October 2020 @NewsRotary /RotaryNewsIndia 420 ` ͮŶŶƵĂů^ƵďƐĐƌŝƉƟŽŶ

Vol.64, Issue 4 Vol.64,

P_Wrapper_Front_Front_Inside_October 2020.indd 1 9/28/2020 11:51:12 AM Remembering PRID Yash Pal Das

PRID Y P Das, Manju, PRIP Kalyan Banerjee, Binota, PRIP K R Ravindran, RIPE Shekhar Mehta and Rashi at the RI headquarters.

At the South Asia Reception in Bangkok in 2012 when Banerjee was RI President and Das and Mehta were directors. Binota and Manju are also in the picture.

P_Wrapper_Front_Front_Inside_October 2020.indd 2 9/28/2020 11:51:09 AM Inside

10 10 We don’t need to go back to a pre-corona world The pandemic has opened new opportunities to create a better world, says Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, in a 16 webinar organised by RC Madras.

16 Luis, the trailblazer PRIPs Rajendra Saboo and K R Ravindran recall fond memories of their association with PRIP Luis Vicente Giay.

21 Yash made goodness attractive PRIP Rajendra Saboo, RIPE Shekhar Mehta and PRID Ashok Mahajan pay rich tributes to PRID Yash Pal Das, a gentle Rotarian who did towering projects.

24 Municipal school students get smartphones from RC Bombay Harbour 21 With brand new smartphones, 51 students at the Colaba Municipal School will be able to attend online classes.

28 A Shillong Rotarian feeds the hungry Launched in 2018 by the Ardhendu Chartiable Trust, the Aahar kitchen provides nutritious food to 300 people daily. 24 32 Once a refugee, this Rotarian has enabled free heart surgery for thousands O P Khanna, a member of RC Bangalore Indiranagar, runs the Needy Heart Foundation (NHF) that does free surgeries.

44 An all-women’s club in Tiruchi combats transgender phobia RC Tiruchirapalli Shakthi runs a hostel for gender nonconforming children with an aim to give decent education to them.

54 Kishore Kumar, the delightful yodeller 32 The life and times of playback singer Kishore Kumar and what made him a legend.

On the cover: Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus

54

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 3

K_Inside _October 2020.indd 3 28-Sep-20 12:39:38 PM LETTERS

ongratulations to DG M Jose Excellent tribute to Lata Mangeshkar CChacko, from RID 3120 for the donation of bicycles to 1,500 students, was very happy to see S R Madhu’s a big incentive to attend school. tribute to Lata Mangeshkar. I have I N Jagatheesan, RC Eluru — D 3020 known him to possess encyclopaedic knowledge of Hindi film music. I am not surprised that it is reflected in the Poignant obits on latest piece. So full of intricate aspects MAT Caparas of her singing and a style of writing that t was a pleasure to read PRIP Rajendra matches it. Wish he would write more ISaboo’s obit on Mat Caparas, a leg- often. endary figure in Rotary, which had a Best wishes. personal touch and narration of anec- D Sampathkumar, former Editor dotes. PRIP Kalyan Banerjee has also The Hindu Business Line dealt with many aspects of Mat in his very absorbing article. I compliment the he article on Lata Mangeshkar is excellent. Many unknown editor and her team for the excellent Tfacts about Lata and her sacrifice for her family were described work done in Rotary News. It is no sur- beautifully. prise that it has become better than the K N Alva, RC Mangalore North — D 3181 official magazine The Rotarian. To get that compliment from PRIP Caparas is no small achievement. Rotary News is getting more Pandya’s views on what a Rotary Narayana Shagrithaya interesting club should be are meaningful. Happy RC Mumbai Bhandup — D 3141 ecent issues stimulate the thirst of that RC Kakinada helped women Rreaders and the messages from the shrimp-makers through a new device he obit by PRIP Banerjee on Mat RI president and RI directors are really which eliminates their hardships. TCaparas was really poignant. The inspiring. The story on shrimp mak- I enjoyed Lockdowns have their piece felt like a live description of a ers will encourage women’s empow- rewards by TCA Srinivasa Raghavan, person in front of you, and has added erment. It is heartening to know that and the Taipei 101 tower. Surviving a refreshing touch to the issue. the DRDO invented Jithika to ease the the pandemic and Will the world get Dr Jayasekharan V P burden of the shrimp-makers. well again? are useful for readers. RC Payyanur — D 3202 A K Sugunan, Rotary Bangalore Cow trekking and cheese making in Indiranagar — D 3190 Switzerland is impressive. All the arti- he passing away of PRIP Frank cles are worth reading and pictures are TDevlyn has shocked Rotari- am a regular reader of Rotary News excellent. Congrats to the editorial team. ans across the world. PRIP Kalyan I since 2003. The content has become Philip Mulappone M T Banerjee’s tribute calls him a vision- more attractive and interesting. The RC Trivandrum Suburban — D 3211 ary, a larger than life person. Trib- articles are inspirational. Thank you utes from PRIPs Ray Klinginsmith, very much for inclusion of lifestyle hanks for excellent articles K R Ravindran and Mark Maloney columns from various disciplines. Tincluding the edit on racism. But are emotional and inspirational as Truly, Rotary News unites the world. in the Tamil version, in some places they recalled how he was instrumen- Janardhana Naik sangam is used and in others ‘club’ tal in getting the 18-storeyed head- RC Kasaragod — D 3202 is used. Please drop ‘club’ and only quarters building in Evanston. My use sangam. Thanks for the excellent compliments to you for the brilliant I President Holger Knaack speaks editorial on the prevailing race differ- posthumous tributes Rotary News Rvery well about his future plans; ences and your comments. has offered to Devlyn. the Editor’s note on racism and col- Jambunathan Arun Kumar Dash ourism impressed me. RID Bharat RC Avanashi — D 3202 RC Baripada — D 3262

4 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

Letters to the Editor - October 2020.indd 4 9/28/2020 11:44:11 AM LETTERS

I President Holger Knaack has Rotary News is the image of Rotary Save money to fund Rotary Rrightly said that supporting new in India and Rotary clubs feel it an s the Covid-19 pandemic spreads clubs is key for growth. The editor honour to get their projects featured Ahardship around the world, has penned a nice analysis on racism there. The constraint for the editor is Rotarians are innovating, caring for and our craze for fair complexion. the space, so the online edition for the affected, and showing there are Both the RI directors have focused broader coverage of club activities is ways to help. As people of action, on new opportunities for Rotari- a welcome initiative. they are engaged in their communi- ans to make the world better. PRIP R Srinivasan ties, offering help to those in need. Mat Caparas’ letter to PRIP Saboo RC Madurai Midtown — D 3000 Rotary News should publish articles is touching. A Covid warrior from on this work. I would suggest the Panchkula on Dr Rita Kalra is inter- he induction of 361 new mem- money saved through virtual meets esting. Congratulations to the mem- Tbers by RID 3211 in a single day and webinars should be utilised to bers of RC Jodhpur Padmini. through a zoom meet is really amazing, fund Rotary so that maximum PPE Trustee chair K R Ravindran has and sets an example to other districts. kits, sanitisers, masks, gloves etc may given pointed queries on whether During this pandemic, Rotarians have be donated. this will be “Rotary’s great moment excelled in selfless service; DG Thomas Govinddas Agrawal to become an even stronger organi- Vavanikunnel, PDG Regunath and their RC Belur — D 3291 sation”. Usha Kumar has explored team deserve appreciation. The role the wonders of a bygone era in Egypt played by PDG Dr Chandrashekhar ustralian toilet warrior Mark by vividly describing the pyramids, Kolvekar to protect the Covid affected ABhalla’s efforts to build 15 toi- mummies and Nile river across this is noteworthy. His help to a pregnant lets in Nashik is commendable and we exciting land. lady in Chennai deserves praise. need more such committed Rotarians S Muniandi S Mohan like him as it will boost the education RC Dindigul Fort — RID 3000 RC Madurai West — D 3000 of girl children. RC Calcutta’s history as recounted he August issue is unique as it cov- CA Srinivasa Raghavan’s LBW in the May issue 100 glorious years: Tered the activities of Rotarians and Tcolumn is interesting, humor- RC Calcutta is interesting as it turns the Rotary clubs during the pandemic. The ous and definitely worth re-reading. spotlight on its milestone projects and Jithika project by RC Kakinada is exem- I circulate it among my friends and events including Mahatma Gandhi’s plary. I served as a Rotary volunteer in relatives who enjoy his writing. A col- speech, and a Rotarian’s wife donating Bangladesh in 2000 and 2002 and am lection of his articles can be brought $1 million to Mother Teresa. happy to recall the good work of Kazi out as a book. Pon Muthaiyan Amdadul Hoque from RC Sonargaon. Vasant Dhupkar RC Aduthurai — D 3000 His efforts led to Rotary clubs joining RC Pune Sahawas — D 3131 hands to supply food and hygiene kits t’s great to know that India has to the needy. Also, the issue highlighted We welcome your feedback. Iretained its number 2 spot in the the presentation of 10,000 desk-benches Write to the Editor: world in TRF giving, being only to schools; donation of laparoscopic [email protected]; behind the US. I hope in near future, machine to PHC and the editor’s tour [email protected]. we will occupy the top spot. I must to Switzerland during 2013, and her Mail your project details, congratulate Team Rotary News for adventure, which is fascinating. along with hi-res photos, to bringing out another outstanding PDG Dr Varahalu [email protected] issue. Most heartening was to see Basava — D 3020 that six pages were devoted to club Click on Rotary News Plus projects across India, which will Rotary Plus — a welcome in our website motivate clubs to showcase their initiative www.rotarynewsonline.org projects. hanks for sending us the link to to read about more Rotary projects. Capt V G Deodhar Tthe online magazine Rotary Plus. RC Nasik — D 3030

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 5

Letters to the Editor - October 2020.indd 5 9/28/2020 11:44:11 AM President Speaks

Leverage digital tools for club innovation

and other international partnerships — in order to uring a recent zoom meeting with Rotar- elevate our members’ experiences beyond the club. ians and Rotaractors, I looked at the Our club meets and manages most of its pro- Dsmiling faces on my screen and realised jects online, using Microsoft Teams to engage 24/7 how much our organisation has changed in a short in topics that interest our members. This also means period. It is clear that there is no going back to our club is not geographically bound to any one the ‘old normal’ in Rotary — and I see that as an location: Although many of us are in Australia, exciting opportunity! we also have members in Germany, Italy, Mexico, Innovation and change are happening at so Tanzania and the United States. many levels as we rethink and remake Rotary. Also key for our club is measuring the impact Rotary’s new flexibility is blending with digital of our projects. For Plastic Free July this year, we culture to drive change in ways that many of us created an awareness campaign promoting ways have never seen before. We can learn a lot from that individuals could reduce their use of plastics, Rotarians like Rebecca Fry — who, at age 31, and we reached more than 6,000 people. It’s a pro- already has 15 years of Rotary experience. ject with a tangible impact that anyone can take Rebecca I see Rotary as a phenomenal platform to part in wherever they are. I’m proud that, through “Bec” Fry change the world. I believe I can have the great- our club, we are bringing people together for a Rotary Club est influence by empowering others to create the new type of Rotary experience. I am excited for of Social Impact change they wish to see in the world. I’ve gained our future. Network leadership insights through my experiences in All Rotary clubs have the opportunity to be RYLA and Rotaract, and now as charter president innovative clubs, just like Bec’s club. Let’s trust of the Rotary Social Impact Network, a new e-club. those clubs, learn from them, and lend them our Engaging Rotary programme alumni is key in support. Change in Rotary happens at the grass- forming new clubs. Our club is proof that Rotarac- roots level, as clubs lead the charge, defining what tors and other alumni want to join Rotary — but this new Rotary can be. sometimes they can’t find the Rotary club that’s Change is constant, and we have more work to right for them. Our club has 31 members, all do in many areas. It is important that we celebrate between the ages of 23 and 41, and almost all of the contributions of people of all backgrounds and them are alumni of Rotary programmes. promote people from underrepresented groups so We need to be able to integrate and align that they have greater opportunities to participate Rotary with the other personal and professional as members and leaders in Rotary. goals we’re pursuing. In chartering this club, we The tools to make Rotary more inclusive, more set out to design a personalised model of Rotary relevant, and more fun for everyone are at our fin- that is focused on added value for our members. gertips. Let’s use them now, and we will see how We have also sought to leverage connections — Rotary Opens Opportunities for ourselves and for through Rotary Fellowships, Rotary Action Groups, those yet to discover us.

Holger Knaack President, Rotary International 6 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

President Message - October 2020.indd 6 9/4/2020 11:29:25 AM A perfect gentleman passes on…

t was with utter shock and a deep sense of sadness that of Madras, he wondered at the anxiety of millions to revert Iwe at the Rotary News Trust absorbed the news of the to the pre-corona pandemic era at the earliest. But, he says, untimely demise of past director Yashpal Das. There wasn’t the world prior to the pandemic was a terrible one on so a single RNT meet that he attended at our Chennai office many fronts — global warming due to the destruction of without first going up to the staff members and enquir- the environment; inequitable distribution of wealth in too ing about their welfare, before heading for the conference few hands leading to mass poverty and hunger, and rising room. Over the six years I knew him, it was with the utmost unemployment. courtesy and respect that he always treated me as editor He believes the pandemic has given us a fantastic of the magazine. His gentle demeanour and quiet charm opportunity to set right the mess we have made; the details won him many friends. A relentless worker for Rotary, are in the cover story but one point that struck me the most who can forget his contribution to the Ambala Hospital, needs to be highlighted. Referring to the pathetic plight of the meticulous execution of those beautiful schools in the the millions of migrant workers who were left to fend for flood-devastated Garhwal region, or his passionate work themselves after the sudden lockdown India announced, he for tuberculosis eradication. This perfect gentleman will argued that they were “on their own” because they belong be missed sorely as his loss is irreplaceable, and we join to the “informal sector” towards which nobody has any his family, friends and thousands of Rotarians in India and responsibility. But we should formalise this informal sector, overseas to mourn his passing on. call them micro entrepreneurs, because after all they bring It is always the human mind’s capacity for a contrarian their skills or goods to sell in our towns and cities. And viewpoint to commonly accepted views that makes a per- set up a Ministry of Microenterprise, akin to the Ministry son stand out, and achieve great heights. The cover story of Labour which every country has for those employed of this issue highlights one such person, whose capacity in the formal sector. Then governments will be forced to to think differently… to advocate that the poor people of formulate plans and policies for them. An exciting idea this world are basically honest, and hence bankable, that and, as Yunus says, an opportunity provided by this hor- led to the ushering in and huge success of microcredit rific pandemic to governments to take “outrageously bold in this world. It also resulted in the man, Bangladesh’s decisions”. Muhammad Yunus, bagging the Nobel Prize for Peace But this will take time, and meanwhile with every pass- in 2006. Because poverty causes strife and conflict and ing day India continues to be hit harder by this virus, with absence of poverty makes it possible for people to live in the poor and the underprivileged being the worst hit, losing peace, said the citation. whatever ill-paying jobs they had and struggling to survive. The very same Yunus has once again forced us to sit It is heartening to watch the comfort and relief thousands up and take note of his contrarian views on the corona of Rotarians across the world are bringing to these people, pandemic. Addressing a virtual meeting of the Rotary Club risking their own lives in the process.

Rasheeda Bhagat

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 7

P_Editors Note _Oct2020.indd 7 9/25/2020 2:53:34 PM Governors Council RI Dist 2981 DG R Balaji Babu RI Dist 2982 DG K S Venkatesan Message from RI Dist 3000 DG A L Chokkalingam RI Dist 3011 DG Sanjiv Rai Mehra RI Dist 3012 DG Alok Gupta RI Dist 3020 DG Muttavarapu Satish Babu One-to-One RI Dist 3030 DG Shabbir Shakir RI Dist 3040 DG Gajendra Singh Narang n 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 ambi- RI Dist 3053 DG Harish Kumar Gaur RI Dist 3054 DG Rajesh Agarwal Itious goals — the Sustainable Development RI Dist 3060 DG Prashant Harivallabh Jani Goals of the UN — to end poverty, fight ine- RI Dist 3070 DG CA Davinder Singh quality and stop climate change by 2030. The RI Dist 3080 DG Ramesh Bajaj pandemic has set back community economic RI Dist 3090 DG Vijay Arora development in most parts of the world by years, RI Dist 3100 DG Manish Sharda if not decades. Covid-19 has only reinforced the fact that for the goals to be RI Dist 3110 DG Dinesh Chandra Shukla met, everyone — the governments, private sector, civil society and general RI Dist 3120 DG Karunesh Kumar Srivastava RI Dist 3131 DG Rashmi Vinay Kulkarni public — need to do their part: This crisis has thrust millions into poverty. Food RI Dist 3132 DG Harish Motwani insecurity has increased. Children are more vulnerable because in many parts RI Dist 3141 DG Sunnil Mehra routine immunisation has declined or stopped and they have less or no access RI Dist 3142 DG Dr Sandeep Kadam to healthcare to fight diseases like diarrhoea, pneumonia etc. Rotary has a role RI Dist 3150 DG Nalla Venkata Hanmanth Reddy to play in many of these areas. RI Dist 3160 DG B Chinnapa Reddy Things will not get better till we have the pandemic under control. Vaccine RI Dist 3170 DG Sangram Vishnu Patil is one of the ways to do it. But vaccines have to be equitably distributed without RI Dist 3181 DG M Ranganath Bhat RI Dist 3182 DG B Rajarama Bhat consideration of rich / poor; developed / developing. This is the challenge. And RI Dist 3190 DG B L Nagendra Prasad it is here that Rotary can play a part with advocacy efforts with governments, RI Dist 3201 DG Jose Chacko Madhavassery Gates Foundation and pharma companies to ensure equitable distribution of RI Dist 3202 DG Dr Hari Krishnan Nambiar vaccine. This will be a very good way to focus on community economic devel- RI Dist 3211 DG Dr Thomas Vavanikunnel opment in the coming months. RI Dist 3212 DG P N B Murugadoss October 24 is World Polio Day. Polio — the word strikes fear in the hearts RI Dist 3231 DG K Pandian of parents because it affects our most vulnerable and defenceless population, RI Dist 3232 DG S Muthupalaniappan RI Dist 3240 DG Subhasish Chatterjee children under five. The polio story is the story of a dream. A dream that Rotary RI Dist 3250 DG Rajan Gandotra showed to the world when in 1982 the RI board pledged to immunise the RI Dist 3261 DG Fakir Charan Mohanty world’s children. And it is the story of the four Cs — commitment of Rotary RI Dist 3262 DG Saumya Rajan Mishra and Rotarians to eradicate polio; collaboration which is our success in forging RI Dist 3291 DG Sudip Mukherjee partnerships. No single entity could have done it, but together we are so close. The third is consistency — consistent, dedicated efforts of Rotarians, their families and friends; followed by contribution — generous, large-hearted con- Printed by P T Prabhakar at Rasi Graphics Pvt Ltd, tribution of Rotarians and friends of Rotary, that has made this miracle possible. 40, Peters Road, Royapettah, Chennai - 600 014, India, and published by P T Prabhakar on behalf As Africa is declared polio-free we need to move ahead and bring this story of Rotary News Trust from Dugar Towers, 3rd Flr, to its conclusion. A polio-free world will be the best legacy we can leave for 34, Marshalls Road, Egmore, Chennai 600 008. future generation. Editor: Rasheeda Bhagat. Emerson once eloquently said, “Without the rich heart, wealth is ugly.” Richness is not about money or possessions; it’s a state of the mind. It’s not The views expressed by contributors are not how much we have that counts but what we do with what we have that matters. necessarily those of the Editor or Trustees of As Rotary opens new opportunities of service, let us use the richness of our Rotary News Trust (RNT) or Rotary International (RI). No liability can be accepted for any loss hearts to support the polio fund. arising from editorial or advertisement content. Contributions – original content – is welcome but the Editor reserves the right to edit for clarity or length. Content can be reproduced with permission and attributed to RNT. Dr Bharat Pandya RI Director, 2019–21

8 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

P_RI Direstors Message_Trustees list_October2020.indd 8 9/28/2020 11:44:22 AM Board of Permanent Trustees & RI Directors Executive Committee PRIP Rajendra K Saboo RI Dist 3080 PRIP Kalyan Banerjee RI Dist 3060 Sustainable solutions RIPE Shekhar Mehta RI Dist 3291 PRID Panduranga Setty RI Dist 3190 to end poverty PRID Sushil Gupta RI Dist 3011 PRID Ashok Mahajan RI Dist 3141 PRID P T Prabhakar RI Dist 3232 PRID Dr Manoj D Desai RI Dist 3060 early 800 million people live on less than PRID C Basker RI Dist 3000 $1.90 a day. Rotarians must work to provide N TRF Trustee Gulam A Vahanvaty RI Dist 3141 sustainable solutions to end poverty. RID Dr Bharat Pandya RI Dist 3141 Skills and knowledge are the driving forces of a country’s economic RID Kamal Sanghvi RI Dist 3250 growth and social development. Many industries are fighting a battle of RIDE A S Venkatesh RI Dist 3232 survival in the times of Covid-19. Hiring freeze, salary cuts and layoff have become the mantra of many businesses to remain afloat. The need of the hour Executive Committee Members (2020–21) is to reinvent the Indian workforce and systematically deal with structural DG Sanjiv Rai Mehra RI Dist 3011 issues in the economy so that we emerge as a more resilient society. Chair – Governors Council Globally nearly 74 million young adults are unemployed. Youth are DG Sudip Mukherjee RI Dist 3291 our only sustainable asset. We must create skills, leadership and job Secretary – Governors Council opportunities for them. Clubs must participate in skilling youth and help DG Sangram Vishnu Patil RI Dist 3170 them to get jobs during these uncertain times. Rotary India Literacy Secretary – Executive Committee Mission realised this and, together with Apollo MedSkills, has launched DG Prashant Harivallabh Jani RI Dist 3060 the Saksham Bharat skilling programme on a pilot basis to skill people Treasurer – Executive Committee as para medical workers with assured placement. The beneficiaries are decided by the sponsoring Rotarians and are trained in select centres of DG S Muthupalaniappan RI Dist 3232 Member – Advisory Committee Apollo MedSkills.

