September 2020 @NewsRotary /RotaryNewsIndia 420 ` ͮŶŶƵĂů^ƵďƐĐƌŝƉƟŽŶ

Vol.64, Issue 3 Vol.64,

P_Wrapper_Front_Front_Inside_September 2020.indd 1 28-Aug-20 6:38:02 PM Another Milestone

Our hard work has paid off. Through the work of Rotarians and our partners, the WHO African region has been certified free of wild poliovirus. This means that no child in any of the region’s 47 countries will ever again have to suffer from the wild poliovirus.

While we celebrate this great achievement, we look to the next goal: to eradicate the wild poliovirus in the two countries where the disease has never been stopped, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“To all of our Rotary members: Thank you for your continued support and dedication, which has made possible the certification of the WHO African region as free of the wild poliovirus. We know this hasn’t been easy, and there is still work to be done, but you have helped achieve something remarkable.” Holger Knaack Rotary International President

Help us meet the next challenge by donating at endpolio.org/donate

P_Wrapper_Front_Front_Inside_September 2020.indd 2 28-Aug-20 6:37:59 PM Inside

10 Reaching eggs to the nutritionally deficient Hari Kishan Valmiki of RC Secunderabad has been instrumental in distributing 500,000 eggs to needy children.

16 Sushil Gupta conferred Rotary Award of Honor 10 RI recognises PRID Sushil Gupta with its highest award for his long and successful service to Rotary.

18 When the mouse roared 1%(4ZMWJB8IJUMPDL UIFÜSTUXPNBOUPIFBE a Rotary club, goes down memory lane on women’s membership in Rotary.

28 Indian Rotarians travel to Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara Rotarians from Amritsar meet Pakistani Rotarians at the gurdwara in Lahore, Pakistan.

32 RC Nagpur Fort gives hope 16 18 to disabled children The club facilitates corrective surgery and rehabilitation of disabled children through its Project Saksham.

38 When an eye hospital rejuvenated a Rotary club An account of how the Hooghly Eye Hospital saved RC Hooghly from being de-chartered.

46 Rotary opens a 300-bed Covid care centre in Bengaluru RID 3190 has set up the Rotary Advika Nayonika Covid Care Centre at Peenya to 38 52 treat patients with mild Covid symptoms.

52 The empress of melodies Beginning this issue, we bring to you a series of articles on India’s greatest singers. Who else but -BUB.BOHFTILBSUPLJDLPġUIJTTFSJFT

On the cover: $IJMESFOCFOFÜUGSPNUIF egg-donation drive initiated by a Rotarian. Picture: Pervez Bhagat 28

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 3

K_Inside_September 2020.indd 3 28-Aug-20 4:55:38 PM LETTERS

the write-up on Egypt with great Left Rotary, but wants magazine! pictures are all very good. The MoU am Dr Veerraju Veera, a retired scientist with the HRD Ministry to make I from ISRO, now residing in Kakinada, India literate and Africa’s river Andhra Pradesh. I am a past Rotarian from restoration project under the focus RC Kakinada Central, RID 3020, and was in area of environment are milestone Rotary for 15 years. In June 2020, I left the programmes for Rotary in 2020–21, club on personal grounds. As a Rotarian, I and will redefine our future. got Rotary News regularly. Soumitra Chakraborty I am deeply interested in going through the RC Calcutta Innovation — D 3291 magazine. In recent years, it has undergone so many improvements, attaining international Print vs e-version standards by good coverage of Rotary events such as RI conventions. saw a boxed letter of K Ravindra- conferences, along with beautiful and high quality visuals of Rotary I kumar, RC Karur, batting for the leaders. The articles are duly balanced by the Editor’s views on advantages of a print version, as it different topics. All these have taken the magazine to new heights. provides reading pleasure, with an Considering the above, I have developed a fascination for Rotary assurance by the Editor that print ver- News, and wish to continue reading the magazine even though now sion is continuing. But we shall show I am only a past Rotarian. I would like to continue to subscribe to a better way to the world. the magazine. Please let me know how I can remit the subscription While it is a pleasure to hold a due as an individual subscriber, so that I may continue to enjoy the print version in hand, we have to think magazine uninterrupted. of the damage to the environment as Dr Veerraju Veera, retired ISRO scientist, Kakinada it entails felling so many trees to pro- duce newsprint. Also, waterbodies We at Rotary News are delighted to note you’d like to continue are polluted when printed ink is dis- reading the magazine even after leaving Rotary.We’ve got your solved into them. We have to ponder subscription dues and will continue sending the magazine to you. on all these issues, and remember that Editor the earth’s natural resources need to be replenished. Raising the bar I liked the most is, Work from home, Gopalakrishnan H have gone through all the seven an old norm by TCA Srinivasa RC Hosur — D 2982 I issues of Rotary News from January Raghavan in the LBW column. this year which I had not been receiv- Guru Dutt NK received the July issue on the day ing for a few months as my name had RC Dombivli East — D 3142 I GoI announced a new education gone missing from your subscribers’ policy. I wasn’t surprised to read the list. Thanks for sending the copies. t is a matter of immense satis- comment in Egypt… an awe-inspiring I was simply startled to see them! You Ifaction that we get Rotary News civilisation by Usha Kumar that she have raised the bar tremendously and on time despite the lockdown. The had learnt the ‘lacklustre’ history of converted Rotary News into a proper, new RI President Holger Knaack India while in high school. But when highly readable, national magazine. has rightly focused on opening up I read the famous book The wonder As an experienced magazine publisher opportunities. All the articles with that was India by A L Basham, an and journalist, I should know! Well- accompanying pictures are wonder- Australian author, I felt elated, though done and keep up the good work. ful as usual. history was not my subject. Atul Dev The article Withstanding adver- The author cannot be blamed for RC Indraprastha-Okhla — D 3011 sity by Sheela Nambiar (July) is her comments on Indian history. It is very helpful for balancing our the result of an ‘English’ education he July issue is very interesting. health, work and life. The coverage system imposed by the British and TOf all the articles, the one which on Covid relief camps and webinars, followed by our rulers till date which

4 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

Letters to the Editor - September 2020.indd 4 8/27/2020 4:40:00 PM LETTERS

prevents us from appreciating our We can join hands to make major great history. We have to take pride in contributions to the Foundation this India’s great culture and civilisation. year. In my RI District 3212, DGND There is nothing wrong in glorifying V R Muthu and DG P N B Murugadoss Egyptian history; but it should not be have become AKS members by each at the cost of denigrating our culture. contributing $250,000 to TRF. Let us I hope this new education system will donate now instead of waiting for the change our inferior mindset. right time. Radhesh L Bhat A Easwaramoorthy RC Cochin Midtown — D 3201 RC Tirunelveli West — D 3212

t is astonishing to read that RID he cover photo of Kamalamma in I9212 in Kenya has taken up a unique Tthe June issue, with her innocent Jones is the name river restoration project described in smile, aptly shows her joy in giving to n 2005, Carolyn Jones of Rotary-UNEP implement Africa’s society even when her funds are lim- IAlaska in the US became largest river restoration project. This ited, and she can give only `500 as her the first-ever female trustee mega project for sustainable develop- contribution in preparing fresh meals of The Rotary Foundation. ment partnering with UNEP has 74 for the needy. She is a great example In 2022, Jennifer Jones of clubs across 11 counties in Ethiopia to Rotarians whoa are striving to make Ontario, Canada, will become and Kenya as joint stakeholders. the world a better place. the first ever female president DG Joe Otin, who is also a Rotary R U Raman of Rotary International. Both Ambassador to UNEP, has done tre- RC Pon Puduppatti — D 3000 these ladies have made their mendous preparatory work since historical mark in our organisa- 2018 to take up this project aiming A true Rotarian tion. It is my sincere hope that to provide fresh water, increasing the am a former president of RC when the book about Rotary’s ecosystem along the river bank and I Madurai Next Gen and nephew of Second Century of Service is enhancing the forest area, all laudable PDG A N Muthuraman, who passed written, Jennifer Jones will not objectives. This project fits in with our away recently. As a child I accompa- be forgotten as was Carolyn seventh area of focus which is environ- nied him to Rotary meetings, when I Jones when the book about ment. Our best wishes to the project visited his home in Trichy. Thanks the first one hundred years of team of RID 9212. to him, most of his children, neph- the Rotary Foundation Doing Veeranna A Huggi ews and nieces, including me, are in Good in the World was RC Shimoga — D 3182 Rotary. He was an avid reader, and published. had a good command over the Eng- Carl-Wilhelm Let’s donate to TRF Stenhammar ongratulations to the Rotarians PRIP 2005–06 We welcome your feedback. of RC Nasik Grapecity for their C Write to the Editor: commendable work on the water pipe- [email protected]; lish language. A couple of times, my line project. The happiness it would [email protected]. letters were published in this maga- have brought to the tribal villagers is Mail your project details, zine; even before I could read them, imaginable. Keep up the good work. along with hi-res photos, to I would get a call from my uncle to Rajagopal Iyer [email protected] appreciate me. In his passing Rotary RC Coimbatore West — D 3201 has lost a member who was true to its Click on Rotary News Plus objective till the last moment. And if earnestly request Rotarians to donate in our website this letter is published, I will no longer I liberally to TRF as this will help the www.rotarynewsonline.org get a call from him. poor who need our help. Let us donate to read about more Rotary projects. A Ganesh, RC Madurai as much as we can and at the earliest. Next Gen — D 3000

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 5

Letters to the Editor - September 2020.indd 5 8/27/2020 4:40:01 PM President Speaks

A Rotaractor evolves into Rotarian

has accompanied me everywhere, starting with the Trier club and then on to a club in Bologna, Dear Rotarians, Rotaractors, and friends, Italy, during the year I studied there. When I was in Kiel for my master’s degree, I got involved otary Youth Exchange — one of the many with Rotaract there before landing at the Rotaract programmes for youth and young adults that Club of Hamburg-Alstertal as I began my career. Rwe celebrate this month — was my path into Each of those clubs has its own identity and focus, true engagement in Rotary. My wife, Susanne, and but all have the same intrinsic motivation. I began hosting exchange students soon after I am now taking on a senior advisory role in my I joined, and the experience helped me go from Rotaract club, which I really enjoy. I carry Rotaract simply being a member of my Rotary club to being in my heart, and it shapes my values, even as my a true Rotarian. Now Rotary Youth Exchange is a interests evolve. One day, as if she had sensed this family tradition, and a strong one: Over the past evolution, Susanne knocked on my door, wanting 24 years, we have hosted 43 students! to introduce me to a young, modern Rotary club From the start, we loved it so much that, in located between Hamburg and Mölln, my home- addition to hosting students in our home, we town. The E-Club of Hamburg-Connect, which Christine became involved with the programme by helping to Susanne helped charter, holds e-meetings, all of Lichtin organise student summer camps. During one such them very relaxed and personal. With members Rotaract Club of camp, I met Christine Lichtin, who was a German of different ages, everything just seemed to fit, Hamburg- Alstertal, high school student at the time and whose father is so I thought, why not try it out? After all, time is Rotary E-Club a past president of my Rotary club. To try some- precious and should be filled with fun whenever of Hamburg- thing new during this year of embracing change, possible; the rest happens by itself. Connect I am turning this space, normally reserved for the Now I am in both worlds — a proud mem- president of Rotary, over to Christine so she can ber of Rotaract and a Rotarian. And my small share her story. personal goal is to build a bridge between these My first contact with Rotaract was about 13 two parallel worlds. All of us have very similar years ago, when I was with Susanne and Holger reasons for being part of the Rotary family. at a barbecue for the summer youth camp. Holger It took some persistence to persuade Chris- turned to me and said: “Why don’t you visit a tine to become a member of Rotary, but it was Rotaract club? You’ll meet a lot of great young well worth the effort. It is our duty to put in this people who come together to have fun and to make kind of effort with youth programme participants a difference.” and Rotaractors so we can keep them in the fam- A few years later, when I was at Trier ily of Rotary. I hope you were inspired by her University, his words came back to me and story. It’s up to each of us to ensure that more I decided to give it a try. That was more than eight young people like Christine can experience the years ago, and I’m still at it. Once you are in many ways Rotary Opens Opportunities for us Rotaract, you just don’t want to get out. Rotaract and for the people we serve.

Holger Knaack President, Rotary International 6 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

President Message - September 2020.indd 6 8/27/2020 1:39:05 PM A woman RI president, at long last

inally we have the answer to the question being asked Board, but still have to go grocery shopping, clean my Ffor a decade now. When will Rotary International see house, buy the birthday and Christmas presents and the a woman president? Well, the nominating committee thank you cards!” answered that one by choosing Jennifer Jones for that Well, that says it all, doesn’t it? magic position in 2022–23. Not only the women mem- While Jennifer has her challenges cut out for her role bers in the Rotary world — upward of 20 per cent, but at the helm of RI in a post-Covid world, let’s turn to the all Rotarians who stand by gender equity, have erupted present, where this pandemic has hit business and industry, into one big celebration. But we have to remember that and taken away tens of thousands of jobs in India. For Jennifer has been chosen for that post not because she millions, getting a single nutritious meal a day, forget two, is a woman, or to tick off a box, but because she has the has become a challenge. We have witnessed the abject capability, the energy, enthusiasm and vision, and above misery and starvation of migrant workers, who were forced all, the leadership qualities so essential to lead this unique to walk back home amidst the lockdown, and also noted conglomeration of 1.2 million people of such amazing with pride Rotary clubs across our zones come forward to diversity across the world. feed the hungry… migrants, daily wagers, homeless and In an interview she gave me in Evanston in 2016 as other underprivileged. RI director, Jennifer said as much. On few leadership In this scenario, just imagine the plight of voluntary positions for women in Rotary, she had said, “we’ve only organisations that depend on the generosity of the com- been in Rotary long enough to achieve being at the Board munity, particularly corporates, big and small. As stated in table.” It had taken a while because women had to first this month’s cover story, most of these organisations today become club presidents, then DGs, prove their worth serve their inmates — orphan or disabled children, elderly, through hard work in committees, etc, to then become destitute women, etc — just rice and sambar or rice and RI directors. “And now we can see women sitting in the dhal, for lack of funds. In this scenario, a Rotarian — Hari Board not because we are women, but because we’re Kishan Valmiki — from the Rotary Club of Secunderabad qualified Rotarians.” is focusing his energy on setting up and multiplying egg So what do women leaders bring to the Rotary table? banks across India and other parts of the Rotary world. Again, let me quote Jennifer, who had stressed on the These banks help reach eggs, procured directly from poul- “nurturing” and multitasking abilities of women. “Women try farmers at a subsidised cost, to NGOs to be given daily do raise their families, constantly take care of all the needs, to their inmates in order to boost their nutrition levels, and whether of parents or children.” Many men do the same, hopefully their immunity levels as well. she had added, but women had to strike an interesting It is such passion and generosity that keeps the life balance. “I run a business, act as a director on the RI world going…

Rasheeda Bhagat

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 7

P_Editors Note _Sep2020.indd 7 8/28/2020 6:39:28 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 f you want one year of prosperity, grow seeds, RI Dist 3053 DG Harish Kumar Gaur Iif you want 10 years of prosperity, grow trees, RI Dist 3054 DG Rajesh Agarwal if you want 100 years of prosperity, grow people,’ RI Dist 3060 DG Prashant Harivallabh Jani goes an old proverb. That is our Rotary opportu- RI Dist 3070 DG CA Davinder Singh nity to grow Rotary by growing leadership and RI Dist 3080 DG Ramesh Bajaj RI Dist 3090 DG Vijay Arora leaders in Rotary. This pandemic has opened RI Dist 3100 DG Manish Sharda doors of opportunities that we never imagined RI Dist 3110 DG Dinesh Chandra Shukla before. As it unfolds with increasing numbers, our leadership is put to test. RI Dist 3120 DG Karunesh Kumar Srivastava I am happy to note that our governors have risen to the occasion with positivity RI Dist 3131 DG Rashmi Vinay Kulkarni and conviction, and reached out with a helping hand in a hundred ways — by RI Dist 3132 DG Harish Motwani setting up dedicated Covid care centres, plasma banks, focusing on cervical RI Dist 3141 DG Sunnil Mehra cancer vaccination, myriad other service projects and moving forward with full RI Dist 3142 DG Dr Sandeep Kadam RI Dist 3150 DG Nalla Venkata Hanmanth Reddy force for Project Positive Health — a project to stop NCDs, which is vital for RI Dist 3160 DG B Chinnapa Reddy our communities as shown by the pandemic. They have proved the fact that RI Dist 3170 DG Sangram Vishnu Patil ‘kites rise against, not with, the wind’. Challenges have made us stronger, more RI Dist 3181 DG M Ranganath Bhat committed, relevant and effective. RI Dist 3182 DG B Rajarama Bhat As Rotarians, we would do well to remember that we have to do our best, RI Dist 3190 DG B L Nagendra Prasad focus on excellence and not be content with mediocrity. Excellence comes from RI Dist 3201 DG Jose Chacko Madhavassery inside. It’s an attitude. Aim to be the best, not because someone tells you to, RI Dist 3202 DG Dr Hari Krishnan Nambiar RI Dist 3211 DG Dr Thomas Vavanikunnel but because you want to be the best. When you choose the path of excellence, RI Dist 3212 DG P N B Murugadoss you will bring to it your best and in return you will receive the best. The best RI Dist 3231 DG K Pandian leaders are servant leaders. They care about serving. Mahatma Gandhi said RI Dist 3232 DG S Muthupalaniappan it so well: “No matter how insignificant the thing you have to do, do it as well RI Dist 3240 DG Subhasish Chatterjee as you can, give it as much of your care and attention as you would give to the RI Dist 3250 DG Rajan Gandotra thing you regard as most important. For it will be by those small things that RI Dist 3261 DG Fakir Charan Mohanty you shall be judged.” There are no small jobs. Each project, each activity is RI Dist 3262 DG Saumya Rajan Mishra RI Dist 3291 DG Sudip Mukherjee important and needed. September is Basic Education and Literacy month. Helping someone to read and write effectively or acquire basic math skills we all take for granted, Printed by P T Prabhakar at Rasi Graphics Pvt Ltd, improves the future of everyone in society. Literacy is key to making our world 40, Peters Road, Royapettah, Chennai - 600 014, more sustainable, peaceful and secure. Education has the power to transform India, and published by P T Prabhakar on behalf people’s lives. Parents from even the poorest families long to give basic edu- of Rotary News Trust from Dugar Towers, 3rd Flr, 34, Marshalls Road, Egmore, Chennai 600 008. cation to their children, so that they do not have to face the terrible handicaps Editor: Rasheeda Bhagat. their parents had faced. Who can do it? It is you and I — we as Rotarians who can do it. Our work is more critical than ever as the pandemic keeps millions

The views expressed by contributors are not out of school who have no access to virtual classrooms. necessarily those of the Editor or Trustees of The pen is truly mightier than the sword. As Rotarians we must ensure that Rotary News Trust (RNT) or Rotary International more of our children are able to hold and wield the pen. That is our Rotary (RI). No liability can be accepted for any loss opportunity. Let’s do it. 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 SEPTEMBER 2020

P_RI Direstors Message_Trustees list_September2020.indd 8 28-Aug-20 6:36:19 PM Board of Permanent Trustees & RI Directors Executive Committee PRIP Rajendra K Saboo RI Dist 3080 PRIP Kalyan Banerjee RI Dist 3060 Rotary promotes literacy RIPE Shekhar Mehta RI Dist 3291 PRID Panduranga Setty RI Dist 3190 PRID Sushil Gupta RI Dist 3011 “If we talk about literacy, we have to talk about how to PRID Ashok Mahajan RI Dist 3141 enhance our children’s mastery over the tools needed PRID Yash Pal Das RI Dist 3080 to live intelligent, creative and involved lives.” PRID P T Prabhakar RI Dist 3232 - Danny Glover PRID Dr Manoj D Desai RI Dist 3060 PRID C Basker RI Dist 3000 Worldwide, 67 million children have no access to TRF Trustee Gulam A Vahanvaty RI Dist 3141 education, and over 775 million people over 15 are RID Dr Bharat Pandya RI Dist 3141 illiterate. I am glad that our members support educational projects. Our goal is to RID Kamal Sanghvi RI Dist 3250 strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, RIDE A S Venkatesh RI Dist 3232 reduce gender disparity and increase adult literacy. Education for girls Executive Committee Members (2020–21) If you want to empower societies, reduce poverty, improve basic hygiene and DG Sanjiv Rai Mehra RI Dist 3011 healthcare and fight high infant and maternal mortality rates, the answer is to Chair – Governors Council educate girls. The old adage holds good: if you educate a man, you educate only DG Sudip Mukherjee RI Dist 3291 one individual, but if you educate a woman, the entire family gets educated. Secretary – Governors Council RILM: TEACH DG Sangram Vishnu Patil RI Dist 3170 Secretary – Executive Committee Rotary in India through the Rotary India Literacy Mission has embarked upon a mission to achieve total literacy and quality education through T-E-A-C-H: DG Prashant Harivallabh Jani RI Dist 3060 T – Teacher support; E – E-learning; A – Adult literacy; C – Child Treasurer – Executive Committee development; H – Happy school DG S Muthupalaniappan RI Dist 3232 These programmes are inter-linked in objective and content, resulting in Member – Advisory Committee improved learning outcome. Asha Kiran ROTARY NEWS / Let each Rotarian pledge to send out-of-school children back to schools under ROTARY SAMACHAR the Asha Kiran programme through which children who have never been enrolled Editor in school, dropped out or were irregular to school, or have lagged behind, are Rasheeda Bhagat mainstreamed/regularised ensuring their retention in schools after the required brushing up. This will help them access mainstream state-funded schools. Sending Senior Assistant Editor a child back to school costs `2,500 for a year. Jaishree Padmanabhan E-learning – NCERT The pandemic has challenged the way children study and learn. Rotary in India ROTARY NEWS / quickly recognised this and is now on the path to creating history. This month ROTARY SAMACHAR RILM, partnering with NCERT, will launch the biggest e-learning programme which will be beamed over 12 television channels, benefitting over 15 crore ROTARY NEWS TRUST children and enabling them to pursue their education from their homes. This 3rd Floor, Dugar Towers, e-learning programme is powered by RILM. 34 Marshalls Road, Egmore Remember what Malala Yousafzai said, “One child, one teacher, one book, Chennai 600 008, India. one pen can change the world.” 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.

