Love to laugh

Of the 200 delegates who vied for the title of Laughter Queen and King 2005 during the First Laughter Yoga International Conference at Bombay’s Bhaidas Hall from March 17-20, 2005, Baroda’s Jalloo Wadia was crowned the Laughter Queen International 2005. Merv Neal of Australia was crowned Laughter King. The awards were presented by cinestar Boman Irani of Munnabhai MBBS fame. As admitted Irani although he was initially hesitant to play the role of a dean in the hilarious movie because he did not know how to fake laughter, he soon realized that "to simulate it is to stimulate it” policy works wonders, as noted a write-up in the Sunday Brunch column of Mid Day. It’s the birthright of Parsis to hasvu, khaavu, peevu (laugh, eat and drink), notes Roda Hakim who conveyed the glad tidings to Parsiana.

(L to R): Neal, Irani and Wadia; the Wadias: laughter monarchs

Wadia, the principal of New Sunrise School is "a petite green-eyed grand-mom,” mentions Hakim. Her husband Neveel was conferred the title of Laughter Ambassador 2005 for promoting and teaching the art of laughter. The four-day Conference, commemo­rating the 10th anniversary of the Laughter Club International, was attended by 500 delegates from India, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Denmark, Spain, Sweden, Germany, Romania, Dubai and Jordan. Researched papers and explicit information was presented at the Confer-ence to reinforce the message that in today’s rat race laughter works as a stress buster.