Vol. 54 Issue No. 43 Mumbai April 23 to April 29, 2013 Pages 8 Price Rs. 3/- Crusader-cum-satirist Aabid Surti receives the Club’s Taru Lalvani Award for Environment Protection as one ever heard of an award for environmental protection being presentedH to a satirist-cum-cartoonist? Such an improbable occurrence took place at the last meeting when the Rotary Club of Bombay Taru Lalvani Award for Environment Protection was presented to Mr. Aabid Surti who is well known as a painter, illustrator, artiste and satirist. What few know is that he has been waging a lonely war to save every drop of water by going to people’s houses and helping fix their leaking taps. He has been doing this for over seven years in the sprawling suburb of Mira Road where he knocks on residents’ doors every Sunday morning. He is accompanied by a plumber who car- Well done, Sir! Emma and Jetu Lalvani present the Rotary Club of Bombay Taru Lalvani Award for Environment ries a bag full of O-rings (gaskets or Protection to Mr. Aabid Surti, well-known painter, illustrator, artiste and satirist, at the last meeting. washers) and repairs the leaks. President Nowroze Vazifdar is at left Although he has formed an NGO called Drop Dead (with the tagline: has received a few big and many small the underworld and under whom After the introduction, Emma and Save every drop, or drop dead), his is contributions from those who have Dawood Ibrahim worked as a youth. Jetu Lalvani presented the Rotary Club clearly a thankless job. No one ever heard about his mission and have been “The book covers most of the pro- of Bombay Taru Lalvani Award for asked him to take up such a campaign, touched by it. minent facts and figures related to the Environment Protection to Mr. Aabid no one pays for the cost of the wash- In fact, at the last meeting, he re- rise of the organised Muslim crime Surti. ers, the salary of the plumber, or even ceived close to Rs. 1 lakh for his work world in Bombay. It’s a must-read.” There was prolonged applause as for the time that Mr. Surti spends ev- – a cheque for Rs. 40,000 as part of Dolly went on to describe in detail President Nowroze Vazifdar joined ery Sunday morning. the Taru Lalvani Award for Environ- Mr. Surti’s campaign to conserve ev- them. He started by spending from his ment Protection and a sum of Rs. ery drop of water in suburban Mira The award consisted of a memento pocket, diverting award monies re- 50,000 as a spontaneous donation Road over the last seven years. (De- and a cheque for Rs. 40,000. ceived to the cause; over the years he from some members (See Box inside). tails on Page 4) (Please see Page 4) Dolly Thakore, who introduced Mr. Surti, pointed out that as a graphic ar- Forthcoming tiste he had created a cartoon strip meetings called “Dablooji” which ran for over 30 years. April 23, 2013 While some people remembered him A talk on “Prevention of cancer” as a writer or as a painter, few were by Dr. Rajendra A. Badwe of the aware of the fact that he was a screen Tata Memorial Centre who was writer for two outstanding film direc- recently conferred the Padma Shri tors, Raj Khosla and Raj Kapoor, and award by the President of India. had written several plays, too. One of April 30, 2013 these plays, he recalled, had been re- Dr. Sitesh Roy to speak on “Cur- viewed by her (Dolly). ing incurable diseases”. Mr. Surti had also written the dia- May 7, 2013 logue for Hungama Bombay Ishtyle, a Dr. S. Mukherjee, Director-Gen- children’s film directed by Ayesha eral of the Prince of Wales Museum, Sayani. now known as the Chhatrapati One of his books was titled Sufi Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangraha- which was a reportage mixed with a laya, to speak on “Museums: story of two living characters, one of Building cultures – Increasing scope them the author himself and the other for cultural interactions”. Mine is not a rags to riches story, it’s from rags to happiness, says a man called Iqbal who was “king” of Mr. Aabid Surti at the last meeting (Please see Page 2) MY STORY IS NOT FROM RAGS TO RICHES, IT’S FROM RAGS TO HAPPINESS, SAYS ARTISTE AABID SURTI The following is a verbatim account save money, went for a cheap plumb- came to me. When the idea came to for others, He will take care of you, of the acceptance speech delivered by ing system which destroyed every- me, I started wondering how to imple- you don’t have to go to anybody with Mr. Aabid Surti after receiving the thing. ment it. If I were to go to people’s a begging bowl for funds. He becomes Rotary Club of Bombay Taru Apart from this, plumbers charged houses with a plumber, I would have your fund-raiser. It has happened with Lalvani Award for Environment about Rs. 100 to Rs. 400 per visit and to buy gasket rings and other things, I me. Protection at the last meeting. poor families could not afford to call a would have to go to and fro between Another point. There are so