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 9

P_RI Direstors Message_Trustees list_September2020.indd 9 28-Aug-20 6:36:20 PM Reaching eggs to the nutritionally deficient

Rasheeda Bhagat

f a Rotarian from the Rotary Club of Secunderabad, RI District 3150, Hari Kishan Today, thanks to the Covid pandemic, many IValmiki, is passionate about NGOs are able to serve only rice and sambar to reaching nutrient-packed eggs to their inmates, food so low on nutrition. orphanages, old age homes and other voluntary organisations for destitute, the reason dates back some 70-odd years and is tied to a gripping human-interest story. But before telling that story, let’s have it on record that this Rotarian has in the last three years been instrumental in his own family charity and other NGOs, inspired or guided by it, distributing five lakh eggs to children in orphanages, homes for disabled children, senior citizens living in old age homes, etc. His streak of charity, associated with nutrition and how it can wreck a childhood, is directly linked to his family history. “My father grew up in an orphanage; when he was four years old, his stepmother abandoned him in a crowded place. As a child beggar he survived for two years till a kind English police officer found him, put him

10 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

P_Reaching eggs to the nutritionally deficient_2.indd 10 8/30/2020 7:48:17 PM in an orphanage, and paid for his education,” says Valmiki.

The child went on to become a medical doctor, worked as one for 10 years, before joining the civil services. Later an IAS was conferred on him and he retired as an IAS officer in 2003. His name is Dr Venkata Ramanappa. Because he had grown up in an orphanage, “the father of the girl, the richest in the area and to whom he was teaching English, and fell in love

with, refused to give his daughter in immunity. “I was horrified to note marriage.” that I could not find a single donor to Anyway, they defied the father, sponsor the eggs for our orphanage. got married and had seven children. I could not even find a way to buy “As children we always heard our eggs at a subsidy. Then I started father say there is no need for us to wondering that if I am facing such become multimillionaires; if we are a huge problem in finding funds, able to get three meals without any what about the numerous NGOs in difficulty, the fourth meal should be the twin cities of Hyderabad and shared with somebody less fortunate Secunderabad,” says Valmiki. in our community.” When after approaching many That seed of charity sowed in big names in the poultry industry, he Valmiki stayed with him and led drew a blank, he decided to approach to his establishing the Valmiki Rotarians through his club and found Foundation in 2003, and later the favour at last, and Rotary became a Egg Bank with the motto: One egg, partner in this venture. One child, One smile. Soon an egg bank was installed at His Foundation runs Valmiki the Home for Disabled at Bansilalpet, Hriday, an orphanage that takes care Secunderabad, which has 350 inmates. of 45 children. The idea to set up such RC Secunderabad donated 3,500 eggs, an egg bank came to him when in with a promise to continue this project Hari Kishan Valmiki (extreme R), 2017 he could barely find any support in a sustainable fashion so that every member of RC Secunderabad, or funding to buy eggs at a subsidised inmate gets an egg daily. “Now our with children at the Valmiki cost to give these children, both to DG, RID 3150, Hanmanth Reddy, has Foundation. improve their nutrition and boost taken to heart this initiative and

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 11

P_Reaching eggs to the nutritionally deficient_2.indd 11 8/30/2020 7:48:17 PM Hari Kishan Valmiki with children in an orphanage in Naivasha, Kenya.

I am confident that of the 88 clubs in story. Initially he and his brother the founder president of the our district, many will promote such donated money to orphanages and Valmiki Foundation “who gave egg banks,” he says. other NGOs in consonance with me a platform to do experiments the family credo of giving back to benefit not only the 45 kids in to society. “But we found that our orphanage but so many other this money was often used for the children, elderly people and children personal expenses of people who with special needs.” Interestingly, Valmiki’s ran those NGOs. So my brother association with Rotary dates back and I took the bold decision of to 1989, when he was a young child. setting up our own NGO in 2003. “My father had made me join Scouts By that time my father too had and I had won a medal when I was retired, and needed something to This Rotarian has been associated seven. I was supposed to receive the do with his time.” with the travel and tourism industry, medal from the then President of Incidentally the first child they starting his career as cabin crew India R Venkataraman. But we were admitted went on to graduate in with Jet Airways, and working with seven siblings and in those days my Sociology and got a gold medal. other airlines before starting his own father didn’t have the money to pay But because he had grown up in tourism business. And his profession for my travel to Delhi. At that time a an orphanage, the father of the girl has also helped him to set up egg Rotarian came forward to pay for my he wanted to marry refused to give banks in Mexico, an island in the train ticket to Delhi. So I was always his daughter to him. Valmiki’s Caribbean Sea, Thailand and Nepal. grateful to Rotary which was at the family intervened and got the two “I was also instrumental in back of my mind and this gesture married. “Today both of them taking 500 orphan kids through led to my eventually joining RC are administering our charitable a project called Wings of Hope, a Secunderabad,” smiles Valmiki. activities,” he adds. kind of joy ride on an airplane, with How they set up their family He has special thanks to offer help from Trujet Airlines.” The Foundation is another interesting his brother Surya Ganesh Valmiki, children were taken from Hyderabad

12 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

P_Reaching eggs to the nutritionally deficient_2.indd 12 8/30/2020 7:48:18 PM I am confident that this initiative to set up egg banks will grow Malnourishment much bigger than the Rice Bucket Challenge, if we promote this conceptpt a huge concern and make it viral on social media. henheen iti ccomesommees ttoo mmalnourishment, the news Wfor IndiansInndianns doesddoe not bring cheer. In the lalatesttest oorr 20201919 rreportepe oorrt oof the Global Hunger Index ((G(GHI),HII)), IndiaIndndia is rankedrraankkede ata No 102 of 117 countries, behind itsitst poorerpooorer neighboursneeiggh Nepal, Pakistan and BBangladesh.angladeshh. OvOOverer thethee years,yeears, as wewe have marched towards the aasaspiredpired statusstatuuss ofof a “developed““devvele country”, our nutrition sstatustatus hashaas onlyonnlly goneggonee downhill.dooww In 2000, we ranked 83 ououtut ooff 111313 ccountries.oouuntriiees. NNow, that number has fallen ttoo 102.1022. It isis smallsmmall comfortcommf that in 2018, India was rarankednnked 11030033 ooutut ooff 1111919 countries. SeSeventeenevveennteen countries,counntr including Belarus, UUkUkraine,raine, TTurkey,urkkey Cuba and Kuwait, shsharedaredd thethe ttopoop rranka in the 2019 index, wiwithth a sscorecoorre ooff less than five.

to Vizianagaram, and once again 66 countries, and he has been it was Rotary that came to his aid, instrumental in setting up an egg when during one such trip the bank in a home for senior citizens sponsoring hotel pulled out at the in Cozumel Island in the Caribbean. last minute saying it could not give Later another egg bank was set accommodation to the children as up in Cancun, the popular holiday they had suddenly got a bulk booking. destination in Mexico. “But RC Vizianagaram came to my rescue; with just one day’s notice they organised accommodation for the children at the Jindal Steel guest house and ensured they had a good time,” Bang in the midst of corona says Valmiki. pandemic, Valmiki has been His profession in travel and instrumental in the starting of an egg hospitality has taken him to bank, the first in the country, in Nepal

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 13

P_Reaching eggs to the nutritionally deficient_2.indd 13 8/30/2020 7:48:19 PM on August 10. On Aug 15, India’s Independence Day, he organised a India’s egg/poultry virtual meet, in which Rotarians from seven countries participated. At this consumption very low meeting the logo of the egg bank was unveiled by popular badminton coach Pullela Gopichand, and an Indian emember the jingle Sunday ho ya Monday, Roz khao postage stamp with the egg bank logo ande? At a national workshop held last August to launched by Rotary India’s iconic Rdeliberate on the strategies to augment the potential donor Ravishankar Dakoju from RC and opportunities of exporting eggs and poultry meat, experts Bangalore Orchards. The meet was said that against the ICMR recommendation of per capita attended by DGs N V Hanmanth consumption of 10.5kg of poultry meat and 180 eggs a year, Reddy (3150), Kit Bing Wong Ho Indians consume only 30 eggs and 3.5kg of poultry meat a year. (4195, Mexico) and Rajib Pokhrel The world average is around the ICMR recommendation but (3292, Nepal). India fares much lower. Of course, our low rate of consumption “Through our Rotary News of this nutritious food is related to lower purchasing power as magazine, I am appealing to all Rotary well as religious and cultural practices or vegetarianism. clubs in India and overseas to come But there is a chunk of our population, not vegetarian by forward to adopt at least two to four religion or choice, which is nutritionally deprived, mainly due NGOs in their area, and donate eggs to to lack of financial resources to consume food packed with them on a daily basis.” He points out protein and other nutrients. “An egg a day is the simple answer that as our economy has slowed down for children growing up in orphanages or living on streets, the and businesses have been impacted, elderly who are confined to old age homes, and other vulnerable “I know for sure that many NGOs sections which face hunger and poverty,” says Hari Kishan running orphanages, old age homes Valmiki, a member of RC Secunderabad. and other facilities for destitute are While India is reportedly the now serving only rice and sambar to third largest producer of eggs in the their inmates (must be dhal in North world and fourth largest of poultry India).” Not only will this poor diet meat, our own consumption impact their nutritional levels, it will rate is low and the NECC, with also reduce their immunity at a time a membership of over 25,000 the deadly coronavirus is posing such farmers, has played a significant a threat to the entire world, he adds. role in the last two decades for Valmiki recommends that Rotary the growth of the poultry industry clubs collect money and procure eggs and egg consumption. This directly from poultry farmers with it does through various support from the NECC (National programmes such as market intervention, price support operations, egg promotion campaigns, consumer Once we have a foolproof project — education, market research, how to procure the eggs, at what rural market development and liaison with the price, how to transport them, etc — government. I will promote this project in our zones.

Rtn Ravishankar Dakoju, Ravishankar Dakoju member of RC Bangalore RC Bangalore Orchards Orchards, RID 3190.

14 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

P_Reaching eggs to the nutritionally deficient_2.indd 14 8/30/2020 7:48:19 PM Launch of egg bank at Lalitpur, Nepal.

Eggs Coordination Committee). `10,000–20,000 a month for this Ravishankar Dakoju, who He recalls how after seeing his worthy cause which will improve released the postage stamp, recalled campaign on social media to give the nutritional and immunity how RI Director Dr Bharat Pandya, eggs to orphans, elderly and other levels of vulnerable people in our “a genuine, practising doctor, says undernourished people, the NECC had population. Many Rotarians, he every time he speaks ‘Ek chamach contacted him and put him in touch says, have expressed interest in kum, char kadam aage.’ But I directly with poultry farmers. The the egg bank project. “Whoever would revise or tweak that mantra, result is that he is able to knock off 80 is interested can contact me particularly at a time when immunity paise from the price of each egg, and ([email protected]; is so important. Before char kadam buy them in bulk at the rate of `3.15 M: 8688234560) and I will guide aage, I would add ek anda (one egg), a piece. them how to go about setting because to walk, or do exercise of He points out that the Telangana up an egg bank, getting eggs any kind, you need proper nutrition government is providing eggs to some directly from poultry farmers at a and energy.” 135 registered NGOs in the state, subsidised cost, etc.” He told Rotary News that he and also giving two eggs a week to Heartened by the initial response would support this programme and schoolchildren. “I know many NGOs that he has seen, this Rotarian promote it at a national level. “But are giving one egg a month to each is confident that the Rotary egg before that I want to assure myself child in their orphanages, or they have banks, with the objective to provide that we have a foolproof project; to wait for donors to offer birthday or critical nutrition to undernourished how to procure the eggs, at what anniversary celebration special meals people, “will grow much bigger than price, how to transport them and with eggs. But I feel all this is not the Rice Bucket Challenge, if we then choose the right beneficiaries. If enough; we need to give one egg daily promote this concept and make it we can have all this included in the to children and the elderly, and I am viral on social media.” project, and there are no loose ends, telling Rotarians who are interested Add to this the good response it would be a worthwhile project for in setting up egg banks that it is he had at the virtual meeting held Rotary to take up at not only national important not to break this chain — of on Aug 15. While unveiling the egg level, but in our entire zones — daily availability of eggs to the NGOs bank logo, Gopichand stressed on Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal.” you are supporting.” the importance of health and fitness, After all, he adds, it should particularly during a pandemic such Designed by not be difficult for clubs to spend as the one we are facing now. Krishnapratheesh

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 15

P_Reaching eggs to the nutritionally deficient_2.indd 15 8/30/2020 7:48:20 PM Sushil Gupta conferred Rotary Award of Honor Team Rotary News

PRIP Rajendra Saboo, PRID Sushil Gupta and PRIP Mark Maloney (Flie photo).

RID Sushil Gupta of Directors has approved my entire Rotary world recognised has been conferred recommendation.” your service to and through the Rotary Award Congratulating him on behalf Rotary with your nomination of Honor by Rotary of the RI Board, Maloney said, to serve as President of Rotary International by the “Through your dedication and International.” PRI Board of Directors, 2019–20, tireless efforts, Rotary is a force The Rotary Award of Honor headed by President Mark for doing good in the world. You is Rotary’s highest and most Maloney. have dedicated your life to Rotary respected recognition. The award In a letter sent to Gupta, since 1977. In those 43 years, was established by RI in 1990 Maloney said: “I am very pleased you have served Rotary in many to be given to heads of state and to inform you that you have been important positions including other dignitaries who have made selected to receive the Rotary as a member of the Rotary a significant contribution to Award of Honor in recognition of International Board of Directors international understanding and your long and successful service and as a Trustee of The Rotary goodwill. Recent recipients of to Rotary. It is my honor and Foundation. I find particularly the award include His Holiness privilege to have recommended noteworthy your work to meet Pope Francis, Pranab Mukherjee, you for this recognition, and the target challenge of Water then President of India, Queen the Rotary International Board and Sanitation in Schools. The Elizabeth II, and Bill Gates, Jr. „

1616 ROTARYROTARY NEWSNEWS SEPTEMBERSEPTEMBER 20202020

P_PRID Sushil Gupta conferred Rotary Award of Honor.indd 16 28-Aug-20 6:36:35 PM Jennifer Jones makes history through QRPLQDWLRQDV¿UVWZRPDQ5,SUHVLGHQW

ennifer E Jones, a mem- “I will champion double-digit growth aims to raise $150 million for ber of the Rotary Club of in both categories while never losing polio eradication efforts. Windsor-Roseland, Ontario, sight of our entire family.” Jennifer recently led the success- JCanada, has been nominated Jennifer is founder and president ful #RotaryResponds telethon, which Rotary International’s president for of Media Street Productions Inc, an raised critical funds for Covid-19 2022–23, a groundbreaking selection award-winning media company in relief and was viewed by more than that will make her the first woman to Windsor. She was chair of the board 65,000. She has also received Rotary hold that office in the organisation’s of governors of the University of International’s Service Above Self 115-year history. Windsor and chair of the Windsor- Award and The Rotary Foundation She will officially become pres- Essex Regional Chamber of Com- Citation for Meritorious Service. She ident-nominee on October 1 if no merce. She has been recognised and her husband, Nick Krayacich, other candidates challenge her. for her service with the YMCA are members of The Jennifer says she sees Rotary’s Peace Medallion, the Queen’s Rotary Foundation’s Action Plan as a catalyst for increas- Diamond Jubilee Medal Arch Klumph Soci- ing Rotary’s impact. and Wayne State Univer- ety, Paul Harris “As we reflect upon our new sity’s Peacemaker of the Society and the strategic priorities, we could have Year Award, a first for a Bequest Society. never envisioned that our ability to Canadian. She holds a adapt would become our North Star Doctor of Laws (LLD). © Rotary.org during what is inarguably the most A current Rotary Foun- profound time in recent history,” dation trustee, Jennifer has she said in her vision statement. been a Rotary member since “Silver linings rise out of the most 1997 and has served Rotary as challenging circumstances. Using RI vice-president, direc- metric-driven goals, I will harness tor, training leader, this historic landscape to innovate, committee chair, educate and communicate opportuni- moderator and ties that reflect today’s reality.” district governor. As the first woman to be She played a lead nominated RI president, Jennifer role in Rotary’s understands how important it is to rebranding effort by follow through on Rotary’s Diver- serving as chair of sity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) the Strengthening Statement. “I believe that diversity, Rotary’s Advisory equity and inclusion … begins at Group. She is the the top and for us to realise growth co-chair of the in female membership and mem- End Polio Now bers under the age of 40 — these Countdown to demographics need to see their own History Campaign reflection in leadership,” she said. Committee which

K_Jennifer Jones makes history through nomination as first woman RI president .indd 17 28-Aug-20 4:55:38 PM When the mouse roared

Jaishree

he mouse that roared” Jennifer Jones becomes RI presi- Evanston and gave a report. RI was how RC Duarte, dent in 2022. We have waited for informed the club president that a small club in then that for a long time, not because it did not want women in Rotary RID 530, California, Jennifer is a woman, but because and the club’s charter will be USA, was described she is a capable woman.” revoked for violating the bylaws. Tby its District Governor as it Filled with facts and anec- “But our members, instead of ask- appealed to the US Supreme Court dotes, Sylvia shared a fascinat- ing us to leave, renamed the club to admit women in Rotary follow- ing glimpse into the journey as ‘Ex-Rotary Club of Duarte’ and ing a relentless 11-year battle. of the Duarte club. In 1976 the the name stayed for 11 years.” “Women have literally club had invited four women — The club continued on its quest changed the face of Rotary; it is Donna Nogart, Mary Lou Elliott, for humanitarian service but was much prettier now,” said PDG Rosemary Freitag and Sylvia — not involved in international Sylvia Whitlock, RI’s first woman as members in an effort to bolster activities. club president, at the zoom meet its sagging roster. “Initially we “Interestingly Duarte was not organised by RID 3232. Indus- were registered with our initials the first club that wanted women trialist Rajshree Pathy, member and not our real names because in Rotary. Years ago, a club from of RC Coimbatore Texcity and Rotary had a longstanding policy India (RC Ahmedabad) had sug- daughter of PDG G Varadaraj was that Rotarians shall be ‘men of gested this at the CoL in Detroit. the guest of honour. good character’,” she said. But nothing happened then,” she Referring to the event’s title — The next year, on its 25th anni- said. The Duarte club filed a suit Edge of tomorrow — borrowed versary, RI representatives visited against Rotary in California, but from the Tom Cruise movie, the club and saw the women lost the case. “The ruling said that Sylvia said, “I always use this members. After they returned to Rotary has the right to choose its phrase because tomorrow keeps changing. The tomorrow that I am really looking forward to is when PDG Sylvia Whitlock and RIPN Jennifer Jones.

Women should not be treated as window dressers. They should be given responsible positions and they will perform as well as men.

PDG Sylvia Whitlock

18 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

K_When the mouse roared.indd 18 8/30/2020 7:57:36 PM members. We sat up and under- chooses. “The evidence in this stood that this was not going to be case indicates that the relationship some slam dunk that we thought among Rotary club members is it to be.” not the kind of intimate or private Initially we were registered with The case was then taken relations that warrants constitu- our initials and not our real names up at the California Appellate tional protection,” he pointed out. Court where the club alleged that The news hit the headlines because Rotary had a longstanding Rotary’s all-male policy violated and the next morning while policy that Rotarians shall be ‘men the State’s Unruh Act, forbidding Sylvia, a school principal, was gender discrimination in public nearing her school, was inter- of good character’. establishments. It won the case. viewed by a CBS newscaster. To PDG Sylvia Whitlock But the ruling was limited to a question on how she was chosen Rotary clubs within California. club president, she blurted out, That year Sylvia attended “I don’t know. I must have missed PETS as president-elect of her a meeting.” And that became the club. “It was 290 men and one headline on television. “A dumb She recalled a conversation woman,” she laughed. The men reply. I still regret that,” she with a Rotarian and his wife on were all cordial and the DG laughed. her way to the Calgary convention suggested appealing to the US There were many ques- which happened after a CoL where Supreme Court. tions after that including one on the club’s appeal to admit women On May 4, 1987, the Supreme whether the food was any better in Rotary was turned down. The Court pronounced its historic now that women are in Rotary! Rotarian, identifying her club from verdict favouring women’s admis- “I explained that we weren’t the CoL, said that he had voted sion into Rotary.y Justice Lewis cooking.” for women’s membership at the Powell dismissed RI’s arguments For 11 years they continued Tokyo convention. “His wife was tthathat itit hashas a constitutionalconstitutional rightright the battle. Directors changed opposed to it and when asked why, to excexcludelude women membersmembers if itit in RI; but each group of direc- she said, “because we have men tors supported the exclusion of going out for meetings at night and women. “And I always thought we don’t want women there.” what kind of a world they I tried to clarify: ‘This is not a were showing to their social club; it is a service club.’ daughters,” she smiled. But she didn’t seem to care.” Although the club won the case, the women were not given a warm welcome into Rotary. In 1989, PRIP Frank Devlyn gave a passionate speech at the CoL and the representatives voted to accept women in Rotary. But it took 17 years after that, for The Rotarian to publish an article about women in Rotary, Sylvia said. At the 2017 convention, RI introduced the Sylvia Whitlock Leadership Award to recognise Rotarians contributing to the suc- cess of women in Rotary. Sylvia was the first recipient and last year RIPN Jennifer was conferred the award. “It is not just for women

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 19

K_When the mouse roared.indd 19 8/30/2020 7:57:36 PM :HPXVWPDNH5RWDU\D¿UHSODFH meeting where there is more

camaraderie and inclusivity.