Adopt a village ROTARY NEWS / I request each club to adopt a village and help improve basic education, ROTARY SAMACHAR water, sanitation, health and other facilities there to make it self-sufficient Editor and enhance the wellbeing of its people. Rasheeda Bhagat

End Polio Senior Assistant Editor There is no greater joy than finishing the race. We have pledged to eradicate Jaishree Padmanabhan the world of polio and requesting each Rotarian to rededicate himself/herself to see this battle through. October 24 is World Polio Day. Get involved and spread the message through fundraisers, events, rallies, awareness ROTARY NEWS / programmes, so that we can make polio a thing of the past. ROTARY SAMACHAR With the untimely demise of PRID Yash Pal Das we have lost a Rotary ROTARY NEWS TRUST warrior, a loving and a doting family man and, for many of us, a dear friend. 3rd Floor, Dugar Towers, Let us all pray that he brightens the space he occupies in his after-life. It is 34 Marshalls Road, Egmore now certain that even god requires good people. May god give his family Chennai 600 008, India. the strength to overcome this huge loss. Phone : 044 42145666 e-mail: [email protected] Website: www.rotarynewsonline.org

Kamal Sanghvi Now share articles from RI Director, 2019–21 rotarynewsonline.org on WhatsApp.

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 9

P_RI Direstors Message_Trustees list_October2020.indd 9 9/28/2020 11:44:23 AM We don’t need to go back to a pre-corona world: Muhammad Yunus

Rasheeda Bhagat

y question is why do we want to want to go back Mto a pre-corona world at all? Is it worth it? The world which we have left behind during this pandemic was not a happy but a terrible world… a world which was about to end.” was on how to quickly return to the generation marching on the streets With these words, Nobel Peace pre-corona world. He was “worried” and blaming the older generation… laureate Muhammad Yunus gripped because of the “enormous eager- accusing their own parents and the attention of the well-attended ness of governments, policy makers grandparents, people like us, of being webinar titled No going back, and big businesses to rush back to irresponsible. They hold us respon- organised by Rotary Club of Madras, the world we had inhabited before sible for destroying the world they RID 3232. He said that prior to the corona. Governments have been have to grow up in, and in which they Covid pandemic “we were all in a pouring in a huge amount of money see no future. We have stolen their fast-moving train... a high-speed bullet in bail out packages, some govern- future is their accusation.” train, rushing to the ultimate journey to ments in billions of dollars and some The second reason was that disaster with the disaster point not too in trillions.” “most of the wealth of the world far away. In my opinion this pandemic is concentrated in very few hands, has luckily stopped this train and given and this was reaching an explosive us the opportunity to get off, take a point… like a ticking time bomb look around and ask ourselves should and we don’t have much time.” Here we board that train again and finish He spelt out three reasons for too the pandemic had provided the the journey to the ultimate destination, saying we were headed towards dis- opportunity for more equitable shar- which is disaster? Or take this aster; the first being global warming ing of the world’s wealth. opportunity created by the pandemic threatening to finish the world in just The third reason for a world and go in a different direction.” a matter of “two or three decades and heading for disaster was the Yunus said he was forced to ask not even half a century”. That there growing, massive unemployment. these questions because everywhere was not much time left for this disas- Raising a very crucial point, Yunus in the world, the frenzied dialogue ter could be seen from “our younger said that this time the dialogue

10 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

P_We donot need to go back to a pre-corona world.indd 10 9/25/2020 2:51:51 PM on unemployment was different. in a wrong way, because it is based at the same time we are also inter- Normally the talk is about the on the premise that all human beings ested in common interest and that’s number of unemployed people, but are driven by a single principle — where Rotary comes in.” during this pandemic, the discussion that of self-interest. So I design the Once this was accepted then had changed to “the employed business for myself and for profit we’ll have to bring in two kinds of people losing their jobs in massive maximisation. That is the essence of businesses; one that we already have, numbers.” There were even startling business today.” business for profit and the other predictions that in the next 15 years This kind of business was based which economists never recognised, nearly a billion people will be out of on the “misrepresentation of the but its time has come. This was social jobs. “That is the fast route we are human being; a human being is not business or business to solve other taking to disaster and all because a 100 per cent selfish being, if it people’s problems “rather than make of artificial intelligence (AI) and was so, then Rotary would not have money for ourselves. In one busi- machines taking over human jobs. been born, forget it having spread all ness there is maximisation of profit That’s not a happy scenario.” over the world! You came into being or profit for myself; the other is just Taking these three major reasons because you wanted to do something the reverse, and more efficient than into account, Yunus said, “returning for others. We have to recognise this charity, as charity money goes out to to the pre-pandemic world would be economic theory that we are selfish do good, but doesn’t come back.” committing suicide.” and not walk away from it. We may Hence he has advocated the idea He maintained that there were be selfish and self-interested people; of social business, where the money remedies to halt, avert and even reverse this disaster “but we don’t want to do that because we are in our Former US President Barack Obama comfort zone.” Giving the example placing the Presidential Medal of of an obese person, Yunus said, he/ Freedom around Nobel laureate she knows how to shape up but Dr Muhammad Yunus’s neck in 2009 doesn’t actually do it. “We are in at the White House. the same bus. We know how to stop global warming, the concentration of wealth in a few hands and massive unemployment. But we don’t do it.”

Yunus said one of the ways we can reverse the march to disaster was “by rethinking and redesigning of business. I say business is designed

The younger generation holds us responsible and accuses us of destroying the world they have to grow up in, and in which they see no future.

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 11

P_We donot need to go back to a pre-corona world.indd 11 9/25/2020 2:51:51 PM But once the education system countries. So we have to introduce was tweaked to make entrepreneurs the idea of the micro entrepreneur Business is designed wrong; it is of the young, next the financial sys- and support that system.” tem will have to be made suitable to based on the premise that all human help them. While in the entire Indian beings are driven by self-interest. subcontinent “we are proud of our entrepreneurs,” the very definition But that is a misrepresentation of of the word “entrepreneur” would Leaning heavily on Rotarians the human being, if true, Rotary have to be changed and made more for their help and partnership, the would not have been born. inclusive. Nobel laureate said, “I want Rotary Giving the example of migrant to be a joint partner in such ventures, workers, he said millions of them support and finance them.” “leave their homes to sell their skills, Asked a question on the future of comes back through some profit and either selling their wares on the microfinance and whether it would can be recycled again and again to do roads, or bringing in different and be able to “survive this huge crisis,” tremendous good. Referring to RIPE special skills required for different Yunus smiled and said, “I think about Shekhar Mehta’s opening remarks jobs, but suddenly you get the corona 65–70 per cent of the population of on the money Rotarians in India had pain and we found millions of them India falls into the informal sector, spent on water and sanitation and walking back home. So I say what they take care of themselves, survive other community projects, he said kind of an economy is this which on their own and for their financial “all this money you spend on your treats its migrants thus?” needs depend on the loan sharks, of programmes, can be recycled, if the Yunus suggested that “the entire model is tweaked.” Giving an exam- economy of the informal sector ple, he said, “when you reach clean should be recognised as a micro water to people, they can pay tiny entrepreneurial sector. If you do money for it which can be recycled that, you will need a whole and you can use that money again lot of rules, policies and instead of raising money every year, actions, because as and you can enlarge social business long as you call in a massive way.” it the informal sector, you have no responsibility towards it, and those belonging Coming to the colossal prob- to it are on their lem of unemployment the world will own. But why face as the pandemic will take away should they be on jobs from the already employed, their own? They are Yunus said: “In education, we say the base of the entire get a good education so that you can pyramid of entre- get a good job; we say this as though preneurship in our a job is the destiny of every human being. But I say human beings are not born to do jobs, they are born entre- preneurs, but our education system never opened that door of opportunity for them. It shut it down making everybody a job seeker and taking away the creative power of young individuals.”

12 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

P_We donot need to go back to a pre-corona world.indd 12 9/25/2020 2:51:55 PM one kind or another; the tiny one, the large one, the neighbourhood one.” And a major portion of whatever How Rotary can they get from the immense hard work they do is taken away by the make a difference loan shark. “So why don’t we create a financial system for them? Earlier aying that Covid-19 had go and how do we go to a new it used to be said that we can’t have “given us the opportunity world, which is a reverse of the banking for poor people. We have to take outrageously bold old one without global warming proved it that it can be done, both S decisions,” Nobel Peace laureate and concentration of wealth in a in Bangladesh, India and elsewhere. Muhammad Yunus called upon few hands, and loss of jobs… a And yet it is not within the reach of Rotary to take a leading role world of zero wealth concentra- millions. So why don’t we build a in this mission. Displaying his tion and zero unemployment.” financial sector in such a way that respect and regard for Rotary, He added that “we know nobody is left out. If we do that, the he said, “my relationship with how this can be done, and are loan shark as a concept will simply Rotary goes a long way back, we not completely clueless; we disappear. We can do it.” have worked together at various know what is happening on Microcredit had been established levels over a period of time. You fossil fuel, but do nothing about as “absolutely legitimate banking. have a big role to play in the it. We know plastic is bad, how We started it in a small way in post-corona world, not only in to get rid of it, but we don’t do Bangladesh and then it spread to India or the subcontinent, but it. We know what AI is but we India in a big way and then became also globally.” don’t want to address that.” a global phenomenon. And yet, The “very important role that He was optimistic that comparatively speaking, it is small Rotary can play is in redesigning Rotary can help; “I mention and just a footnote in the financial and rethinking of old ideas.” Rotary because I know it is sector because there is no government Once it was accepted that we beautifully organised and has policy on it. I have been pleading why did not want to return to the tremendous power, and power not the government create a ministry imperfect world in which we that is global. Look at the way of micro entrepreneurs (ME). If you were living before Covid, “the Rotary clubs take up a project have ministry of labour, then why not next question is where do we and get it done.” for ME; they are larger in number and potentially more powerful. Once you have a ministry of ME, then you have the responsibility of building this don’t make money. Grameen bank then there are “abnormal floods when sector and creating ME banks, which was never invented to make money water goes over your rooftop and you but to serve people.” lose everything… your home, your Coming to the question on animals, your savings, everything. whether microfinance would sur- This is almost routine, but during Human beings are born vive this pandemic, Yunus gave such times, microcredit goes on, it entrepreneurs, but our education the example of Bangladesh which doesn’t disappear.” had displayed the successful model He said the microcredit pro- system never opened that door of microfinance. “This country is gramme was designed in such a of opportunity for them. It shut known for natural disasters, and way that it works for the people and we’ve had one disaster after another. “stands by those in trouble and helps it down making everybody a job Even during Covid time we had a them get back on their feet. That is seeker and taking away young very big flood. But nobody writes the essence of social business; it is people’s creative power. about it.” designed to keep you on your feet. He said in Bangladesh, when dur- In Covid-19, you have not lost your ing a flood, water enters your home, homes, animals, etc. Compared to that is regarded a “normal flood”, but some of the floods we get, this is a

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 13

P_We donot need to go back to a pre-corona world.indd 13 9/25/2020 2:51:55 PM it free. Social businesses can give it free to the poor by making the Vaccine for common good rich pay a little extra for it.” Intervening at this point, RIPE Shekhar Mehta said Yunus had given the example of polio, “and we in Rotary have this legacy of doing polio eradication work around the world. We are now in the process of starting a discussion on what is the role Rotary can play when it comes to the corona vaccine distribution and we will take note of what you have said about your petition to the UN on the Covid-19 vaccine.” He sought the Nobel laure- ate’s suggestion on how Rotarians can help, to which Yunus responded: “This is a very impor- s the coronavirus spread now trying to promote it as a UN tant issue. When the vaccine its tentacles and crippled resolution and have invited major finally comes, mostly, it will be Athe whole world and there countries, including India, to sign controlled by the governments of was desperate talk about the need up for it.” the world. So you have to negoti- for a vaccine, “I was very worried Yunus said the concern was ate with the government on what when I looked at the vaccine sit- that if the vaccine was under role it will allow Rotary to play. uation and saw all big companies the control of five or six major The governments will want to getting ready for super profits,” pharma companies, who are take the credit and make sure the said Prof Muhammad Yunus. already being paid millions of minister saab comes and makes So, before it was too late, dollars by the US, UK and some a speech, but the real work will he thought it was necessary to other European countries, when have to be done by somebody. appeal to world leaders to declare it comes it will first serve the rich. It will have to be a diplomatic it a “vaccine for common good, “And then will come the middle negotiation. But you will have to so that there is no ownership on class and by the time it reaches take the responsibility to go to the it and nobody has the rights to those at the back of the line, they remotest places and reach those make big money from it. We were will either be dead or in severe people this vaccine.” inspired by the polio vaccine. crisis. The greedy people will not There were many remote Jonas Salk, who discovered it, said only make a lot of money, fake places where nothing will enter in it will be people’s vaccine.” (In a or look-alike vaccines will come the foreseeable future, so Rotary press conference when Salk was everywhere and will be given a should take that responsibility; quizzed about patent, he famously big marketing drive.” even though a small one, it will said: ‘Would you patent the sun?’) But if the vaccine was made make a significant difference. So along similar lines, he is a patent-free product, billions “And I am talking global here… trying to promote the no-patent of dollars would not be made in you will have to go to Latin concept for the Covid-19 vac- profit from genuine or fake vac- America, Africa, and similar cine, has got the support of some cines and “we can ensure that the regions, which will be the last to important people and “we are poor people of the world will get get the vaccine.”

14 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

P_We donot need to go back to a pre-corona world.indd 14 9/25/2020 2:51:56 PM a social business fund, which is a two- etc. “This is Rotary’s 100th year in way fund and money will come back, India and we thought that as we have so that you can do more projects.” some 150,000 Rotarians, it is time There are startling predictions These businesses ask the unem- that Rotary plays a role in nation- that in the next 15 years nearly ployed who are keen to become building. Doing small projects here a billion people will be out entrepreneurs to come forward with and there doesn’t suit a 100-year-old business ideas and help them with organisation, so for the last 5–6 years of jobs. That is the fast route both professional advice and finance. we have been working on various we are taking to disaster. “You give the money the first time, it issues, literacy being in the forefront.” will come back and then if he wants Making India fully literate was a second round, you can have a phase a passion that Rotarians shared and two in that business. In the first towards that goal they had taken tiny and temporary thing, you will phase, a social business can be a tiny several initiatives, the latest being suffer but you still have your family.” little thing. You can help so many. augmenting the e-learning programme Getting five people out of unemploy- in government schools. “By 2025, we ment is not rocket science, but all we want to go to each and every govern- think of doing is call somebody and ment school in India and change the recommend a person for a job when medium of learning to audio visual. Asked by RIPE Mehta on an unemployed comes to you. But You and I have learnt about solar what Rotary should do and how that is not the solution. The solution eclipse from black and white text it could help, Yunus said: “Many is how this guy can create employ- books, but imagine now we can vis- things, we have annual gatherings, ment for others. That is transfor- ually show the children the movement which you can attend; we have some mational. In Bangladesh we say we of the earth, moon, etc so that the child big companies on board such as are not job seekers, but job creators. can grasp these lessons much better.” France’s Danone, McCain Foods, Many successful people started small, He explained how during the pan- the Canadian company, and some luck favoured them, but it doesn’t demic Rotary has struck a partnership Japanese companies. We have a favour millions.” with the Indian government whereby lecture series, which you can attend the e-learning content it has given will and get ideas. Rotary clubs can create be beamed across every nook and cor- ner of India through 12 TV channels the government has created for educa- Earlier, addressing the meet, tion. Mehta said now Rotarians from Mehta shared with the Nobel Nepal and Bangladesh were also being laureate some of the community involved in this project so that they development projects that Rotarians can replicate the e-learning models in have been doing in India on water their country. and sanitation, health, literacy and Welcoming the participants, RC education, livelihood enhancement, Madras president Kapil Chitale said Yunus was the “father of economic revolution in the world of microcredit and microfinance. With one per cent of the world’s population holding 99 per cent of its wealth, such path- breaking initiatives alone can hope to bridge this economic divide.”

Designed by Krishnapratheesh

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 15

P_We donot need to go back to a pre-corona world.indd 15 9/25/2020 2:51:56 PM Obit Luis, the trailblazer

Rajendra Saboo

From L: Past RI Presidents Luis Giay, Rajendra Saboo, K R Ravindran and Frank Devlyn.

uis Vicente Giay had unpar- group discussion leader (now training Argentina had a cholera epidemic then, alleled vision, unquestiona- leader) for three years — 1981–83. and after the initial courtesy words, ble integrity and unsurpassed I had that responsibility two years ear- I told the president that India suffers Lintellectual gravitas. His pro- lier. When we met in 1983, we made up the spread of cholera every year but is fessionalism and simplicity made him for the lost time in our Rotary journey. able to control it. If he desired, I could an exceptional leader of this pioneer In 1990-91, Luis was aide to Pres- organise the visit of some experts from service organisation — Rotary. He ident Paulo Costa and I was RI presi- India to Argentina within a week. They could see far and he knew that all the dent-elect. Both Paulo and I were very could stay for four weeks and along with beautiful sentiments weighed less than close friends but had some sensitive local doctors, plan how to control the a single lovely action. A man of vision issues which we resolved with the epidemic. and action, he was a grassroot Rotarian help of Luis and my aide, past RI vice- The president immediately called who was concerned about the future. president George Arceanaux. for coffee and his health minister, and I met Luis in Monte Carlo in 1983 As RI president I visited Argentina spent almost an hour with us. I managed when he was a CoL delegate, and I, an and Luis organised my three-day visit to send three specialty doctors and a RI director. Usha and I became instant and was my local aide. We reached the public health expert from India within friends with Celia and Luis. We would Argentinian President Carlos Menem’s a week, and with Luis as the national tease them as “love birds” as they were office for a courtesy call. On the time coordinator, the project succeeded. It so youthful regardless of their age. allotted to us, his secretary said: Nor- was a memorable experience. Luis, who became a governor in 1974, mally 15 minutes but if he asks for cof- The climax came with Luis as RI was senior to me by two years. He was fee in 10 minutes, then it will be his call. president-elect in 1995–96 and I, the

16 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

K_Luis, the Trailblazer_1.indd 16 25-Sep-20 5:10:16 PM trustee chair-elect. Luis said, “Raja, next incoming presidents, the TRF trustee 2001, as the RI President’s Rep. On Jan year is Paul Harris’s 50th anniversary. chair, and the next two incoming chairs 26, India’s Republic Day, the killer, What can we do to commemorate the at a hotel in the O’Hare area. That unprecedented earthquake hit Gujarat. occasion with a lasting programme?” dissipated the stress, anger and other As our district, under governor Ranjit I said Rotary had done almost every negative reactions. An action plan was Bhatia, collected money and material worthwhile programme and wondered evolved to sustain harmony between for the disaster victims, Celia and Luis what new could be done. But Luis was the RI board and the TRF trustees. were the first to donate generously. very persuasive and I said: “We will I understand that this concept of a We have been together on various think”. I thought of a Paul Harris Centre retreat is still prevalent. occasions… at the Peace Centre sym- for International Studies in Peace, and Our trip together in August 1996 to posiums, international conventions gave the blue print of the idea. Luis was South Africa to launch the Kick polio and assemblies, and always spent time thrilled but being a practical leader, said out of Africa campaign, inaugurated by together. Meanwhile Celia came up the it would be a massive programme. Could President Nelson Mandela, was signif- Rotary hierarchy and this wonderful RI or TRF handle it? By 1996–97, at the icant and crucial. About 30 of us met couple won Usha and my hearts totally. Glasgow Convention, Luis and I jointly with President Mandela, but the secu- A part of that heart has gone. We announced the programme, now known rity people wouldn’t allow our going miss him. The man who had his whole as the Rotary Peace Centres, a flagship near him to shake hands with him. family in Rotary, who lifted Rota- programme of the Foundation. As the meeting ended, I sought the pres- ry’s name by becoming Ambassador Towards the end of 1995–96, the ident’s permission to allow RI President Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of RI board had decided to shift the trustee Luis Giay to pin the Rotary End Polio his country Argentina, who bridged chair’s office to the 17th floor of One button on him. The president couldn’t generations in Rotary, will be missed Rotary Center, and the trustees threat- say No, and in the evening we even by Rotary. ened to shift the complete Foundation danced with President Mandela! This Luis Giay was not a torchbearer to to another location. Again Luis and my was a highlight of the year. show the path ahead. He was the torch personal relationship helped.We had a Luis visited India many times, himself, and has left a blazing trail. two-day retreat for the RI president, two coming to Chandigarh from Jan 25–28, The writer is a past RI president.

PDG Funsho named one of Time’s 100 Team Rotary News

r Tunji Funsho, Rota- of RC Lekki, RID 9110, Dry’s Nigeria National Lagos, Nigeria. PolioPlus chair, has been The Time’s 100 recog- named one of the “100 nises the activism, inno- Most Influential People in vation and achievement of the World” listed annually the world’s most influ- by the Time magazine. He ential individuals. Past is recognised for his critical recipients of the honour leadership in working with include heads of state such Rotary and its partners to as Angela Merkel, reli- achieve a wild polio-free gious figures like the Dalai Nigeria and eradicate the Lama and Pope Francis, virus in the African region. celebrities like Oprah Win- He is the first Rotary mem- frey and Irish singer Bono, ber to receive this honour. philanthropists like Bill PDG Dr Funsho is a Gates, and activists such as cardiologist and a member Malala Yousafzai. „

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 17

K_Luis, the Trailblazer_1.indd 17 25-Sep-20 5:10:16 PM Obit Hasta la vista, El Capitán Luis

K R Ravindran

uis Giay, the 86th RI presi- the races at the starting grid he saw a other members were old enough to be dent, has left us, leaving us bright young woman with brown eyes his father and some even grandfather. only with some wonderful and long hair in the next car navigat- The first time I saw Luis at close Lmemories. He was adored ing for her father. He’d say that in that quarters was when Vanathy and by the Rotary world and was the doyen one second on the starting grid of the I walked into the Training Leaders of South America Rotary. His theme race he knew this woman, Celia, was (discussion leaders) opening reception was “Build the future with action and going to become his wife! He never in Anaheim, Los Angeles, in January vision”. A man of wisdom and a huge said whether he won or lost that race 1993 and he with Celia received us capacity to love others, he said, “I with such a distraction! at the door as the assistant modera- believe that civilisation is like a big Luis and Celia made a dashing tor. The moderator was PRID Keith building made out of bricks, thousands couple. Celia distinguished herself Burnham. and thousands of bricks. Each of us is in her own right. A school teacher, I was picked to repeat a second a brick supporting the grand structure a music professor, a news reporter, year and he became my moderator we call humanity.” That’s why the col- vivacious and charming, she became and his team was known as ‘Giay’s our of his jacket was brick red. I used the vice-president of RI in 2014–15. Global Genius’. I recognised in Luis to call Luis ‘El Capitán’, Spanish for Surely she could not have achieved even then the qualities of a born leader captain. that without the unyielding backing and a complete man. It wasn’t just He was a public accountant and a of her devoted husband. Luis’s career his in-depth knowledge of Rotary. businessman, and both of us had the in Rotary was born when he became a It wasn’t even his ability to quickly same love — rally car racing. Luis was member of RC Arrecifes, near Buenos assess a person and adjust himself to very good and became a champion at Aires, the same town where he was that person’s level; It wasn’t his superb a high level of competition. At one of born. He was 22 then and most of the speaking skills in English, Spanish and

From L: PRIP Luis Giay, Celia, Vanathy and TRF Trustee Chair K R Ravindran, PRIP Frank Devlyn and Gloria Rita.

