: Investigate the source of the information: Why was it being sent? Do you know the sender? Even if a friend or a relative or a friend’s friend, be alert! One never knows. Better to be safe than sorry! 

In the U.S., we now have a whole bunch of fact-checking sites that are exclusively devoted to debunking false information. Here are some resources for ready reference: https://www.poynter.org; https://www.politifact.com; https:// www.snopes.com; https://spotfakenews.info. 

 

social alert

Dignity Dialogue

 

August 2021, Issue 08, Vol. 26

Fact or Fiction?

With the social media having attained such widespread reach, we often fall prey to false information that is forwarded either out of ignorance or with a wilful purpose. Raj S. Rangarajan, who did a course in fact-checking in New York, highlights the issue.

How much of what we read should we believe? How much of what we read is really true? Is there empirical evidence or factual confirmation that what we read every day is true? How do we know if something is false? These are some of the questions rational readers are asking these days, especially because of the amount of misinformation and disinformation being propagated in the name of news and more so since the pandemic has had a sad and unique grip on everyone’s peace of mind. Many of us wonder who the culprit is. Is the internet to blame for the mushrooming of so many social media channels? Twitter is a classic example of how quickly news can spread, whether true or false.

In fact, there are many misleading sites that revel in spreading wrong information. As seniors, it is imperative that we ferret out what is right and wrong, what is believable and what is not. An informative list of definitions from the council of Europe’s Information Disorder Report defines what is fact or otherwise. Management consultant Mike Kujawski, based out of Ottawa, Canada says, “Misinformation is information that is false, but not necessarily created to harm, such as someone posting something out of date without realizing that. Disinformation is information that is patently false and deliberately created to harm a person, a group, or say, a rival in business.”

“Malinformation could be information based on reality, but which is intended to create harm or hatred against a group. Such activity is often seen in religious or political situations in several parts of the world,” he adds. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines disinformation as false information deliberately spread to influence public opinion or obscure the truth. 

Fake news is false or misleading information that is presented as news. With the explosion of social media as a vehicle of primary choice for many, we have to be particularly watchful. For instance, WhatsApp has attained maximum penetration in India and one has to be particularly vigilant and even concerned about what is uploaded and disseminated. Admittedly, some of the forwards from YouTube and WhatsApp are humorous and some even entertaining, but one should not let down one’s guard. 

There have been stories of people signing up for websites without realising that they have been duped. Al Tompkins, a senior faculty broadcast journalist and Alex Mahadevan, a senior multimedia reporter at Mediawise, a non-profit, non-partisan project based in Florida, teach Americans to sort out fact from fiction. Says Tompkins, “Always ask: Who’s behind the information? Why are they telling me this? Who paid for this information?” Mahadevan cautions, “The pitfalls of sharing misinformation could be detrimental if one is not watchful.”

Be sceptical but not cynical. This should be a motto when checking if something is true or false. At times, someone in the family or perhaps a grandchild alerts you to a juicy story on the daily news or on the social media. The item appears so believable, but is it true? How many of us really have the time or inclination to investigate a story? Occasionally the excuse is: “Someone sent me this, and though I don’t believe it, I am merely passing it on.”  

There are some who indulge in the vicarious pleasure of being the first to inform others – of something outrageous or incredible – though they know what they are conveying is not true. It is a given that today school kids and teenagers are sav- vier than seniors. It is normal these days for younger folk to help out technologically-challenged seniors. There’s no shame in accepting this, and mostly kids are happy to help.

If there are adults and kids in the same household, we have to be particularly careful because of the amount of false and foul materials that traverse the airwaves. Also, lots of superficial and superstitious material is being spread in the name of the pandemic and religion. Sadly, some doctors and ‘wannabe’ doctors – I prefer to term them quacks – have gotten into the act, and regrettably, there is a following for this kind of activity. As seniors it behoves us to first check if a particular news item is true and we bear the added responsibility and perhaps even an obligation to ensure that wrong information is not passed on to the gullible.

There is growing evidence that disinformation and even financial scams from rogue countries have been disrupting many lives. Thanks to proactive social media and the easy availability of technology at one’s fingertips, many irresponsible citizens are engaged in maliciously spreading gossip and mal-information. 

Hence, some cautionary notes: Be careful about the source of the information. Do you know the sender? Even if she or he is a friend or a relative or a friend’s friend, be alert! One never knows. Better to be safe than sorry! There are some resources that are involved in fact-checking and debunking false information such as factchecker.in, fact-crescendo.com, boomlive.in, factly.in, dataleads.co.in and thelogicalindian.com, among others.

      

VOL 26 | ISSUE NO 08 | aUgUSt 2021 

  https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/the-social-challenge-fact-checking-social-misinformation-111826501715

Audio-visual Clip on fact-checking when NBC TV anchor in New York, Lester Holt spoke with Raj Rangarajan in NY city.