Rajshree Pathy Past president RC Coimbatore Texcity, RID 3201

but for anyone who they have started to advances the cause of outperform on every women in Rotary,” platform. Addressing she said. the meet DG Muthu- Asking a question, palaniappan said this daughters. “And even our on picnics. Sadly I see PDG Rekha Shetty, the year RID 3232 has a pet dog is a female”, he Rotary has become more first and only woman gov- good number of women said amidst laughter. business-like and families ernor of RID 3232, asked Rotarians at the helm. Of PDG S Krishnaswamy are not participating as if gender disparity was the seven areas of focus, moderated the session much as they used to. We the cause for the slow rise four are led by women, with Rajshree, recalling must make Rotary a fire- in women membership. and several women chair his association with her place meeting where there “Women should not be district committees this late father, PDG is more camaraderie and treated as window dress- year, he said. The gov- G Varadaraj. “A strong inclusivity.” ers. They should be given ernor added in a lighter woman can transform a B Dakshayini, district responsible positions and vein that women played home, a community and director, International they will perform as well “a very important part a nation,” said Rajshree Service, said that global as men,” said Sylvia. in my life”, and he was in her interaction at the membership of women is Women in Rotary greatly influenced by all meet. As charter presi- 22 per cent and that PRID have come to stay and of them… his wife, two dent of RC Coimbatore Anne L Mathew was Texcity in 1990, “I the first woman RI vice ensured that we had 50 president in 2013. Rota- per cent women mem- ry’s original motto: ‘He bers in our club. But profits most who serves today the club has just best’ was modified in the four women Rotarians,” 2004 CoL as ‘They profit she observed, regretting most who serve best’, and that her business com- again in the 2010 CoL the mitments had hampered ‘They’ was replaced with her from her active ‘One’. involvement in Rotary. Ganesh Suppiah of RC Making a passionate plea Chennai Coromandel gave for involving the entire details about the district’s family in Rotary events, signature project — she said, “During my Project Orange — to father’s days, Rotary address avoidable was more a family affair. blindness by establishing Rajshree Pathy, chairperson and managing We knew children of vision centres across the director, Rajshree group of companies. other Rotarians and went district. „

20 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

K_When the mouse roared.indd 20 8/30/2020 7:57:36 PM Message from TRF Trustee Chair Convention Countdown Peace is a choice Pauses that refresh we can make every day Hank Sartin n late 1914, Europe was divided by hundreds of Imiles of trenches. British and French forces on one side were within shouting distance of German troops on the other. The Pope made a plea for a Christmas truce, but the shooting continued. Then, on Christmas Eve, soldiers from behind British lines heard an unexpected sound — not gun- fire, but singing. Next, they heard a single voice shout out, “English soldiers, merry Christmas!” followed by “English soldiers, come out to join us!” Both sides cautiously emerged over the parapet into the no man’s land hen you’re in Taipei for the Rotary Inter- between the trenches. Before long, the soldiers realised that it was a real Wnational Convention, June 12–16, you’ll truce. They fraternised, singing Christmas carols, exchanging souvenirs find that the energy of the city never wanes. and whiskey, and even taking up a friendly soccer match. But should you need to reenergise, step out and The ceasefire continued only two days before the troops returned explore two of Taipei’s best ways to enjoy a to their trenches, resuming bloodshed for nearly four long years. But break: bubble tea and coffee. the story of the Christmas truce reminds us that peace is possible, if we Taiwan is known as the birthplace of bubble choose to accept it. If peace can last a few days, could it not also last tea (also known as boba), that delicious con- months or years? And how do we prevent conflict in the first place? coction of milk, tea and flavourful “pearls” — In his Nobel Peace Prize lecture in 1964, American civil rights leader tapioca balls — that fit through an extra-large Martin Luther King Jr said, “We must concentrate not merely on the straw. Put them together and you have a sweet negative expulsion of war, but on the positive affirmation of peace.” treat with a fun element of slurping up those With Positive Peace, our society’s structures, policies, and everyday chewy pearls. Bubble tea shops around Taipei attitudes and actions promote justice at all levels, sustaining a peaceful offer a variety of flavours, with many creating coexistence. It’s an answer to the calls for justice and peace we have heard their own variations, so it’s worth stopping at on the streets in protests from Minneapolis to Paris this year. more than one. Positive Peace, studied at our Rotary Peace Centers around the world, Taipei’s coffee scene is equally vibrant. One is not just an academic idea for the Rotary Peace Fellows. Through Rota- of the pioneers in the coffee boom is Jie-He ry’s partnership with the Institute for Economics and Peace, the Rotary Luguo, and you’ll find his Luguo Cafés, known Positive Peace Academy offers free training to every Rotary member for their rich dark roasts, at places such as the on how to wage Positive Peace in every project we do at the grassroots Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts and the National level, including Foundation grants. Theater and Concert Hall. The iconic Taipei Positive Peace resonates at all levels of The Rotary Foundation. Our 101 tower, meanwhile, is home to a location literacy projects help children gain equal access to literacy, so opposing of IMPCT Coffee, which emphasises ethical sides on an issue can understand each other better. Through our Foun- sourcing of coffee beans. Yaboo, another recent dation grants that provide clean water communities gain stability as entrant in the coffee game, favours a lighter roast more children stay in school rather than fetching water for hours on end. for a different flavour profile. Our role as civil society leaders who wage Positive Peace will con- Whether you go for a playful bubble tea, an tinue to expand, not only through partnerships and more grants, but also intense dark roast coffee, or a lighter, fruitier through our hearts, minds and hands as we offer our gifts to make the blend, your experience is more than just a way world a better place. to enjoy a hot or cold drink; it’s a chance to sample the local culture.

K R Ravindran Learn more and register Foundation Trustee Chair at convention.rotary.org.

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 21

Trustee Chair Message + Convention - September 2020.indd 21 8/28/2020 3:34:34 PM Doing good with TRF help RC Pataliputra gives dialysis machines, distributes food to disadvantaged

Rasheeda Bhagat

t was smiles of satisfaction for this club for completing a signa- Addressing the members on a zoom and pride all around in RI Dis- ture project of providing six dialysis conference, Pandya said: “You have trict 3250, particularly on the machines at two medical centres in achieved this feat and created an addi- faces of members of Rotary Patna, bang in the midst of the corona tion to critical healthcare facility during Club of Pataliputra, when pandemic. An additional three dialysis this difficult health crisis and a pandemic RI Di­ rector Bharat Pa­ ndya machines were put up in Muzaffarpur faced by the entire world.” This led him Iexpressed his utmost ­appreciation by RC Muzaffarpur. to believe, he added, that “nothing is

Members of RC Pataliputra, RID 3250, giving food to a rickshaw-puller.

22 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

K_RC Pataliputra gives dialysis machines, distributes food for disadvantaged_4.indd 22 31-08-2020 11:30:04 AM impossible for this club when its mem- Shilpi Chachan, “But our club mem- ­Jhunjhunwala and Anjani Sinha, “who bers set their eyes on any goal.” bers created an opportunity out of this stood beside me whenever I needed to The project has been done with a pandemic, as we realised that dialysis tick the boxes to accomplish the pro- global grant from The Rotary Founda- facilities will be even more critical at ject,” she said, adding that their hard tion worth $115,000. This iconic pro- a time like this when so many people work and dedication were exemplary. ject of the district and these two clubs will be fighting for their lives. So we Shilpi said that both Patna and has been done through a partnership put in concerted efforts, completed Muzaffarpur have deficient dialysis with RI District 7545, US. “We had all the paperwork in time, liasoned facilities, as a result of which the eco- submitted the application for the GG with others, collected funds and com- nomically disadvantaged people really on March 2, and it was approved on pleted the project. After all, this was suffer. In private facilities, a dialysis March 31. But meanwhile the whole the dream project of our club wherein session costs around `2,000 or more. country, as well as the entire world we had planned to donate six dialy- She said on June 26, three dialysis units was hit by the corona pandemic and sis machines to two centres in Patna, were donated at the charitable organisa- everything came to a standstill,” says keeping our focus on Rotary’s central tion Mahavir Arogya Sansthan, with the past president Bipin Chachan, the lead motto of serving humanity.” facility being jointly inaugurated by RI contact for the GG. Thanking past presidents Navin Director Kamal Sanghvi and IPS officer Adds his wife, and immedi- Gupta, Bipin Chachan, and Sandeep Acharya Kishore Kunal, and then DG ate past president of RC Pataliputra Sarraf, and club members Samir Gopal Khemka. “All the dignitaries appreciated our effort and said we had fulfilled a critical need in the local com- munity, as these units would contribute extensively in the coming days to the poor people requiring dialysis support at a very nominal cost.” While past president Navin Gupta gave details about the project which would help those patients who can’t survive without regular dialysis ses- sions, Khemka congratulated the club and said Rotary would like further affil- iation with this charitable organisation to serve more needy people. The other three dialysis units have been given to a private facility, and in both these places, Rotarians, and the extremely disadvan- taged will be given dialysis free of cost. Others will have to pay a nominal fee of around `500. The club has also donated to Patna Corporation, two Mukti Raths, each costing around `8.5 lakh, to facilitate the last journey of people and “these vehicles serve a great need in the com- munity,” she adds.

Exemplary Covid relief work During the Covid pandemic, as under- privileged people such as “daily wagers, rickshaw pullers, the handicapped, wid- ows and other destitutes struggled to get

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 23

K_RC Pataliputra gives dialysis machines, distributes food for disadvantaged_4.indd 23 31-08-2020 11:30:07 AM food, our club undertook a project — Annapoorna — to supply cooked meals to these people,” says Shilpi. On a few days, some Rotarians accompanied her but, she admitted, “due to the threat of infection, most people were scared to go to such poor areas to distribute meals.” But she carried on, and “my 21-year- old son, who studies in Mumbai, but is at home now, insisted I should not go out alone and accompanied me.” During the lockdown period, beginning April 7, members of the club distributed food packets in slums of Kumhrar. “It was heartbreaking to see hungry children running for food behind the vehicle. On that day we distributed 300 food packets. The next day, in another area, 550 packets — subzi puri, bread and khichdi — of food, water bottles and masks were given. It was very sad to hear from them that they were starving because they had not got help in the form of food for days together.”

24 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

K_RC Pataliputra gives dialysis machines, distributes food for disadvantaged_4.indd 24 31-08-2020 11:30:20 AM From a kitchen that the club mem- Left: A dialysis centre set up by the club. bers use, the food was prepared and Above & Below: Club members distribute ration kits to the less packed, and for several days an aver- privileged as part of their Project Annapoorna. age of around 400 food packets were distributed. “But we soon realised that this would only give them a few meals. So we started giving out grocery provi- sions to the needy, including sweepers, domestic helpers, cart pullers, etc, so that they could cook their own food.” The daily cost averaged `10,000 “but we did not have to use a single rupee from our club funds. The money came spontaneously once I sent out a message on social media. Club mem- bers would come forward to say today’s meals/provisions are on me, and at the end of the day the Annapoorna scheme gave us great satisfaction,” she smiles. Nearly `3 lakh was spent on this project, and gradually the packets were bolstered with supply of soap, milk powder, sanitary napkins, fruit juice, and 5kg rice, 5kg wheat flour, 1 litre oil, pulses and vegetables. Along with her, club members such as ­Sachdanand, Bipin Chachan and police officer Kunal participated in the distribution drive. The beneficiar- ies included an orphanage in Patna. n

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 25

K_RC Pataliputra gives dialysis machines, distributes food for disadvantaged_4.indd 25 31-08-2020 11:30:22 AM Let’s create innovative club models: John Hewko

V Muthukumaran

n the emerging post- Let’s re-evaluate Covid scenario, the There should not be any Iworld needs Rotary let-up in polio-eradication more than ever and “we efforts despite the corona have a great opportunity challenges, he said, but to create innovative club added that it is only natu- models to attract profes- ral that part of the Rotary sionals of varying age infrastructure under GPEI groups,” said RI General will be redeployed for Secretary John Hewko. fighting the pandemic in He urged Rotarians to many countries. Africa study the growth trajectory will be declared polio-free of Rotary and its member- by August-end and the ship graph over the last “wild poliovirus will be 115 years to understand left only in Afghanistan “where we are heading in and Pakistan.” terms of growth in the next Hewko added that for 4–5 years.” Speaking at some years, the mem- a webinar titled Synergy RI General Secretary John Hewko bership had stagnated Plus to kick-off Member- at 1.2 million and now ship Development Week transition as Rotarians. fluctuate in a negative with the pandemic, “we in RID 3201, the RI’s top “Clubs must attract bandwidth of 1–2 per cent, are concerned over its honcho pointed at four Rotaractors, make them he said, but assured that decline in the US, UK, narratives that are critical comfortable and give them “we are operationally and Canada, Australia and to sustain growth in the district leadership posts to financially very strong to Japan. Hence, we need to near future — Elevate make them responsible. overcome this hurdle.” step back and re-evaluate Rotaract, membership We have to find ways to During this pandemic, ourselves as the market is retention, implement- retain existing members the RI Board has swung offering challenges,” he ing projects in a virtual as attracting new ones will into action and sanc- pointed out. Rotary is not environment, and holding be very difficult in these tioned $7 million under selling soap or a product, fundraisers when field times,” he explained. the Covid Disaster Grant, “but selling a club expe- activities and events such When it comes to rais- for which a special task rience where profession- as dinners, walkathons ing funds and resources, force was set up, and $29 als enjoy spending their and fellowship may not be Rotary clubs must lever- million under GGs for time, energy and money possible. age the skills of Rotarac- Rotary clubs to execute on social projects. While tors who are adept in the emergency relief work the core values of Rotary A big tragedy usage of tech platforms such as distribution of such as vocational service While Rotaractors were to network and connect food, PPE kits, setting up and the Four-Way Test elevated as part of Rotary, with influential people. Covid centres and arrang- will never change, mem- more than 90 per cent In the next 4–5 years, ing logistics in managing bers should not be rigid of them never make the Rotary membership might the health crisis. on rules or get bogged

26 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

Lets create innovative club models John Hewko.indd 26 8/25/2020 5:55:42 PM down on procedural District trainer issues. Instead they must PDG Baby Joseph, We will add an additional focus on ensuring qual- membership chair 700 members, including 200 ity projects and services women, during this year. S Subramaniam, events which will attract new chair Sundaravadivelu members, he said. DG Jose Chacko Madhavaserry from RC Coimbatore, Unveiling his action RID 3201 which organised the webi- plan for the year, DG Jose nar, DGE S Rajasekhar, Chacko Madhavaserry said DGN Rajmohan Nair, RID 3201 has targeted prepared to change 3201, said Rotarians and PDGs Suresh Mathew an addition of 700 new with it.” clubs need to be proactive and K S Pillai shared their members, including 200 Toastmasters Inter- to attract Rotaractors, views on membership women, in 2020–21. national, District 121, especially young pro- growth. Earlier DG Chacko With 145 Rotary clubs, Director Nirmal Lilly said fessionals, as “most of inaugurated a Fellowship over 5,600 members (445 both the NGOs have simi- them are not aware of the of music loving Rotarians women), 107 Rotaract lar goals and entering into opportunities that await from Coimbatore zone clubs and 72 Interact a strategic alliance they them in Rotary.” Perhaps which has already inducted clubs, he is aiming for a can share best practices Rotaractors can be offered 40 members and will be 15 per cent overall growth. on leadership training and discounts in membership hosting an inter-district Quoting Rotary founder host joint events to facili- fees by Rotary clubs as a music fest soon. Around Paul Harris, the DG said, tate excellence in service bait to attract them, she 450 Rotarians took part in “in a changing world be projects. DRR Janani, RID opined. the webinar.„

A Goan village gets solar lighting kits Team Rotary News

otary Club of Panaji Riviera, RRID 3170, gifted 16 units of solar home lighting kits to the resi- dents of Keri, a tribal settlement in Cotigao village panchayat on a hill in Goa.It has 15 tribal huts com- prising 120 residents, and one has to walk 5 km up a difficult, steep terrain. Led by club president Ryan Costa and secretary Tanvi Sawant, a group of five Rotarians (including an Ann) visited the tribal commu- nity and donated solar lighting kits Rotarians of RC Panaji Riviera at the tribal hamlet after distributing solar comprising three bulbs, a torch and a lighting kits to the residents. charger. The total cost was `33,600. Once fully charged with the solar facilities for long, and alienated we have donated the solar lighting panel, the system can work up to four from the rest of the taluk,” says kits to the villagers,” hours. The panel will take six hours Ajay Menon, assistant governor, Going forward, the club will be to charge fully. RID 3170. One of the club’s annual adopting this village and provide solar “The hamlet was deprived of goals is electrification of a remote lighting on a large scale as a perma- electricity, water, road, transport village and as a “temporary measure, nent solution for electricity woes.„

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 27

Lets create innovative club models John Hewko.indd 27 8/25/2020 5:55:42 PM Indian Rotarians travel to Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara

Jaishree

From L: Assistant GovernorGovernor Aram SSajid,ajid, PDGs SaSajidjid Pervaiz (RID(RID 3272)3272) and Upkar SinSinghgh Sethi (RID 3070) at the KartarKartarpurpur SahibSahib complex.complex.

2828 ROTARYROTRROOTOTAARYARRRYY NEWSNENEWSWS SEPTEMBERSEPSEEEPPTTEEEMMBERBBEEERR 202020202200

K_Indian Rotarians travel to Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara.indd 28 28-Aug-20 4:55:22 PM Rotarians of India and Pakistan met be set up by Rotarians of the two coun- at the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara in tries. These programmes could not be Lahore, Pakistan, in March this year, realised due to various reasons.” just before the cocona pandemic This meeting of Rotarians of both caused havoc in the world. “Around the countries was “a defining moment” 50 Rotarians from nine Pakistan clubs, for Sethi and Pervaiz. One of the rea- along with Rotaractors and Interactors, sons was the venue, Kartarpur Sahib, came to meet us at the gurdwara,” says a holy site for Sikhs. Because of the PDG Upkar Singh Sethi, RID 3070. tensions between the two countries, it It all began when Sethi and PDG had been difficult for Sikhs in India Sajid Pervaiz, a member of RC Ruryila, to visit the shrine, until in 2018, the RID 3272, Pakistan, discussed an initi- Pakistan government opened up a cor- ative to further peace between the two ridor so pilgrims from India could visit countries when they met at the CoL in the shrine visa-free. Chicago last year. “For me this was a A delegation of 20 Rotarians from long pending idea. In 2012–13 when RC Amritsar South led by Sethi reached the then RI president Sakuji Tanaka the India-Pak border from where they announced his theme, Peace through boarded a bus to the gurdwara, a majes- Service, as a serving governor I tried tic structure across River Ravi. “It was getting Pakistani Rotarians to attend our an exciting experience. We had food at district conference. It did not happen the langar together at the gurdwara.” due to visa restrictions. When we, as a The host Rotarians gifted kirpans, one delegation, planned to go to Lahore, our of the five Sikh articles of faith, to the visas were also rejected,” says Sethi. Indian Rotarians. “It symbolises the There have been other initiatives obligation of every Sikh to the ideals too for promoting Indo-Pak peace. of generosity, compassion and service A couple of years ago, Ravishankar to humanity,” he explains. Dakoju, past president of RC Bangalore Some children had accompanied Orchards, planned a rally from Ben- the Pakistani Rotarians. “We were an galuru to Amritsar and put up a peace interesting spectacle for them. I wish tower at Attari on the India-Pak border. we had taken our children with us. It Another initiative was a peace park to is a learning for them. The general

Pakistani Rotarians presenting the kirpan to Indian Rotarians.