18 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

K_Hasta la vista, El Capitán Luis_1.indd 18 25-Sep-20 2:47:51 PM Portuguese. He would often start his speech in English by claiming that his English was not good, but no one was fooled by that because it was excel- lent. But I say he is a leader because, as someone said, he is not a pessimist who complains about the wind, nor the optimist who expects the wind to change. But a leader who adjusts his sails to the wind. Plus, he had social skills — superb on the piano, ability to barbecue a delectable steak, and so light on his feet on the dance floor! The first major committee I served on was a year later when Luis had been nominated as president. Luis put me into his committee to develop his theme. The chair of the committee was PRID Howard Vann and the vice-chair PRIP Paolo Costa. I saw him master- fully steering that committee without in anyway usurping the position of the chair. It was also good to see the joust- ing and the thrust and parry between Luis Giay and Celia at PRIP Ravindran’s home in Colombo. Paolo and Luis, clearly great friends — Luis was the aide to Paolo when he Our Foundation owes him so much. As He was literally an eyewitness to the was president. chair of the committee he had a clear events of 9/11. When I was nominated to the Board vision of what was wanted and where There was a gentleness about Luis, of Trustees in 2004, Luis was trustee the Foundation should go. His com- a largeness of sensibility, a love for chair. He put me into the investment mittee included PRIPs Ron Burton, fellow Rotarians felt by all those who committee. After the first meeting Mark Maloney and the present trustee came into contact with him. At our I went up to him and asked to be Gulam Vahanvaty. home in Sri Lanka one evening I saw relieved from the committee as it was He was one of three past presi- how he left the main table at dinner to much too complex for me. He took dents I relied on heavily when I was go sit with my other club friends — me aside and said, “when you become president myself. He never failed me regaling and engrossing them with president you will need to know about with his advice and assistance and I his stories, and Luis was a good story investments. So, stay there and learn recall him turning up at my apartment teller — in a space of 15–20 minutes the subject!” one evening with two bottles of very he could relate the struggle, the con- When he was RI president, the special Malbec wine he had carried flict and the resolution. He and Celia TRF trustee chair was Rajendra Saboo. from Argentina! He had been assigned brought a glow to the presidency of They were the original architects of by me to restart Rotary in Cuba. Rotary, a breath of fresh air and a the Rotary Peace Centres and again One morning in 2001 Luis was pause for beauty and love. it was the two of them who were in in New York talking to Evanston on Hasta la vista, El Capitán! We South Africa with Nelson Mandela to the phone whilst looking out from will miss your cherubic face and launch the “Kick polio out of Africa” one of the high floor hotel rooms he your disarming smile. And I echo campaign in 1996. Those two indeed was occupying, and he noticed in the Shakespeare’s beautiful words from were a powerful team that year. near horizon, a low flying aircraft and Hamlet “Good night, sweet prince; Luis was the master who steered he did wonder at that. And the next may the flight of angels take thee to TRF’s Future Vision Committee for instant, the aircraft flew straight into thy eternal rest.” several years and brought it to fruition. the World Trade Centre building! The writer is a past RI president.

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 19

K_Hasta la vista, El Capitán Luis_1.indd 19 25-Sep-20 2:47:52 PM Message from TRF Trustee Chair Message from TRF Trustee Celebrate World Polio Day Choose the right DRFCC with a donation n Nov 2004, the RI Board agreed that every club n the early 1990s, polio was still a con- Ishould have, as part of its cern in my country. As the Sri Lanka standing committees, a Rotary I PolioPlus Committee chair, I was part of Foundation committee to a task force of Rotarians, government officials educate club members about and UNICEF representatives that drove all TRF and involve them in its polio eradication efforts, including National activities. Only when Rotarians learn about their Immunisation Days (NIDs). Foundation and become aware of the good that it But those were difficult days; civil war was does in the world, they will voluntarily support raging in Sri Lanka. The government said NIDs could happen it, both financially and with their time and talent. only outside conflict zones. This meant one-third of the country’s Similarly, every district is required to have a children would not be vaccinated — an unacceptable proposition. District Rotary Foundation Committee (DRFC) Rotary stepped in with UNICEF to engineer a ceasefire. Establish- which assists in educating, motivating and ing contact with one of the world’s most feared and elusive rebel inspiring Rotarians to participate in Foundation leaders was not easy, and we were careful to maintain Rotary’s grants and fundraising activities in the district. good name during negotiations. This committee is headed by the DRFC chair A few weeks later, my secretary delivered a letter to my office, her hands shaking. Signed by the rebel leader himself, it read: (DRFCC). This is a critical assignment and, to “Dear Mr Ravindran: If you can persuade your government to stop be effective, the DRFCC must have continuity the war for two days, then we are willing to lay down our guns and is therefore appointed for a three-year term. for two days too, for our war is not with children.” The importance of this position can be gauged Soon the NID was on, and vehicles bearing the Rotary emblem by the fact that districts will not have access to travelled to the vaccination booths in the areas occupied by insur- the District Designated Fund until the DRFCC gents, receiving the same respect and courtesy as the Red Cross. is appointed. Obstacles can seem insurmountable until we overcome them. Experience has shown that Rotarians who In March 2020, the polio programme made the tough decision to have participated in TRF programmes, or have temporarily suspend polio immunisations while the polio infra- seen first-hand how the Foundation transforms structure that Rotary members had helped build was used for lives, are more likely to offer support and con- Covid-19 response. But with the wild poliovirus now banished tribute to it. It is said, “the mediocre teacher tells. from the African region and circulating in just two remaining The good teacher explains. The superior teacher countries, we continue to move forward. Our history shows that demonstrates. The great teacher inspires”. we can overcome even the most difficult situations. But we can’t In mid-October incoming governors in dis- do it without your help. tricts in which the three-year term of the DRFC World Polio Day is October 24 and it’s the greatest oppor- ends in June 2021, will receive a notification to tunity we have to raise funds and awareness for Rotary’s polio select a new DRFCC. The DGE must involve the eradication efforts. Visit endpolio.org/worldpolioday to get tools DGN and DGND to ensure that the DRFCC is for planning virtual events and fundraisers, and to register your club’s event. jointly selected by them. I request the incoming Please consider making a donation to End Polio Now, to be district leaders to make this choice carefully and matched 2-to-1 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In the face wisely for the greater good of the district. of a pandemic, there is a serious risk of further spread of polio. Your As Bill Cosby said, “Selecting the right support is more important than ever, and it will ensure that together person for the right job is the largest part of a we can tackle the remaining obstacles and achieve a polio-free world. leader”.

K R Ravindran Gulam A Vahanvaty Foundation Trustee Chair Trustee, The Rotary Foundation

20 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

Trustee Chair's Message + Gulam - October 2020.indd 20 9/24/2020 6:23:43 PM Obit Yash made goodness attractive

Rajendra Saboo

e was a hero in father PDG H K Das. weight during his RI example of his commit- steadfast, purity Yash was drawn to Rotary directorship, but later he ment. The fight against Hof purpose and very quickly and I devel- shed more weight than tuberculosis shows his service. He kindled our oped affection for him. he had gained. I asked sense of responsibility. hearts in friendship. And yet, when he stood him how he did it and His role in making India Yash Pal Das was the for the district governor- his response was, “I cut polio-free speaks of his embodiment of simplic- ship, his election was out fried food, sugar passion. ity, affability, generosity nullified by my RI board, and alcoholic drinks.” As I share these and humility. Commit- when I was RI president I knew he loved all emotions, today, Sep 23, ment was his religion; because of the violation three, but when it was is Yash’s birthday. It is his integrity was unim- of some provisions by the needed, he did show the the equinox — where day peachable; his credibility district. But he was not determination. and night are equal. It was an open book; his disqualified and in the The challenge of reflects Yash’s character, professionalism was re-election, he won almost building schools up in the total balance — as equal quality to the core. Cool, unanimously. Despite this Uttarakhand hills, fol- inside as outside. im. He calm and patience were episode, Yash and his lowing the flash floods, was The complete man his ornaments. He was a wife Manju, became close stands as an epitome of who made goodness gentleman par excellence. to Usha and me. Yash’s leadership. The attractive. I knew him in the To strike a lighter Rotary Cancer Hospital The writer is a past early 1970s, through his note, Yash had gained in Ambala is another RI president.

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 21

K_Obit_Yash made goodness attractive.indd 21 25-Sep-20 2:49:01 PM Obit Yash Pal Das: Rotary loses a leader of integrity and charisma

Ashok Mahajan

y friend Yash Pal Das, past uniquely multifaceted. But far beyond eradicating polio from the world and RI director and an illustri- business, in which he won laurels as an immediately from India. And who can Mous son of Ambala city, ethical businessman, he was a people’s forget the excellent work he did in passed away on September 22 in New man first. building 25 quality schools in the Gar- Delhi. He was more than a friend… An outstanding Rotarian, an inspir- hwal Himalayas, the region that was a brother to me. I have been singing his ing speaker, a visionary leader, he was devastated by floods. He personally praise all these years and now he has all that, but above all, he was a very fine supervised this as well as the construc- made me write a tribute to him, with human being. Those who have moved tion of a primary health care centre at my eyes filled with tears. with him or even come in contact with Phata, Uttarakhand. He showed Rotarians the good that him briefly would have admired his He participated in various Interna- is possible to do for our world and made gentle manners and would have been tional Assemblies and Rotary conven- each of us believe that we can do won- unable to resist Yash’s contagious and tions and energised a new generation of ders to make this world a better place intoxicating positive energy. Rotary leaders who went back to serve to live in. He showed us that service As a fellow member in the India in their districts. through Rotary can be challenging and National PolioPlus Committee with Y P, as he was fondly called, yet pleasant and enjoyable. me, he was most respected and admired believed in building an innovative Yash was an optimist who lived by for his relentless work in polio eradica- Rotary in India. He believed in strad- Rotary first. As my batchmate district tion. He showed that he was an eternal dling the pyramid from top to bottom. governor during 1993–94, I found him optimist and a passionate believer in He was called upon by various RI

PRID Yash Pal Das (R) with Rajashree Birla, chairperson, Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development, and PRID Ashok Mahajan at the Centennial Summit in Kolkata in Feb 2020.

22 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

K_Obit_Yash Pal Das Rotary loses a leader of integrity and charisma_4.indd 22 26-09-2020 07:48:22 PM leaders to be in committees that dealt with contentious issues concerning the administration of Rotary districts and Soft spoken, mild clubs. His selection as the chairman of the most powerful Executive Commit- mannered, humble… tee of the RI board showed that all the board members had implicit faith in his Shekhar Mehta ability to handle any issue that Rotary might have to face. He always came up with solutions that smoothened the rough edges and put the movement back on rail. He was regarded as one of Rotary’s best thought leaders. The very embodiment of three qualities — passion, compassion and character, his advice to Rotarians was that they should develop the power of positive thinking that would catapult Rotary into the minds of a a bulk of India’s 1.3 billion. He placed great importance on eth- he passing away of Yash Pal members, we were often jocularly ics, values, family and relationships. His Das is shocking and unbe- referred to as the “Indian mafia”. integration of Rotary with day-to-day lievable. I spoke to him Post board meeting every day, life made it easy for members to develop T three days earlier while he was in we foursome (Yash, Manju, Rashi personal as well as public integrity. hospital and he was spirited and and I) would venture out for dinner, His tenure as RI director (2011– optimistic. spending some real quality time. 2013) was remarkable as he shaped What an outstanding human I tried to keep pace with his pegs Rotary’s policies in empowering the being… soft spoken, mild man- of whisky with my glasses of diet clubs and motivating club members to nered, humble and very positive coke. It is so hard to believe he is follow strict financial discipline while about everything. no longer amongst us. I have such dealing with Rotary funds and that of He and I shared a very, very fond memories of him, all flash- the larger community. special bond, especially because ing before the mind continuously, As a leader of the automotive retail of the two years that we spent relentlessly, painfully. network of the Tata group in Ambala, together on the board of directors Both Rashi and I have lost a he received numerous awards for his of Rotary International. He played dear, dear friend, who we will miss expertise and leadership. I’d always his role very well there. At these hugely. We pray to the lord to give tell him that Rotary projects done in meetings he spoke less, but when Manju and the family the strength Ambala by his club were amongst the he did, it carried a lot of weight. to bear this enormous loss. best any club could hope to ever do and With Kalyan Banerjee as presi- Om Shanti. they kept the name of Rotary flying dent and the two of us as board The writer is RI president-elect. high in Ambala, as the rest of India. He was a much sought after speaker in Rotary and other forums and with penetrating insight and relevant anec- No words can express the loss we of Rotary world will mourn the pass- dotes, he revealed step-by-step ways of feel. A fine speaker, Yash Pal Das, has ing away of a legend. Rotarians will doing good through Rotary. His spouse taken his final bow from this world’s remember him as an example of how Manju provided the needed support to stage. The man with unwavering to be, what to stand up for and what it Yash throughout his life. The couple resolve, the man who did what must is to live with integrity and character. was magnanimous when it came to giv- be done, might have left us, but his ing for charity and community service. memory will last forever. The whole The writer is a past RI director.

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 23

K_Obit_Yash Pal Das Rotary loses a leader of integrity and charisma_4.indd 23 26-09-2020 07:48:23 PM Municipal school students get smartphones from RC Bombay Harbour

Rasheeda Bhagat

t was a memorable Independence to help the senior students with once again, and so had a discussion Day this year for 51 Class 10 mobile phones as “our club has had with the principal on how to go about students of the Colaba Munici- some association or the other with that.” The principal suggested that Ipal School in Mumbai, as all of this particular school for almost 20 many of the 120 students in Class 10 them got a spanking new smartphone years.” In the past several years, do not have smartphones, which are as a gift from members of the Rotary the members have built a basketball now essential for them to keep up with Club of Bombay Harbour, RID 3141. court, organised science exhibitions, their online classes. So with the help The club, with a membership of 40, given career counselling to upgrade of the principal and six teachers, 51 decided to make this gesture to the less the students’ skills, provided special students, daughters and sons of daily fortunate students from this school to sports equipment and other facilities wagers, slumdwellers and other under- help them attend online classes which as required by the school. privileged people, were identified and will be crucial for their performance As the corona pandemic tightened the club undertook the responsibility at their board exam in 2021. its stranglehold on Mumbai, along of gifting them mobile phones. Club president Jayesh Pandya with the rest of India and the entire Pandya explains that they didn’t says they chose this particular school world, “we wanted to help the students want to “give these children just

From L: Club members Shatin Pandya, Dilip Jani, Nilesh Ruparel, Sharad Dave, president Jayesh Pandya, Kailash Gupta, Pradip Mehta and Masood Saifudeen with some of the students at the Colaba Municipal School.

24 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

K_Municipal school students get smartphones from RC Bombay Harbour_2.indd 24 28-Sep-20 12:37:14 PM Their angels or Muskan Shaikh and attend online classes, com- A Ashish, Class 10 stu- plete the worksheets and Fdents of the Colaba other homework. But now Municipal School, the Rotar- with the smartphone that ians of RC Bombay Harbour this Rotary club has given are none less than angels. us, I am able to complete my “Ma’am, Jayesh Pandya sir, worksheets and submit them and other club members have well in time,” says the chirpy been helping our school for girl in a chat with Rotary 20 years. They have given News. Insisting on speaking us books, been counselling in English, which she does us after classes, conducted with confidence, she adds, competitions for us and given “And doing that is such a us prizes. And now they have huge relief! All my tension given us the biggest and most is now gone.” exciting gift, a smartphone,” Muskan answers her gushes 15-year-old Muskan. phone on the first ring, show- The daughter of a daily ing how precious this device wage labourer, Mehboob is for her. She has three Shaikh, she, her parents and two-hour classes every day, two other siblings live in a and her three siblings are in slum area in Ambedkarnagar. school too. She promises to “My family cannot afford a work very hard, do a degree mobile phone and I was so course and then become a Muskan Shaikh with her mother. worried about how I would psychiatrist. Asked why this

profession, she says, “Because phone and when I don’t have I want to know all about the classes, I give it to my broth- mysteries of the brain!” ers or sister to use it for their A Ashish is the son of classes.” The 16-year-old is in a driver, and though along awe of Rotarians and grateful with his two other broth- to them because “their club ers, he studies in Marathi has been helping our school medium, “my younger sister, so much in the past.” 8, is in English medium,” he His dream is to become a says proudly. Asked why, he police officer and towards this says simply, “Because she is goal, he promises to “work the smartest of all of us, and very hard, pursue a degree could speak English from a in science and then get into very young age.” police service,” he adds. He didn’t find it hard I request them to send to learn quickly how to use their pictures, and good qual- a smartphone because his ity, sharp images land in my father, Rajpal Nathuvalmiki Whatsapp in five minutes flat. already has one “and I would Comments Jaishree, at Rotary use it sometimes. But now it is News, wistfully: “If only the A Ashish (centre) such a relief to have my own Rotarians were as quick…”

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 25

K_Municipal school students get smartphones from RC Bombay Harbour_2.indd 25 28-Sep-20 12:37:15 PM any phone. We wanted to give them instruments that would have suffi- cient memory and the features to be able to properly attend their online classes and store study material.” The hat was passed around to club members as well as non-Rotar- ian friends and relatives and `3.5 lakh required to buy 51 instruments was collected. Again, one of the Rotarians who knows a mobile phone dealer was roped in to get a neat discount and “also the right kind of model, which would be the most suitable for online classes. We were very particular about giving them the right model of the phone because last year this school had a suc- cess rate of over 94 per cent in their board exams, and we want the school to keep up its good record,” he added. Keeping in mind the need for small gatherings and social distancing, the 51 students were called in two batches and the mobiles were distributed to each one of them by the Rotarians and the digni- taries such as Madhukar Palkar, educa- tion officer, BMC (Bombay Municipal Club member Dilip Jani gives a mobile phone to a student. Corporation), Assistant Commissioner

of Police Dalvi and others. Four Jio representatives were also present to activate the sim cards — the Rotarians had earlier submitted the Aadhaar cards and other necessary documents to the service provider and have also given the students free connectivity for the first four months. Future renewals will have to be done by the students, but if some of them have a problem, the club members have promised to help. Pandya adds that 15 Rotarians con- tributed for this project led by project director Devang Vora, and supported by Rtns Nilesh Ruparel and Dilip Jani. Apart from this project, RC Bombay Harbour members have done other Covid-relief work such as dis- tributing 4,000 free meals during July, and joining other clubs to give critical Club president Jayesh Pandya gifting a mobile phone to a student. care medical equipment to hospitals. „

26 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

K_Municipal school students get smartphones from RC Bombay Harbour_2.indd 26 28-Sep-20 12:37:23 PM Rotary opens plasma bank in Hyderabad

Kiran Zehra

RC Hyderabad Deccan president VVSN Raju honours Union Minister G Kishan Reddy at the inaugural of the plasma bank. Also present DG N V Hanmanth Reddy (R) and past president Sharath Choudary (L).

C Hyderabad Deccan, RID disinfectant jetting machines that not only find the right match but 3150, launched a plasma sanitise the van after every collec- also call the potential donors and R bank at the Rotary Challa tion,” says Anand Kankaria, the PR motivate them to save the lives of Blood Bank in the city. The new director of the club. This special Covid patients,” he says. But the facility, inaugurated by Union van will enable Covid recovered actual success of the plasma bank, Minister of State for Home Affairs patients to donate plasma with ease he points out, will be “when donors G Kishan Reddy, will cater to the and convenience at the time and come forward. We have created growing demand for Covid conva- location of their choice. a hassle-free and safe donation lescent plasma being prescribed by Donors will be pre-screened experience and appeal to patients doctors as a line of treatment for for antibodies and other blood who have recovered from Covid serious cases. parameters from the comfort of to come forward to donate plasma A blood donation van procured their homes. The plasma donors so that they can become a Covid through a global grant in 2018 can either come to the blood bank saviour rather than just a survivor.” in partnership with TRF and RC or donate blood from home, says Patients and donors can register at Napierville, Chicago, RID 6450, Kankaria. “This is to encourage www.plasmaforyou.org. will be pressed into service. “It is voluntary blood donation and The club also conducted a tree equipped with everything necessary provide blood products, free of plantation drive. Club member for blood donation procedures like charge to poor and needy patients in Devendra Surana planted 10,000 collection equipment, donor beds government hospitals.” The spouses trees at his factory, while other and short-term storage solutions. of club members are helping members planted saplings at their Recently it was equipped with patients find the right donors. “We residence and office premises. „

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 27

P_Rotary opens plasma bank in Hyderabad_2.indd 27 28-Sep-20 1:10:41 PM A Shillong Rotarian feeds the hungry

Jaishree

he Aahar kitchen in right to launch a programme to feed cook and three helpers at the trust’s Shillong provides free the hungry on his death anniversary kitchen and taken in a van to a place food to at least 300 (Sept 22),” says Chaudhuri, adding called Jhalupara at 12 noon, where people daily. It was that the motto of his trust is Ser- people are waiting patiently in a launched in 2018 by the vice above self, in line with that of queue on the sidewalk. The table is TArdhendu Charitable Trust, of which Rotary. A former Editor of Shillong set with the necessary protocol — PDG Manas Chaudhuri, RID 3240, Times, he has been honoured with a dustbins, a handwash station and is the managing trustee. The trust Padma Shri Award by the then Pres- soaps — in place. “We ensure that was formed to perpetuate the mem- ident Abdul Kalam, for his service our ‘guests’ wash their hands before ory of his brother Ardhendu who to journalism. He has also served the eating because many of them are so died in a helicopter crash. “He was a state cabinet as a minister. hungry that the sight of food attracts large-hearted MLA, popular among The food, strictly vegetarian, them straight to it, throwing hygiene the people in Meghalaya. It was only is prepared by a team comprising a to the winds,” he smiles. Food is served on stainless steel plates and “a second or third helping is never denied. Many of them bring con- tainers and pack their dinner too.” He says an 80-year-old woman who eats very little, takes some for her physically-challenged neighbour every day. A team of volunteers help in the whole exercise that lasts for an hour or so. Initially a token amount of `5 was charged for the meal. “The idea was to avoid giving them a complex for having a free lunch. Moreover, every morsel must be valued.” But with the ongoing pandemic and the poor taking a big hit, food is being distributed free since April.