many think Dolly has said everything that plumber for such a petty job. They different apartment buildings. temptations if you are running an II wanted to say and as there is noth- were hard-working people, struggling As I thought about this aspect, I NGO; even though mine is a one- ing left to say, I will take up the basic to earn their bread, where would they got the news that I would be getting man NGO, yet there are many question, one that every journalist, get the money to call a plumber just to an award of Rs. 1 lakh for my lit- temptations. every person who meets me asks, stop the dripping? So the dripping erature. This was totally unex- Somebody, a very sincere friend of “How did you get the idea, this simple went on, for months and even for pected. And the thought came to me mine from Gujarat, said that he had idea?” years. that this award had not come to me arranged Rs. 13 lakhs from the State My answer to that question is, I also noted that the maximum leak- for literature, it had come to me for government for funding my NGO. I because I grew up on the pavement. age was in old buildings. In new build- my project. So the money was not said, if someone is giving money will- We were living in a chawl, a single ings, the builders had gone for a good mine. ingly, he is most welcome. room in which the whole family of plumbing system and good quality taps I put it in the bank in the name But he said there was a slight hitch. about 15 people was living... So so that leakages hardly took place; of the Drop Dead Foundation and I would have to return Rs. 5 lakhs. I there was no place to sleep, no wa- there were perhaps one or two taps started my work. said to him, why just Rs. 5 lakhs, tell ter and, as Dolly said, we had to that dripped in an entire apartment In four years, from 2007 to 2010, him to keep Rs. 13 lakhs! I didn’t ac- fight for every bucket. I carried that building. the money was over because I was cept it. legacy, that memory with me; it But in poor localities, in buildings also spending it for publicity, for T- What I want to stress is that if there affected me so much that I could with just two floors, we have had to shirts, posters and on other ways to is sincerity and honesty, you will get not forget it. work for about two weeks. make more people aware. help. As I grew up, whenever I went to a The point I want to make is that all As the money got over in 2010, I I got another offer, this one from friend’s house or visited people, I used of this affected me psychologically and thought that I had done my job, that I the Maharashtra government, but again to note that at least one tap, either in I started feeling frustrated within. had inspired many people and that I with the same string attached. I would the kitchen or in the bathroom or the Around that time, I read in the should close down. have to return a few lakhs. I said I toilet, was leaking. I could hear the Hindustan Times that if one drop of But then I received another award don’t want the money. sound of dripping water from at least water dripped in one second, then in of Rs. 50,000, a lifetime achievement Mahatma Gandhi has said, if one tap. I would request them to please one month 1,000 litres of water went award from the Maharashtra govern- your foundation is weak, if your do something about it. They would down the drain. ment. So once again, from 2010 to foundation is corrupt, then your say yes, they would do it. This hit me very hard. When I men- 2012, the mission was on and then whole building is corrupt and it is But it was just a drop of water, so tioned it to people, they would say, again the money was spent. I again going to fall like a pack of cards as why worry about just a drop? When I let that one drop drip, why do you started thinking about folding up, but we have seen recently in Mumbra. went to their house again, say after six worry about it? I had no answer to another award came my way last The message is, don’t go for under- months, the dripping was still on. that. month, another award of Rs. 50,000. hand dealings, be straight, be honest to These were educated people. But this did not deter me; in fact, it What I want to convey to you is yourself and everything will work out Then I realised that the problem lay encouraged me and made me think that if your intentions are clear, if you beautifully. in poor plumbing. Some builders, to about doing something. An idea soon sincerely wish to do something good (Continued on Page 4)

President Nowroze Vazifdar calls the meeting to order. Others from left are It hit me very hard when I read in the ‘Hindustan Times’ that if one drop of Dolly Thakore, Mr. Aabid Surti, who received the Taru Lalvani Award for water dripped in one second, then in one month 1,000 litres of water went Environment Protection, and Hon. Secretary Sitaram Shah down the drain, reveals Mr. Aabid Surti April 23 to April 29, 2013 THE GATEWAY, The Bulletin of the Rotary Club of Bombay Page 2 So what if sugar is decontrolled, there has to be control over insulin levels. An awesome threesome. From left in this picture are PP Harry Singh Arora, Natoobhai Brahmbhatt and Ramesh Mehta share a joke at the last meeting Mahesh Khubchandani and Shiv Kumar Israni HE TOPPED BOMBAY UNIVERSITY IN MATHS BUT CHOSE TO PURSUE MEDICINE