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 29

K_Indian Rotarians travel to Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara.indd 29 28-Aug-20 4:55:23 PM perception in both countries is one of the zero-line. Sethi, a resident of will be in Pakistan. I really wish we enmity to each other. In reality that Amritsar for over 60 years, recalls could just walk through,” he says. is not true. We enjoyed each other’s going over to Lahore in his younger company. Political differences and days to watch a cricket match. Mythology boundaries keep us apart,” says Sethi. “The nearest town in India for me Sethi relates a tale connected with the Lahore is 40km from Amritsar is Jalandhar. But it is farther than shrine. Guru Nanak, founder of Sikh- and the gurdwara, just 3km from Lahore. If I travel 30km this side I ism, settled at this site and assem- bled the first Sikh community in the 16th century. When he died, the Sikhs and the Muslims claimed him to be their guru and wanted to perform the final rites in accordance with their tra- dition. “The myth is that they found only flowers, instead of his mortal remains, under the cover. So half of the flowers were buried and the other half were cremated.” Both the sites — where he was cremated and buried — are present in the gurdwara complex. After the pandemic settles and nor- malcy returns, Sethi wants to take a larger delegation to meet the Pakistani Rotarians. “Being from Pakistan, I have seen how the tensions between my country and India have disrupted harmoni- ous relationships. This was a unique friendship and goodwill visit across the border. We really enjoyed meeting and interacting with Rotary families from India. Pakistan Rotarians join the Sikh tradition of partaking meals at the langar (community kitchen) at the gurdwara. Designed by N Krishnamurthy

30 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

K_Indian Rotarians travel to Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara.indd 30 28-Aug-20 4:55:30 PM istrict Governor S Muthupalaniappan, DRID 3232, launched the iChennai Awards, an online Chennai Rotarians event of RC Chennai Mitra, to honour Covid warriors who have inspired and motivated others honour Corona warriors with their action.The club aims to showcase exemplary indi- Team Rotary News viduals to the public and hence, it was titled iChennai, that is, Inspiration of Chennai. Dr Sunita Jayaraman, a surgeon, at the Kannagi Nagar Public Health Centre and Dr Issa Fathima Jasmine who runs Ayyamittu Unn, an NGO that works to eliminate hunger and avoid food wastage, were honoured with the iChennai Awards. It has been decided to honour Covid warriors every month for their yeoman service to mankind. The award was conceptualised by club member N S Saravanan. „

Rotary provides `10 lakh-worth furniture to Jaipur schools

nder the focus area of Basic Education and Literacy, RC UJaipur Bapu Nagar, RID 3054, delivered classroom furniture worth `10 lakh to 10 government schools in rural areas with an aim to make them Happy Schools with a slew of revamp projects. While seven schools were located at the club’s RCC village Manpura Machedi, 50km north of Jaipur, rest of the schools came under RCC Madhogarh village, 50km east of the city. “Everyone was overwhelmed by with joyous experience all around,” to teachers and encouraged the local the work done by our club members in said Vipan Bahl, the club’s immediate community to support their schools by the schools. The atmosphere at the hand- past president. The club had already providing them adequate drinking water ing over event was of great celebration built a computer lab, provided training and sanitation facilities. „

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 31

K_Chennai Rotarians honour Corona warriors Team Rotary News.indd 31 28-Aug-20 4:57:22 PM RC Nagpur Fort gives hope to disabled children

Rasheeda Bhagat Before surgery

ike in several villages of India, deformities. Thus was born a signa- of disabled children from economically in the rural areas around Nagpur ture project of the club titled Project backward families who are forced to Lcity and in Nagpur, Bhandara Saksham. lead their lives burdened with a per- and Gondia districts of Maharashtra, Recalling its genesis, past president petual disability.” The club started Rotarians of Rotary Club of Nagpur of the club Anil Ambatkar, a retired exploring ways and means to enhance Fort, RID 3030, came across a startling group captain from the Indian Air Force the capabilities of these children and to feature pertaining to handicapped chil- who has been a Rotarian and member empower them to live as independent dren. They found there were hundreds of this club for the last 32 years, says citizens. of handicapped children, many of them that in 2018, when senior members of These children had become a “bur- confined to their homes and a burden the club were searching for a project den” to their families because they had to the family, because they could not “that required out-of-the-box thinking, deformities, mainly due to birth defect or refused to attend school due to their we stumbled upon the unfulfilled needs caused by low levels of nutrition or other reasons, and found it unbearable to attend school because of their disa- bility. “There are several children with Young beneficiaries of Project Saksham. a twisted arm or leg and other deform- ities, which attracts undue attention and cruel taunts from other able-bod- ied children. As a result of teasing at the school, such children often refuse to attend school. As they hail from very poor families, the parents being illiter- ate, are sometimes not even aware that correctional surgery can be done for such children,” he adds. Even if they are aware, they simply lack the financial resources to get medical intervention. Club secretary Shashikant Khandekar adds that two years ago,

32 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

P_RC Nagpur Fort gives hope to disabled children_+.indd 32 28-Aug-20 6:37:53 PM fromfrom a club footfoot,, he saidsai that the child’s physical limitations were making things paparentsrents were “faci“facingn innumerable difficult for her as well as her family,” uunwantednwanted questions anda suggestions, said Ambatkar. bbecauseecause AkshaAkshayy coucouldld not walk prop- Another problem with such child- eerly,rly, had frefrequentquent falfallsls and was unable hood disabilities, the club members toto manage even dayday-to-day-t activities. found, is that if they are not noticed He hadhad developeddeveloped uglyug scars over his early, there is no intervention and they feet.feet. CConstantonstant hhumiliationum and iso- remain untreated in early years, the lationlation bbyy hihiss pepeerse had made his severity and complication of the disa- lifelife mmiserableiserable aand hampered his bility gets multiplied. The club found normalnormal growth.growth As they lived out that there were 1,300 such kids who inin a pplacelace wwhichhi has very poor had been screened by NNMF and were accessaccess to medicalmedi facilities, the waiting for corrective surgeries. familyfamily thothoughtugh treatment was Dr Viraj, a Rotarian of the club, out of the qquestionu for their who runs his own hospital, was ready child.”child.” He addedad that due to to conduct the surgeries free of cost, either being illiterateill or believ- “but the problem was about the cost ing in superstition,supersti the parents of investigation, operation theatre After surgery oftenoften acceptaccept theirthe child’s “fate as expenses, medicines, implants, etc. a curse”. So RC Nagpur Fort carved out Project AnotherAnother cchild the club Saksham to fill the gap and arrange as they were brainstorming on membersmeembbers ffoundound anandd hehelped is 12-year- corrective orthopaedic surgeries for what project to take up, some- oldold AAaAarohirohi (name changed) who disabled children like Askhay and thing that would really make sufferedsufferred fromfrom cerebralcerebra palsy. She too Arohi,” says Khandekar. a difference to the lives of belongedbelonnged to a poor ffamily; born as While club members donated people, they found that one a pprematurereemature bbabyaby wwith a low birth generously to fulfill the club’s dream of their own club members, weightweighht and failure tot cry at birth, project, corporates and other kind- Dr Viraj Shingade, an ortho- “due ttoo lack of medimedicalc treatment and hearted people also donated and the paedic surgeon, was running his properproperr guidance, she was headed for club managed to collect an amount of own NGO, the Nagai Narayanji majormajor developmentadevelopmentall issues. Aarohi `9.48 lakh. “With this project receiv- Memorial Foundation (NNMF). was an enthusiastic yoyoung girl but her ing a morale-boosting encouragement He had been regularly organising screening camps in remote rural areas to identify children with disabilities. “From him we learnt several heartrend- ing stories about the plight of disabled children and decided to help them,” says Ambatkar. The members found that these Children on a camps had detected several children hospital bed with deformed limbs, crooked arms, after correctional twisted legs, club feet and the like, and surgeries. left untreated, many of the children with lower limb deficiencies were no longer able to walk, and actually were crawling to move within their homes or villages. Giving the example of 10-year- old Akshay, hailing from a village in eastern Vidarbha, who was suffering

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 33

P_RC Nagpur Fort gives hope to disabled children_+.indd 33 28-Aug-20 6:37:54 PM from District 3030, we organised the Explaining the way in which this Along with 62 other children, both first surgery on a child in Oct 2019, and corrective surgery and rehabilitation Askhay and Arohi have been helped the 64th one on Feb 3, 2020. Disabili- programme is organised, he said the with correctional surgery and are ties for which surgeries were performed parents and children have to be brought now going back to school. “We will include cerebral to the city several times. For example, do follow up action to ensure that all palsy, club foot, for a twisted hand or leg, the limb has these children lead a dignified life,” burn contractures, to be first corrected using a splint, plas- he says. radiolunar synos- ter etc. Then there are several physi- But the club members are not tosis etc,” says otherapy sessions once the surgery is hanging up their boots on this project; Ambatkar. done. Often this process takes up to two at least not yet. Their major concern is months. “Dr Vijay does the procedure that there is a long waiting list of more free of cost and the club pays for the such disabled children, about 1,200 of hospitalisation, material used, etc. Post them. The project has slowed down surgery, the children are provided reha- and come to a halt thanks to the Covid bilitation services and orthotic appli- pandemic. Both the club members and ances free of cost.” the corporates who have helped in the past or can give some funds in the future have been impacted by this pan- demic. “But we are not going to give up. We will keep trying to raise funds, knowing fully well that there are so many children out there who can be helped to lead a dignified and fruitful life with our help,” adds Ambatkar. „

A drawing contest on water, sanitation

Team Rotary News

nder the leadership of DG Manish Sharda, RID 3100, Uconducted an awareness drive on water and sanitation, one of Rotary’s focus areas, and drawing competition for children on the topic Bin pani sab suna (Everything is lifeless without water). The drawing contest, hosted by the district’s Rotary India Water Mission, was held for three categories — junior, sub junior and special, and had received 140 entries. Every participant received a certificate and five children in each category were given prizes. The sketches were judged for best message, concept and elegance. „

3434 ROTARYROTARY NEWSNEWS SEPTEMBERSEPTEMBER 20202020

P_RC Nagpur Fort gives hope to disabled children_+.indd 34 28-Aug-20 6:37:58 PM District Wise TRF Contributions as on July 2020 (in US Dollars) District Members PolioPlusOther Endowment Total Number Restricted Fund Contributions India 2981 4,879 609 3,082 5,000 8,692 2982 3,058 603 1,286 0 1,889 3000 5,142 0 2,367 10 2,377 3011 3,628 0 2,976 0 2,976 3012 3,675 200 6,335 0 6,614 3020 4,078 2,933 8,786 0 11,720 3030 5,092 30 (5,990) 0 8,807 3040 2,099 13 143 0 157 3053 2,755 100 1,220 0 1,320 3054 6,081 100 3,227 0 3,960 3060 4,360 272 4,827 313 5,412 3070 3,146 0 75 0 11,183 3080 3,297 778 3,947 0 4,725 3090 2,212 0 4,400 0 3,664 3100 2,248 0 0 0 0 3110 3,656 0 27 0 27 3120 3,309 0 0 0 0 3131 5,124 250 4,837 0 27,297 3132 3,342 27 889 0 1,222 3141 5,317 200 48,910 1,000 61,950 3142 3,206 4,200 31,672 0 38,482 3150 3,311 100 (7,213) 8,333 1,221 3160 2,520 1,300 2,203 0 3,503 3170 5,655 373 1,888 0 25,331 3181 3,345 104 (2,818) 0 1,336 3182 3,086 0 2,034 0 2,034 3190 4,996 60 4,791 0 8,946 3201 5,570 1,320 (1,985) 0 9,038 3202 5,398 833 10,187 0 21,520 3211 4,489 0 0 0 5,068 3212 4,126 1,573 3,657 0 5,967 3231 3,885 0 47 0 147 3232 5,694 466 10,253 0 30,720 3240 3,044 1,138 5,192 0 6,330 3250 3,687 60 1,445 0 1,505 3261 2,620 0 0 0 0 3262 3,590 0 200 0 200 TAKE YOUR CLUB IN A 3291 3,661 0 227 0 227 NEW DIRECTION India Total 148,381 17,643 153,126 14,656 325,566 3220 Sri Lanka 1,904 5,071 3,434 0 12,924 Is your club flexible and ready for the future? 3271 Pakistan 1,624 1,000 0 0 21,000 New resources on Satellite Clubs, Passport Clubs, and Corporate Membership can help you create an experience 3272 Pakistan 1,674 1,100 829 0 1,929 that works for every member. 3281 Bangladesh 7,061 300 8,407 0 19,366 LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR OPTIONS AT ROTARY.ORG/FLEXIBILITY 3282 Bangladesh 4,096 0 4,800 0 4,800 3292 Nepal 4,945 154 900 0 23,798 South Asia Total 169,685 25,268 171,495 14,656 409,383 World Total 1,174,890 1,476,442 9,279,853 1,803,502 15,280,655 Source: RI South Asia Office

TRF Details - September 2020 issue.indd 35 28-Aug-20 6:37:39 PM Rotary partners with Lions, FICCI Flo for cancer screening project

Kiran Zehra

RI Director Bharat Pandya at the webinar.

aying that the best “I am glad to are not competitors but the goal/but people kept way to prevent announce that with an partners who want to joining and it began to Scervical cancer amount of `1 lakh, our work together to make turn into a caravan)” to is vaccination and district Rotaractors have the world a better place.” remind Singh that this screening, RID 3070 taken the lead in the He congratulated RID is not just a one-year governor Davinder Singh online fundraiser,” said 3070 for releasing videos project and “you will launched the ‘Freedom Singh. In his message, on Ek chamach kum, have to partner with more from Cervical Cancer’ RID Bharat Pandya char kadam aage and people to see bigger programme at a zoom said, “The Rotarac- the national anthem with results. Make sure the meet to mark India’s tors have yet again Punjabi folk instruments. karvan keeps growing.” 74th Independence shown us that they are “It is an excellent virtual RPIC Deepak Day. Together with partners in Rotary and PR initiative featuring the Agarwal, said that within Rotaractors, Interactors, are ready to shoulder work of the Rotarians of 45 days, “this district individual donors and responsibility.” He your district,” he said. has done an amazing NGOs, the district raised expressed his “heartfelt Quoting from an job in terms of PR.” $36,000 through an thanks to FICCI FLO Urdu poem, Pandya said, Addressing the MoU online pledge and signed and Lions District 321 “Main akela hi chala tha partners, he said, “Even an MoU with the Lions for partnering with us.” janib-e-manzil magar during this pandemic, International District Pandya noted DG Singh log saath aate gaye aur we have proved that we 321 and FICCI FLO, was setting an example karvan banta gaya (I are a dynamic organisa- Amritsar, for this project. by showing that “we started all alone towards tion willing to take on

36 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

Rotary partners with Lions, FICCI Flo for cancer screening project.indd 36 8/28/2020 2:37:35 PM any task. For Rotary no entrepreneurs and challenge is big enough professionals throughout and together we can do India and we are proud wonders.” and honoured to be part Thanking the of this drive.” Rotarians, Lions District Rotary will match 321 Governor Hardeep the contributions of both Kardka said, “in every its partners in a 1:1 ratio Lion, there is a Rotarian for this project and the and, in every Rotarian, immunisation drive I am glad to announce that with `1 lakh there is a Lion and will start from January our district Rotaractors have taken the together we will protect next year. Little lead in the online fundraiser. our girls from cervical Happiness Foundation, cancer.” an NGO from the US, CA Davinder Singh FICCI FLO donated $1,000 towards District governor chairperson, Amritsar the cause. DG Singh chapter, Meeta Mehra thanked his team of Sandhu, Founder, down the guidelines said “FLO represents 29 doctors led by Rotary Cancer Hospital, for the vaccination over 8,000 women Dr Hardas Singh Amritsar, who has laid programmes.„ All-women’s club hosts a drive-in installation ceremony

Team Rotary News

ue to the pandemic, and scale back their clubs are inducting mem- president of RC Seven DRotary clubs are installation ceremonies. bers from a distance,” Hills Dharwad, RID wanting to stay safe “Because of coronavirus, says Gauri Hiremath, past 3170. The club hosted a drive-in ceremony with just the six newly-added members and 12 other guests. The meeting was organised in line with local regulations complying with basic preventive measures. “Despite challenging times, Rotarians are willing to adapt and do what they can. After all, making your new members feel welcomed is very important,” she says. PDG Ravi Deshpande inducted the new office-bearers Members of RC Seven Hills Dharwad with and wished them PDG Ravi N Deshpande at the installation programme. good luck.„

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 37

Rotary partners with Lions, FICCI Flo for cancer screening project.indd 37 8/28/2020 2:37:36 PM When an eye hospital rejuvenated a Rotary club Jaishree

n a way, this hospital breathed Mehta the club would have been his- the then district secretary, and Mehta life into our club which was on tory by now,” says Yadav, who was helped in getting the grant. Samar Das, the brink of extinction,” says club president then. Mehta, then DGE, a member of RC Guildford, UK, con- Hira Lal Yadav, member of RC suggested Yadav set up an eye hos- tributed liberally,” he recalls. Hooghly, RID 3291, referring pital in the locality so that the club’s Dr Manomay Banerjee, a GSE Ito the Rotary Hooghly Eye Hospital, public image improves and member- beneficiary and an ophthalmologist, of which he is the chairman. ship increases in the process. “I had no became part of the hospital from its Rewind to 1998: RC Hooghly, clue how to proceed. Out of eight, four inception and has been performing started in 1962, was earmarked for members were above 80 and had health several complicated surgeries ever de-charter as its membership had fallen issues. So it was a big challenge but I since. Free treatment, including IOL to just eight. The then DG Prabhat convinced my team to give it a shot.” surgeries, was provided for the less Rohatgi recommended withdrawal of The club rented a building on the privileged and others were charged the charter and said the club should banks of Hooghly, renovated it and set reasonable rates to meet recurring be shut down. But three members — up the Rotary Hooghly Eye Hospital expenses. As the hospital became Yadav, Malay Kr Sadhu and Shiv in 2000 with a matching grant from popular, new members joined the club. Mangal Singh — were determined TRF. “We faced severe manpower and A trust was formed to take care of the to revive it. “If not for RIPN Shekhar financial constraints. Binod Khaitan, hospital management.

PRIP Rajendra Saboo at the Rotary Hooghly Eye Hospital with PDG Anirudha Roy Chowdhury, RIPE Shekhar Mehta and Rashi.

38 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

K_When an eye hospital brought rejuvenated a Rotary club_1.indd 38 28-Aug-20 4:56:55 PM Fund shortage again To cater to more patients, the Rotar- ians began looking for a spacious building. “Again we faced a cash crunch; this time help came in the form of my father-in-law Kartick Chandra Ahir,” he says. During the course of a casual discussion, he offered to spon- sor 9,000 sqft land costing `8 lakh for constructing a bigger facility. PRIP Kalyan Banerjee laid the foundation stone for the new hospital in May 2006. Construction began in April 2008 and was stopped three months later due to shortage of funds. During this period several foreign Rotarians visited the old hospital at Bansberia and were brought to the construction site. Michael Ratcliffe from UK, impressed with the hospi- in Feb 2012. “Initially we planned to tal’s services, donated £10,000 from PRIP Kalyan Banerjee at an his personal savings in Sept 2011, inaugural event in the hospital. build only the ground and first floors and followed it with another similar (about 10,600 sqft), but the builder amount from UK Rotarians the fol- Below: Binota Banerjee Bijay Srivastava offered to construct lowing month. With another `35 lakh inaugurating a department. the second floor on credit, payable by way of donations from local philan- Hospital chairman Hira Lal within a year.” Construction was com- thropists and surplus generated from Yadav (R) and PDG Angsuman pleted at a cost of `1.98 crore in Dec the hospital, construction resumed Bandyopadhyay are also seen. 2013. And the new facility was inau- gurated by PRIP Kalyan Banerjee and Binota in the presence of Mehta. Many clubs in the UK, USA, France, Canada and Germany sup- ported the club through MGs to equip the hospital with sophisticated equip- ment to treat glaucoma and retinal ail- ments. The home club also contributed one-third of the cost of the machinery and surgeries for the poor. A bus was donated by SBI in Kolkata, which is used to conduct screening camps in rural areas and transport patients to and from the hospital after treatment. The hospital restricts its services to 100 patients a day. Arvind Eye Hospitals, Madurai, is the technical partner and Global Sight Solutions, earlier called Guildford Rotary Eye Project, is supporting the operations for the last 19 years, says Yadav. He has helped establish 18

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 39

K_When an eye hospital brought rejuvenated a Rotary club_1.indd 39 28-Aug-20 4:56:56 PM Tables turned Today the club has 15 members actively involved in its various service activities. From a receiving club, RC Hooghly has evolved into one which supports international partners for GGs. “We are supporting eye hospitals in Kulna and Silhet in Bangladesh for their GG to purchase equipment and for Covid grants for RC Singapore.” The takeaway from this project, he says, is that Rotarians must invite their foreign partners to visit their pro- jects. “If a small club with just eight members can do this, why can’t other clubs,” smiles Yadav who is a Rotarian since 1995 and a past Rotaractor of Rotary eye hospitals across districts a village on the UP-Bihar border. RAC Triveni. 3291, 3262, 3250 and in 3281 and With no hospitals in the area, peo- He now heads a committee to set 3282 (Bangladesh), of which 14 hos- ple had to travel to Nepal for eye ail- up 50 Rotary eye hospitals across the pitals are in RID 3291. ments. “So my father, Munshi Prasad country. “When I look back it is unbe- Yadav relates an interesting epi- Yadav, sold a portion of his farm and lievable that the club which was about sode about the Kuchaykot Rotary gave the money for building a hos- to be shut down, today is a source of Eye Hospital in Gopalganj, Bihar pital there and even learnt hospital inspiration for Rotarians far and wide, (RID 3250). His hometown is in administration.” and for me too,” says RIPE Mehta. „

otary Club of Dharwad Cen- Rotary’s emergency care tral, RID 3170, provided one Rcardiac care and two accident in Dharwad relief ambulances to the Hubli-Dharwad Police Commissionarate. The vehicles Team Rotary News worth $48,000 were procured through a global grant supported by RC Gold Coast Lake Success, RID 7255, US, and TRF. The ambulances will help the high- way patrol police to provide immediate first aid to accident victims and shift them to the nearest hospital for further man- agement. The vehicles, equipped with oxygen cylinders, automatic external defibrillators and monitors, were handed over to the Hubli-Dharwad Police Com- missioner R Deelip and Deputy Com- missioner Deepa Cholan in the presence PDG Ravishankar Bhooplapur (centre), RID 7255, USA, and PDG Girish of PDG Ravishankar Bhooplapur from Masurkar (third from R) handing over the ambulances to Police the international partner club and then Commissioner R Deelip. DG Dr Girish Masurkar. „