K_A Shillong Rotarian feeds the hungry.indd 28 25-Sep-20 2:47:33 PM I am proud to say that I am not a career politician, I am a Rotarian.

PDG Manas Chaudhuri founder Ardhendu Charitable Trust

During the lockdown, a loaf of bread from his bag the Aahar initiative gained and said, ‘I was surviv- significance as roadside eat- ing on this for five days. eries and restaurants were I would have a bite and closed. Even the affordable down it with some water came to eat this lunch. whenever I was hungry.’ However, the programme Many people have become had to be halted for a few dependent on Aahar for days when the Covid situa- their daily sustenance and, tion was at its peak. “When when the lockdown was we resumed work I came announced, it came as a across an old man, a regular double whammy for them,” at our stall. He took out half says Chaudhuri.

The team, at the local citizens sponsor the request of the local police, day’s meal, offer sweets, has added one more pastries, fruits etc, either to location at Paltan Bazaar, celebrate a happy occasion for distributing food. The or remember the loved volunteers follow the ones they have lost, or Covid protection protocol, just for the pleasure of including masks, sanitisers providing food to the less and maintaining physical privileged. “Either way, distance. Before serving, it is truly fulfilling for all the entire area and the concerned.” More recently, tables are sanitised with IPDG Dr Debashish Das bleaching powder and sponsored a day’s meal disinfectant. to share his satisfaction The menu generally in having completed a comprises rice, dal, roti, rewarding stint as the chutney, subzi, and lots of district governor. green chillies and salt, a Chaudhuri says that combo which is an all-time they do not discriminate favourite, says Chaudhuri, between the poor and adding that this spread those who can afford a would easily cost `100 meal. The food is so tasty in a restaurant. Many and hygienic that even

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 29

K_A Shillong Rotarian feeds the hungry.indd 29 25-Sep-20 2:47:35 PM the well-to-do citizens eat here. He recalls an occasion when a busload of tourists from Lucknow descended at the venue. “They did not look like destitute. I thought they wanted to see what was going on but they said they wanted to eat. We were curious as to why they wanted to eat this food which is meant for the poor. They said, ‘We told the driver we want to have pure vegetarian food, he brought us here.’ They ate the food, blessed us and left.” The cost of preparing food for a day works out to `15,000. Other trusts and philanthropists contribute sizeable funds to the trust. In addi- tion, the Meghalaya government is allotting 10 quintals of rice every month from its public distribution system, and groceries are bought at wholesale rates. Chaudhuri’s home club, RC Shillong, also pitches in with its contribution. Recently the club, along with the trust, distrib- uted soaps, sanitisers and masks to the public,

and during winter they provide them with blankets and woollen clothes.

Other services The trust, formed in 2005, addresses the perennial water shortage in the town by supplying water to households at a subsi- dised rate. Since 2007, a subsidised bus service is being provided to schoolchil- dren. This is a big boon for the parents who are unable to ferry their children to school and back for various reasons, says Chaudhuri. The trust also provides finan- cial and material aid to the marginalised and scholarships to deserving students. Two months after his brother’s death, Chaudhuri served two terms as an MLA “on request from various quarters to fill in his big shoes,” and received an apprecia- tion letter from the then PM Manmohan Singh for promptly accounting for every penny from the legislator’s fund. “I am proud to say that I am not a career politi- cian, I am a Rotarian,” he beams. He joined Rotary in 1980 and was the district trainer last year. He has been elected as the district’s representative to PDG Debashish Das at the venue. the CoL next year. „

30 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

K_A Shillong Rotarian feeds the hungry.indd 30 25-Sep-20 2:47:36 PM RID 3232 sets up a group of Rotary journalists

Team Rotary News

I District 3232 has created a team of R Rotary journalists comprising enthusiastic Rotarians and Annettes from various clubs in order to disseminate information about the work done by the district to the larger com- munity. A ‘Rotary Writers’ Congress’ was organised for them recently through a virtual platform. The role of these ama- DG Muthupalaniappan and wife Kamala at the virtual meet. teur journalists is to collect, collate and add value to Nachiappan said this them. More such work- that is understood even by Rotary as a brand through idea was given by DG shops will be organised a layman. the Governor’s Monthly S Muthupalaniappan, for them.” Editor of Rotary News Letter Powerplay, Rotary’s and the objective of this Addressing the work- Rasheeda Bhagat stressed webpage, Facebook, Twitter programme “is to encour- shop, Rangaraj Pandey, the need for these Rotary and YouTube. The overall age Rotarians, Anns and Founder and CEO of journalists to talk about the objective is to enhance Rota- Annettes to learn the art popular YouTube channel projects that Rotary clubs ry’s public image. of writing well, give them Chanakya, who has a in the district execute by District 3232 Pub- the opportunity to contrib- massive fan following, covering the beneficiaries lic Image chairman ute to the GML and train said journalists should and displaying the change present the right infor- that the Rotarians were mation and be impartial, bringing into their lives. and work to bring about DG Muthupalaniappan a positive change in soci- said he had come out with ety. He cited some real- this concept as he believed life examples that kept that the “work that Rotar- the audience spellbound, ians do should be covered saying that the larger from the ground-level community boycotts and by the Rotary journalists rejects malicious and going into the field.” false propaganda driven Such training pro- by a part of the media. He grammes will be held said journalists should be every month, said Rangaraj Pandey, founder and CEO of YouTube genuine and tell the truth Sukanya Sriram, Editor channel Chanakya. effectively and in a way of Powerplay. „

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 31

K_RID 3232 sets up a group of Rotary journalists.indd 31 25-Sep-20 2:49:29 PM e was only a child of nine, when, accompanied Hby his preg- nant mother and two-year- Once a refugee, this old brother, was taken by the police in Lahore to the Railway Station. “It was Aug Rotarian has enabled 13, 1947, our colony was burning and there was smoke and shouting and screaming everywhere. We had to run to free heart surgery safety and the police said we can only take you to only one place, the railway station,” for thousands recalls O P Khanna, a member of RC Bangalore Indiranagar, (RID 3190) since 1972. “The Rasheeda Bhagat train was packed and peo- ple were hanging on to the roof. But because my mother was visibly pregnant and we were children, we were given A child beneficiary from Indonesia. space inside.” They reached Jalandhar safely, but it was nearly three weeks before his father, who was still in Lahore on that day and did not know they had left for India, came to know that his family was safe. He later joined them of course. “This was the first instance when God was kind to me,” says the grateful Rotarian, recalling those petrifying moments from the Partition of the Indian subcontinent. The second was when in 1998, while going for a UN assignment overseas, he had a heart attack, but fortunately could get the right treatment in time. So the man, and the child of nine who resides in him and who had come to India with “just three pairs of clothes”, wanted to set up a charity to return his debt to society. “My wife and children were very supportive and in 2001, I set up

32 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

K_Once a refugee, this Rotarian has enabled free heart surgery for thousands_1.indd 32 28-Sep-20 11:44:32 AM O P Khanna (extreme L), chairman, Needy Heart Foundation, with a visiting dignitary.

the Needy Heart Founda- wouldn’t have been able would go to NHF.” It was a tion (NHF) in association to afford one. “But for win-win for both the com- with the Manipal Hospital this service to the com- The seed money panies and he himself; the in Bengaluru, with the munity, I want to thank for the foundation, which companies paid the direc- objective of helping save Rotarians in India as well approximately spends `25 tor’s fee directly to NHF, the lives of needy patients as The Rotary Founda- to 30 lakh annually to help and got tax exemption who required heart sur- tion, who have helped me needy heart patients, came and he did not have to pay gery,” he says in my mission.” Besides from his own earnings and income tax on his earning Twenty years into its Indian patients, NHF has donations from his imme- from these companies, as it existence, in August, the facilitated heart opera- diate family members and directly went to the charity, NHF had saved the lives tions on patients from relatives staying overseas, he explains. of 10,000 people, who 12 countries, including with some contribution So after putting in his required heart surgery and Bangladesh, Pakistan, coming in from a TRF earnings, and his family but for his foundation, Nepal and Indonesia. grant and help from his members’ contributions, own Rotary club. he signed MoUs and Khanna is a graduate struck partnerships with from IIT Kharagpur, a other NGOs and hospitals, PRIP Rajendra Saboo, RIPE Shekhar Mehta technocrat and an expert in which enabled surgery for poor patients at a reduced and PRID Sushil Gupta have referred machine tools and welding technology, who has set up cost, without compromis- complicated heart surgeries from various his own business. “I was ing on quality, with the places to the NHF and we have got the on the board of 14 com- funds coming from NHF. panies and after my heart Over the years, “even operations done successfully. attack, had taken the pledge senior Rotary leaders such that all the sitting fees I as PRIP Rajendra Saboo, get from these corporates RIPE Shekhar Mehta and

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 33

K_Once a refugee, this Rotarian has enabled free heart surgery for thousands_1.indd 33 28-Sep-20 11:44:37 AM ,IZHSXWDQDUWL¿FLDORU plastic valve in a child, it cannot expand as the child grows and will become useless after 4–5 years.

Harvesting of a homograft.

PRID Sushil Gupta have referred $43,112 was done, with the interna- “In fact, some of the heart problems complicated heart surgeries from tional partner of the Bangalore club in children cannot be treated if such Chandigarh, Delhi, etc, which could being RC Elkhorn, Wisconsin, US. homografts are not available. Even not be performed in those places Till now over 200 needy children where some alternate valves and for some reason, to the NHF and have benefitted through cardiac sur- conduits are available in the market, we have got the operations done gery using human heart valves from they are very expensive and beyond successfully,” says Khanna. The this NHF bank. Khanna explains that the reach of common man.” NHF has four other NGOs as well this heart valve bank is exclusively as the Manipal Hospital as partners for children “because if we put an The need and “when we were discussing the artificial or plastic valve in a child, Estimates put the number of chil- setting up of NHF prior to 2001, it cannot expand as the child grows dren born every year in India with famous heart surgeon Dr Devi and will become useless after 4–5 heart problems at around 150,000– Shetty (who now heads the Narayana years.” Homografts are valve tissues 200,000, “but only about 15,000– Hrudayalaya in Bengaluru) was at harvested from either brain-dead 20,000 children get some type of the Manipal Hospital and though he donors or cadavers within 24 hours surgical treatment. The rest slowly has left that place, he continues to be of death, but only if the donors are die for want of adequate funds or one of our advisors.” free from infection, malignancy and awareness. So we supply these structural heart diseases. Normally valves and support the treatment of aortic, pulmonary and mitral underprivileged cardiac patients, valves can be harvested, but these especially children and women, valves have to be processed and through our non-profit homograft In 2006, the NHF launched stored at about -180 degree centi- heart valves bank. another ambitious project — grade. Because it requires such an The 200 children, whose hearts setting up a homogenous heart extremely low temperature to store have been mended, underwent valves bank. An initiative of RC human heart valves, the storage cost successful surgery at Manipal, Bangalore Indiranagar, NHF and varies between `10,000–15,000 for Jayadeva, Narayana Hrudayalaya Manipal Hospital, this bank was set every valve. and other hospitals through this up at the Manipal Hospital, and the Khanna says that these har- valve bank. At the time of writing — total investment in it is nearly `1 vested valves can treat a signifi- August end — about 50 homografts crore, says Khanna. For a part of cant proportion of complex heart were available, but they can be the project, a TRF global grant for diseases in both children and adults. stored only for four weeks. „

34 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

K_Once a refugee, this Rotarian has enabled free heart surgery for thousands_1.indd 34 28-Sep-20 11:44:37 AM Helping frontline workers in Gandevi

Kiran Zehra

DG Prashant Jani, his wife Hita and AG Mihir Thackar at a PHC in Kachholi to hand over the protective gears.

t was about 11 in the night when Naik. During the initial days of the (Association of Indian Physicians of Parimal Naik, member of RC corona outbreak, masks, gloves and Northern Ohio, US) and the partnering Gandevi, RID 3060, received a sanitisers were sourced locally. “But clubs — RCs Bardoli, Vapi West, RID Idistress call from Dr Pradnesh we were aware of the growing needs, 3060; Emroy Druid Hills, RID 6900, Parmar. “We had no masks or PPEs and hence we decided to reach out to US; RIDs 3054, 3053 — these dona- and we have to work with Covid our old partners and also file a global tions would not have been possible, patients tomorrow. I know your club grant application,” he adds. says Naik. “Most of the Covid warri- will help as it always reaches out in So far, the club has donated ors are our colleagues, family mem- times of need,” recalls Parmar tell- Covid-relief material worth $42,000. bers, friends and partners and they ing Naik. The next morning the rural Without the support of TRF, AIPNO need support to do their jobs.Thanks primary health centre at Gadat where to TRF for sanctioning our grant in Parmar works, received a care package time, we were able to support them.” from the club. “I was right, overnight Around 1,200 N95 masks, 27,000 we received PPEs, masks and sani- Most of the Covid warriors are triple-layered disposable masks, 650 tisers. I have no words to thank the bio trap masks and 8,000 khadi masks, Rotarians,” he adds. our colleagues, family members, 26,000 gloves, 1,500 PPE kits, 7,000 RC Gandevi has been associated friends and partners and they sanitisers, and 50 infrared thermom- with 35 rural PHCs and child health- eters were donated to PHCs, five need support to do their jobs. care centres in Gujarat. “One after the government and charitable hospitals, other we received calls from these Parimal Naik policemen and health workers, along centres for PPEs, masks, sanitisers member, RC Gandevi with food. “We have mapped out the and thermometers. They came to us hospitals’ requirements and are attend- because they have faith in us,” says ing to them, one at a time,” he says. „

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 35

P_Helping frontline workers in Gandevi.indd 35 9/25/2020 2:53:39 PM Rotary marks presence in Arunachal with a Rotaract club

V Muthukumaran

elcome to the land of the rising sun. Rotary is now present in Arunachal Pradesh, the Wnortheastern state known for its scenic RAC Namsai charter wonder and pristine beauty, through Rotaract Club president Khusbu Sharma of Namsai which was chartered on Aug 14 after three decades of wait, since RID 3240 was formed in 1990. Interestingly, prior to this, the state of Arunachal Pradesh had no presence of Rotary. Which means this Rotaract club has reached this northeastern state, even before a Rotary club could! Some other records were also created in the process — this new club is the fourth in South Asia being chartered by another Rotaract club, RAC Tinsukia; and the district is the second one in the region to achieve this rare feat, a Rotaract club sponsoring another one. Understandably, DRR Tushar Jalan is on cloud nine. “Our district has entered into the record books of RSAMIDO and we have received all documents from them. With 15 new Rotaractors, the new club was formed in Arunachal under the leadership of charter president Khusbu Sharma. We are confident of growing to a 35–40-member club by the end of June 30, 2021,” he says. RAC Nam- sai, a community-based club, would not have been possible but for three persons — Jalan, district secretary general Amit More and the redoubtable Khusbu, whose “good rapport with the tribals and district officials made it easy to open a club,” says the DRR.

Six months of hard work Being a frontier state, Arunachal shares a long border with China and “due to security concerns and strategic reasons, the government usually does not give permission to NGOs to operate here. Also, the tribals are very sensitive about

P_Rotary marks a presence in Arunachal with a Rotaract club.indd 36 9/25/2020 2:52:03 PM sharing space with outsiders,” explains Jalan. But after seeing the brand value of Rotary and the reach of Rotaract among the youth, “the District Com- missioner R K Sharma gave us permis- sion to start the club and we are happy to have the blessings of the CM Pema Khandu,” says Khusbu. She is now working with Jalan to open a Rotary club in this state within a year. Rotary Club of Tinsukia has extended logistics and other support to Jalan in setting up a Rotaract club in Arunachal Pradesh. However, it took six months to DRR Tushar Jalan with RIPE Shekhar Mehta and Rashi. complete all formalities after a special team from District Commissioner’s into corporate governance, branding and partnership with 12 different Rotary, Office visited the area, interacted with marketing and has a successful family Rotaract clubs and districts to raise the tribals to get their feedback and business in Jalan’s group known for money for taking up relief and rehab made a ‘pros and cons’ study on the quality tea. “I invariably use my good measures for the flood-affected people. feasibility of having such a youth club relationship with top police officers, Till August, “we have raised `1.5 lakh in this primitive habitat. Following a local officials and entrepreneurs across to set up flood relief camps at five places positive signal from the locals, thanks the northeastern region to promote in Assam.” Those sheltered in Rotaract largely to the goodwill Khusbu enjoys in Rotaract in a big way.” camps were given ration kits, food, this remote belt, “we got a no-objection Project Rakshitam with a tagline groceries and essential items such as certificate (NOC) from the DC.” ‘guarding Covid frontline warriors’ mattress, coil and utensils, etc for daily is a huge success as 400 Rotaractors living. Around 1,500 families are being A solemn pledge from 30 clubs have so far distributed accommodated at the flood shelters. During his swearing-in ceremony on face shields, hand sanitisers and foot- July 12, Jalan took a pledge to start operated sanitiser pumps worth over More clubs, members Rotaract clubs in Arunachal, Manipur `2 lakh. The money came through self- While there are 60 clubs according the and Mizoram as “my vision is to spread funding by Rotaractors. RI registry, only 40 are active in RID Rotaract into all parts of northeast Project Sanman (to bestow respect) 3240 with their office-bearers motivat- India during my DRR tenure.” His has felicitated over 500 Covid warriors ing Rotaractors to take up community next stop is Manipur, followed by with certificates of appreciation. “We projects. He started his DRR tenure with Mizoram (October) where spadework honoured frontline warriors including a district membership of 878 Rotarac- is on to start Rotaract clubs. Jalan owns ambulance drivers, sanitary workers, tors and the goal is to take that number Intercone Global, a company which is nurses, bank staff, policemen, garbage to over 1,000. Till September, four new pickers and doctors from across our dis- clubs were opened and in a historic trict,” says Jalan. event, 175 new members were inducted in a single day (Aug 28) at a zoom meet. The District Commissioner Project Sayhata “We are confident of opening six R K Sharma gave us permission to start A mega flood-relief project with a tag- more clubs and our strength near- the club and we are happy to have the line ‘Assam needs you’ has caught the ing 1,500 by June 2021, a member- imagination of the youth and the public. ship growth of 71 per cent,” he says blessings of the CM Pema Khandu. “Each year around five million people And hopefully, a new Rotary club in of Assam and thousands of animals Arunachal Pradesh by this time next Khusbu Sharma Charter president, RAC Namsai and livestock are affected by the del- year, he says, which will be a defining uge in Brahmaputra River,” he explains. moment for the 115-year-old service When he took over as DRR, he formed a organisation. „

OCTOBEROCTCTOBBER 20202020 ROTARYROTARY NEWNEWSS 3737

P_Rotary marks a presence in Arunachal with a Rotaract club.indd 37 9/25/2020 2:52:04 PM When a corporate kept returning to RC Gorkhpur with CSR funds

Rasheeda Bhagat

t all began in 2018–19 when the then secretary of the club M P Kandoi suggested to the members of his club, Rotary Club of Gorakhpur, RID I3120, that they adopt a school — Purva Madhyamik Vidyalaya — in Jungle Kauria, in Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh. The Rotarians were passionate about literacy and went about the task of beautifying the school and providing basic facilities like a wash station, toilets and learn- ing material, including smart classes complete with e-learning facilities. The school beautification got a lot of attention from the local community and one of these who noticed the fine work done by the Rotarians on this school was the Japanese company Toyo Engineering India, engaged in the installation of a fertiliser fac- tory in Gorakhpur. The corporate approached PDG Anoop Agarwal, CSR chair of District 3120, who is also member of this club, to uti- lise their CSR funds. “They had done some work with Rotary in Mumbai where their headquarters are located and said they were very happy about the partnership Schoolchildren using the handwash and the quality of work done,” station set up by RC Gorakhpur. says Agarwal.

K_When a corporate kept returning to RC Gorkhpur with CSR funds.indd 38 25-Sep-20 2:50:11 PM In three phases, Toyo Engineering India has contributed `1.2 crore to RC Gorakhpur for community projects; and wants to give more!

The company was ready to give CSR funds to the tune of $32,500, but their only condition was that the club should use the money for improving government schools that were close to the fertiliser plant coming up on Children seated on furniture provided by the club. the periphery of the city, because this e-learning facilities), nine water supply would benefit the children of their and they agreed to give `23 lakh, systems, 12 wash stations, 38 fans and workers. And the work should be com- when told that Rotary also would put nine RO water providers. pleted by March 31, 2019. in money through a TRF global grant. The project was started in April The result was a global grant of 2018, and completed in time by March $60,129, in which Toyo Engineering 31, 2019, just as stipulated by the cor- donated $30,875. porate which was very happy with the With these funds, the Rotari- work done by the Rotarians. “They garwal added that initially ans began the task of converting 10 A would send their representatives to Toyo Engineering wanted to give schools into Happy Schools by provid- examine the work which was done and `20 lakh, but when the funding was ing 391sets of desk-benches, 14 toilets, not only expressed satisfaction, but their worked out more money was required, 12 smart classes (fully equipped with company secretary Suhas Patwardhan

RID Bharat Pandya at the school.