40 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

K_When an eye hospital brought rejuvenated a Rotary club_1.indd 40 28-Aug-20 4:57:06 PM Covid Heroes A PDG Covid warrior Kiran Zehra

ith his exper- mental health challenges. tise in emer- Imagine wearing a PPE Wgent airway for almost 12 hours, management, acute and taking the stairs instead of intensive care, and peri- the lift to protect yourself operative anaesthesia, and others. Neighbours PDG Dr Chandrashekar shut the doors at the Kolvekar, RID 3142, very sight of us. Almost an anesthesiologist, is everyone who calls us actively treating Covid wants to discuss Covid.” patients over the last five He has been talking to his months. Like all other staff and colleagues and doctors wearing PPE has asked them to “talk (personal protective equip- to me if they feel helpless ment) while treating Covid or isolated. The least we patients, he too carries can do is be there for each the risk of infection while other in times like these,” attending patients. he says. “Frontline healthcare Kolvekar reached out workers are three times to a pregnant woman who more likely to test positive was stranded in Chennai for coronavirus compared on the way to Coimbatore to the general public,” for her delivery. Respond- he says. So far, he has ing to her husband’s distributed over 2,000 PPE call for help on Twitter, kits to healthcare workers he got in touch with his at Satyagraha Hospital, batchmate PDG Natarajan Bardoli, Gujarat; Shatabdi Nagoji, RID 3232, in Hospital, Lokmanya Chennai and got a travel Tilak Hospital, Sion pass arranged for the Hospital and Ulhasnagar woman to reach her home- Municipal Hospital in town where she delivered Mumbai. RIPE Shekhar a healthy baby boy. Mehta took to twitter to Again, through Twitter, appreciate Kolvekar who he helped a man living PDG Dr Chandrashekar Kolvekar on duty. was helped by his club, on the outskirts of Indore, RC Ulhasnagar, TRF who had suffered a heart and also helped the son to “I called them directly and Manish Mundra, a attack and needed medical reach Indore.” to inquire about their Bollywood producer, in attention. “The man was But his service to those condition. You see, this this endeavour. alone and his son who was in need of his help doesn’t business of service is very Talking about the in Delhi tweeted about his end here. Kolvekar wants ungrateful,” he laughs. mental health of doctors condition. I contacted PDG to be updated about the His daughter Dr Manasi and paramedics during the Ravi Langer, RID 3040, health condition of the Kolvekar is also involved pandemic, he says “we are who arranged the hospital- patients he had helped in serving Covid fighting both Covid and isation of the elder citizen during the pandemic. patients.„

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 41

A PDG Covid warrior.indd 41 8/28/2020 4:47:00 PM n a rare gesture to honour mar- ginalised people who are doing exemplary work despite adver- Isities during the pandemic lock- 5RWDU\IHWHVVHOÀHVV down, RC Bolpur-Santinektan, RID 3240, feted three social workers — a cobbler, tree cutter and newspapers workers of Bolpur picker — who have been doing voca- tional service for paltry amounts with- Team Rotary News out any recognition or reward. During the installation of the club, wage earner during monsoon. While education to all his three children, which is celebrating its golden jubilee, his three daughters were married, his one daughter and two sons. While his the three individuals were felicitated son helps him in his vocation. Bagdi daughter was married to a groom from by RID 3240 leaders. “We have taken was felicitated by past district secretary a family doing real estate business, the this initiative to honour these marginal Subir Roy. elder son is studying at a Bolpur col- persons to bring into limelight the Raddiwala Robu Khan, 40, makes lege. The younger son is in Class 11. silent social workers who are mostly daily rounds in his bicycle at Sansad Robu nurtures a dream to have his neglected by others. They do not have village to collect old newspapers, dis- own house. “A very honest and greed- any holiday or rest in life, rather they carded iron material, tin, plastic goods less person, Robu works hard almost have to work hard through the year to and other scrap items to make a living. the entire day from dawn to dusk,” earn and feed their families,” said Dr For the last 25 years, he has been says Chatterjee. He was felicitated by Biswadeb Chatterjee, club president. doing this work to sustain his fam- AG Dr Asim Kanti Adhikary. Nepal Das, a cobbler, learnt his ily. Robu had started this work at trade from his father at the age of 10. the age of 16 following his father’s Corona doctors of Solapur Over the last 50 years, he is a common death to support his family. Even with On the first day of the new Rotary face at a prominent junction in Bolpur as this meagre work, Robu gave good year, July 1, RC Solapur MIDC, RID he sits on a corner stitching and repair- ing shoes, leather bags, umbrella etc. Tree cutter College Bagdi being honoured by past He is assisted by his elder son district secretary Subir Roy. Dinesh, who had passed Class 10 and brother Kalu in the work. On an average, Das earns `250–300 a day. His younger son Ganesh has got admitted to M Ed in Vivekananda University at Belur. Das had got his three daughters married and built a house with the help of a govern- ment scheme. The club sponsored his cataract operation at an eye camp four years back. He was feted by PDG Dr Rintu Guha Niyogi at the installation. Tree cutter College Bagdi, 52, is a resident of Datina village at Nanur block and belongs to a family of daily wage labourers. He cuts, prunes out- grown trees and sells fruits as part of his vocation. He climbs tall trees with ease to remove the obstructing branches and his services are sought by many families. Besides cutting trees, he also takes up odd jobs as daily

42 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

K_Rotary fetes selfless workers of Bolpur_1.indd 42 28-Aug-20 4:56:51 PM The club has instituted the award to recognise “the brave corona war- riors for their dedicated and untiring service towards corona patients.” The hospital Chairman Dr Manik Gurram and Vice-Chairman Tirupati Vidap presented the awards in the presence of Dr Vijaykumar Arkal, Rtns Dr Ravindra Gundeli, Dr Gore and other members of the club. In his speech, Dr Gurram appreciated the work of med- ical warriors and the social initiative of Rotary club to honour the frontline workers against the pandemic. Club president Vitthal Vanga Doctors and paramedics being recognised with Corona anchored the event held on the hospi- Warrior Awards by RC Solapur MIDC, RID 3132. tal premises. Rtns Buchayya Gundeti, Shriniwas Ittam, Parshuram Rapelli 3132, felicitated the doctors, paramed- at Shri Markandey Solapur Sahakari and Sunny Daulatabad took efforts to ics, admin staff and other members of Rugnalaya and Research Centre with make the awards ceremony a success- the specially formed Corona Ward Rotary Corona Warrior Awards. ful event. „

uring his installation as the Rotary Bangalore South 54th Rotary Bangalore South DPresident T Srinivas and spouse Gowri became Arch Klumph President joins AKS Society members; they are the 12th couple of RID 3190 to be inducted to Team Rotary News this prestigious society. Srinivas is the owner of Darshan International, exporters of agarbathies and is well-known for his philanthropic activities. Taking charge as club pres- ident at the investiture, he said, “It’s important for every human being to give back to the society, for, the hap- piest person is not the one who gets more, but one who gives more.” He is known to practise what he preaches and is evident from the generous con- tributions to the Rotary Foundation. Over the decades, he has held top posi- tions in eminent charitable organisa- tions such as Asaktha Poshaka Sabha, Karnataka Arya Vyshya Charitable Trust, Vasavi Vidyaniketan Trust and RC Bangalore South president T Srinivas and his wife Gowri being Vasavi Union Charitable Trust. The honoured for becoming AKS members. couple has two sons Ashok Thambi and Harsha Thambi.„

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 43

K_Rotary fetes selfless workers of Bolpur_1.indd 43 28-Aug-20 4:56:52 PM RID 3211 inducts a record 361 members through a single virtual meet

Kiran Zehra

greet you tonight from my “other districts follow this solemn get opportunities to serve and make home,” said DG Thomas and humble idea.” Stressing on a difference in the life of other peo- Vavanikunnel as he welcomed membership retention he said ple because you are going to be part I Rotarians of RID 3211 to “Make these new members feel of this great organisation that makes the induction of 361 members in valued so that they choose to stay the world a better place. Rotary will the district’s clubs through a zoom with Rotary. It will be my absolute help you grow as a professional and meeting. All new members lighted pleasure to meet all the 361 of make you a better person,” he said. a candle and their spouses pinned them in person when I come there DG Vavanikunnel was happy to the Rotary pin on them as the new next year.” announce that 34 new women mem- members displayed their member- Ravindran shared with the new bers were inducted this year. “They ship certificates on the screen. members how Rotarians, including are all professional women eager to TRF Trustee Chair K R Ravindran himself, played an important role in get involved in community service congratulated the DG for organising saving the life of a little boy named in our district. I wish them luck and “this unique ceremony” and hoped Zachary from Mongolia. “You will hope their numbers grow in Rotary,”

44 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

P_RID 3211 inducts a record 361_Nellore Rotarians takes care.indd 44 8/28/2020 6:37:56 PM he said. Dressed in the traditional included, Annets and Rotaractors white and gold Kerala sari, one of shared their Rotary experience. the new members, Dr Anu Antony Make these new members “As the induction is taking place Varghese from RC Travancore from the comforts of our homes feel valued so they choose Trivandrum, said “I want to help my you have a better chance to expe- community, but realised that I can’t to stay with Rotary. rience Rotary along with your do it alone. I have seen and heard family,” said PDG Reghunath to about Rotary making a difference K R Ravindran the newcomers. He added that and I am glad to be part of it now.” TRF Trustee Chair “this is a glimpse of how you will The induction ceremony with a enjoy Rotary together. You and participation of over 750 national your spouse will serve meals to the and international guests was organ- of the ceremony and club presidents needy, be part of a cleanliness drive, ised by PDG R Reghunath and his received clear instructions about aid in relief activities and attend wife Parvathy “and they have done what had to be done,” said the DG. district conferences.” an amazing job. Preparations began To ensure that the families of RI Director Floyd Lancia (RID a month ago, there were rehearsals the newly-inducted members felt 6540, US) was a special invitee. „

Nellore Rotarians take care of the hungry

Team Rotary News

he members of RC TNellore, RID 3160, provided food to 250 hungry people every day for 45 days during the total lockdown. The club had set up a special food distribution centre, headed by club secretary Visweswara Rao, where it dished out two varieties of cooked food, buttermilk, water and banana for the hungry visitors all through the day. This service was hugely appreciated particularly during a time when all Food being distributed by members of RC Nellore, RID 3160. restaurants and street food stalls were closed. Police and grocery supplies too Additionally the Rotari- “Each member personnel, paramedics collected food from us,” ans distributed bread loaves sponsored food for a and security guards of said Jagannadham (80), and bananas among slum day. We also received establishments too visited a past president of this dwellers and at a leprosy generous contributions the centre. “Some of 60-year-old club, adding home which housed 250 from friends in the US,” the residents who had that the entire project cost families. Bedsheets were said club president exhausted their vegetable `4.5 lakh. also given to the inmates. Narayana.„

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 45

P_RID 3211 inducts a record 361_Nellore Rotarians takes care.indd 45 8/28/2020 6:37:58 PM Rotary opens a 300-bed Covid centre in Bengaluru

V Muthukumaran ith a spurt in Covid cases in WBengaluru and its suburbs, RID 3190 has set up a 300-bed Covid Care Centre at Basaveshwara Bus Terminus in Peenya, an industrial hub, in part- nership with Prakriya Hos- pitals and Nayonika Eye Care Trust. Titan Company is the funding partner in this project with a contribution of `93 lakh. Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation Karnataka State Deputy CM Laxman Savadi inaugurating the Covid care centre (KSRTC) has given space in the presence of DG B L Nagendra Prasad (second from R) and Project at its unused bus terminus Chairman S Jayaraman (fourth from R) at Peenya for setting up this 30,000 sqft-centre to add another 100 beds if the and management. They served to patients who are treat asymptomatic patients number of cases increase were able to use their clout provided clean toilets and and those with mild Covid and the demand goes up,” with KSRTC to get the other facilities. symptoms. Named the he said. required space at the bus PPE kits are provided Rotary Advika Nayonika terminus at Peenya. With to doctors and paramed- Covid Care Centre, this is The spadework Prakriya Hospitals, hardly ics working at this centre a makeshift hospital set up When Jayaraman and his 1km away from the centre, which has an emergency in accordance with govern- district team were explor- expressing its willingness to ment guidelines to manage ing avenues to provide join as medical partner, the Covid patients with mild Covid care to people with partnership materialised. symptoms, said S Jayar- cases rising exponentially in If patients need hos- aman, Director, Disease Bengaluru, they shortlisted pital care, Prakriya Hos- Prevention, RID 3190. He two things for urgent atten- pitals will admit them at had mooted the idea of such tion — “a place to set up a its multispecialty unit at a Covid centre under a pub- facility and a medical part- Nagasandra. “This Covid lic-private partnership with ner to diagnose and treat centre will have full-time Rotary providing support patients.” A chance meet- nurses, doctors, attenders, infrastructure such as PPE ing with S B Prashanth housekeeping staff, mainte- kits, medical supplies and from Nayonika Eye Care nance and security teams,” consumables. Trust opened up an oppor- said Jayaraman. An ambu- In the first phase, the tunity, as this Trust has been lance will ferry the patients Rotary Covid centre will holding regular camps for to and from the centre. have 200 beds and “we will the KSRTC bus crew, staff Nutritious food is being

46 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

Rotary opens a 300-bed Covid Centre in Bengaluru.indd 46 8/28/2020 3:19:33 PM ward and a 10-bed ICU sponsored by Titan Company. While 50 per cent of Titan MD donates `40 lakh for a Rotary project the beds are set aside for KSRTC and roject Chair S Jayaraman approached Titan Company AVP and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport PHead of Corporate Sustainability N E Sridhar with a two-fold objec- Corporation staff and their families tive — to get CSR funding for the Covid centre and to sponsor the for free treatment, 10 per cent of beds RT-PCR (real-time polymerase chain reaction) equipment worth `40 are reserved for patients referred by lakh at NIMHANS. “Though it takes more than 24 hours to get the Rotary and Titan. “The patients will testing done through RT-PCR, the results are accurate and very reliable. be charged government-indicated In the immediate future, if the testing load increases we can rely on this rates. We hope to reach out to the poor equipment,” he said. and needy through this centre,” said Titan MD Venkatraman wanted to know more about the RT-PCR Jayaraman. testing and he had a long phone conversation with Dr Manjunath at NIM- As of now, the Covid centre will HANS. After the telecon, the Titan head honcho was “so impressed by function for three months, and it can the efficacy of this machine that in three days, approved CSR funding for be extended by another six months, the project.” But there was a small twist. Jayaraman was expecting a call if the cases don’t abate by that time, from Titan about the CSR funding but to his dismay, Sridhar, Assistant he said. The Bangalore Indiranagar VP, informed him over phone: Rotary Trust is in receipt of the CSR “Our MD does not want to use CSR funds for the RT-PCR.” amount from Titan and entrusted A dejected Jayaraman’s heart was about to skip a beat, but then he heard the with the task of financial manage- magic words, “he wants to provide this `40 lakh from his personal funds.”„ ment of the project, while Rotary Bangalore Peenya, the home club of DG B L Nagendra Prasad, will pro- Titan CMD C K Venkatraman from Past president Manoj Agarwal vide medical infrastructure like cots, his personal funds,” he said. Arun from Rotary Bangalore Indiranagar wheelchairs, oxygen cylinders, ICU Belur, district secretary, said that said this Covid centre has “received monitors, beds, PPE kits, etc. “We in the first two days four patients good traction from the local residents have installed corona test equipment were admitted and the “number is at Peenya.” Karnataka Deputy CM (RT-PCR) at NIMHANS and `40 bound to increase manifold as Covid Laxman Savadi inaugurated the Covid lakh for its purchase was given by cases rise.” facility in the presence of DG Nagendra Prasad and district Rotary leaders.

From L: DG Nagendra Prasad; Deputy CM Laxman Savadi; Ripple effect Rtn Srinivasamurthy; Shivayogi C Kalasad, managing director, KSRTC; district secretary Arun Belur and Dr Srinivas Chirukuri, While the district clubs are active in CEO, Prakriya Hospitals at the centre. providing Covid-relief in the form of food packets, sanitisers and PPE kits, “we wanted to do something that is permanent and opens up opportunities for Rotarians to do selfless service,” said DG Prasad. He had instructed his district clubs to contribute in both cash and kind to this makeshift Covid unit and “we have starting receiving dona- tions from across the state.” During the inaugural of a revamped PHC at Madiwala, “health officials, after hearing the good response to our Covid centre, has asked us to build a regular hospital at the Karnataka State Police Reserve Grounds, which we will be taking up soon,” he added.„

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 47

Rotary opens a 300-bed Covid Centre in Bengaluru.indd 47 8/28/2020 3:19:33 PM Rotary paints India green with tree plantation drives

Kiran Zehra

t the Mata Jag Sundari temple in Kangra in Himachal Pradesh, A“you will be greeted by the bright colours of the marigold, lily and tecoma flowers with the scent of medicinal and herbal plants overwhelming you. We have planted fruit-bearing trees and rudraksha and parijaat saplings too in tune with this sacred place,” says Sunil Dogra, president, RC Kangra, RID 3070. The temple land, once barren, was converted into Rotary vatika (Rotary garden) attracting farmers in this rural belt. The farmers were also given saplings for planting in their fields, says Dogra who is delighted that their club’s initiative has gained traction on social media. “We roped in Rotary leaders and local officials in our green initiative by planting each tree in their names at the garden,” he says. The club named rudraksha and chinar saplings after (RIPE) Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur watering a plant at Shekhar Metha, (PRIPs) Kalyan the secretariat under RC Kangra’s environment project. Banerjee, Rajendra Saboo and Binota Banerjee. saplings were planted at the temple green initiative which aims at plant- Recently, the club approached garden at a cost of `2.25 lakh. ing 12,000 saplings in the city and the Himachal Pradesh chief creating awareness on environment minister Jai Ram Thakur to Green Gorakhpur protection. showcase their green drive and As part of its platinum jubilee cele- At the club’s sapling stalls put up the CM planted two saplings of brations, RC Gorakhpur, RID 3120, at various parts of the city, around the “Rotary tree’ at the secretariat. launched the Mera Gorakhpur-Green 900 locals have picked up over 7,300 Under the club’s environment Gorakhpur with Uttar Pradesh CM saplings given free of cost. A Rotary protection project, close to 300 Yogi Adityanath kicking off the Green Helpline (95553 38497) was

48 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

P_Rotary paints India green_My Rotary website upgraded.indd 48 8/28/2020 6:38:09 PM set up and “anyone who in West Bengal, RC wants to book a sapling Calcutta Yuvis, RID Rotarians of RC Shoranur in their name can call 3291, has planted 4,500 planting saplings. us,” says club president saplings to replenish the Arvind Vikram Chaudhary. green cover in Kolkata. The club is conducting The club has partnered essay-writing competi- with the Dakshin Barasat tions for students from 22 Gram Panchayat, the schools on topics related Royal Calcutta Golf Club to environment and hosted and the Tollygunge Club the Best Home Garden to carry forward this contest for homemakers to plantation drive. “DG create awareness. Sudip Mukherjee has been instrumental in forging Project Hariyali this partnership and to After Cylone Amphan honour him, we planted a left a trail of destruction sapling in his name at both

RC Gorakhpur hosted a Best Home Garden contest for homemakers to create awareness.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath launching the greening initiative of RC Gorakhpur.

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 49

P_Rotary paints India green_My Rotary website upgraded.indd 49 8/28/2020 6:38:10 PM Above: Members of RC Calcutta Yuvis, the clubs,” says Dilip Chowdary, RID 3291, with DG Sudip Mukherjee, president, RC Calcutta Yuvis. on a sapling plantation drive. Spread across 100 acres, the golf course and Tollygunge Club Below: Rotarians of RC Bikaner have a rich heritage of trees which Aadhya, RID 3053, on a greening drive. are over 100-years old. “We plan to restore some denuded trees and plant native species on the vast borders of these clubs with guidance from horticulturists,” says Chowdary. Nearly 150 farmers from 10 villages have received 4,000 fruit- bearing and 500 flower-bearing saplings. These plants will provide economic benefits to the farmers, he says. In association with the gram panchayat, the club distributed 2,200 saplings to 20 remote villages.

Hope Vanam RC Coimbatore Smart City, RID 3201, and Spark Round Table 323

50 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

P_Rotary paints India green_My Rotary website upgraded.indd 50 8/28/2020 6:38:12 PM have joined hands to create a green hub in this city. Under the project Hope Vanam, the club will be plant- ing 30,000 trees in three phases. Together with locals, volunteers and Rotaractors, the club will take up this green drive which includes a number of local species at a total cost of `1 crore.

Rotary Forest At Gandhidham, Gujarat, members of RC Gandhidham, RID 3054, are working on creating a Rotary Forest on 31 acres of land. In its first phase, land was cleared and 20,000 saplings were planted, fol- lowing which a 60,000 litre-water tank was constructed for watering Rotarians of RC Jabalpur South, RID 3261, planting a sapling. the saplings. Four borewells and a four-acre waterbody are being the club has targeted a budget of RID 3053, conducted a plantation constructed. “The forest will go a `2.5 crore. drive at Norangdesar village near long way in improving oxygen and RC Chembur Mumbai, RID Bikaner. The saplings included 300 water levels in the city, thus benefit- 3141, celebrated World Tree Plan- flower and fruit-bearing plants. RC ting the locals,” says club president tation Day by planting 100 trees Jabalpur South, RID 3261, planted Ghela Ahir. The club has already at a telecom factory in Mumbai. 100 trees at Kanthora village near spent `35 lakh for this project and Members of RC Bikaner Aadhya, Jabalpur. „

‘My Rotary’ website upgraded

y Rotary is the member- facing zClub officers can create multiple what information to share and Mwebsite where Rotary shares meetings and add more detailed with whom. resources, tools and information with meeting information to their club This is just the beginning. The Rotarians and Rotaractors. Over the profile, including time, place, goal is to make ongoing improve- years, RI received a lot of feedback meeting language, and whether ments so RI can continuously from members, especially club and the club meets in-person, online provide members with what they district officers, who asked for a or both. This level of detail need to successfully serve their more robust site that was faster and improves the club meeting search clubs and communities. Over the easier to use. With this input as the function. next several months, there will be guide, RI set out to give members zMember profiles may include a more updates to My Rotary, like what they needed. member’s name, club, leader- improving functionality for district Here are a few of the updates and ship roles, and contact infor- officers and fully integrating Rota- new features now available on My mation, though the information ractors and Rotaract clubs into the Rotary: that is visible depends on the site. There are resources available zIt’s accessible on all mobile member’s chosen privacy set- for club officers in the Learning devices in eight Rotary tings. When a member updates Center. languages. their profile, they determine Rotary.org

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 51

P_Rotary paints India green_My Rotary website upgraded.indd 51 8/28/2020 6:38:13 PM The Empress of Melodies

S R Madhu

A tribute to Lata Mangeshkar, who completes 91 this September.

n 1964, when Mehboob Khan, producer- director of Mother India, was seriously ill at a Los Angeles hospital, his wife called I Lata Mangeshkar from there. Khan snatched the phone and said, “Lata, I am very ill. Can you please sing Rasik balma for me?” Moist-eyed, Lata sang this song of magical allure from the 1956 Raj Kapoor-Nargis starrer Chori Chori on the phone. and Lata Mangeshkar. Today you hear more A week later, he called again with the same request. voices — but Lata’s voice pours out from cell Lata’s phone calls didn’t save the dying movie phones, computers, radios and TV sets thousands mogul, but she had the satisfaction of providing him of times every day. solace and musical pleasure in his last days. The woman who didn’t go to school, missed Lata’s voice can soothe, titillate, electrify, most of her childhood, never married, is the seduce. If you listen to the songs of Barsaat, eternal empress of playback melody, having sung Anarkali, Mother India, Mughal-e-Azam, Guide several thousand songs in 36 languages. She has or Abhimaan, you can hear Lata’s voice glide with been compared to Taj Mahal as an Indian brand, elan from joy to anguish, from romantic longing to and has won more honours than anybody else in philosophical angst, from a celebration of life to a Indian cinema, including Bharat Ratna (2001); the call of despair. Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1989); three national In the 1970s, it was said that only two voices awards for best playback singer; six Filmfare Awards; were heard over All India Radio — Indira Gandhi and the French Knight of the Legion Award (the

52 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

P_Music and Melody_The Empress of Melodies.indd 52 8/30/2020 7:56:54 PM selection from different moods and banter, and witnessing her and genres — duets, romantic, professionalism and talent. joyous and sad songs. In the 1970s, it was said Romantic songs that only two voices Duets • Mujhe kisise pyar ho gaya were heard over All • Pyar hua ikrar hua — Lata from Barsaat (composer: and Manna Dey in Shri 420 Shankar-Jaikishen) India Radio — that of (composer: Shankar-Jaikishen) • Pyar kiya to darna kya from Indira Gandhi and Lata • Jaag dard ishq jaag — Lata Mughal-e-Azam (Naushad) and Hemant in Anarkali • Nainon me badra chaye — Mangeshkar. (C Ramachandra) Mera Saaya (Madan Mohan) • Nain so nain — Lata and • Do hanson ka joda — Gunga Hemant in Jhanak Jhanak Jumna (Naushad) highest civilian honour in France). Payal Baaje (Vasant Desai) • Bindiya chamkegi — Do Piece de resistance…a French • Aja sanam — Lata Raaste (Laxmikant-Pyarelal) perfume is named after her! and Rafi, Chori Chori Shah Rukh Khan says he’s (Shankar-Jaikishen) Lata’s romantic songs are pure sorry that since he is a male, • Hum tum ek kamre me band gold. Those of the 1950s and Lata will never sing for him. ho — Lata and Shailendra 1960s are ageless, enchanting, S D Burman said Lata is “the Singh in Bobby everlasting odes to love. The best antidote to regional (Laxmikant-Pyarelal) more modern ones crackle with chauvinism” — because everyone electric intensity. from Kashmir to Kanyakumari Many of Lata’s duets are loves her songs. Says Javed emotional scorchers, and among Joyous songs Akhtar, “If you collect all the the richest treasures of Hindi • Woh chand khila — Anari fragrance, all the moonlight, all film music. All of her duet (Shankar-Jaikishen) the honey in the universe, their partners — be it Rafi, Kishore, • Aaj phir jeene ki tamanna collective magic can’t create a Mukesh, Manna Dey, Hemant hai — Guide (S D Burman) voice like Lata’s.” Dilip Kumar Kumar — enjoyed singing with • Jiya jale jaan jale — Dil Se remarked, “Lata resides in every her, exchanging notes and tips (A R Rahman) one of us.”

Lata’s best songs Lata’s songs bring back memories of some of the greatest moments of Indian cinema… the Raj Kapoor-Nargis movies of the 1950s; Meena Kumari in Baiju Bawra, Azad, Kohinoor; Madhubala in Amar, Tarana, Mughal-e-Azam; Nutan in Seema; Vyjayanthimala in Sangam, Gunga Jumna; Sadhana in Mere Mehboob, and a host of other actresses and movies. Coming to her best songs, how does one pick a few from the thousands of radiant gems From L: Lata Mangeshkar, her sister Usha Mangeshkar and she has sung? Here’s a personal South Indian playback singer P Susheela.

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 53

P_Music and Melody_The Empress of Melodies.indd 53 8/30/2020 7:56:57 PM Lata Mangeshkar has sung for (clockwise from top) Dimple Kapadia, Madhubala, Meena Kumari and Nargis.

• Didi tera devar deewana — haunt you forever. Suffused with in three octaves, while other Hum Aapke Hain Kaun (Ram sorrow, they are fragrant with singers at best managed two. Lakshman) sweetness. Your heart bleeds She could give a song depth • O Sajana — Parakh (Salil for the heroines whose pain like none else. No wonder Choudhury) she articulates so melodiously. every actress clamoured for Nargis said, “When Lata sings Lata, and she acquired a Lata’s joyous songs have a a sad song for me, I don’t need vice-like grip on the music compelling beat, they radiate glycerine to shed tears.” industry. positivism, sparkle with banter or Surprisingly, Lata considers • Her musical knowledge, mischief. the lyric (rather than the tune) to memory and grasp of the be the most important element of subtleties of melody and tune Sad songs a song. are all awesome. Manna Dey • Aaja re ab mera dil pukara — recalls that once he and Lata Aah (Shankar-Jaikishen) The Lata phenomenon were to sing a classical duet • Mera dil ye pukare aaja — Here I try to decode the Lata for Anil Biswas and needed a Nagin (Hemant Kumar) phenomenon seven-day rehearsal. Lata took • Dua kar gham-e-dil — • Her voice. There is nothing all of one day to rehearse the Anarkali (C Ramachandra) it can’t do. And it has never song and sing it better than • Nagari nagari dware dware — lost its pristine quality. Said him. In 1977, she returned Mother India (Naushad) Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, from a long foreign tour to • Megha chhaye aadhi raat — “Kambakth, kabhi besur nahi record a song for Raj Kapoor’s Sharmilee (S D Burman) hoti (She never sings out of Satyam Shivam Sundaram. Lata’s sad songs are like tune).” Composer Ehsaan Composers Laxmikant- beautiful paintings brushed with Noorani pointed out that Lata Pyarelel hummed out the the colours of anguish. They was a soprano who could sing outlines of the theme song for

54 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

P_Music and Melody_The Empress of Melodies.indd 54 8/30/2020 7:56:59 PM about 10 minutes. That’s all and corrected him. She was just she needed for the recording. five! Dinanath heard this, and The resulting song was a When Lata sings a told his wife: “We have a singer chartbuster. sad song for me, at home. ” He started teaching • She was an incredibly hard Lata then. I don’t need glycerine worker and learner, absorbing Film songs were banned anything new like a sponge. to shed tears. at home — K L Saigal was the She learned breath control only exception. Lata would hum from Anil Biswas and voice - Actress Nargis Saigal songs all the time, and as modulation from both Ghulam a kid, once announced that she Haider and Naushad. She would marry Saigal. “By the engaged a maulvi to teach time you grow up, he will be her Urdu diction. This was 15-year-old Dimple Kapadia too old,” her father remarked. because Dilip Kumar once in Bobby and her voice “Never mind, I’ll still marry remarked in Lata’s presence sounded so young. At 66, him,” she said. But Lata never that the Urdu diction of she sang for Kajol in Dilwale met her idol. When she switched Maharashtrians exuded the Dulhaniyan le Jayenge and on her newly acquired radio for flavour of dal chawal. Lata projected the ebullience of a the first time, the first news she was hurt and ensured that 20-year-old. heard was of Saigal’s death. her Urdu pronunciation was Devastated and distraught, she impeccable. A poignant childhood returned the radio to the shop • A perfectionist, she took pains Lata’s father Master Dinanath where she had bought it. to study the song situation, Mangeshkar, a much-respected Mangeshkar’s company screen character and the classical singer and stage artist, fell on bad days in the late actress for each song. When from whom she heard devotional 1930s, and he sought refuge in Lata sang for Madhubala or and classical music in childhood. alcohol. He died at the age of Meena Kumari, she sounded On one occasion, she found her 41 in 1942. Lata, at 13, became like them. At 45, she sang for father’s pupil singing out of tune the breadwinner for a family of

Lata with carnatic music legend M S Subbulakshmi. Also seen: Hindustani classical vocalist Laxmi Shankar, Vyjayantimala Bali and MS’ daughter Radha Viswanathan.

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P_Music and Melody_The Empress of Melodies.indd 55 8/30/2020 7:57:01 PM Lata with music director S D Burman (to her left), music director Chitragupta (second from R) and playback singer Talat Mahmood (extreme R).

eight. Lata got a role in a Marathi and the Raj Kapoor-Nargis Kalyanji-Anandji. Money flowed film, as the heroine’s sister and chemistry also worked magic. in from royalties and shows had to sing three songs. She Mahal, released in 1949, was abroad. Lata sang in 2004 for hated make-up and the arc lights, a trailblazer for both Lata Veer Zaara, a tribute to Madan disliked crying or laughing on and the film industry. The Mohan produced by his son. order, and only wanted to sing. film was immortalised by the She had completed more than But there was no option. “The ghost song Ayega anewala, 60 years as a playback singer, a day I went to work in that film, and Lata sounded ethereal. In world record for longevity. there was nothing to eat in the fact she describes herself as a In 1962 she suffered from house,” she once recalled. “bhootwali” singer. She has severe stomach ache and body The next few years were given cinema more ghost hits pain, vomited green fluid and a nightmarish struggle and than anyone else. the doctor diagnosed it as slow drudgery. Lata sang and acted The 1950s and 1960s were food poisoning. Lata’s cook in four Hindi and four Marathi Lata’s decades of triumph. films. Composer Ghulam Haider The Lata juggernaut swept introduced Lata to composer everybody else out. Shamshad If you collect all the Naushad, who gave her the Begum, the power voice of the fragrance, all the song Uthaye ja unke sitam in 1940s, was sidelined, so were Andaz (1949), filmed on Nargis. Amirbai Karnataki and Geeta moonlight, all the honey The pathos-drenched song was Dutt. Asha Bhosle survived, in the universe, their irresistible and endearing and thanks to O P Nayyar, her yen collective magic can’t made the music world sit up and for peppy numbers, and Lata’s take notice. rifts with some composers. Lata create a voice like In 1949, Barsaat with eight was active in the three decades Lata’s. solos by Lata was released and from the 1970s too, thanks to she created a sensation. The the new crop of composers - Poet Javed Akhtar wizardry of Shankar-Jaikishen such as Laxmikant-Pyarelal and

56 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

P_Music and Melody_The Empress of Melodies.indd 56 8/30/2020 7:57:01 PM suddenly vanished, without Jahan would ask Lata to sing even collecting his salary. The some of her hit songs such Lata is the best antidote obvious inference was that the as Dheere se aaja re, the cook was someone’s plant. immortal lullaby from Albela, to regional chauvinism, Lata did not sing for a few one of his favourites. Phone because everyone months. The first time she sang operators in the two cities started from Kashmir to after her illness was Kahin deep eavesdropping to hear the two jale kahin dil for Bees Saal celebrities chat and sing! Kanyakumari loves Baad. She was nervous and When Lata first met her songs. apprehensive, but composer Kishore Kumar, she thought Hemant Kumar was most he was stalking her! They were - Music maestro understanding. The song was actually going to the same S D Burman a super hit and won Lata her studio, taking a train and then a second Filmfare Award for best tonga. During briefing sessions playback singer. before song recording, Kishore would throw Lata into fits of But while in Detroit, he suffered Lata and fellow singers laughter with his jokes and a massive heart attack and died. Lata had a beautiful relationship clowning. He would even dance A tearful Lata escorted his body with Noor Jahan, the playback at the recording studio, and she back to Bombay. legend of the 1940s who pleaded with him to stop, so that Among composers, Lata was migrated to Pakistan in 1947. she could sing right! closest to Madan Mohan. Her They often met in London. Mukesh is the singer Lata songs under his banner “had a The two singers would engage was closest to, and he persuaded special sweetness” as composer in long phone chats on the her to accompany him on a Khayyam put it. Take Baiyan Bombay-Karachi line. Noor concert tour of the US in 1976. na daro (Dastak), Hum pyar

Lata with (from L) music director R D Burman, playback singer Kishore Kumar and her sister Asha Bhosle.

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P_Music and Melody_The Empress of Melodies.indd 57 8/30/2020 7:57:02 PM me jalne walon ko (Jailor), Woh the wrong side, she becomes bhooli dastan (Sanjog), Yun a tigress.” hasraton ke daag (Adalat), Aap Lata could be a tigress even ki nazron ne samjha (Anpadh), as a child. Her school life lasted to mention just a few. Lata is just one day. On the second day, all praise for Shankar-Jaikishen, she had brought baby sister Asha saying they changed the attitude to class and was singing with to playback singing with gusto while other girls cheered. Barsaat. S D Burman regarded The teacher pulled up Lata. She Lata as a daughter, R D Burman stormed out of the school, saying always treated her with great “How dare anyone scold the respect. She learned a lot from daughter of Pandit Deenanath Naushad, and she adored Hemant Mangeshkar!” Kumar, saying he sang like an Lata denies that she has angel because he was one! tried to undercut Asha. “She is my sister,” she points out. Controversies The two were estranged after Above: (From L) Asha Lata Mangeshkar is more Asha eloped with and married Bhosle, Mukesh, Lata admired than loved in the film a neighbour. He wanted Asha Mangeshkar, Kishore industry, with a prima donna to sever all her links with her Kumar and Manna Dey. reputation. The late Raj Singh family, particularly Lata! But as Dungarpur, who knew Lata an abusive marriage, it broke up well, said “If you rub her on and Asha was back with didi.

From L: Naushad, Lata, Mohammed Rafi and Majrooh Sultanpuri.

58 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

P_Music and Melody_The Empress of Melodies.indd 58 8/30/2020 7:57:03 PM Personal life In her younger years, she travelled often to London and the US. A cricket buff, she regards Sachin Tendulkar as her own son, and watched the 1983 World Cup final in London. On return to India, she did a big charity show for cricketers. India’s cricket fraternity will do anything for Lata Mangeshkar. Lata is fond of western classical music; she listens to Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Chopin. She admires Barbra Streisand, the Beatles and Nat King Cole. A remarkably good photographer, Lata says Asha is more she enjoys cooking and versatile than her; “I can’t sing loves good food, particularly the songs she did, like Piya tu The Lata juggernaut Kolhapuri mutton. She simply ab to aaja or Chura liya, but she swept away everyone — can’t keep away from pickles can sing both peppy numbers though they aren’t supposed to Shamshad Begum was and classical ragas”. be great for a singer’s voice. She has had spats with sidelined, so were Lata loves diamonds and singers, composers, directors Amirbai Karnataki and white sarees. She is fond of and producers but has had her fragrances; is very religious, way most of the time. She Geeta Dutt. Asha Bhosle prays every day and sometimes fought aggressively for the survived, thanks to O P goes to the Mahalaxmi temple rights of playback singers; broke near her home on Peddar Road. Nayyar, her yen for peppy with Mohammad Rafi after he She always appears barefoot referred to her as a “Maharani” numbers, and Lata’s rifts with on the stage or in the recording while arguing about royalties some composers. room. She is fabulously wealthy, and refused to sing for Raj but apart from her diamonds, Kapoor on the same issue. But lives unpretentiously. She has later made up with both and set up a hospital in Pune in the went on to sing for the RK Jaikishen asked Lata to sing memory of her father. banner in Bobby. the song Rasik balma from this Lata never got married, Shanker-Jaikishen played film at the awards meet, but she attributing the reason to the a big part in Lata’s success refused, quipping that the award responsibilities she had to story: the titanic popularity of was for best composition and shoulder at a young age. When their songs for the Raj-Nargis “I have not been given a best asked if she misses having movies of the 1950s merits a singer award.” She refused to children, she said: “My siblings’ separate chapter in the history relent though Jaikishen was a children are my own.” of Hindi film music. Lata’s good friend. Result: Filmfare A versatile singer, Lata pet tease was that SJ stood for introduced an award for has sung in many other lan- “silver jubilee”. But in 1956, playback singers in 1958, and guages too. SJ won the Filmfare Award for separate awards for male and best music for Chori Chori. female singers some years later. Designed by Krishnapratheesh

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 59

P_Music and Melody_The Empress of Melodies.indd 59 8/30/2020 7:57:03 PM Rotary helps a tribal girl get Govt ID, brighter future

V Muthukumaran

oung and bubbly Sangavi have a name as it was cut-off from rest with assistant governor C T Thiagarajan from a nondescript tribal of the world and did not have power and club secretary T Loganathan in cluster near Pichanoor supply, or other amenities,” says the first week of May. We were shell- Yvillage in Coimbatore M Sathish Kumar, president, RC shocked to find the tribals living in was crestfallen. She got admission in Coimbatore Meridian. RID 3201. damaged huts with no source of live- a reputed college, but could not get A few journalists from the lihood,” explains Kumar. scholarship for want of government Coimbatore Press Club was told about ID cards such as Aadhaar card, ration this village by the locals when they were A pilot survey card or a voter ID. The possibility doing Covid-relief work in Pichanoor, He, as incoming club president, and of her missing higher education was 12km from the city. Shocked by the three of his colleagues, did a survey on worrying her. All the 35 Malasar tribal pathetic conditions of tribals living in the basic requirements of the tribals, families eke out a living at a nameless rudimentary huts, the scribes returned listing out their immediate needs — a hamlet close to Pichanoor located at and started networking to build decent pucca house, toilet blocks, solar power a walking distance from the Palakkad shelters for the villagers. “One of my supply (as government does not pro- highway. “This village where we had media friends called me and moved by vide electricity to huts). Meawnhile, constructed low-cost shelters did not his description, I visited this place along he and his friends brought to the notice

RC Coimbatore Meridian President M Sathish Kumar (right) along with club members at the tribal village.

6060 ROTARYROTROROOTTARYARYY NEWSNNEEWWS SEPTEMBERSEPE TEMTEEEMMBEBBEREERR 2020202200

K_Rotary helps a tribal girl get Govt ID, brighter future.indd 60 28-Aug-20 5:02:23 PM of District Collector K Rajamani that Finally, a name these tribals do not have government On July 1 during the inauguration of ID cards. A tahilsdar was sent to take This village did not have a name the new shelters by district director census and steps were taken to issue and did not have power supply, not R S Maruthi, this long-neglected area identity cards to these families. was christened M Nanjampanoor Following a cover story in Junior to speak of other amenities. village. “We gave 23 bicycles cost- Vikatan, a Tamil magazine, 18 Rotary ing `1 lakh to students to pedal their M Sathish Kumar, president clubs in Coimbatore joined hands to RC Coimbatore Meridian way to school and a cycle stand build 21 low-cost shelters, each cost- RID 3201 was also installed. Once a black- ing `12,000–14,000 on average, hav- topped road is laid to this village ing a cement floor, well-thatched roof by the government, a community and walls made of palmyra and coco- receive government ID cards including hall, park, playground and vegeta- nut leaves. “There is no labour cost community certificate from the district ble farmland will come up,” says involved as the huts were made by the collectorate. “She is now preparing for Kumar. As this village is spread villagers themselves,” says Kumar. NEET exam (medical entrance) and over six acres, Rotary clubs will For Sangavi, the first from her com- Rotary is providing her all help in this be taking up tree planting drives on munity to pass Class 12, a concrete endeavour,” he says. He is confident vacant land (four acres). A voca- house was built at a cost of `80,000 that the remaining families will get ID tional centre will be set up by RC as “a token of encouragement for her cards within a month or so. The rest of Coimbatore Midtown at the commu- to pursue higher education.” She is the 14 houses were built by the Press nity hall to train women on tailoring among the first batch of five tribals to Club and other NGOs. for gainful employment. „ Rotary empowers differently-abled at Chandrapur

Team Rotary News

C Smart City Chandrapur, RID 3030, organised a one-day Divyang Melawa, Ran event for differently- abled women. It was inaugurated by renowned social worker Dr Vikas Amte Anandwan. Over 200 participants took part in a variety of programmes such as quiz, fashion show and cultural events to showcase their talent. Forty differently- abled women who had excelled in var- ious fields were felicitated. Guest speakers enlightened partic- ipants about the different government The club has set up a vocational and cotton bags which the women can schemes, legal protection and aids avail- centre with 50 sewing machines to sell and earn a good profit. “We are able to them. Sewing machines, wheel- help women earn a decent livelihood. also trying to procure more jobwork chairs, crutches and white canes were Cloth and other raw material are for stitching school uniforms,” said distributed to the needy at the event. provided by the club to make masks Rtn Dr Vidya Bangde. „

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K_Rotary helps a tribal girl get Govt ID, brighter future.indd 61 28-Aug-20 5:02:24 PM On a greening drive R Balaji Babu Realtor, RC Mayiladuthurai Delta, RID 2981

e is planning to make the entire district green by creating Miyawaki forests. “We are planning to grow trees in an H850,000 sq ft area across the district,” says Balaji Babu. Around 50 clubs have each planted saplings in 2,000-3,000 sft area in schools, hospitals and public places. All the 119 clubs are enthusiastic about the programme, he says. The region was badly affected by the tsunami and cyclones; growing native trees can help reduce the impact of natural disasters, he adds. “Sadly, we don’t keep track of the saplings we have planted and forget the plants after the hype around the event is over.” But this time the Rotarians have pledged to nurture the saplings they plant; also, the Miyawaki process requires less care and is easy to maintain,” he adds. Babu is a Rotarian of 25 years. He aims at a 20 per cent mem- bership growth and to double the number of women from 450 to at least 900. He is encouraging spouses of Rotarians to join Rotary. “I have waived their district dues.” He is walking the talk and has inducted his wife Alamelu as a member of his club. “So far 40 women have become Rotary members,” he smiles. Babu is concentrating on installing rain water harvesting facili- ties across the district. “We get good rains but it is prudent to save water when we can.” His goal for TRF is $1 million. He is planning a global grant to equip the district with a can- cer screening van and has aligned with the ICC (Inter-country committee) to identify foreign partner clubs for executing bigger projects. “French Rotary clubs are showing interest to partner with us,” he says. Babu likes the friendship, dedication and genuineness of Rotar- ians and that had attracted him to the organisation in the first place.