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 39

K_When a corporate kept returning to RC Gorkhpur with CSR funds.indd 39 25-Sep-20 2:50:12 PM approached us again, saying that we 16 schools into Happy Schools. For this Doppler machine for radiology, cost- want to share more of our CSR funds. project Toyo Engineering contributed ing `40 lakh, and another diagnostic This time tell us how much you want $39,875 of the total GG of $58,825. equipment costing `54.75 lakh. and what are the areas in which you will For the third tranche of its CSR “Due to the Covid pandemic this do work,” smiles Agarwal. investment, for which the company project has been delayed; the hospi- “We suggested that we will uplift again chose RC Gorakhpur, it was tal is associated with the Gorakhnath more schools and also work in the area decided to give some state-of-the- Temple, with which UP Chief Minister of healthcare,” said Kandoi. This time art equipment for cancer detection Yogi Adityanath has a close connec- 16 schools were selected; these already and other diagnostics to the Guru Sri tion. We are planning to get this pro- had toilets but the education officers said Goraknath Chikitsalaya, a hospital run ject inaugurated by the CM on Oct they required other facilities, such as by a charitable trust. 17, the day our club completes its 75th beautification of the campus, setting up The approved global grant for year,” says Agarwal. of smart classes with e-learning facilities, this project is $134,028, for which The total money spent on this project handwash stations, benches and desks, the CSR contribution of Toyo is over is a whopping `1.7 crore ($252,982), fans, white boards, etc, which the club $91,650 (`67.8 lakh). An order has adhering to the guidelines laid down agreed to undertake and convert all these been placed for an ultrasound colour by RIPE Shekhar Mehta that an organ- isation that has completed 100 years — Rotary came into India 100 years ago with the charter of RC Calcutta — “Toyo Engineering is so happy with the work should do “bigger and bolder projects”. done by our club that they have once again come In this, the CSR funds by Toyo Engi- neering total over `1.2 crore. forward to give us more CSR funds for the next Adds Kandoi, “Toyo Engineering round of community welfare projects. is so happy with the work done by our club that they have once again come M P Kandoi past secretary, RC Gorakhpur forward to give us more CSR funds for the next round of community welfare projects.” „

40 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

K_When a corporate kept returning to RC Gorkhpur with CSR funds.indd 40 25-Sep-20 2:50:13 PM Doing good with TRF help Nagpur Rotarians enhance Covid testing facility Team Rotary News otary Club of Nagpur RDowntown, RID 3030, provided a hi-tech, auto- mated RNA/DNA extrac- tion equipment to the Viral Research and Diagnostic Lab (VRDL) at the Indira Gandhi Government Med- ical College Hospital in Nagpur. The global grant project costing $42,250 was implemented with support from RC Chicago Cosmo- politan, RID 6450, USA and TRF. Persistent Foundation From L: IPP Sandip Deshpande, IPS Abhijit Deshpande, PP Sameer Bendre, club presi- contributed `15 lakh as part dent Nishikant Kashikar, project director Virendra Patrikar, DG Shabbir Shakir and District of its CSR initiative, and Collector Ravindra Thakare dedicating the extraction equipment at the VRDL, Nagpur. Laxmi Constructions gave `2 lakh. done manually because of which our Ravindra Thakare in the presence of The VRDL is the only facility PCR systems were underutilised, and DG Shabbir Shakir, IGGMH dean where tests for Covid-19 are conducted we could test only 150 samples a day. Dr Ajay Keoliya and Sameer Benre, for people from Vidarbha, Chhattis- Now with the sophisticated gadget, we chief people’s officer, Persistent garh and Madhya Pradesh, said project can perform 500–600 tests,” said Dr Systems, club president Nishikant director Virendra Patrikar, adding that Ravindra Khadase, who is associated Kashikar, Sandip Deshpande, Abhijit the new device will make the testing with the VRDL. Deshpande, club secretary Pratiksha capacity at the lab four times faster. The machine was handed over Mayee, treasurer Prajakta Mangrulkar “Earlier RNA/DNA extraction was to the lab by District Collector and Vinod Athwale.„ RC Mandvi honours newspaper delivery boys

otarians of RC Mandvi, RID 3054, Rin association with Kutchlok, a local daily, felicitated 35 newspaper delivery boys with certificates for relentlessly delivering newspapers to homes at the crack of dawn, braving the lockdown and Covid pandemic. The club distributed face masks, sanitisers and ration kits to them. “The boys deliver newspapers to nearly 9,450 homes in Mandvi at their own risk, without missing a single day,” said club member Bhavin Ganatra. The club contributed `25,000 to the PM CARES Fund.„

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 41

Nagpur Rotarians enhance Covid testing facility +.indd 41 9/25/2020 1:10:13 PM RILM’s mission A literate India by 2025

Jaishree

he Rotary India “Since its formation India totally literate,” he involves 30-day online Literacy Mission in 2014, RILM has made added. classes and 60 days of T(RILM) aims for considerable progress in In an initiative to make hands-on training in med- total literacy in India by teachers training and adult youngsters employable, ical institutions. He urged 2025 through its flagship literacy. The Asha Kiran RILM, in partnership Rotarians to sponsor this programme TEACH,” programme has helped with the Apollo Hospitals course for unemployed said RILM president PRIP enroll 40,000 children group has launched a new youth in their region. Kalyan Banerjee, address- back to formal schooling; ‘medi-skilling’ programme Apollo has 28 skilling ing a zoom meet recently 20,000 schools have been to create a paramedical centres and a centre can be with Union Education converted into Happy workforce. “This can arranged in a specific town Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Schools and 4,000 librar- provide employment for a large group. “I would Nishank as chief guest. ies have been created in to people in hospitals, like to see at least 50,000 RILM chair Kamal Sanghvi government schools across pharmacies, diagnostic candidates trained in a and RIPE Shekhar Mehta India,” said Banerjee, and centres,” said Sanghvi. year,” he said. anchored the programme appreciated the central The three-month course, Sanghvi reiterated where 1,000 participants and state governments for which would otherwise the urgent need to train had logged in. It was also their support. “We look cost `50,000, is offered at teachers in digital teaching. livestreamed on Facebook forward to more such `4,500 a person for those With the pandemic not giv- and YouTube. partnerships until we make referred by Rotary, and ing way, online education has seen a rapid growth in recent days. E-learning is the new normal. Teach- ers need to sharpen and upgrade their skills to be digitally savvy, he said. RILM has trained 70,000 teachers in Maharashtra to use e-learning tools and in Delhi 5,000 teachers were undergoing training in a five-day workshop. Sanghvi thanked Rotarians Swati Herkal, RC Wai, RID 3132, and Pran Mehta, RC Delhi Sainik Farms, RID 3011, for coordinating the workshops and said that RILM will support

42 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

K_RILM’s mission_A literate India by 2025.indd 42 25-Sep-20 2:49:37 PM Convention Countdown to qualify as literate adults. “Rotary, along with its partners, Midnight snacks has 15 lakh volunteers includ- ing the Brahmakumaris, Gayatri Hank Sartin Parivar, All India Muslim pro- fessionals, scouts and guides, Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interac- tors and RCCs to work for lit- eracy. Together let us work on a mission mode to make India Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank literate by 2025,” he said. Union Education Minister Minister Nishank responded, saying, “your similar training programmes capabilities and strength as an hen the sun goes down in Taipei, the nationwide. The goal is to train organisation will be supported shopping begins: The city’s night 500,000 teachers in a month. in every way by the education markets come to life on sidewalks and The RILM chair urged department.” He added that W streets, where vendors set up stalls for a night of the Rotarians to create more the literacy programme needs buying, selling, eating, and drinking. Some streets Happy Schools. “It takes just a passionate approach. “It is are lined with awnings that unfurl every evening. ` 300,000–500,000 to transform not the number of people you When you’re in Taipei for the 2021 Rotary Inter- a school. A child can learn can bring, it is the number of national Convention, June, 12–16 make time to and bloom only if the learning passionate people you bring experience this lively slice of Taipei’s everyday ambience is good.” that will count and how you put life. Or should we say everynight life? RIPE Mehta recalled the their passion and skills to use The Shilin Night Market has been in opera- landmark MoU signed in the to make the programme work.” tion for more than a century and is perhaps the presence of Nishank in July He suggested involving city’s most famous (and busiest). Visit the nearby between Rotary and the NCERT students and teachers in pro- National Palace Museum and then head to the to provide electronic learning moting literacy. “Create a way market, which gets started in the late afternoon. content for students of classes to let them help us in this fight There are outdoor food stalls at the Shilin market 1–12. “Four months of content in against illiteracy by ensuring near the Jiantan metro station; other goods are on Hindi and English is ready and that no one in any home is illit- offer near Yangming Plaza. Another famous des- has been shared with NCERT erate. Also consider including tination is the Linjiang Street Night Market — director Prof Hrushikesh vocational training in your also known as the Tonghua Street Night Market — Senapaty,” he told the minister. literacy mission.” which despite its location near the Taipei 101 Talking about adult literacy He spoke about the new tower is less frequented by tourists. All the mar- Mehta said that Interactors education policy and how it kets are less crowded and touristy on weeknights and Rotaractors have so far will transform the way young- than on weekends. transformed one lakh illiterate sters learn. Have a light dinner (or none at all) before you adults into literate ones. Around He appreciated Rotary’s visit a night market, so that you’ll have room to 27 crore adults are illiterate partnership in providing quality sample the delights of Taiwanese streetfood. Try in India. Of this, seven crore online learning content. The spring onion pancakes, pan-fried dumplings, and may be too old to learn. Of the ‘one class, one channel’ pro- grilled sausages, of which there is an overwhelm- remaining 20 crore, Rotary will gramme reaches out to children ing variety. Stinky tofu lives up to its name, but make 10 crore adults literate, who have no smartphones or deep-fried and served with garlic he said, and requested that the internet connection and “it is sauce, it’s delicious. Or you might government sign an MoU with commendable that we have decide to slurp up noodles with a Rotary to bring out a five-page been able to create an online choice of sauces. booklet that will be easy for learning platform for 31 crore youngsters to teach adults who students in a record time,” said Learn more and register at will then write the NIOS exam Nishank. „ convention.rotary.org.

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 43

K_RILM’s mission_A literate India by 2025.indd 43 25-Sep-20 2:49:43 PM An all-women’s club in Tiruchi combats transgender phobia Rasheeda Bhagat

From L: PDG Zameer Pasha, his wife Shakila, S Hemalatha, past president, RC Tiruchirapalli Shakthi and Maj Gen (retd) N R K Babu.

round December That project was building a hostel for donated by the club members and 2018, as S Hemalatha transgender or gender nonconforming one of them, Sinduja, an architect, was getting ready to (GNC) children,” she recalls. contributing her professional services become president of As it happened, Sunitha’s hus- worth `1 lakh totally free, the bhoomi the Rotary Club of band, N R K Babu, a retired major pooja for the project worth `10 lakh ATiruchirapalli Shakthi, an all-women’s general from the Indian Army, was, was done on July 27, 2019. In the last club with 41 members, like all new and continues to be, the CEO of a high week of August the hostel was inau- incoming leaders she too was search- school run by a charitable trust (Swami gurated by PDG Zameer Pasha with ing for an iconic project her club could Sivananda Vidya Samiti) in the city — Maj Gen Babu, current club president do during her year — 2019–20. the Sri Sivananda Balalaya, Tiruchi. Valarmathi, secretary Priya Vanaraj “It was at this time that one of The school has 450 children, including and Hemalatha participating. my club members, Sunitha Reddy, 100 special children, but only one of asked me if I would be interested in these is a transgender or GNC child. Sad plight of GNC children giving shape to a project designed to Hemalatha immediately warmed Hemalatha, who runs a business in help transgender children get housing, to the idea and decided to make it the printing and corporate gifting, said dignity, education, and through all club project during her year. With that while she was researching this this, a decent place in the community. a district grant of `8 lakh, `1 lakh project, she found the plight of such

44 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

K_An all-women’s clubs in Tiruchi combats transgender phobia.indd 44 25-Sep-20 2:47:42 PM transgender children being really pathetic. “In so many cases, because of the social stigma, the parents reject these children, by simply throwing them out of the house.” At a vulnerable age, the children fall into the evil hands of criminal gangs and are sucked into a life of crime and violence. Now, of course, the government has amended the law to stipulate that parents who throw out their children because they are GNC are liable for imprisonment. The land for the hostel, a two- storeyed building which can accom- modate 38 children on bunk-style beds, was donated to the club by the school, which is also committed to admitting these children and ensuring Above: DG A L Chokkalingam they get a decent education. and PDG M Muruganandam Hemalatha said that at present due in the Transgender awareness shut so they haven’t yet found inmates to the Covid pandemic the school is programme on zoom. for the spanking new hostel. She is happy to add that there are parents in the larger community who are willing to take care of their GNC children, support them and give them a good education. Her club organised over Zoom a well-attended Transgender Aware- ness programme in mid-August, presided over by RID 3000 DG A L Chokkalingam. “DG Chokkalingam is very supportive of this project that we have titled Sivasakthi and for this year, has appointed me district chair for the transgender welfare and empowerment programme,” she says, adding that the core committee of this project has the local government child welfare officer as its member.” On how the club will find 38-odd trans or GNC children, she says that this officer will help identify such children and the Rotarians will also spread awareness on social media. “As this is a residential facility, anybody from anywhere in India can refer to us a trans or GNC child who has nowhere to go, and we will give her shelter in this hostel and an education in this Kalki Subramaniam, transgender rights activist. school.” For those who cannot afford

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 45

K_An all-women’s clubs in Tiruchi combats transgender phobia.indd 45 25-Sep-20 2:47:45 PM to pay the school fees, she adds, the member of society and start her own club members will find sponsors. NGO for supporting such children.” She added that the club was also Addressing the meet, Kalki said, As this is a residential facility, keen to help such young adults by “What is most important for these anybody from anywhere in India organising for them training in tailoring children is a non-discriminatory envi- and other livelihood enhancing skills. ronment where they can live with dig- can refer to us a trans or GNC Additionally, this project also nity.” Sharing her personal experience, child, and we will give her shelter hopes to spread awareness about the she stressed the need to work hard to need to treat GNC children as normal integrate transgender kids into their in this hostel and an education in children, and give them a decent edu- biological families. For this a well- this school. cation. Giving an example of Kalki thought-out awareness programme S Hemalatha, District chair Subramaniam, a transgender rights for parents and other family members, Transgender welfare and activist, actress and writer, who was teachers, media, and the medical and empowerment programme the chief guest at their virtual meet, she judicial fraternity is essential, she said. said Kalki was born a boy, and later Unless this kind of a support system is had a sex change operation. “Because developed for GNC kids, they will not her parents did not throw her out, sup- be able to have a decent future. of the chair of this project Hemalatha, ported her totally and gave her an edu- In his opening remarks DG co-chair Vijayashree and coordinator cation, she was able to become a useful Chokkalingam appreciated the efforts Kavitha in spreading greater awareness about the problems faced by transgen- ders and enhancing the prospects of a better life for them. In a well-attended virtual meet, about 300 Rotarians par- ticipated and the DG was hopeful that they would go away sensitised to the plight of transgenders and help them. Major General Babu spoke on how this hostel would give shelter to GNC children. This hostel “will not only accommodate them, it will also accept them, nurture them, and most importantly, make them feel normal and accepted by all other children. It will also be an avenue for parents who wish to abandon their GNC children due to societal stigma.”

Hostel for transgender or GNC children.

4646 ROTARYRROTROOTOTAARARYRRYY NEWSNNEEWWSS OCTOBEROCTOOCCTCTOBOBEOBBEER2R 20202002002200

K_An all-women’s clubs in Tiruchi combats transgender phobia.indd 46 25-Sep-20 2:47:46 PM Students at the Sri Sivananda Balalaya, Tiruchi.

Dr Kavitha Fenn, a psychiatrist of transgender persons go a man, being taught warfare and state- and Rotarian, gave out a list of five through pain during their craft. When Shikhandi changes her sex, points to people to remember when child’s transition. Don’t iso- she becomes Shikhandi, the warrior, dealing with a transgender child. late such children. Invite them said the PDG and urged Rotarians to z Learn facts about why they are to birthday parties and other spread empathy for transgenders. He different and then teach others. social events. This will help congratulated women Rotarians for z Words can hurt and kill too. prevent runaways from home. taking a leading role in the advocacy Therefore, teach people to z Protest against discrimination. and action for better opportunities for respect GNC children. Lend your voice in support. Just the third gender. z Be inclusive: Teach tolerance sitting at home and expressing As a token of Rotary’s immediate to your own children. Parents sympathy is useless. Show your support for the cause of transgenders, sympathy and support through there was good demand for buy- your action and help in every ing the paintings done by transgen- possible way. ders which were auctioned by Kalki z Be proactive and spread aware- Subramaniam. Because her parents did not throw ness on the need to combat But, added Hemalatha, “the real her out, supported her totally and trans phobia. success of the programme was evident, gave her an education, she was PDG M Muruganandam, district when after our Zoom meet, fellow trainer, quoted the existence and Rotarians called the organisers and able to become a useful member of acceptance of transgenders from our offered to support transgenders by society and start her own NGO for ancient epics, such as the Mahabharata. employing them in their organisations. He quoted the story of Shikhandi, who With such support from Rotarians, supporting such children. is male but was born female. She was RID 3000 is sure to empower more Hemalatha on Kalki the daughter of King Draupada and and more trans people to come forward Subramaniam elder sister of Draupadi who married fearlessly and say: This is who I am. the Pandava brothers. Although she was We are hopeful of igniting that spark born a female, Shikhandi was raised as and be changemakers.” „

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 47

K_An all-women’s clubs in Tiruchi combats transgender phobia.indd 47 25-Sep-20 2:47:46 PM A Rotary Covid centre wins patients’ hearts Kiran Zehra

rom behind a plastic sep- erator at the Rotary Covid Care Centre in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, Raziya blows kisses to her seven-year-old Fdaughter Pakiza Salim while speaking to her on a mobile phone. After testing Covid positive, the child was brought to this facility set up by five Rotary clubs — Ahmednagar, Ahmednagar Midtown, Ahmednagar Priyadarshini, Ahmednagar Central and Ahmednagar Integrity — of RID 3132. Pakiza happily shows off her toys and games to her sobbing mother. The clubs have thoughtfully included recrea- tional items for children to play with. Pakiza recovered since then and was discharged. The centre has already treated over 1,000 asymptomatic Covid patients, including 90 children, in a month. Kshitij Zaware, pres- ident, RC Ahmednagar Midtown says, “it cost us `10 lakh to set up the facility in line with the WHO and government norms.” The local hospitals refer patients to this centre and no fee is charged for the poor. To boost the morale of patients “we make them take an oath every morning: I am fighting corona, I will win and make my health better,” he adds. Dr Rajukar, club member and centre-in- charge says, “asymptomatic patients need not be hospitalised. Centres like these save precious hospital beds for serious cases.” Two oxygen cylinders are kept ready and in case of an emergency, “we will shift the patient to a hospital with the help of a standby ambulance.” Two doctors and four Pakiza Salim shows her board games to her mother. nurses work in shifts here.

48 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

K_A Rotary Covid centre wins patients’ hearts .indd 48 28-Sep-20 1:16:12 PM From Left: Presidents Amit Borkar, RC Ahmednagar; Geeta Gilda, RC Ahmednagar Priyadarshni; Digambar Rokade Satarkar, principal, Govt Polytechnic College; Kshitij Zaware, president, RC Ahmednagar Midtown; DG Harish Motwani; Prasanna Khajagivale, president, RC Ahmednagar Central and Rafik Munshi, president, RC Ahmednagar Integrity at the inauguration of the Covid care centre.

This 150-bed centre, set up with help from the Ahmednagar Municipal Corpo- ration at the Government Polytechnic Col- lege boys hostel, has a range of facilities including staff quarters, pulse oximeters, CCTVs, a laundry unit and a biomedical waste management block. All the doctors and medical staff are provided PPE kits. For 76-year-old Kharbas, who was recently discharged, the most interesting thing here was his bedside hot water kettle. “Bahut badhiya hai! Bus ek button dabaney se pani garam ho jata hai (It’s excellent; press a button and the water is heated),” he quips, adding that the club members are doing “bhagwan ka kaam (God’s work). At a time when our family members can’t be with us, the Rotarians are making sure we get hot food and comfortable sleep. I thank them with all my heart.” Fresh, hot nutrition-rich food is served to the patients from a kitchen, set up at a cost of `15 lakh at the centre. They are also given ayurvedic medicines. All the clubs pitch in with funds and grocery to keep the kitchen running, says Zaware. Recently the centre celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi and Independ- 76-year-old Kharbas being discharged after successful treatment. ence Day with the patients. „

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 49

K_A Rotary Covid centre wins patients’ hearts .indd 49 28-Sep-20 1:16:12 PM Tribal students get opportunity to interact with top tech professionals

Rasheeda Bhagat

roving yet again that leadership from such global majors. Campus recruitment Rotarians are indeed ‘peo- Students from Telangana Tribal Wel- In conversation with Archana Vadala, ple of action’ and refuse fare Rural Degree College, “who hail head of recruiting, Asia Pacific, Face- to be cowed down by the from the remotest parts of Telangana book, past president of the club Kamal worst of calamities, and state had the first-of-its-kind oppor- Jain quizzed her about the essential Padhering to two presidential themes — tunity to listen to eight leaders from qualities that candidates require and “Rotary connects the World” and such top tech companies and interact recruiters like her look for, while inter- “Rotary Opens Opportunities”, Rotari- with them in Q&A sessions. Most viewing candidates for organisations ans of the Rotary Club of Secunderabad of the students are first generation such as Facebook. West, RID 3150, and Rotaract Club of school goers hailing from the tribal She said it was important for young BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, have areas of the state, and all of them have graduates to define their priorities right launched a unique project. dreams to make it big in life.” at the outset and decide what they were As the corona pandemic spread its tentacles across the world, a bunch of tribal students from remote rural areas were given a virtual treat — pun intended — through a career guidance programme titled Gurukul to provide skill development training, mentor- ship and career guidance to tribal college students. In a power-packed three-hour career conclave on future technolo- gies, knowledge of which is bound to help young graduates get jobs in top tech companies, senior person- nel from corporates such as Face- book, Google, IBM, TCS, Pepsico, Tech Mahindra, etc interacted with the students on the immense possi- bilities that the ongoing develop- ments in the cyber world offer, said RC Secunderabad West president S Divaker Reddy. He said the idea of the conclave was to give access to students from tribal and rural areas to the top

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K_Tribal students get opportunity to interact with top tech professionals.indd 50 25-Sep-20 2:50:02 PM most passionate about. “The initial part to follow their passion in order to suc- of your career is so important, as also ceed in life. She spoke about her ear- doing what you are passionate about.” lier years, where she had acted in a few It would be nice to have just one All recruiters in the sphere of technol- Bollywood films before going to the password; but the moment you do ogy will of course look for the core US to pursue an MBA and then began skills required for the specific job, “but her career in the corporate world. that, you are prone to be attacked a different set of skills are also impor- Speaking on cyber security, Jaideep and intruded upon,and you might tant, and communication is a big part Lakhane, deputy director, Digital Expe- lose your identity tosomebody else. of those skills. They will look at how rience, Pepsico, asked an interesting you articulate, your listening skills as question: How many locks do we all also your self-confidence.” deal with in our daily lives… that of As “we work in a global environ- our home, our bedroom, cupboard, car, On the questions the students from ment, cross-functional collaboration is office, etc. “We all deal with locks; 5, the tribal institution had for the speak- also a big part of what employers look 10 or more every day. But do we have ers, past president of the club and district for. Companies also look at creativity a single key for all of them? No.” Sim- trainer Anil Kumar said, “interestingly, and innovation, the ideas you bring, ilarly, every day we deal with different most of them were related to campus and your problem-solving capacity.” user IDs for our bank accounts, com- placement and recruitment. Among the As so many new technologies emerge puter login and other applications, but 350 participants, about 80 were from the on the horizon, they also bring with cannot, and should not, have a single tribal college and others were from far- them their special set of new problems. password for them. “Of course, it would flung areas such as Singapore, Mumbai, “Companies are looking for people be so nice to have just one password; Delhi and of course smaller towns and who can solve such problems and not but the moment you do that, you are villages of Telangana state. “The latter complain about them,” Archana added. prone to be attacked and intruded upon, were anxious to know if these corpo- Mayoori Kango, head of industry and you might lose your identity to rates would come to institutions like at Google, India, urged the participants somebody else. That is why the next theirs for campus placement.” step of authentication was started.” During the conclave, the students Speaking on the future of technol- were very keen on having such career ogy, Bharat Ram, senior director, Archi- counselling and mentoring sessions on tecture, Hitachi Vantara, a data science an ongoing basis. As a result of that professional, spoke about the importance the club has decided to create a group of building cutting edge solutions, and of mentors — about 10 of them from how, using this kind of technology, some the club’s membership of 45 — in of the best smart cities of India, includ- different areas such as law, medicine, ing Hyderabad, were built. Also it was finance engineering, technology, etc. important to keep abreast of emerging “We will set up video linkage and con- technologies; 52 per cent of Fortune 500 nectivity with this college and have a companies have disappeared because mentoring session with the students they could not do so and go digital. He every week on different topics and gave the example of Blockbuster Video, vocations,” said Kumar. an US-based provider of home movies Another positive outcome of this and video game rental services. Netflix conclave was the demand that the club was nowhere on the horizon; but today organise such a virtual meet every the former had disappeared and the latter month. “And we have decided to do had thrived. this every month. This one was done in July; in August we had a conclave on robotics and the art of making pres- Clockwise from top left: Bharat entations. In September, it was on the Ram, Mayoori Kango, Pravinender power of social media and in October Rao, Anil Kumar S, Kamal Jain and it will focus on cloud technology and Arpana Vadala. decoding campus placement. „

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 51

K_Tribal students get opportunity to interact with top tech professionals.indd 51 25-Sep-20 2:50:02 PM RID 3250 to plant one tree for every Rotarian

Kiran Zehra

lant, preserve, manage forests, Pand measure the benefits they provide. This way we can build a more sustainable future.” With these words RIPE Shekhar Mehta launched Vasundhara, RID 3250’s initiative to plant 1.2 million trees over a zoom meeting, dedicating one tree for every Rotarian worldwide. This project is the brainchild of RC Jamshedpur West. As the club has been working with tribal communities in rural Jharkhand for over 12 years it was easy for it to approach the village panchayats for the plantation drive.