Meet your Governors

Jaishree

62 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

K_Meet your Governors_September 2020.indd 62 28-Aug-20 4:55:45 PM A German connect Dr Thomas Vavanikunnel Sonologist, RC Palai, RID 3211

he district is keenly working with the police meetings you will be out of and recognising police personnel for their Rotary. That put me off. I Tgood work by giving awards. “We are decided against joining until the grooming youngsters as traffic wardens, training next year when I got inspired after them to provide first aid to accident victims and have seeing the service activities.” formed community corps of autorickshaw drivers The best part of Rotary, according to the to help traffic police,” says Thomas Vavanikunnel. governor, is that “Rotary connects the world. You He is urging clubs to distribute masks, shields and need not know the person. Just that he is a Rotarian sanitisers to protect them from coronavirus while and the lapel pin is enough to connect with him. And on frontline duty. seeing the Rotary wheel anywhere will make every He joined Rotary in 1995 after returning from Rotarian excited.” a 12-year sojourn in Germany and is happy to be Vavanikunnel fondly remembers the district’s “able to speak the RI President’s language”. He was work in facilitating schools with WASH facilities instrumental in his club executing six global grants when he was WinS chairman two years ago. “We (GG) with German clubs since 2008 and one more constructed toilet blocks in 36 schools, thanks to a is under process. “I can communicate in German GG with Germany,” he says. and probably that is an added advantage,” he smiles. His membership target is 600 and he has achieved He is proud that his club has 152 members, 50 per cent so far in addition to chartering four new including 50 women, and says this is due to the ser- clubs, including a satellite club. “My wife Omana vice projects undertaken by it. was the first woman member of my club,” he says. Recalling his induction to Rotary he says, The governor is planning to become major donor “A friend invited me to the club in 1994 and said and include more major donors. His target for TRF that attendance is compulsory and if you miss three is $1 million.

Promoting cervical cancer awareness CA Davinder Singh Chartered accountant, RC Amritsar, RID 3070

e joined Rotary in 2007 to connect with peo- The governor has ple and “get to know more about the world”. chartered eight new HDavinder Singh is keen on promoting cervi- clubs since July and cal cancer awareness in the district and is planning to inducted 250 new mem- innoculate young girls against the disease. “Initially bers. He is finding ways we planned for 1,000 vaccines; the number has tri- to engage the 3,200 Rotar- pled as all clubs are interested in the project. So we ians in the district during this have applied for a global grant,” he says, adding that pandemic. “I want to sustain 1,200 Rotarians and Rotaractors who participated in their interest in Rotary.” an awareness programme organised on zoom have Singh’s wife, Dolly, is also a member of together raised $36,000 for the project. his club.

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 63

K_Meet your Governors_September 2020.indd 63 28-Aug-20 4:55:46 PM Global grants are his focus B Chinnapa Reddy Engineer, RC Nandyal Midtown, RID 3160

e joined Rotary in 2000 but “had not been He has chartered two actively involved in club activities for the initial new clubs of the 10 clubs Hfive years. Later, when I started focusing on the planned for the year. “We will projects I got hooked,” says Chinnapa Reddy who is also have one all-women’s club and I am an avid badminton player. serious about getting more women into He is proud of the Rotary schools in his district. “Our Rotary. Our RIPN Jennifer Jones is an inspiration clubs have constructed schools even in small towns and for women Rotarians and prospective members,” he the quality of education is so good that it is difficult to smiles. He wants to add at least 30 Rotaract clubs and get admission in these schools. Many people come to us energise the existing 21 clubs. for recommendations,” he smiles. He is happy to share that his district has risen up Reddy has planned 10 global grants this year of which well to the Covid relief challenge and have distrib- four applications are being processed by the Foundation. uted face masks, face shields and PPE kits in large “We want to establish more dialysis centres, a blood bank numbers and have fed hundreds of hungry migrants and eye hospitals,” he says. and helpless people throughout the lockdown period. For TRF, his goal is to raise $300,000, although his Three Rotarians have contributed `100,000 each to target is $210,000 considering the district’s average per- the PM CARES Fund. formance last year when it could contribute only $57,000 Reddy’s wife, a former IW president, is a member to the Foundation. He is urging all the 76 clubs to contrib- of his club and he intends to induct his daughter into ute around $3,000 and the AGs to become major donors. Rotary during the district assembly.

Developing school infrastructure M Ranganath Bhat Tyre retailer, RC Mangalore Metro, RID 3181

otary has been a part of his growing up years. Hewko and RID His father was a member of RC Mangalore Valerie Wafer RNorth and Ranganath Bhat would accom- made up for that pany him for most of his club meetings. Bhat has and is keeping the been an Interact club president in 1973 and joined interest alive among Rotary in 1989. His wife and son are also Rotarians members,” he smiles. in the same club. Bhat aims to increase He is gung-ho about the latest addition of environ- district membership by 30 per ment as a Rotary area of focus. “All the 82 clubs will be cent and raise $500,000 for TRF. “Women’s mem- planting and distributing at least 500,000 saplings dur- bership is just 8 per cent. Not much. But we will try ing the year,” he says, adding that the Rotarians were a to improve that,” he says. little disheartened that they couldn’t have grand instal- His district projects include tree plantation, pro- lation ceremonies this year due to the corona pandemic. moting positive health through health camps, WinS “But the zoom meetings we had with leaders such as and first aid training for students in partnership with President Holger Knaack, General Secretary John the Indian Red Cross Society.

Designed by N Krishnamurthy

64 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

K_Meet your Governors_September 2020.indd 64 28-Aug-20 4:56:06 PM Rotary sets up first plasma bank in UP

Team Rotary News

DG Gupta says this facility will be a great ser- vice in helping corona infected people with com- plications, as plasma taken from patients who have recovered from infection can help fight complica- tions brought about by this virus. “Any patient 21 days after recovering from Covid infection can donate plasma. Our plasma bank has a stor- age capacity of 10,000 units of 200ml and the Rotary Noida Plasma Bank shall be providing plasma free of cost to BPL card holders and pregnant women of Gautam Buddha Nagar.” Niraj Khemka, member of RC Noida, RID 3012, donating plasma at the new facility. DG Alok Gupta He was happy to (second from L) is also seen. annouce that Niraj Khemka, a member of RC Noida, hile on his morn- plasma bank was inau- Das, members of the gov- who has recovered from Wing walk during the gurated on July 25 by the erning body of the Rotary corona infection, became stressful Covid pandemic UP Health Minister Atul Noida Blood Bank, PDGs the first plasma donor at era, RID 3012 DG Alok Garg, with the top state of the district and other this facility. Gupta suddenly had an officials from various ser- Rotarians participated in A Rotary plasma bank idea… why not set up a vices participating in the the inaugural through an is installed at the Rotary plasma bank to help those inaugural. PRID Yashpal online platform. Blood Bank in Tuglakabad infected by coronavirus. in Delhi. The blood bank, In a record time of one established by late PRID week he was able to com- Sudarshan Agarwal, is man- plete all the formalities and aged by both RIDs 3011 get the licence for setting and 3012. The plasma bank up such a faciity, the first will provide convalescent of the plasma banks in Uttar plasma for treating Covid Pradesh, in Noida. Naveen infected patients free of Agarwal, President of cost, said PDG Ramesh Rotary Club of Noida, “was Aggarwal, secretary of the equally instrumental in the blood bank. The plasma execution of this project,” bank was inaugurated with IPDG Deepak Gupta (R) and PDG says Gupta. donation of plasma by a Pamesh Aggarwal at the plasma bank Thereafter the work person who had just recov- in the Rotary Blood Bank, Delhi. progressed fast and the ered from Covid. „

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 65

Rotary sets up first plasma bank in UP +.indd 65 8/28/2020 2:02:37 PM Wordsworld Moving stories about moving

Sandhya Rao

Those who have not been forced to flee their homes can never know its pain.

very time August 15 When will we ever move on?” I will unforgettable experiences of life. comes along, there are never forget the expression of incre- Living in faraway Madras, I had no events galore to remind dulity followed by disappointment clue as to the extent of its impact us that it’s time to wave on his face. Immediately contrite, on thousands and thousands and the flag and feel all I tried to apologise, but the words thousands of families living both in Epatriotic. An organisation dedicated had been spoken. India and in Pakistan. We continue to the welfare of senior citizens Yes, in that split second, I real- to experience the consequences of decided to do something different: ised that separation from the home- those political manoeuvres. This pain they planned a panel discussion land is one of the most painful and is brilliantly evoked in Saadat Hasan among people who had actually lived Manto’s short story, Toba Tek Singh. through that momentous period in It’s a piece of writing that talks about history leading to the special day in a dilemma confronting the two new 1947. They were invited to share their nations upon Partition: what to do experiences and thoughts just before with the mentally-ill housed in asy- and after Independence so that young lums on both sides of the border? Set people would get a glimpse of lived in an asylum in Lahore, it brilliantly history. It was moving to listen to satirises the event through the reac- their stories and I felt a pang as I saw tions of various inmates, focusing on them gamely negotiate the challenge one in particular, Bishan Singh, from of using technology in order to make a village called Toba Tek Singh, the online event happen. That’s the incarcerated for fifteen years. His stuff our grandparents were made of. feet are swollen because he never lies However, it triggered a mem- down and he goes around spouting ory that continues to shame me. gibberish. Some years ago, it so happened To quote a little from the story, that a friend was working on his which is best read in the original doctoral thesis. The topic revolved Urdu, or at least Hindi: the inmates around Partition literature. Casually “…had no idea where Pakistan was. I remarked, “Oh no, not that again. That was why they were all at a loss

66 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

K_Wordsworld_Moving stories about moving.indd 66 28-Aug-20 4:57:12 PM whether they were now in India or was known for this. He was a writer in Pakistan. If they were in India, whose ideas were way ahead of his then where was Pakistan? If they times. He was radical, he was forth- were in Pakistan, how come that right, he was searing in his observa- only a short while ago they were in tions, and the guardians of society, India? How could they be in India a both state and self-appointed, didn’t short while ago and now suddenly in know what to do with him. So, they Pakistan?” In fact, one of them is so reviled him, they imprisoned him, bewildered he climbs up a tree and they proscribed his writing. Remem- says he doesn’t want to live in India ber Perumal Murugan? How he was and Pakistan, he will make his home so hounded by the state for his writ- on the tree. ings that he declared one day that he You don’t feel like laughing, would stop writing? Luckily for us, however ludicrous the scenario, he rescinded on that decision. Lucky because the story unravels intan- for us, Manto continued to write. gible but bitter aspects underlying You can even listen to a reading of Partition and, by extension, of sepa- Toba Tek Singh online. Do look for ration from homeland, exile, forced it, you will not regret it. Don’t worry migration… It impels the reader to if you don’t understand Urdu. Read think about what’s happening around the story in English first. Then listen. through your consciousness as long the world today where, for a host of Through all the instances of sep- as you are alive. reasons, people are having to flee aration, dislocation, exile, migration, I don’t quite remember how their homes. life still goes on. This shines through the book, Opium Poppy, by Hubert At one point, Bishan Singh is in a book I recently purchased when Haddad came into my hands. Trans- very confused because no one is ever my local bookstore announced that it lated from the French by Renuka able to tell him where his hometown, had gone online. City of Jasmine by George, it is the stomach-churning Toba Tek Singh, is: “…nobody Olga Grjasnowa is translated from story of a small boy, Alam, who seemed to know where it was. Those the German by Katy Derbyshire. It escapes from war-torn Afghanistan who tried to explain themselves got revolves around the actions and deci- and the opium trade to become a ref- bogged down in another enigma: sions taken by three young people — ugee in France, living among other Sialkot, which used to be in India, Amal, Hammoudi and Youssef — young refugees like himself, in the now was in Pakistan. At this rate, when civil war rips apart their home- shelter of a bridge. There, instead it seemed as if Lahore, which was land, Syria. Set largely in Damascus, of protection, he becomes a victim now in Pakistan, would slide over the reader gets a sense of young of the heroin trade and political dis- to India. Perhaps the whole of India peoples’ lives even as bombing and crimination. It’s a slim book, a mere might become Pakistan. And who shelling lay the city low. They still 126 pages, but much of it is almost could say if both India and Pakistan dream of becoming actors and doc- impossible to imagine. Yet, we know might not entirely disappear from the tors and falling in love; they try to this is happening, even today, if only face of the earth one day?” The best pursue these dreams. The reality is we keep an ear open to hear their answer to Bishan Singh’s question harsh, though. The book provides voices. As Maya Angelou writes in comes from an inmate who “had perspective to impressions formed her poem, The Caged Bird: declared himself God”. He says mostly on the basis of news reports. The caged bird sings / with a Toba Tek Singh is “neither in India When we speak of assimilation fearful trill of things unknown / but nor in Pakistan. In fact, it is nowhere and integration, books on these sub- longed for still and his tune is heard / because till now I have not taken any jects remind us that attachment to the on the distant hill for the caged bird / decision about its location.” homeland is as intrinsic as breathing. sings of freedom. As the story reaches its dramatic You are alive as long as you breathe, conclusion, you are stunned by the you breathe as long as you are alive. The columnist is a children’s layers of meaning it contains. Manto So too, the longing for home courses writer and senior journalist.

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 67

K_Wordsworld_Moving stories about moving.indd 67 28-Aug-20 4:57:14 PM Gift of dignity

Kiran Zehra

that has a seed at the end of it. “When the pencil is discarded or thrown away it grows into a plant,” he says. But he was scepti- cal about approaching buyers. “Though I started this venture to earn some income, I did not want sympathy buyers. I wanted people to see my pens as a way to pro- tect our environment and did not want to haggle for a good price as I don’t compromise on its quality.” Again the club helped him by buying his pens and distributing them to local schools and offices. “Club members came back with more orders. Gradually the demand increased and I was approached directly by other offices and institutions as well,” he recalls. Today he sells close to 9,800 pens a Wheelchair-bound Sharaffudeen makes and sells eco-friendly pens and pencils. month and “the money I make is enough to lead a dignified life,” he smiles. haraffudeen (28), wheelchair-bound man livelihood?” His wife told Club secretary a technician from starting his eco- him about the vocational Krishna Kumar says, “We Sworking in Dubai, friendly pen and pencil training camp of RC are glad our training pro- was visiting India for business in 2018 with Shoranur for disabled grammes can change the the birth of his second the help of RC Shoranur, which he attended and attitude of disabled peo- baby boy. In an acci- RID 3201. learned to make eco- ple. Now, Sharaffudeen dent, he suffered a major After being bound to a friendly pencils. After makes good quality pens spinal injury and was wheelchair, he wondered research and many failed and has learned to get an paralysed waist down. if he could ever “start attempts, he finally made income with dignity.” But that did not stop the a business for a decent an eco-friendly product The club has added the

68 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

Gift of dignity.indd 68 8/28/2020 2:36:21 PM Members of RC Shoranur gift an LED TV to a student. A student gets a bicycle under the district's ‘Pedal to School’ programme.

Rotary logo to the pens Pedal to School “When we distributed meritorious students which are also given as As part of RID 3201’s the cycles, a few parents from economically weak mementos and return gifts Pedal to School initiative came to us and asked us families. At a recent club during events. Rotary’s which aims to provide for laptops. All schools event, seven students vocational programmes free bicycles to 3,000 have started online received LED TV sets have not only “developed underprivileged students classes and these kids and three others received my skills and knowledge, aged 12–18 across the had no medium to keep tabs. With the help of a but helped me understand district that comprises up with the classes,” says local internet company, that physical disability parts of Kerala and Tamil Kumar. The club then the club has organ- is a mindset,” says the Nadu, the club has dis- approached the school ised internet for these entrepreneur. tributed 11 bicycles. headmasters to select students.„

RC Karkala donates ambulance to government hospital Team Rotary News otary Club of Karkala, RID 3182, Rdonated an ambulance to the Karkala Government Hospital under a global grant project. The club has roped in RC Crown Point America, RID 6540, as its global partner and with TRF contribution, handed over the vehicle to the hospital authorities. DG B N Ramesh was the chief guest at the hand-over event which also saw the presence of local legislator V Sunil Kumar, project coordinator PDG Bharathesh, PDGs Ranjan Kini, Dr Narayan, DGE Rajaram Bhat, Rtn Mohan Shenoy, one of the sponsors, and chief medical officer Dr P K Mallya. Club president Jagadish T A welcomed the gathering.„

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 69

Gift of dignity.indd 69 8/28/2020 2:36:22 PM Rotary’s Covid billboards a big hit in Mangalore Team Rotary News

mega Covid awareness cam- the six lakh population in this district, inconvenience to fight the virus,” said A paign titled ‘Let’s fight back said Archibald Menezes, club presi- Menezes. together’ is being implemented by RC dent. Giant billboards were erected at The billboards were presented in Mangalore, RID 3181, in partnership strategic locations since July 25 and both English and Kannada, and the with the Indian Red Cross Society and “we are confident the campaign will Rotary campaign, that trended on the District Chamber of Commerce bring the required awareness,” he said. social media “has become the talk of and Industry at the Dakshina Kannada A creative agency was roped in to the town, a good sign that it is being district of Karnataka to sensitise the design impactful messages with strik- well-received by the people.” In all, public on the right use of masks, hand- ing visuals. Many people were found 14 hoardings are on display. “Many wash method and maintaining social using masks inappropriately. Wearing business houses have shown interest in distancing. a mask in a scientific way by covering participating in this public awareness The anti-Covid campaign mounted both the nose and mouth is impera- campaign,” he said, adding that he is on digital media and outdoor billboards tive to control droplets that spread hopeful that this campaign will play a is expected to reach at least two lakh of the virus. “We need to rise above our key role in battling the pandemic. „

7070 ROTARYROTARY NEWSNEWS SEPTEMBERSEPTEMBER 20202020

P_Rotarys Covid billboards a big hit in Mangalore_2.indd 70 28-Aug-20 6:36:11 PM Membership Summary As on August 1, 2020 Rotary News Subscription Remittances RI Rotary No of Women Rotaract *Interact RCC District Clubs Rotarians Rotaians % Clubs Clubs You can pay the 5RWDU\1HZV»5RWDU\6DPDFKDU 2981 119 5,060 5.77 51 39 225 subscription online 2982 72 3,094 6.47 85 96 56 3000 129 5,216 8.55 188 256 211 Our Bank details: 3011 102 4,026 25.61 56 90 35 Bank : HDFC Bank 3,794 SB Account 3012 106 24.54 56 71 59 3020 73 4,224 5.92 54 155 351 Branch : Montieth Road 3030 95 5,117 14.68 117 173 304 Egmore, Chennai 3040 91 2,173 11.52 39 52 147 A/c Name : Rotary News Trust 3053 64 2,762 16.36 20 39 103 A/c No. : 50100213133460 3054 132 6,165 19.32 84 144 524 IFSC Code : HDFC0003820 3060 100 4,510 14.83 60 63 145 3070 111 3,325 16.98 48 20 59 E mail us following details: 3080 84 3,337 8.93 91 141 116 Name of Club 3090 79 2,392 7.94 38 9 122 President/Secretary’s name 3100 99 2,307 7.80 13 14 146 Amount/Date of transfer/UTR Number 3110 135 3,735 8.86 29 7 105 3120 82 3,336 14.11 47 18 53 For physical payment by cheque or 5,204 cash in bank, write Club Name only 3131 138 21.25 112 176 117 without prefixing “Rotary club of”. Eg. 3132 87 3,399 10.11 34 94 158 Rotary Club of Delhi Central should be 3141 104 5,479 24.47 122 137 93 written: Delhi Central. 3142 90 3,235 20.50 83 118 68 3150 88 3,406 10.34 59 123 117 3160 78 2,578 7.45 28 3 83 3170 133 5,716 13.62 82 198 169 Rotary at a glance 3181 82 3,358 8.96 63 192 118 Rotarians : : 1,186,144 3182 83 3,131 8.14 49 96 98 3190 139 5,412 15.59 154 145 64 Clubs : 36,235 3201 145 5,631 8.25 109 72 52 3202 138 5,514 6.15 96 251 46 Districts : 525 3211 144 4,526 6.91 8 24 132 3212 105 4,171 8.67 102 187 149 Rotaractors : 203,537 3231 99 3,888 12.13 53 81 419 3232 127 5,809 19.37 130 198 93 Clubs : 10,750 3240 92 3,101 13.23 50 393 195 3250 100 3,735 17.68 67 65 185 Interactors : 345,023 3261 72 2,646 15.94 20 21 43 3262 106 3,679 12.35 50 38 77 Clubs : 15,001 3291 157 3,701 20.62 92 88 621 151,892 2,639 RCC : 11,244 India Total 3,980 4,087 5,858 3220 71 1,918 14.44 85 125 74 As on August 17, 2020 3271 108 1,671 18.06 67 19 22 3272 151 1,720 17.67 52 15 43 *Please note Interact clubs that have not 3281 240 7,135 17.41 245 48 199 reported Interact Adviser in the past two 3282 160 4,140 10.92 178 39 46 Rotary years, are placed in “Suspended” 3292 126 4,990 15.73 134 118 118 status effective Oct 1, 2019. S Asia Total 4,836 173,466 3,400 4,451 6,360 Source: RI South Asia Office

Membership Details - September 2020.indd 71 8/25/2020 12:13:37 PM Health Reaching your ¿WQHVVJRDOVVXFFHVVIXOO\

Sheela Nambiar

taying with a fitness routine is self-regulated is important to achieve He said that people with self-efficacy not always easy. Here are some your goals. One must necessarily fol- truly believe that they have influence Sof the tips and tricks used to stay low the other. over events in their own lives and their on course and reach your goals. Believing you can lose weight, but behaviour. not exercising or eating clean every Self-efficacy and self-regulation day, is not going to get you very far. Ways to improve self-efficacy Self-efficacy is the belief in one’s own When you develop belief in your- One of the best ways of increasing ability to achieve goals. Self-regulation self that you are truly capable of self-efficacy is to develop mastery is the ability to set your course toward achieving a goal and stay on course by over the task. This means that you the goals and follow through consist- working out regularly, you get moti- do something till you are good at it, ently with the required behaviour. vated to continue. It is a self-fulfilling at which point, you actually start to Both self-efficacy and self- prophecy. enjoy it and develop a deeper sense regulation are very important quali- Along the way, in your fitness of self-belief. ties for achieving fitness goals. Unless journey, you are likely to face setbacks Another way to improve self- you truly believe in your own ability and failure. The ability to bounce back efficacy is through vicarious to continue to exercise, it’s most likely is greater when you have self-efficacy experiences. This means finding a you will stop or find reasons not to and resilience. role model and following her exam- continue. Similarly, being able to stay Psychologist Albert Bandura ple. Watching other people that you disciplined on a regular basis, or stay developed the theory of self-efficacy. can relate to and observing their lives

K_Health_Reaching your fitness goals successfully_1.indd 72 28-Aug-20 4:57:31 PM and successes can boost confidence. control the events in your own life. Other simple hacks to stay with By the same token, watching them fail Whereas an external locus of control your exercise routine: may lower your judgment of your own implies that you believe everything z Find a fitness buddy efficacy if you are too dependent on that happens to you is the result of z Find a good personal trainer vicarious experiences. things you have no control over and z Find a mentor who inspires you Social persuasion – being told therefore cannot change. z Do something you like that you are capable and possess the For instance a person with inter- and enjoy qualities it takes to keep going can nal locus, intending to go for a run but z Tie your routine to something bolster self-efficacy. Bolstering self- finding it pouring outside would easily you enjoy (music, nature, efficacy by using social persuasion change course and train indoors. On holidays) alone is difficult, as when one fails in the other hand someone with an exter- z Vary your workout one’s efforts despite social persuasion, nal locus of control may just throw z Challenge yourself at frequent it actually undermines self-efficacy. their hands up and get back into bed intervals Ultimately, while vicarious experi- blaming the weather for their inability z Eat healthy ences and social persuasion can help in to exercise that day. z Start slow and increase improving self-efficacy, it is the mas- People with internal locus of con- momentum to prevent injury tery that truly improves it. trol have a “plan B”. z Believe that doing something There are innumerable excuses one is better than nothing at all Find your WHY can come up with when trying to exer- z Ask yourself the important “He who has a why to live can bear cise. Finding alternatives, not giving in question — “what will hap- almost any how.” – Friederich Nietzche to the excuses are features of people pen if I don’t exercise?” Put into the fitness perspective, if with internal locus of control. you have a compelling enough reason to continue to exercise, you will do so Goals simple as, “I will walk for 15 minutes no matter the circumstances. Set proper goals. Your goal is not nec- every day” is good enough to begin For instance, most people start essarily one such as “I will lose 10 kg with. Once you stay with this goal for exercising to lose weight. Asking in four months”. a week, make it, “I will walk for 20 or the question, “Why do I want to lose Instead it should sound more like 30 minutes every day” and so on. weight?” will put things in perspec- I will walk for 40 minutes covering x tive. If your ‘why’ is vague and not distance everyday in the first week; Rewards internalised, you can be easily swayed. I will include strength training twice a Give yourself rewards as you progress. Having a strong ‘why’, like reversing a week; I will stop all processed foods Obviously these rewards need to be chronic disease or training for an event and sugar… and so on. thoughtful and not sabotage your goals can be strong motivators. The weight on the scale could be themselves. Treating yourself to a Even a simple ‘why’ like — I want just one of the goals (if realistic) but large pizza because you have lost your to keep my mood elevated/positive ideally, you should focus on what you first 5kg would hardly be productive. because I know I don’t feel good when can control in terms of your behaviour. Rewards can be something as sim- I don’t exercise, can be a good enough Goal setting is an art. If the goal ple as the mere acknowledgement that motivator when truly internalised. is too daunting and unrealistic, it can you have made it this far. When you Writing down why you intend to overwhelm you. Breaking it up into give yourself that acknowledgement, it keep exercising and adding as much smaller segments and being very spe- allows you to feel good about yourself detail as possible will keep it real for cific about how you will go about and it produces a small surge of neuro- you. Stick it on your mirror so you see achieving the goal can make it more transmitter dopamine that causes you it every day. realistic and achievable. to seek out your next reward, thereby Following through with the behav- helping you progress. Internal locus of control iour to achieve the goal is related to People with an internal locus of con- your self-regulation. If you have prob- The author is a lifestyle trol tend to be more centred and able to lems with self-regulation, make it sim- medicine physician. combat adversity. It means you believe ple and look at short-term goals that [email protected] you have the capacity to influence and are easily achievable. Something as www.drsheelanambiar.com

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 73

K_Health_Reaching your fitness goals successfully_1.indd 73 28-Aug-20 4:57:31 PM From RI South Asia Office desk Fundraising highlights from S Asia for Rotary year 2019–20

z India retained its no 2 contribution of $20.02 respectively, across z 68 per cent clubs position amongst the million (unaudited all districts worldwide contributed to TRF. top giving countries figures). in total TRF giving. z Donor participation worldwide, fifth year z RIDs 3141 and 3292 z 26 new AKS members remained at 33 per cent in a row, with a total ranked no 2 and 6 were added. from S Asia region. AKS members from S Asia for 2019–20 2019-20 Top 10 districts from S Asia in total giving Zone District Donors – Trustees Circle District Total Contribution Worldwide 4 3012 Reena and Deepak Gupta (in $) Rank 4 3012 Anil K Mohindru and Amita 3141 3,990,967 2 4 3060 Anish Shah and Swati 3292 2,101,956 6 4 3141 Baldev Arora and Usha Rani 4 3141 Dilip Piramal and Shalini 3131 1,651,907 13 4 3141 Swati A Piramal and Ajay G Piramal 3201 1,276,931 20 4 3141 Nirav Shah and Devina 4 3141 T N Subramanian and Vidhya 3232 1,201,879 26 5 2982 A K Natesan and Parvathi 3190 1,193,523 27 5 3201 Santiago Martin and Leema Rose Martin 3012 1,035,296 42 5 3212 V R Muthu and Malarvizhi 5 3232 Ravi Raman and Shobana 3060 936,558 54 6 3240 Debashish Das and 3202 754,739 79 Charismata Budnah 6 3292 Lam Lee Heng 3011 717,812 88 6 3292 Harish Chandra Neupane and Mamata 2019–20 Top 5 giving clubs from S Asia 7 3131 Nitin Desai and Meena District Club Name Total TRF Contribution 7 3131 Anil Goel and Nirupama (in $) 7 3131 Pune Neurosciences Trust and 3292 Chitwan, Nepal 698,863.34 Research Society 7 3170 Kishor Lulla and Sunita 3141 Bombay 607,344.26 7 3190 Ghanshyam Agrawal and Saroj 3131 Pune Central 485,298.44 1B 3271 Prof Farhan Essa Abdullah and Nadia 1B 3281 Prof Dr Hosne-Ara Begum and 3141 Bombay North 378,559.60 Md Ansar Ali Talukder 1B 3281 Syeda Ummay Habiba 3141 Bombay Worli 369,244.31 1B 3281 Md Anwer Hossain Khan MP Wash-in-Schools Target Challenge and Tahmina Afroz In June 2020 meeting, the Trustees extended the WinS Tar- 1B 3281 Dr Gazi Mizanur Rahman and get Challenge pilot programme for a year as requested by Tania Rahman the programme’s Steering Committee, as WinS activities 1B 3282 Dato’ Dr Mir Anisuzzaman and were interrupted due to the Covid pandemic. The pilot was Shereen Kwi-Hong Bon originally scheduled to end on June 30, 2020. The com- Next Level Change - Chair’s Circle mittee will now submit a final report to the Trustees at their June 2021 meeting. In addition, RI will also commence the 4 3011 Suresh Jain and Usha thorough external evaluation of the programme through an 1B 3271 Aziz Memon, Samina independent third party.„ 74 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

RISAOffice - September 2020.indd 74 8/28/2020 2:13:45 PM On the racks

Shhh! Don’t talk about mental health Author : Arjun Gupta Publisher : Notion Press Pages : 206; `300

Only angels can fly Never visit a doctor: How to simple, sensitive 19-year- Author : Somanth Sapru stay fit and healthy forever Aold boy, Yashasvi, suffering Publisher : K W Publishers Author : Sapna Priyadarshini from clinical depression decides Pages : 525; `1440 Publisher : Notion Press to end his life. Timely and Pages : 392; `499 appropriate, the story walks ack in 1927 when the you through the history of BDirectorate of Civil Aviation his book highlights the positive depression, baseless theories, was set up, and Indians learned to Taspects and benefits of yoga. and the mentality of the society fly, to the fascinating glimpses of It takes into account the problems towards the subject. The book how women pilots faced bias before we face because of the hectic shares an account from the succeeding in flying, to the year lifestyle we have adapted. Through bygone eras from 500–1,400 2020 where India has recorded the simple asanas, breathing exercises AD where the mentally-ill were highest number of women pilots in and meditation tips, the author considered to be possessed by the world, this book is a complete guides us in creating a stress-free demons and holes were drilled insight to the Indian aviation history. atmosphere around us. Learn to on their skulls as treatment. In The book elaborates on how the understand your body, dosha, guna, 1247, the Bethlehem Hospital British empire strategically and and prakriti and how to use asanas in London was established commercially used the new form to fix your physical and mental for the mentally sick, but they of transport and gives a detailed suffering and lead a fit and healthy were chained, beaten and account of the nationalisation of the life with the help of this book. experimented on. Today they are aviation industry. It will take you The second part of the book helps called names and abandoned by back in time when the flying clubs you fix lifestyle-related diseases their friends and family. were first started in major cities to through diet and regular practise How Yashasvi fights his attract young people to learn to fly. of yoga without having to turn to emotional outbursts, anger and Challenges faced by entrepreneurs medicines. suicidal thoughts forms the who tried to set-up an aircraft factory The zero side affect plan will crux of the story. This is not in the country during the inter-war restore your health and help you a self-help book but with the period (1919–1939), the post-World understand your body like never help of the protagonist, history, War II struggles of individual airlines before. The author is a member facts and statistics, the author and anecdotes of brave pilots are of the Rotary Club of Bombay creates awareness on mental interesting parts of this book. Seacoast. health issues.

Compiled by Kiran Zehra

SEPTEMBERSEPTEMBER 20202020 R ROTARYOTARY NEWNEWSS 7575

P_On the Racks_Sep20.indd 75 28-Aug-20 6:37:25 PM Club

RC Thanjavur South — RID 2981 tree plantation drive was taken A up at the Little Scholars HS School with participation of their Interactors. A drip irrigation system and an RWH unit were installed at the school.

RC Salem South — RID 2982 he club, in association with Salem Corporation, built Ta retaining wall to an existing well at Thathampatty village to prevent it from caving in. The project cost `2.75 lakh. Water from the well is used for plants in the nearby Miyawaki forest.

RC Thuraiyur Perumalmalai — RID 3000 n Oximetre for checking oxygen level in blood was Adonated to Thuraiyur Municipality to help battle Covid-19.

RC Gurgaon Cosmopolitan — RID 3011 raille and large print books were donated to the National BAssociation for the Blind, New Delhi, which will benefit 25 schoolchildren. The project initiated by club member Bharat Singh and president Abhinav will add to the e-book library at the NAB.

76 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020

Club Matters - September 2020.indd 76 8/25/2020 5:06:54 PM Matters

RC Achalpur — RID 3030 he club members distributed masks among 200 families Tin a slum area to provide protection against coronavirus.

RC Indore Meghdoot — RID 3040 he club’s women’s empowerment centre employing 10 Tpeople is making masks which are sold at `7 per piece. The women get `3 for each mask and the centre is producing around 950 masks in two days working four hours a day. The project is being coordinated by Rtn Sadhana Singh.

RC Guna Royal — RID 3053 asks and sanitisers were distributed to corona M warriors, traffic police personnel, officers and the public as part of the club’s ongoing projects to prevent the spread of Covid virus.

RC Ahmedabad Asmita — RID 3054 his all-women’s club has planted 6,700 Ttrees at various localities in the city. PDG Maulin Patel, AG Sangita Shah, club president Dr Varsha Prajapati and other Rotarians took part in the green drive. The plantation activities of the club created a buzz in Ahmedabad.

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 77

Club Matters - September 2020.indd 77 8/25/2020 5:06:56 PM Club

RC Tarapur — RID 3060 ruits were distributed to over 2,000 women in the town Fand in the nearby areas for five consecutive days as part of Gaurivrat celebrations. The beneficiaries thanked Rotary for their gesture to mark this unique festival.

RC Jammu Elite — RID 3070 his all-women’s club distributed bird feeders to provide Tfood for birds. The members also put up bird feeders in their homes.

RC Moradabad Achievers — RID 3100 he Rotarians donated a sewing machine, gifts and T`15,000 in cash to a poor family for their daughter’s marriage.

RC Kanpur Chamber — RID 3110 he Rotarians distributed around 550 Tfour-layered cotton masks among the public, along with pamphlets with dos and don’ts to protect themselves from coronavirus.

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RC Panvel Elite — RID 3131 he club members, in association with RAC TPanvel Elite, donated 100 face shields to local journalists, the Panvel Press Club, RSS-Jan Kalyan Samiti and Dr Prabhakar Patwardhan Smruti Rugnalaya, an orthopaedic hospital in the city, as part of its efforts to support the frontline workers against the Covid pandemic.

RC Akkalkot — RID 3132 octors and paramedics from rural hospitals, taluk Dhealth centres and Akkalkot Taluka Medical Practi- tioners Association were honoured with Corona Warrior certificates for their work in containing the pandemic. Taluka health officer Dr Ashwin Karjakhede was the chief guest at the event. Club president Jitendra Kumar Jaju and secretary Sunil Boralkar were also present.

RC Chilakaluripet — RID 3150 mega health camp was organised for the staff of a local A cotton products industry. Around 425 workers were screened and medicines were given to them after consulta- tions. The project cost `4.25 lakh.

RC Kavali — RID 3160 wo sewing machines sponsored by Rtn T Vishnuvardhan were presented to needy women. Food packets sponsored by club president K Gopikrishna and his friends were given to needy persons and underprivileged families in view of the pandemic.

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Club Matters - September 2020.indd 79 8/25/2020 5:06:58 PM Club

RC Mundgod Heritage — RID 3170 ore than 300 patients benefitted from a mega health Mcamp organised at Baddigeri village in Mundgod taluk. Free medicines were given to all the patients. Van Mahotsav was observed by planting 20 saplings at the Rotary school and government hospital.

RC Belthangady — RID 3181 he club members took part in paddy cultivation along Twith the Anns. Karnataka MLC Prathapsimha Nayak, also a Rotarian, was the chief guest at the unique event. The Rotarians enjoyed planting the paddy seedling.

RC Kalamassery — RID 3201 icycles were gifted to schoolchildren under the B district’s Pedal to School project. The club also donated 36 sets of cot, bed and pillow with sheets and covers to the first line Covid treatment centre being set up in Kochi.

RC Payyanur — RID 3202 he club donated 50 beds, bedsheets and other Taccessories to set up a first line treatment centre at the Ramanthali Government HS School. Legislator C Krishnan inaugurated the centre in the presence of panchayat chief A Valsala. Club secretary P Surendran briefed the gathering on the project.

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RC Trivandrum Suburban — RID 3211 smart TV was presented by the club to a girl student to A help her in her studies and follow educational content required for her class.

RC Madras Chenna Patna — RID 3232 s part of its efforts in fighting Covid, the club joined Ahands with two other clubs to provide 170 oximetres to the Tamil Nadu State Health Minister Dr Vijaya Bhaskar at his office. The project cost `1.7 lakh.

RC Siliguri Central — RID 3240 he Rotarians donated one-month ration to 30 families Tof tea garden workers who were badly hit due to the Covid pandemic. The project cost `30,000.

RC Belur — RID 3291 DG Ravi Sehgal and IPP Rakesh Bhatia handed over Pinfrared thermometers to the Little Sisters of The Poor, an old age home in Kolkata, where 120 elders are accom- modated. The club got masks from DG Ajay Agarwal and gave it to the Shakespeare Police Station.

Compiled by V Muthukumaran Designed by L Gunasekaran

SEPTEMBER 2020 ROTARY NEWS 81

Club Matters - September 2020.indd 81 8/25/2020 5:07:00 PM Why Indian TVs make more noise

TCA Srinivasa Raghavan

few days ago we had our first This has also meant that TVs play food. Even the water was rationed and, Aguest in 135 days. Just one person. that much louder. And since we all as to the other passengers, she said, the We made sure the three of us — wife, keep our windows open when the ACs less said the better. They had made guest and me — sat at the regulation are not running, the noise level is ridic- enough noise to last her a lifetime. distance from each other. Thankfully ulously high. I am not making this up. My wife and I made clucking our drawing room is just about large I was told this by a Korean TV man- sounds of sympathy. We had once enough for that. But it’s not designed ufacturer when I asked him about the been on a flight that had about 50 for people to hold conversations sitting sound settings. These are kept higher lower level government employees. six feet away from each other. And, for the Indian market, he said, because They thought they could behave with- in any case, the ceiling fan and the air Indian cities are so noisy. But noisiness out any restraint — all only shouted to conditioners also do their bit. is an intrinsic part of Asian culture. each other — and the four hours back So we had to nearly shout to be The reason why we had had a guest from Bangkok where they had gone for heard. It wasn’t much fun. Fortunately, was that she had just flown in from some training programme had been the we were not wearing masks. The alter- London where she had been stuck for worst I have ever experienced. From native was to turn off the AC which, in four months and was now on her way what our guest said it seemed to have August in Delhi, was unthinkable. So to Jaipur. It is about 250km away from been exactly like that on her flight, we had to turn off the fan. We could Gurgaon where we live. Her flight had utterly uncomfortable because of the now hear ourselves but since we were arrived at noon and, since our house is uncouth and noisy behaviour of the seated in an equilateral triangle, we had on the way to Jaipur, she asked if she other passengers. Mind these when to take turns on who would sit directly could come for a shower and a change. they had to remain seated through most under the AC. The flight, she told us, had been pure of the flight. A word about ceiling fans here hell with all that protective gear and no In fairness, though, it must be said seems to be in order. There used to be that the Chinese when they travel in a time, until the late 1970s, when the groups are even worse. We once had a blades were heavy, very curved and tourist group of about 100 Chinese — wide. So they scooped up a lot of air, I was told this by a Korean TV even here it is scale that matters to get which meant you could run them at a lower prices. This was on a connecting low speed and still be comfortable. But manufacturer when I asked him flight from Hong Kong to Korea. It was they needed heavy motors. Since the about the sound settings. These pure hell. It’s a three-hour flight and early 1980s the motors have become the Chinese yelled, sang and laughed are kept higher for the Indian lighter and blades lighter still. The cur- loudly throughout. In the end three vature is also much less. This means market, he said, because Indian Chinese men loudly demanded that they have to rotate at high speed to gen- cities are so noisy. they be allowed to stand when the plane erate a reasonable breeze. And for the was landing. I think the poor steward- last ten years fans imported from China esses were nervous wrecks by the time have only made it all that much worse. we landed. We certainly were. „

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P_LBW_Making some noise.indd 82 28-Aug-20 6:36:58 PM 1.8 million wild polio cases averted*

9 billion oral polio vaccine doses provided*

220 million children vaccinated multiple times every year

2 million volunteer vaccinators support polio campaigns every year

* Estimates between 1996-2020

P_Wrapper_Back_Back_Inside_September20.indd 83 8/28/2020 6:38:58 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

African regiong certified wild poliovirus free by WHO

n 1996, the great African leader Nelson Mandela launched the Kick IPolio Out of Africa campaign with Rotary International’s support, setting out a vision for a polio-free Africa. At the time, wild polio paralysed 75,000 children each year. To protect communities from this crippling disease, African leaders, health workers, volunteers, parents, global donors and organisations united to reach every child with polio vaccines. On 25 August 2020, after four years without a single case of wild polio, the African region has been certified free of wild poliovirus. Decades of extraordinary investment has paid off. Yet, the job is not finished. These efforts must continue to prevent wild polio from returning and to end all forms of polio for good — both in Africa and globally. „

P_Wrapper_Back_Back_Inside_September20.indd 84 8/28/2020 6:38:57 PM