When you are serving mother earth it doesn’t make a difference if you are a Rotarian, a Lion or a Roundtabler.

Ravi Shankar Dakoju Past president RC Bangalore Orchards, RID 3190

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P_RID 3250 to plant one tree for every Rotarian.indd 52 9/25/2020 5:39:48 PM DG Rajan Gandotra (fifth from R) at the launch of the plantation drive in Chandpur village.

DG Rajan Gandotra project” and encouraged explained that the RID Francessco Arezzo initiative is well-planned (US), PRIDs Geetha Our primary goal is to establish beneficial resources for and also covers the urban Manek (Kenya), Raffy the village and urban lands which will in turn support areas of Jharkhand. He Garcia III (Philippines), congratulated Dr Amit present at the meet, to biodiversity and provide valuable ecosystem services. Mukherjee, Alpana Shah replicate it in their zones. Rajan Gandotra and Amithab Bakshi for He appreciated the host District Governor, RID 3250 their efforts in planning club president Anjani the drive in three Nidhi and his spouse phases — mass rural Banashree for facilitating of land through village Steel to green the cities plantation, greet with a the partnership with and civic bodies. “We of Jharkhand. tree and urban plantation Grow-Trees.com. have plans to green the Ravishankar Dakoju, drive. “Our primary goal PRIP Gary Huang Sundarbans as it has past president of RC is to establish beneficial and Trustee Gulam been devastated by the Bangalore Orchards, RID resources for the village Vahanvaty thanked the recent cyclone,” said 3190, said, “1.2 million and urban lands which district for planting a Nidhi. is doable. The easiest will in turn support sapling in their names. Gandotra informed way to achieve this is to biodiversity and provide Grow-trees. that 50,000 trees join forces with other valuable ecosystem com will monitor the have been planted in organisations. When services.” entire programme and Chandpur, Murgaghutu you are serving mother RID Kamal remunerate villagers and Harisundarpur earth it doesn’t make Sanghvi congratulated engaged in the activity, villages near Jamshedpur a difference if you are his home district for while Rotary will and a partnership is a Rotarian, a Lion or a conceptualising “a great identify large patches under way with Tata Roundtabler.” „

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 53

P_RID 3250 to plant one tree for every Rotarian.indd 53 9/25/2020 5:39:48 PM He was an unschooled singer, but his magic did not derive from training or technique. It was all heart, all mood. Lata Mangeshkar, who described Kishore as her favourite Bollywood singer, remarked “it’s God who guided his music.” Manna Dey once said Kishore Kumar “Kishore had the best voice of all playback singers. He made singing the delightful yodeller sound so effortless. He had no classical training but could sur- pass me in a song because of his wonderful musical instinct and S R Madhu natural singing flair.”

e was gifted with this rare, fluent and mellifluous Hvoice,” said Satyajit Ray about Kishore Kumar. “As a singer of popular songs, he had no equal.” “Just hear the word Kishore and you smile,” Amitabh Bachchan said. “That’s because his name symbolised entertainment.” Ray and Bachchan were two of the millions in India and over- seas charmed by Kishore Kumar, whose creative brilliance enriched cinema in many ways. He sang more than 2,600 Hindi film songs, including some of Bollywood’s most loveable gems, in his event- filled 40-year career. He gave Bollywood music a new idiom, introduced the art of yodelling and performed rather than sang songs. His versatility was amazing (he variously donned the hats of singer, composer, actor, lyricist, editor and director). But music was his first passion. “Acting is fake, music comes from the heart,” he remarked famously.

54 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

P_Music and Melody_Kishore Kumar the delightful yodeler.indd 54 9/25/2020 5:24:06 PM Kishore Kumar with wife Leena Chandavarkar.

It is said that Kishore’s voice melodious as always; but Kishore’s hours a day for a whole month,” combined the strength, depth and rendition was emotionally searing, says brother Ashok Kumar. “The richness of the male voice with the you felt the pain and despair non-stop crying cleared his throat, sweetness of the female voice. The yourself. and his voice became pleasant,” sweetness is particularly notice- Kishore had a passion for he adds. able in songs of pain and mel- singing even as a kid and idolised Kishore moved to Bombay at ancholy — such as Mera jeevan K L Saigal. But he had a shrill, the age of 18 to meet Saigal (he kora kagaz (from Kora Kagaz); rasping voice. When Kishore was never did) and sing for movies. Koi humdum na raha (Jhumroo); 10 years old, he once ran toward His film career can be divided Zindagi ke safar mein guzar jaate the kitchen where his mother was into two phases. The first phase hain (Aap ki Kasam); Dukhi man chopping vegetables — and ran was a 23-year struggle of ups and mere (Funtoosh); Meri bheegi headlong into the chopper. One downs till Aradhana in 1969; the bheegi si (Anamika). of his toes got severed and the second phase, from Aradhana till Lyricist Javed Akthar, an ency- pain was excruciating. Medical Kishore’s death in 1987, was a clopaedia on Hindi cinema, says facilities those days were meagre. journey of glory. He sang a few that whenever Kishore sang a duet “Kishore cried non-stop for several hundred Hindi film songs during with a male or female singer, he the first phase, more than 2,000 in simply stole the limelight. If there the second. were two separate versions of a The first phase contained song, it was Kishore’s that clicked. Acting is fake, music some luminous moments such as Take that heart-wrenching song of comes from the heart. wonderful songs for Dev Anand disillusionment in love from the composed by S D Burman for the 1976 Mehbooba — Mere naina – Kishore Kumar films Munimji (Jeevan ke safar sawan bhadon — composed by me rahi), Paying Guest (Mana R D Burman. Lata and Kishore janab ne pukara nahin) and Nao sang the song separately at differ- do gyarah (Hum hain rahi pyar ke) ent stages of the movie. Lata was which conveyed the joie de vivre

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P_Music and Melody_Kishore Kumar the delightful yodeler.indd 55 9/25/2020 5:24:15 PM of Dev Anand’s personality. Dev generously acknowledged the debt he owed Kishore for creating his flamboyant image. One of Kishore’s most pleas- ing triumphs during this phase was the 1958 Chalti ka naam gaadi, starring Madhubala, Kishore himself and his two brothers Ashok and Anoop. This superhit film with several chartbuster songs composed by S D Burman, was arguably Hindi cinema’s best- loved comic entertainer. The three brothers were the producers. The 1958 Dilli ka thug exem- plified Kishore’s versatility as singer. The film presented the zany Kishore-Asha duet C-a-t cat, cat an actor, he was no longer young but let loose a Kishore tsunami mane billi which was a sensation, enough to be a hero. He wanted to that swept the music world. but also the soul-stirring, exquisite give up cinema and return home to Even a monumental talent like Kishore-Lata romantic melody his beloved Khandwa in Madhya Mohammed Rafi, Bollywood’s Yeh raaten, yeh mausam, nadi ka Pradesh, but Ashok Kumar dis- voice of the 1960s and 1970s, was kinara. suaded him and urged him to stay marginalised, and never regained But such successes were spo- and focus on playback singing. his earlier status. radic, and Kishore was a frustrated How did this happen? man during the late 1960s. He 1969, the watershed year Composer S D Burman was hadn’t hit the top as singer despite Then came Aradhana in 1969. very ill during the making of some brilliant songs and display The film not only unleashed the Aradhana, and his son Pancham of ample proof of his talent. As Rajesh Khanna phenomenon (R D Burman), a firm believer in Kishore’s awesome talent, took over. He promptly replaced Rafi with Kishore for two songs that were sheer dynamite — Mere sapnon ki rani, where Rajesh in a jeep serenades Sharmila Tagore on a moving train; and Roop tera mastana, a fiery sensual song of the lead pair before a fire in a cabin, taking shelter from a rainstorm. That song went on to redefine sensuality and raw desire in Hindi cinema. Both Rajesh Khanna and Kishore were on a roll after Aradhana. Rajesh recorded 15 consecutive hit films between 1969 and 1972, a feat unmatched to this day. Kishore sang 245

56 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

P_Music and Melody_Kishore Kumar the delightful yodeler.indd 56 9/25/2020 5:24:23 PM songs for him. “Take Kishore’s He was gifted with • Musafir hoon yaaron — songs away from Rajesh and he Parichay, 1972 is no more a superstar,” it used to this rare, fluent and • Is mod se jaate hain — Aandhi, be said. R D Burman’s wizardry mellifluous voice. As 1975 fuelled the success of both the • O maajhi re — Khushboo, a singer of popular superstars. 1975. The Rajesh mania waned after songs, he had no equal. • Kabhi alvida na kehna — the mid-1970s, and the “angry Chalte Chalte, 1976 young man”, Amitabh Bachchan, – Film director • Hamey tumse pyar kitna — became the new superstar. But Satyajit Ray Kudrat, 1981 Kishore’s triumphant march continued — he gave voice to 1987) — a record. Mohammad Those who influenced him Amitabh in 131 songs including Rafi won only six. Kishore was fascinated early in numerous hits in films such Here’s a short list of my life by the Israeli singer and enter- as Amar Akbar Anthony, Don, favourite Kishore songs after tainer Chaim Topol, and report- Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Khoon Aradhana: edly saw his movie Fiddler on the Pasina, Kasme Vaade, etc. • Yeh shaam mastani — Kati Roof more than a hundred times. Kishore’s voice ruled Bollywood Patang, 1971 In 1983 in London, he learnt from till his death in 1987, ensuring his • Chingari koi bhadke — Amar a newspaper advertisement that dominance over an industry that Prem, 1971 Fiddler on the Roof was being had badly misjudged him earlier. • O meri sharmilee — Sharmilee, staged that day, and was thrilled. He received eight Filmfare 1971 He attended four consecutive Awards as best playback singer • Tere mere milan ki yeh raina — shows, also went backstage and (all of them between 1969 and Abhimaan, 1972 presented Topol with a set of his

(Clockwise from top L) Kishore Kumar with Manna Dey, R D Burman and Madhubala.

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 57

P_Music and Melody_Kishore Kumar the delightful yodeler.indd 57 9/25/2020 5:24:25 PM He was a maver- ick, an iconoclast, a loner. The stories of his eccentricities are legend. A signboard outside his door said ‘Beware of Kishore’. He was fond of horror films and had a collection of hundreds of video cassettes of this genre. He described the trees in his garden as his only friends, gave them names, and talked to them. He was particular about being paid promptly. On one audio cassettes. The his yodelling,” said Dev Personal life occasion, a producer Israeli star in turn gave Anand. “It sounded Kishore married four paid him only half the Kishore a copy of his like the cry of a solitary times; to Ruma Guha agreed amount. Kishore autobiography, Topol voice in the loneliness Thakurtha (1950–58), appeared on the sets by Topol. “No one can of the hills, a cry for Madhubala (1960– with one side of his act like him!” raved romance.” 68), Yogeeta Bali head and face shaven. Kishore. He didn’t smoke, (1976–78) and Leena He said “Adha fee, adha Kishore was the drink or socialise, but Chandavarkar (1981– make-up.” first yodeller of Hindi was a big eater. His 87). He referred to his Despite his repu- cinema. S D Burman niece Preeti Ganguly four wives as “bandaris” tation for being tight- had advised him to (Ashok Kumar’s because all of them fisted, Kishore helped develop his own style daughter) discloses that lived in Bandra! out Satyajit Ray with of music. He listened to he was hugely fond some Austrian records of mangshor jhol, a of his brother Anoop Bengali mutton curry Kumar, researched dish. He also loved gobi singers from the US, (cauliflower). He would Australia and New say, “Cover me with Zealand, and made mounds of fried gobi. yodelling a part of his I’ll lie under them and repertoire. “I encouraged keep eating the gobi.”

Kishore had the best voice, and made singing sound so effortless. With no classical training, he could surpass me because of his wonderful musical instinct and natural singing flair.

– Singer Manna Dey

58 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

P_Music and Melody_Kishore Kumar the delightful yodeler.indd 58 9/25/2020 5:24:35 PM I encouraged his yodelling; it sounded like the cry of a solitary voice in the loneliness of the hills, a cry for romance.

– Actor Dev Anand

a loan when his 1955 India Radio banned his epic Pather Panchali songs. He also suffered got stalled at a critical several IT raids, and had time, and sang a song to conduct a number of free of charge for Ray’s stage shows to pay his 1964 movie Charulata. tax dues. He said in an When the maestro asked interview that one day, a about the fee payable, few people knocked on the singer just touched his door saying “we are Ray’s feet. Kishore also from the IT department. sang three songs for Your dogs are chasing Ray’s 1984 film Ghare us.” Kishore responded Baire, again without “don’t worry. I have a fee. given my dogs strict During the Emer- instructions not to bite gency years, Kishore income tax officers.” reacted with a blunt Kishore often played “No” when asked to pranks during dialogue promote a government rehearsals. He would (Clockwise from top L) Kishore Kumar with programme. Result: All tell Meena Kumari what Rajesh Khanna, Satyajit Ray and Sunil Dutt.

he was supposed to tell in Chalte Chalte: Kabhi Bina Rai in another film. alvida na kehna. He enjoyed the look of bewilderment on the Editor’s pick: heroine’s face and would • Mere Mehboob burst into laughter. qayamat hogi Kishore passed • Yeh raaten yeh mausam away in 1987, when he nadi ka kinara was just 58. He died • Neele neele ambar on Ashok Kumar’s par, chand jab aaye birthday, and the veteran • Haal kaisa hei actor never celebrated janab ka. his birthday again. The writer is a senior Kishore’s reputation and journalist and member mystique have grown of RC Madras South. massively after his death, and he lives on, Designed by just like his famous song Krishnapratheesh

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 59

P_Music and Melody_Kishore Kumar the delightful yodeler.indd 59 9/25/2020 5:24:40 PM A Super Six of Rotary projects A L Chokkalingam Chemist, RC Pudukkottai, RID 3000 ll the 130 clubs spread across the eight revenue districts of RID 3000 are busy implementing Super 66, a signature Aproject for doing six specific programmes in six months at club and regional levels. From August to February (excluding January), a slew of projects such as rainwater harvesting, one-day RYLA conferences, distributing health kits to lactating mothers, vocational training and awards, medical camps and installation of Rotary boards at public places are being taken up on first Saturdays by the clubs. “Around 1,000 Rotarians are involved in setting up RWH units at homes and public buildings. At the regional-level, assistant governors will lead clubs in doing projects like Miyawaki social forest, Happy Schools, launch of polio awareness buses (at least 10 vehicles), job fairs for Rotaractors, cardiac camps and road safety and traffic awareness week,” says Chokkalingam. From April to September, the district clubs have done Covid- relief work worth `3 crore. This includes distribution of masks, sanitisers, PPE kits, grocery kits, food packets and equipment to hospitals. At a mega-level, the district is implementing 11 global grant projects worth `2.94 crore and has availed the Disaster Relief Fund (`18.75 lakh) for Covid relief work. Its discon, titled Koodal, held in January every year in Madurai may be postponed to April or May. The DG is aiming for a nine per cent growth in membership which was 5,127 in July, and a 15 per cent growth in women members. His goal for TRF giving is $1 million. He says, “Rotar- ians should be role models for the public and this can be done by showcasing their projects to the larger world.”

Meet your Governors

V Muthukumaran

60 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

K_Meet your Governors_October 2020.indd 60 25-Sep-20 2:48:39 PM Take Rotary to the public is his mantra Shabbir Shakir Photography equipment, RC Nagpur, RID 3030

embership retention is his top pri- supplied by the clubs,” ority given the uncertain times in says Shakir. Further, the Mthe wake of Covid pandemic. But clubs, in partnership with Shabbir Shakir is confident of a minimum 10 IMA, will organise plasma per cent growth in numbers which stood at donation drive for treatment of 5,092 in his district on July 1. “We have to Covid patients. At present, the district take Rotary to the public in a big way. I believe is executing 11 GG projects worth $400,000 for in taking non-Rotarians to show them the work Covid relief. Besides, the clubs have distributed done in Rotary projects. This will create in sanitisers, masks, PPE kits and other Covid them interest in Rotary, and help in membership assistance worth `50 lakh across the district. growth,” he explains. Once the schools reopen, “we will be install- The district conducted six-day online work- ing 200 digital classes in government schools”. shops for 32,000 government teachers to train To lessen farmers’ woes in this Vidarbha region them to handle digital classes. known for farmers’ distress and suicide, “top Its Rotarians have also joined hands with priority is being given to watershed manage- the Indian Medical Association, Nagpur chapter, ment that involves digging canals and facilitate to develop an App for senior citizens. “While raising of crops twice a year.” On TRF giving, the medical needs of the elderly will be met Shakir’s target is $400,000, of which $60,000 by the IMA, the non-medical essentials will be has been collected so far.

Drawing youth to Rotary is his priority Vijay Arora Education Administrator, RC Ferozepur Cantonment, RID 3090

s a retired college administrator, he to raise $100,000 for is passionate about involving youth TRF and has already Ain Rotary. “I want to open as many received commit- Interact and Rotaract clubs as possible during ment worth $35,000 my tenure,” says Vijaya Arora. He has char- from the members. tered four Interact and six Rotaract clubs, and He is taking up increased women’s membership from three per the Happy Schools cent to eight per cent. Eighty per cent of the 200 project in a big way, new Rotarians inducted since July are below 40. having identified 25 Despite the Covid lockdown and meetings government primary being held over Zoom, “I am confident of improv- and high schools so ing the membership from 2,215 to 3,000 by the far. Already 10–15 clubs end of the year and 45 per cent will be below 40.” have started executing water, Till September, his district has done Covid- sanitation and literacy projects in relief projects worth `5 crore. Arora plans schools, he says.

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K_Meet your Governors_October 2020.indd 61 25-Sep-20 2:48:39 PM Rotaractors are part of our District Avenue teams Sunnil Mehra Packaging manufacturer, RC Bombay Pier, RID 3141

e has initiated a slew of mega projects to be hosted a CSR webinar in which 5,000 com- implemented as the district’s signature projects. panies had a peek into some Rotary projects. H“Through Project Annapoorna we have given Reaching out to rural areas, the district plans to con- over 700,000 packed food to poor families. After com- struct 40 check dams in Palghar to benefit 25,000 families ing to know that 70 tribal families in Palghar, a remote dependent on agriculture. village, are eating grass, we rushed to them and provided Six new Rotaract clubs were formed since July and monthly rations and food,” says Sunnil Mehra. Rotaractors were inducted into the District Avenue teams Under Project Poshak, 750 malnourished children in for project execution. At present, there are 111 Rotaract Adivasi villages are being provided protein-based food clubs and 4,800 Rotaractors in the district. packets through the year and the Aashiyana Project will To create a bonding with Rotaractors, “we have started provide in the first phase pucca houses, each costing a three-month online course on entrepreneurship for them `250,000, to 5,000 out of 27,000 tribal families who and 300 youth have enrolled in this programme.” have no roof over their head. Hopeful of a 10 per cent growth in membership, Mehra A novel initiative called Giver’s Gain enables Rotarians says, “we have added 460 new members so far, increasing to encash their unused household items such as furniture, our membership to 5,300.” And women’s membership is electronic durables, plastic and chemicals by delivering expected to increase from 28–30 per cent to 40 per cent by them to a company. “The amount thus collected will be the end of the year. Mehra has set a target of $3.5 million given to TRF under the member’s account.” The district for TRF giving this year.

We want to be no 1 RI district in the world B L Nagendra Prasad Realtor, RC Bangalore Peenya, RID 3190

ll efforts are being taken to make the district Industries Association no 1 in membership and TRF giving in the world, will be providing voca- A says Nagendra Prasad. He wants to add 2,500 new tional training in diverse members and 25 new clubs this year. “We have so far added fields such as tailoring and 1,100 new members, 10 new clubs and three satellite clubs.” machine tools to empower Tree plantation is an ongoing project since July and needy families. “We will enter into “we hope to surpass the last year’s figure of 28 lakh a similar agreement with Logu Udyog saplings this year,” he says. KSRTC has donated a bus Bharathi to offer online skill development courses to for converting it into a special ambulance for performing jobless youth. This will be a free course for needy Covid tests across the state. “We are in talks with KSRTC people,” he says. to purchase 10 more buses to operate mobile libraries and The district has identified five prospective AKS clinics in rural areas,” says Prasad. members so far and “we have set a target of $5 million A high-tech blood bank will be set-up at the BGS for TRF giving. Ravishankar Dakoju, who has donated Hospital through a global grant worth `1.24 crore. The `100 crore to TRF, is inspiring us to do more in Foun- district in partnership with the Karnataka Small Scale dation giving.” Designed by N Krishnamurthy

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K_Meet your Governors_October 2020.indd 62 25-Sep-20 2:48:40 PM Rotary creates Miyawaki forest in Salem Team Rotary News

n a big push to social forestry, project is implemented with the sup- Salem, and S Arumuganainar, exec- 30 Rotary clubs in Salem, RID port of Salem Forest Department, utive officer, town panchayat. The 2982, Tamil Nadu, have planted Kannankurichi town panchayat and inaugural was organised by Rotar- Iover 15,000 saplings to create a G2 Nursery. ians Tholkapia Arasu, popularly Miyawaki forest over an acre in the Miyawaki is a technique pio- known as the green crusader, and midst of a residential area under a town neered by the Japanese botanist Akira |C Balakrishnan along with six assis- panchayat. Miyawaki, that helps build dense, tant governors and district officials. “The forest will include a walkers’ native forests. It involves planting This tree plantation drive at this town track on its boundary. The Miyawaki dozens of native species in the same panchayat being implemented jointly project costing `2 lakh will enhance area, and becomes maintenance-free by the Salem clubs come under the the water table in this area, thus pro- after the first three years. district’s flagship Dasavatharam viding a secure source of ground water DG K S Venkatesan inaugu- project . The extensive green drive will to 200 families,” says R Mangeshwar, rated the project in the presence of enhance the public image of Rotary in president, RC Salem South. The R Murugan, divisional forest officer, this village. „

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K_Rotary creates Miyawaki forest in Salem.indd 63 25-Sep-20 2:49:52 PM Doing good with TRF help Rotary Dialysis Centre in Kumbakonam

Team Rotary News

PDG S Piraiyon (centre) with Rotary members at the Rotary Dialysis Centre.

Rotary Dialysis Centre (CUB) for the maintenance of the bank also put up additional funds with three dialysis dialysis centre for a year. “During totalling `8.5 lakh for setting up an A machines was set up in the lockdown, the new facility was RO unit, cots and other furniture. Kumbakonam by RID 2981 at a useful for local patients to avoid “We had applied for the global grant cost of `24 lakh. This global grant unnecessary travel and related in 2018–19 during my tenure as DG project was made possible with expenditure,” said PDG S Piraiyon and the dialysis centre was inaugu- the support of RID 9820 from who was instrumental in getting rated the following year after the Australia and TRF. the global grant from TRF. building was constructed and other The district has entered into an The building was constructed facilities were in place,” he said. MoU with the City Union Bank by CUB at a cost of `30 lakh; the He thanked the bank for this partnership, and for agreeing to meet the recurring expenditure of `1.25 lakh every month to pay the salary of doctors and paramedics. He was assisted by IPDG Manimaran, PDG Ramesh Babu, DG Balaji Babu and DRFC Balasundaram in the execution of the GG project. Rtn Balasubramanian, general manager, CUB, Kumbakonam, took keen interest in the PDG Piraiyon inaugurating completion of this project.„ a dialysis machine at the dialysis centre. 64 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

Rotary Dialysis Centre in Kumbakonam.indd 64 9/24/2020 6:21:37 PM A d v _ R I

D i s t r i c t

2 9 8 2

L o t e r a c y

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6 5 9 / 2 7 / 2 0 2 0

1 1 : 1

3 ADVT. : 3 9

P M A multidistrict seminar to grow Rotary

Team Rotary News

multidistrict virtual membership Aseminar was organised by RCs Calcutta Renaissance and Calcutta Centenary, RID 3291, in association with RCs Delhi Elite (RID 3011), Solapur (3132) and Belur Dharwad (3170). Fourteen new members including four women from the five clubs were introduced at the meet. PDGs Shyamashree Sen (3291), Chandrashekhar Kolvekar (3142) and Sunil Zacharia (3201) addressed around 100 viewers. PDG (3291) Debasish Mitra, the chief guest, urged the audience to introduce more women members. The most chal- and healthy relationship among Rotary meetings flexible. “Involve lenging tasks for Rotary clubs at this members. Rotaractors and youth in your projects juncture are membership retention Zacharia, speaking on member- so that they get inspired to become and inducting new members on a vir- ship retention, urged clubs to “be Rotarians. Appreciating them for their tual platform without meeting them strong, have a hands-on engagement ideas will be a huge motivation for physically, he said. committee, structured programmes, them,” he said. “Induct people from diverse back- give proper information to members DGs Sudip Mukherjee (RID grounds with like-minded cultural and create a feeling of family and 3291), Harish Motwani (3132), DGE orientation; make them feel welcome friendly bonding to retain members.” Prabir Chatterjee (3291) and DGN and involve them,” said Shyamashree, Kolvekar stressed the need to Raja Sekhar Reddy (RID 3150) were stressing the importance of bonding attract young members and make also present.„ Virtual RYLA attracts youth from Brazil, Nigeria

3211 and 3212. DGs Harish Shirsath, District Interact Motwani, Dr Thomas Chair, RID 3132. Vavanikunnel and P N B Entertainment pro- Murugadoss were present grammes showcased the to mentor the participants. youngsters’ talent and online PDG K A Kuriachan games were held to simulate was the chief guest at the the field environment. Best inaugural session and RIDE Rylarians were selected A S Venkatesh addressed and E-certificates were the youth at the valedictory sent to all participants. The programme. Around 13,800 virtual RYLA was jointly students and professionals hosted by RCs Ahmednagar two-day multidistrict Interactors and young pro- from Brazil and Nigeria Priyadarshini, Ahmednagar, A virtual RYLA was fessionals in the age group too attended the online Ramnad, Kazhakuttom and organised for over 350 16–23 from RIDs 3132, programme,” said Bindu Kottayam East.„

66 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

A multi-district seminar to grow Rotary + Virtual RYLA attracts youth from Brazil.indd 66 9/25/2020 12:13:13 PM District Wise TRF Contributions as on August 2020 (in US Dollars) District Annual PolioPlus Endowment Others Total Number Fund Fund Fund funds Contributions India 2981 15,670 1,943 5,000 0 22,613 2982 2,806 1,379 500 0 4,685 3000 2,544 0 10 0 2,554 3011 9,236 100 6,667 35,481 51,484 3012 9,388 0 0 3,079 12,467 3020 37,066 5,240 0 0 42,306 3030 (4,827) 1,030 0 62,282 58,486 3040 343 33 0 50 427 3053 4,132 100 0 60,668 64,899 3054 6,227 110 0 21,117 27,453 3060 11,033 (1,145) 1,313 52,500 63,701 3070 1,455 0 0 11,108 12,563 3080 10,044 2,578 0 0 12,623 3090 10,108 0 0 (736) 9,372 3100 1,050 0 0 0 1,050 3110 9,170 0 0 0 9,170 3120 0 1,769 0 (1,769) 0 3131 10,187 1,350 0 59,360 70,897 3132 989 27 0 307 1,322 3141 130,639 200 1,000 76,129 207,967 3142 44,024 4,680 0 8,259 56,964 3150 (4,306) 200 9,333 4,483 9,710 3160 2,537 5,188 0 0 7,725 3170 3,325 655 100 66,233 70,313 3181 9,789 111 0 4,050 13,950 3182 2,451 0 0 1,050 3,501 3190 15,561 375 25,000 42,078 83,013 3201 5,448 1,067 0 23,142 29,657 3202 13,150 1,437 0 10,167 24,754 3211 740 7 0 12,954 13,701 3212 4,163 6,226 14 3,616 14,020 3231 (520) 0 0 1,167 647 3232 (3,666) 806 0 65,589 62,729 3240 9,090 2,964 0 0 12,053 3250 1,945 187 0 93 2,225 3261 250 0 0 0 250 3262 1,528 1,067 0 0 2,595 TAKE YOUR CLUB IN A 3291 5,077 0 0 10,750 15,827 NEW DIRECTION India Total 377,847 39,684 48,937 633,207 1,099,675 3220 Sri Lanka 4,467 5,071 0 5,428 14,966 Is your club flexible and ready for the future? 3271 Pakistan 1,006 1,000 0 22,100 24,106 New resources on Satellite Clubs, Passport Clubs, and Corporate Membership can help you create an experience 3272 Pakistan 3,835 7,436 0 0 11,271 that works for every member. 3281 Bangladesh 11,443 400 1,000 12,809 25,652 LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR OPTIONS AT ROTARY.ORG/FLEXIBILITY 3282 Bangladesh 5,300 100 0 2,970 8,370 3292 Nepal 8,657 1,304 0 32,627 42,587 South Asia Total 412,556 54,995 49,937 709,140 1,226,627 World Total 15,321,049 2,503,546 3,119,300 5,240,180 26,184,075 Source: RI South Asia Office

TRF Details - October 2020 issue.indd 67 9/25/2020 2:22:59 PM the finest novel in Hindi ever written. Tackling themes such as caste discrim- ination, dreams and desire, gender, the Wordsworld indigent rural landscape, class exploita- tion, Premchand powerfully draws read- ers into the world he creates. The best works of fiction make you observe the Fiction’s not just a world around you while simultaneously pressing you to look inward. The key to fiction is ‘compelling storytelling’. Once you are hooked, figment of the you are able to see things from other points of view thanks to the various characters or situations presented in the imagination novel. You see how people evolve, how societies develop, since things happen Sandhya Rao over a period of time within the novel, even if it is just a day, as in the case of Ian McEwan’s Saturday. The events The best stories come from writers who described in the novel take place on just reflect deeply upon the world and all its one day in London against the back- drop of a demonstration against the US inhabitants and phenomena. invasion of Iraq. The central character, a neurosurgeon, is shown struggling to understand the meaning of his life have a young friend, Apuurva, to become ‘fiction fiends’. You will find in the context of a post-modern world. who is as crazy about books as that fiction’s a friend. Although the action takes place over I am. The other day I messaged Stories spun out of a writer’s only one day, you the reader begin to Iher and in the course of our chat imagination — and here I refer to the see the larger picture, you begin to see exchange, mentioned that I was read- best writing, of which there is plenty, things differently and even if some of ing ‘a fantastic book called The Library and not the trashy kind of writing, of the insights are troubling, they enrich Book by Susan Orlean.’ which too there is plenty — create your inner self. The best writers of Promptly she wrote back: ‘Guess worlds in which readers can lose what? I’m reading the very same themselves. Sometimes, you feel that book now!’ the character emerging from the novel Two friends, bookworms both, or story is you and you think: how reading the same, rather out-of-the-way did this author know this about book at the same time, in two different me? Or, this is exactly what I was places, Chennai and Goa! Who could thinking. Or, I knew this would imagine that! Truth is stranger than fic- happen. Or, really, I didn’t know tion! Which brings me to a passage in this would happen. Or, oh, so that’s The Library Book — more about it in why he did this or she said that. my next — about the history of a library Rabindranath Tagore’s Nastanirh, in the US. Apparently, back in 1873, which became famous in its film ver- it was governed by all sorts of rules; sion as Charulata, explores the loneli- one of them discouraged the reading ness and longing of a woman within a of ‘too many novels, lest they [readers] joint family. It’s a theme far ahead of its turn into what the association labelled times, intimately exploring the mind of “fiction fiends”…’! In 2020, I have no a woman. Or, take Munshi Premchand’s hesitation in urging you loud and clear Godaan, considered by many to be

68 ROTARYROTRRO ARYRY NEWSNEEWSW OCTOBEROCTOBER 20202020

P_Wordsworld_Fiction is not just a figment of the imagination_2.indd 68 9/25/2020 2:53:20 PM the next instalment of The Pickwick empathy, theory of mind and critical Papers or David Copperfield or thinking’. In an article published in the A Tale of Two Cities? First published Harvard Business Review in March serially, Dickens was devoured by 2020, she says this is because the act readers who loved the way he wove of reading fiction strengthens the cog- contemporary events and issues into nitive muscles that are essential for the his plots and grew characters with development of EQ, emotional quotient. nuanced personalities. They often saw And a highly developed EQ is what, themselves in what he wrote, the char- increasingly, organisations are looking acters he created. for in their employees. She quotes the That’s the magic of fiction. You can example of Joseph Badaracco, profes- be anybody: a soldier, a singer, a scien- sor of Business Ethics at Harvard, who tist, a mother, a teacher… Through this makes fiction titles integral to his course experience of vicariously living the life curriculum. She says that he believes of the character, you reap the benefits that ‘good literature presents characters of deeper understanding and empathy. with competing and often equally valid The magic of fiction is also the source viewpoints.’ This enables future busi- of its power. Fiction also provides con- ness leaders ‘to use an expanded ability fiction enable you to unravel some mys- texts. The context in Amitav Ghosh’s to understand and respond to competing teries of our undoubtedly complex lives. Ibis Trilogy, for instance, is the opium viewpoints.’ Compare a history textbook with trade between China and India. All that You need imagination to come up historical fiction. While the former is happens to the various individuals peo- with and nurture ideas, and an open generally a litany of names, dates and pling the three novels — Sea of Poppies, mind to make effective decisions, be events, the latter takes you bang into River of Smoke, Flood of Fire — from they personal or professional. Reading the middle of the action in the period in merchants to rajas to lascars to slaves, fiction provides fuel for the imagination which the novel is set. Through plot and is reason for or the consequence of the and broadens the mind — provided, of characters, you taste, smell, feel, see all impact of the opium trade. course, it is done willingly and regularly that’s happening in that time. Eras come Perhaps the most important func- and primarily for the sheer joy of it. alive in a tangible, unforgettable way. tion of fiction is the way it allows us Christine Seifert also quotes the It’s the same with general fiction. Peo- to engage with our feelings and, in experience of a not-for-profit organi- ple and places, events and feelings reach the process, enrich our inner selves. sation called Books@Work with get- out to you at an emotional level; you According to Christine Seifert, reading ting participants in a workshop to read cannot but respond. Everything comes literary fiction ‘helps people develop short stories and/or novels which they together to create a world that’s palpa- then discuss. It appears that this helped ble, even if it is a world of fantasy. Why participants speak freely and in a more else would so many love books such as forthright manner as well as communi- The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy cate more effectively. Finally, to quote by Douglas Adams, a classic science a cognitive scientist, Maryanne Wolf: fiction novel of great wit and insight. ‘the quality of our reading’ is ‘an index My niece, when she was in her teens, to the quality of our thought’. In other had this book in one hand at all times words, better readers could be better except, perhaps, when she was taking thinkers and therefore become better a bath. Why else would so many, leaders… That’s a thought worth con- young, old and middling, swear by sidering. The option’s clear when next Harry Potter? Many young hearts you have some time to spare: pick up broke when Dan Radcliffe — and a fiction title from your bookshelf or not themselves — was chosen to the library or the bookstore. Or borrow. play the role in all seven films! Why, back in Victorian England, The columnist is a children’s would people wait anxiously for writer and senior journalist.

OCTOBEROCTOBER 20202020 ROTARYROTARY NEWNEWSS 69

P_Wordsworld_Fiction is not just a figment of the imagination_2.indd 69 9/25/2020 2:53:20 PM RC Karur sets up a mobile cancer detection facility Team Rotary News

PRID C Basker (fourth from L) with TN Transport minister M R Vijayabhaskar after the inaugu- ration of the mobile cancer screening facility. PDG P Gopalakrishnan (L) is also in the picture.

C Karur, RID 3000, has With DDF contributions from cervical, uterus and breast cancer, Rflagged off a mobile RIDs 3000, 4490, 4310, 4590 and said K Ravindrakumar, primary cancer detection facility for 2770 and RC Urawa East, Japan, contact for the project. women through a global grant contributing as the international The vehicle is also fitted with project worth `1.38 crore. partner, the project was made two generators, and has a battery Shobhikaa Impex and Kauvery possible. TRF sanctioned $73,636. back-up, toilet, overhead tank, TV Speciality Hospital, Trichy, The vehicle is equipped with a screens, etc. It was inaugurated by have contributed $30,400 and mammogram, CR Reader, an Tamil Nadu Transport Minister $40,000 from their CSR funds ultrasound scanner and Pap Smear M R Vijayabhaskar in the presence respectively. test equipment, which can detect of PRID C Basker.„

Rotary installs a waiting shed for Covid patients in Hisar hospital

n OPD shed was installed at the AMaharaja Agarsen Civil Hospital by RC Hisar, RID 3090, for people waiting their turn to get a corona virus test done. The waiting shed spread over 1,600 sqft was inaugurated by Hisar legislator Kamal Gupta in the presence of club president Mohit Gupta, secretary Anand Bansal, treasurer Ashish Goyal and pro- ject chairman Dr N K Khetarpaul. The project costing `2 lakh was taken up with encouragement from DG Vijay Arora. The club provided PPE kits, thermome- Hisar legislator Kamal Gupta inaugurating ters, ventilators, etc to the Covid warriors the waiting shed installed by RC Hisar. at the hospital.„

70 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

Final - RC Karur flags off mobile cancer detection facility.indd 70 9/25/2020 1:19:20 PM Membership Summary As on September 1, 2020 Rotary News Subscription RI Rotary No of Women Rotaract *Interact Remittances RCC District Clubs Rotarians Rotarians % Clubs Clubs You can pay the 5RWDU\1HZV»5RWDU\6DPDFKDU 2981 119 5,067 5.90 51 39 225 subscription online 2982 72 3,130 6.39 85 96 56 3000 130 5,257 8.41 188 256 211 Our Bank details: 3011 105 4,113 25.94 57 90 35 Bank : HDFC Bank SB Account 3012 108 3,836 25.05 56 71 59 3020 73 4,358 6.08 54 155 351 Branch : Montieth Road 3030 95 5,143 14.68 119 177 304 Egmore, Chennai 3040 92 2,237 11.98 41 52 147 A/c Name : Rotary News Trust 3053 64 2,759 16.35 21 39 103 A/c No. : 50100213133460 3054 134 6,281 19.61 86 144 524 IFSC Code : HDFC0003820 3060 100 4,583 14.79 60 63 145 3070 114 3,432 17.10 48 20 59 E-mail us following details: 3080 84 3,357 9.00 94 143 116 Name of club 3090 79 2,393 7.94 42 9 122 President/secretary’s name 3100 100 2,325 8.26 14 14 146 Amount/date of transfer/UTR number 3110 135 3,741 8.93 29 7 105 3120 82 3,335 14.15 47 19 53 For physical payment by cheque or cash in bank, write Club Name only 3131 138 5,237 21.33 113 178 117 without prefixing “Rotary Club of”. 3132 87 3,430 10.12 39 95 159 Eg. Rotary Club of Delhi Central 3141 105 5,593 24.42 125 141 93 should be written: Delhi Central. 3142 90 3,250 20.77 83 118 68 3150 88 3,472 10.54 61 122 117 3160 78 2,574 6.84 28 3 83 3170 133 5,725 13.59 84 204 169 Rotary at a glance 3181 82 3,366 8.97 63 192 118 Rotarians : : 1,186,144 3182 83 3,153 8.18 49 103 98 3190 140 5,722 15.96 156 153 65 Clubs : 36,235 3201 145 5,658 8.29 109 72 52 3202 139 5,661 6.64 97 251 47 Districts : 525 3211 144 4,613 7.05 8 24 132 3212 107 4,258 8.67 103 187 149 Rotaractors : 203,537 3231 100 3,956 12.11 53 81 419 3232 128 5,860 19.47 132 199 93 Clubs : 10,750 3240 92 3,169 13.57 53 393 197 3250 101 3,784 18.21 69 65 185 Interactors : 345,023 3261 75 2,703 16.13 20 21 43 3262 107 3,744 12.71 50 38 78 Clubs : 15,001 3291 157 3,745 20.85 93 88 621 RCC : 11,244 India Total 4,005 154,020 2,680 4,122 5,864 3220 71 1,933 14.69 85 125 74 As on August 17, 2020 3271 111 1,736 17.74 67 19 22 3272 155 1,838 17.52 53 15 43 *Please note Interact clubs that have not 3281 240 7,148 17.46 247 50 199 reported Interact Adviser in the past two 3282 160 4,135 10.86 179 39 46 Rotary years, are placed in “Suspended” 3292 128 5,065 15.79 135 119 118 status effective Oct 1, 2019. S Asia Total 4,870 175,875 3,446 4,489 6,366 Source: RI South Asia Office

Membership Details - October 2020.indd 71 9/22/2020 12:40:21 PM Health Living life forward…

Bharat and Shalan Savur

hese are the times to and TVs gets into us because we are, mind occupied in navigating the wind- be mentally stable and literally, sitting ducks — lounging on ing shape of the figure 8. It can be done physically fit. The rea- the couch or sprawling in our seats on the beach, in the park, at home or son? The world is not with earphones attached to us like the workplace. If indoors, place two what it was some 20–40 extensions of our ears — we’ll know chairs in a row at a distance of two Tyears ago. Those days, most of the what to do. After a quacking skirmish, feet. Now, walk around one chair, population stood outside the din and ducks swim away from each other and diagonally to the other and around the dirt of politics, wars were fought on flap their wings vigorously to release second chair, diagonally back to the distant frontiers, if suicides were com- tension. We’ve got our own version — first one — describing an 8. Start by mitted we barely heard of them and, pacing up and down the length of the doing it for five minutes, then progress yes, epidemics didn’t spread to our room to relieve our stress. The needs to 10…20…30 minutes daily. Breathe neighbourhoods. We were content in of today, however, call for a modified normally as you walk. It’s a great our areas of sunshine and… well… version of pacing, it’s called the 8-walk stress buster — the mind relaxes as its everything was in its designated place. because it keeps the highly-stimulated beta-waves slow down to the soothing Not anymore. Today, everything is on our TV screen and it doesn’t matter whether it’s a 32 or 102 size monitor, all the monsters are here in our living rooms. Our imagination is not left to its devices, there is nothing to imagine. Opinions are loud, images flash by at supersonic speed, the music blares… it’s not just in our face, it’s in our minds. And that mental shrillness gets into our bodies like a diet turned into a nightmare. Welcome to the crazy, cacophonic world of reality shows streaming live right into us! Whew! “It is quite true what philosophy says: that life must be understood backward,” writes Soren Kierkegaard and adds sagely, “But then one for- gets the other principle: that it must be lived forward.” This is exactly what this piece is about — to live forward. For that, we really need to neutralise the volatile waves of reactions in our hearts and minds and swim in the clean, clear waters of peace and health.

The 8-walk. When we understand that much of the madness from our mobiles

72 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

K_Health_Living life forward….indd 72 25-Sep-20 2:48:00 PM alpha-waves frequency. Do it for 14 levels, it’s imperative we keep our It’s as good as it can be, it says with- days and check how you feel. mental balance by deeply touching the out words. And we use the energy dormant feeling of how much we have. conserved in getting on with life. Reset the mind. Being assaulted loudly It is much easier to get to the how * When we are contented, we will and relentlessly with bad news often much base when we cast out pride, still feel sad but we don’t become lowers our contentment level. A quer- envy, bottomless desires and all the helpless, we don’t feel hopeless. ulous tone enters our mind and voice. stress that goes with them. Once the We take positive action. If we are Check: *Am I complaining often? *Am clutter is out, we touch the treasure the outdoor type, we walk away I dissatisfied about something I can’t of how much and allow its peaceful our blues, if we prefer the indoors, put my finger on? *Does the future radiance to fill us. This is contentment. it’s possible to just sit silently look bleak based on the present? Help- And I echo the wise when I say, “use until the wave of sadness ebbs less, gloomy feelings can suppress the this feeling as your guiding light.” and calmness prevails. immune system and give way to aller- One of the secrets tucked in con- * There’s no complaining. It just gies, depression and other disorders. tentment is: Love life as she is, don’t doesn’t happen. When others do, A great way to stay out of these woods expect more than she can give, lend her we look at them in wonder, we and create a psychological safety zone your laugh when she makes you happy, help them when we can. Or we for yourself is to consciously reset the when her road gets rocky to run on, guide them to the right people. mind in contentment. Patanjali, the pave it with your patience and unflag- And, yes, that querulousness does father of yoga, had said, “Content- ging care and miss her already because, not get a foothold in us. ment leads to superlative happiness.” one day, she is not going to be there. * We never rehash old stuff unless In these loud times that stir up dis- there’s a very good reason for satisfaction to, sometimes, dangerous The gentle guide. Contentment doing so. We clear any fog in the silences the loudness around and ena- mind by exercising, spending time bles us to look around undistracted in nature, listening to music or a and derive joy from the abundance, bracing Ted talk. the beauty, the proof and fruit of the * One of the most beautiful things great intelligence that made this full- it enables us to do is to always ness. Contentment is an inner strength encourage people in what they that helps us reserve and use our time, want to do. Contentment dissolves our energy for things that truly matter. the feelings of competition and It gently guides us in many ways: one-upmanship. In its place is a * We stop bothering about what wonderful sense of oneness. As others think about us — it’s like Bob Marley sang, “Live for your- walking out of a dark cave and dis- self and you will live in vain; live covering the vast sky above and for others and you will live again.” the huge space around. * It keeps us from over-thinking, Ah yes, and please do switch to over-analysing, thus, there is no a gentler, kinder, softer programme fear, no mental paralysis. We on TV, something that cheers, edu- know that everything is better than cates, inspires, elevates. I recommend it appears and will only get better. Dr Wayne Dyer’s movie, The Shift. * It prevents us from beating ourselves It’s one more great way not to let the needlessly over something we’d loudness get into you. done and we become better people because we stop judging others. We The writers are authors of Fitness dwell in greater understanding and for Life and Simply Spiritual – You that’s like taking an unexplored sce- Are Naturally Divine and teachers of nic route inside ourself. the Fitness for Life programme. * It helps us catch ourselves when we keep wishing things were otherwise. Designed by N Krishnamurthy

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 73

K_Health_Living life forward….indd 73 25-Sep-20 2:48:00 PM RC Kavali turns annadata for the hungry

Kiran Zehra

Residents of Rama Subbaiah Colony being served hot meals.

he residents of Rama go to work and have been denied by the highway to a government Subbaiah Colony in Kavali, wages by their employees, leaving school and gave them ration kits Tnear Nellore, wait patiently them with no money and very little to last a month. Similarly the club for their turn to be served fresh, food supplies. Understanding their “distributed vegetable supplies and hot lunch. That day’s menu is “egg plight the club has been supporting dry ration to about 7,000 under- biryani, raitha and kesari,” says these colonies with basic needs. privileged families in the town,” K Gopikrishna Kaanu, past presi- As the club wanted to extend he says. dent of RC Kavali, RID 3160. The its service to the homeless, “we From April, the club has been club under its ‘One meal a day’ loaded our cars with food packets conducting a sanitation drive and initiative is providing food since and drove across the city distrib- has distributed ayurvedic med- March to around 350 families from uting them to beggars and street icines, masks and sanitisers to three slum colonies here. “Some dwellers.” Kaanu recalls meet- about 10,000 people. “Until July, of them wait with their children ing an old homeless woman who we have spent nearly `24 lakh for from 10 in the morning. For most had “tears in her eyes when she Covid-relief activities, with the of them this is the only meal for received the food packet. She hes- members making personal dona- the day,” he adds. itantly asked if she should come tions or getting money from their Most of the recipients are daily back the next day at the same place friends, relatives or associates.” wage earners and the women work and time to get a food packet.” The Twenty-five ayurvedic camps as domestic help. Ever since the club members shifted 10 migrant have been conducted in the rural lockdown began, they could not families staying in makeshift tents areas near Kavali.„

74 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

RC Kawali turns annadata for the hungry.indd 74 9/24/2020 6:17:54 PM On the racks

Burnt Sugar Author : Avni Doshi Publisher : Hamish Hamilton Pages : 240; `1,407

onglisted for the Booker The Rape Trial LPrize 2020 this is a love Author : Bidisha Ghosal story about love and betrayal Work Hard-ly Publisher : Notion Press between a mother and a Author : Monica Iyengar Pages : 548; `555 daughter. Tara, a wild woman Publisher : Rupa in her youth, abandons her Publications eyond a courtroom drama loveless marriage to live in an Pages : 118; `170 Bthis book narrates the story ashram with her child Antara, of Avni Rambha, a rape victim. and falls in love with a guru. ivided into 13 chapters, Rapist Rahul Satyabhagi, son of Antara retells her tale about Dthe book discusses a rich and powerful politician, living at the ashram, and her time management, team is acquitted, despite having suffering under her mother’s management, balancing strong evidence against him. self-centered version of self- professional and personal life, Rahul goes on to become the actualisation. Now Tara is old leadership qualities, women in leader of a men’s rights activist and forgetful and Antara is the workplace, and more for group. Eight years later, a video tasked with taking care of her the younger generation with of Rahul obscenely describing mother she never loved. This a short attention span. In the the rape turns up on the internet. book talks about the change corporate world, curb your But no arrest happens. Even of roles from being a daughter enthusiasm and learn from the more powerful now, he decides to becoming a caregiver for an lazy, smooth-talking colleague to silence everyone involved in elderly mother and portrays how to tilt the system in your exposing him. Little does he know the complicated feelings a favour with tips from this that he is going to meet Avni’s caregiver can experience. book. Anecdotes of a crazy friends Hitaishi and Amrutha, The anger and helplessness boss, nosey co-workers, and who have decided to punish him. that stems from the feeling a clueless HR will leave you Meanwhile, rapists in the city of being inadequate in the chuckling. For those who often are being kidnapped, tortured role of a daughter to being wonder why the incompetent and dumped on the streets. taken for granted while the ones are doing better, this A team under DC Dixit investigate sick person is showered with book will help in making you the gruesome torture of Rahul understanding and pity, this efficient and reduce work Satyabhagi. Are the three friends book is packed with unsettling pressure. behind it? emotions.

Compiled by Kiran Zehra

OCTOBEROCTOBER 20202020 ROTARYROTARY NEWNEWSS 7575

P_On the Racks_Oct20.indd 75 9/25/2020 2:53:09 PM CLUB HOP

RC Nannilam – RID 2981 RC Delhi Mayur – RID 3012

n RO water Apurifier costing he Rotarians dis- `60,000 was set up Ttributed stationery at the Government items to children at Maternity Hospi- the Banphool school tal-cum-PHC at in Yamuna Pushta, a Aanaikuppam village. slum colony.

RC Salem - 2982 RC Visakha Port City – RID 3020

he club donated 400 he club donated Thome quarantine TCovid-relief mate- kits containing vitamin rial worth `75,000 to and anti-allergy the Covid care centre tablets to Municipal at the Salem Govern- Corporation com- ment Hospital. PDG missioner Srijana to Velayudha Raveendran distribute to Covid handed over the patients. material.

RC Pudukkottai City – RID 3000 RC Dewas – 3040

he club distributed lub president TPPE kits, oximeters, CK Arumugam thermometers, sanitis- donated a fibre optic ers, masks and gloves cable device with worth `12 lakh to head light for ENT the district hospital, operations to Dr A L Ayush department Meenakshi Sundaram, and other institutions Dean, Government such as police and vol- Medical College, untary agencies through Pudukkottai. a global grant with RC Singapore.

76 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

Club HOP - October 2020.indd 76 9/25/2020 2:41:32 PM CLUB HOP

RC Gwalior - RID 3053 RC Mussoorie – RID 3080

hrough a global Tgrant, the club ren- ovated a dam to meet ore than 650 the drinking water, Mstudents from agriculture and live- five schools were stock needs across 15 given notebooks and villages. The project registers to help them will benefit at least attend online classes. 15,000 people.

RC Rajkot Greater – RID 3060 RC Faridkot – RID 3090

he Rotarians dis- he club distributed Ttributed masks and Tface masks with gloves to 50 women Rotary logo to rick- at the Maheshwari shaw pullers, hawkers Mataji Old Age Home and shopkeepers, and at Ratanpur. PPE kits to doctors and staff at a Covid care centre.

RC Dasuya Greater – RID 3070 RC Wai – RID 3132

he Rotarians dis- digital classroom Ttributed saplings A was inaugurated and stationery items to at the ZP Primary students at a govern- School in Malegaon ment senior secondary taluk. The project school, Bodal, and worth `40,000 will ration kits to needy benefit 100 students of families. classes 1 to 7.

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 77

Club HOP - October 2020.indd 77 9/25/2020 2:41:33 PM CLUB HOP

RC Hiranandani Estate - RID 3141 RC Kota City – RID 3182

he Rotarians culti- he club mem- Tvated a half-acre Tbers felicitated barren field and are the unsung Corona planning to donate the warriors in their paddy to orphanages neighbourhoods with and old age homes. certificates of appreci- The grass will be ation and gift bags. given to a cowshed. The project will benefit 100 needy people.

RC Kadiri – RID 3150 RI District 3190

G Nagendra Prasad edicines and Dand Disease Mnutritious food Prevention chair were supplied to 70 S Jayaraman handed home quarantined over a Covid testing Covid patients in equipment worth the presence of local `40 lakh to Dr B N legislator and health Gangadhar, director, workers. NIMHANS for install- ing at the neurology lab.

RI District 3181 RC Coimbatore Meridian – RID 3201

G M Ranganath DBhat handed over he club inaugurated 3,000 face shields and Ta permanent sap- 60,000 gloves worth ling stall at the One `4 lakh to District Care Hospital under Commissioner Sindhu its Eco Meridian Roopesh at Dakshina project. Visitors to the Kannada, to be given hospital can take the to anganwadi and Asha saplings for their use. volunteers.

78 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

Club HOP - October 2020.indd 78 9/25/2020 2:41:35 PM CLUB HOP

RC Tirupur Celebration – RID 3202 RC Sibsagar – RID 3240

n online awareness he club donated Atalk on Project T150 bedspread Positive Health was and pillow covers conducted by the club. to a primary health The Rotarians distrib- centre at Valavanthi uted fruits to patients in Yercaud. The PHC at the District Covid caters to the medical Hospital in Sibsagar. needs of the tribal locals.

RC Tirunelveli Town – RID 3212 RC Balasore On Sea – RID 3262

nion minister Pratap he club distributed UChandra Sadangi T45 set of sarees inaugurated a clean and sweets sponsored drinking water station by club member at the Nilgiri Sub- STR Gandhi to an division Hospital in orphanage for the the presence of DG visually-challenged. Saumya Ranjan Mishra and other Rotarians through a virtual meet.

RC Madras Connemara – RID 3232 RC Tollygunge – RID 3291

round 500 saplings Awere planted on a government land in Sriperumbudur in he club mem- the first phase of the Tbers donated club’s Kaadu Seivom monthly provisions to project which aims Maheshpur Sebash- at creating an urban ram, an orphanage at forest ecosystem. The the Sundarbans. project is done in part- nership with FASS Trust Compiled by V Muthukumaran and town panchayat. Designed by L Gunasekaran

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 79

Club HOP - October 2020.indd 79 9/25/2020 2:41:36 PM From RI South Asia Office desk

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan

he virtual National effort, strengthen efforts to initiative encouraging Every Rotarian, Every PolioPlus and increase routine immuni- Rotaractors to actively Year brochure TMR (Measles and sation and prepare for res- support TRF with indi- Rubella) Orientation and toration of supplementary vidual gifts. If five mem- Official Directory Planning Meet organised immunisation by midterm bers of a club contribute 2020–21 by the INPPC in August in the wake of the global a minimum total of $50, The board of directors had the participation of pandemic and lockdown. then the club will be voted last year to discon- Union Health Minister awarded the certificate. tinue printing the offi- Dr Harsh Vardhan, IPPC World Polio Day cial directory to protect chair Mike McGovern, Rotary clubs are encour- Every Rotarian, personal data entrusted Dr Sunil Bahl, WHO aged to use Rotary’s Every Year by members, donors and SEARO, and Dr Rija World Polio Day Every Rotarian, Every programme participants. Andriamihantanirina, resources (https://www. Year (EREY) encour- The directory is available immunisation specialist, endpolio.org/world- ages every Rotarian to to members at My Rotary UNICEF; TRF trustee polio-day) to plan and support the Foundation’s and is no longer printed, chair K R Ravindran, hold online/virtual Annual Fund every year or available in download- RIDs Bharat Pandya and events on that day (Oct to enable it to support able electronic format. Kamal Sanghvi, RIPE 24). The toolkit can life-changing, sustainable Through the online Shekhar Mehta, Trustee be downloaded from projects world over. You official directory, Gulam Vahanvaty, INPPC https://www.endpolio. can find various updated members can easily and chair Deepak Kapur and org/sites/default/files/ EREY resources on the securely search for fellow INPPC advisor PRIP wpd_2020_en.zip. Annual Fund and SHARE members, find club Rajendra Saboo. page of My Rotary, and district information, The district Rotary Rotaract Award including: An Every view committees, read leaders were urged to The Rotaract Giving Rotarian, Every Year senior leader biographies, lead the polio eradication Certificate is a new presentation; and The and more. „

80 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

RISAOffice - October 2020.indd 80 9/24/2020 6:19:01 PM Promoting eye donation

Team Rotary News

Participants at the webinar.

he National Eye Donation Retrieval Programme (HCRP) across Dr Hareesh and his father-in-law Fortnight is observed in major Indian hospitals with finan- Gurudev explained how, through TIndia between Aug 25 and cial support. He stated that in the several motivational programmes, Sept 8 every year since 1985, to last year his hospital had collected they could collect 1,460 corneas in raise awareness on eye donation. 10,500 corneas, and 70 per cent of and around Dodballapura which has Recently, the Avoidable Blindness the donations came through HCRP. a population of 100,000. (AB) committee of RID 3190 organ- A panel discussion anchored Sharma said that EBSR has eye ised a webinar to promote the cause. by the committee chairman Dr banks across Rajasthan and pays its Dr G N Rao, founder chairman, M V Ravikumar included Dr members for the cornea collected, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, J Ganesh from Sivakasi; Gurudev which are given free to the poor. He in his keynote address recalled the and Dr Hareesh from Dodballapura; explained the role of the police in initial years of professional practice B L Sharma, president, Eye Bank enhancing eye donation. Dr Ganesh as a cornea surgeon in the US, when Society of Rajasthan (EBSR); and has collected over 14,000 corneas corneal transplant was done on an S Jayaraman, founder trustee of benefitting over 40,000 people in the emergency basis due to its limited Nayana Jyothi Trust, Bengaluru. past 11 years. availability and lack of storage Jayaraman explained his con- facilities. When he moved to India cept of ‘vision ambassadors’ who to establish the eye hospital in 1987 campaign for eye donations. He had and an eye bank in 1989, he was dis- introduced the eye donation helpline couraged by many as there was no ‘104’ common for Tamil Nadu and concept of eye donation. During the Karnataka to create database of first year of the eye bank, he could donors and promote the cause. collect only 10 corneas. Today, the Pradeep Sudarshan, a visually- institute is one of Asia’s biggest eye challenged member of the AB com- banking facilities, he said. Dr Rao mittee, shared his experience in urged eye hospitals and NGOs such promoting eye donation among his as Rotary and Lions to recommend family and friends. Dr Arun Adkoli, to the government to formulate pol- Dr G N Rao, founder chairman, the committee’s technical adviser, icy regulations for eye donation and L V Prasad Eye Institute, thanked the resource persons and implement a Hospital-based Cornea Hyderabad, addressing delegates. participants.„

OCTOBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 81

Promoting eye donation.indd 81 9/24/2020 6:14:11 PM A theory on fools

TCA Srinivasa Raghavan

he other day I read a a town, a metro, district, an army, a place or observe social distancing. remark on Twitter that state and finally a country — is the These are some examples. You can said this corona virus number of fools in it constant in rela- add your own. has one benefit: it has tion to the total number in that group? Assuming that the number is no helped us identify the There was no answer. So I proposed more than five per cent in any group of Tfools amongst us. This reminded me my own theory. people — it is probably closer to 10 — of a theory I had proposed six years I started by defining a fool. My there are 70 million Indian fools. If ago. It happened after I read that a min- definition — you can have your own — it’s 10 percent, it means 140 million ister had made a particularly foolish of a fool is a person who lacks good fools, which is twice the population of remark. After hearing what she had judgement. Good judgement com- Britain! This wouldn’t matter so much said I started wondering about fools: prises the ability to maximise your if some of them didn’t, in the natural how many does a country have? Is self-interest for at least 90 per cent course, find their way into positions there a lower limit? Is there an upper of the time, which means you don’t of power. limit? Is the number a constant? harm yourself. The legal, economic Now think: even if no more than After all, I thought to myself, the and social constraints remain the same one per cent of India’s 70 million physical sciences and mathematics for everyone so it’s only a fool who fools work for the State — parliament, have concepts called constants, like doesn’t maximise. Generally, fools executive and judiciary — it means as pi in maths and the Planck constant always extract a price from others. many as 700,000 persons lacking in in physics, for instance. Their value Examples are the idiot who jumps good judgement (fools) are acting on always remains the same, regardless the red light, the duffer who smokes behalf of the rest of the 1,400 million. of what else changes. So for a long at a petrol station, the halfwit who Thus, as the poet rightly observed, time I had been wondering if there are wanders off at aircraft boarding time “Barbad gulistañ karne ko bas ek hi constants in the social sciences also. and now the borderline criminal who ullu kaafi tha / Har shaakh pe ullu Economics, which self-importantly doesn’t wear a mask in a crowded baitha hai. Anjame gulistan kya hoga regards itself as a science, has none — (To destroy a garden only one owl/ or just one. But it’s not a natural con- idiot is enough. But here every branch stant. It was invented by the IMF in has an idiot).” 1986, that come what may, the fiscal Be it your housing complex, But forget the country and its rul- deficit of a country must not exceed ers. If you just look around you, you office or the team for which three per cent. Just like that, no reasons will find that my theory is a good one. or rationale given. But there is not even you play, or the road on Be it your housing complex or your a man-made constant in the other social which you are driving, office or the team for which you play sciences such as sociology, anthropol- some game, or the road on which you ogy, political science, etc. there will always be some are driving, there will always be a con- So I have been posing a question unreasonable people. stant number of people who act unrea- to better brains than mine: given a sonably and damage your interests. It’s population sample — in, say, a bus, a huge problem. a classroom, a village, a newspaper, Can we do anything about it? Sadly not. It’s a constant, you see. „

82 ROTARY NEWS OCTOBER 2020

K_LBW_A theory on fools.indd 82 9/28/2020 12:31:30 PM In Brief

It snows cocoa in Switzerland Strong winds left a dusting of cocoa powder over an area surrounding the Lindt Real love & Sprüngli chocolate factory in Olten, Switzerland. Guests who attended industrialist Srinivas Murthy’s Pictures shared on social housewarming ceremony in Koppal, Karnataka, were media showed a thin coat of stunned to see his wife Madhavi sitting on a sofa with cocoa dust on the surface of a welcome smile at the entrance. She had died in a car cars and window panes. “Chocolate snowflakes falling from accident three years ago. Murthy had made a life-size silicon the sky, dreams do come true,” said one tweet. A ventilation statue of her because it was Madhavi’s dream home and the defect in the factory, which caused the phenomenon, was family couldn’t think of moving in without her. She will now quickly fixed. remain part of our family, says Murthy.

Human ATM Chocolate Ganesha The Indian postal depart- A Punjab-based restaurateur ment’s new service of deliv- designed a 40-kg Ganesha idol ering money home through made entirely of chocolate postmen is a huge hit across with the help of 10 chefs. This the country. The facility, is the fifth consecutive year introduced in late-March just he is making this eco-friendly before the Covid-19-forced Ganesha to celebrate Ganesh lockdown was imposed, Chaturthi. Nidhi Sharma of allows withdrawals from Indore had also designed themed `100 to `10,000 from an Ganesha idols in chocolate, Aadhaar-linked bank account. including one Ganesha slaying The postmen carry with them coronavirus with his trident. `60,000 cash for the service and a biometric device to She says she would immerse the idols in milk on match fingerprint. visarjan and distribute chocolate milk to the needy.

Accidentally handcuffed

A police officer in Northamptonshire, UK, got stuck in a pair of handcuffs when he tried to demonstrate how to use it to new recruits. He walked to the neighbouring firestation where firefighters used pedal cutters to free him. Though not thrilled with the mishap, he said he was happy that it made people smile. “If I put a smile on a single face during these difficult times, my job is done,” he tweeted.

Compiled by Jaishree; Designed by Krishnapratheesh S

P_Wrapper_Back_Back_Inside_October20.indd 83 9/25/2020 2:53:13 PM Regn. No. TN/CCN/360/2018-2020 Total number of pages in this monthly Licensed to post WPP No.TN/PMG(CCR)/WPP-431/2018-2020 issue, including cover, 84. Price: `35 Registered with Registrar of News Papers for India 3880/57 Rotary News Published on the first week of every month

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