rof. Rajendra Achyut Badwe, who His original research on “Timing of lished the DAE CTC (DAE Clinical Mumbai Medical Foundation for will speak on the prevention of surgery during the menstrual cycle Trials Centre) for multi-centre clini- outstanding contributions in surgery. Pcancer at the next meeting, is the for operable breast cancer” changed cal trials. In January, 2013, he was conferred the Director of the Tata Memorial Cen- the treatment planning in England Prof. Badwe has championed evidence- Padma Shri by the President of In- tre, a world-renowned cancer care and in the east coast of the USA. based practice of cancer medicine in dia for his contribution to the field institution, and has three decades of Under his able leadership, the govern- India and has completed the first- of medicine. He has also been deco- diverse experience as a surgeon and ment of India planned cancer hospi- ever randomised clinical trial in India rated with the Lifetime Achievement oncologist. tals in Andhra Pradesh and Punjab for 1,000 breast cancer patients Award for breast cancer treatment Born on May 18, 1956, he passed his with linkages across the regional can- which confirmed the promised ben- in 2010 and the Indian Nuclear Soci- M.B.,B.S. in 1978 and did his M.S. cer centres in India. He has been a efit of more than 25% reduction in ety Outstanding Service Award in General Surgery in 1983 from the key advisor for the development of death rate. If implemented globally, (2011). University of Bombay. six AIIMS-like institutions and in this strategy has the potential to save Prof. Badwe is also interested in read- A merit-holder and national scholar the planning for a national cancer thousands of lives at a cost of $2 per ing, travel, music and philosophy throughout his academic career, he centre, again for the government of patient. which contribute to his complete- had won the Athalye Medal for India. He has to his credit over 100 scientific ness as a humane professional. standing first in maths in Bombay He serves on the governing body of and research publications in leading University and yet decided to pur- AIIMS, Delhi, and is a member of national and international journals. Rs. 1.50 lakhs for sue medicine. the committee on non-communi- He is on several scientific commit- HTEC from He was a Fellow of the International cable disease for ICMR, DBT and tees globally and is also a reviewer Society for Diseases of the Oe- DST. to several international journals. Katgara Foundation sophagus from June to October, As Director of the Tata Memorial Cen- Prof. Badwe is a reviewer for The he Katgara Foundation has given 1989, at the Toronomon Hospital, tre, Prof. Badwe has led the initia- Lancet, the B.J.C., Cancer, the In- Ta generous donation of Rs. 1.50 Tokyo. And from December, 1989, tive to establish a national cancer grid ternational Journal of Surgery, lakhs towards the Hasanali Tobacco- to June, 1992, he worked as Regis- to harmonise and standardise best Annals of Oncology, the Indian wala Eye Centre at Talwada. trar, Honorary Consultant and Lec- practices in cancer care across the Journal of Surgery and the Indian President Nowroze Vazifdar made turer in Guy’s Hospital, King’s Col- country and evidence-based guide- Journal of Cancer. He is also an an announcement to this effect at the lege and Royal Marsden Hospital, lines for the Breast Health Global editorial board member for Bre- last meeting. respectively, in London. Initiative and the World Health ast, International Journal of Sur- Birthday donations An international opinion leader in on- Organisation. gery and Mammology. alpana Singhania has made a cology, his expertise in developing During his tenure as Head of the De- He has been honoured nationally and birthday donation of Rs. 10,001. breast cancer care strategies, inno- partment of Surgical Oncology from internationally for his service, inno- KRavi Sheth and Dr. Darius Soona- vative research, integrating delivery 2002 to 2008, he devoted himself to vative research and education. A walla have given Rs. 5,001 each and systems, improving quality and can- streamlining and enhancing the qual- Dorab Tata Scholar (1974-1978), he Ramesh Dhir Rs. 5,000. cer management programmes and ca- ity of surgical outcomes, introduc- received the Joglekar Gold Medal in President Nowroze Vazifdar pacity building of staff on cancer care ing site specialisation, novel tech- 1993 for the best research paper and thanked the members for their gener- delivery has been exemplary. niques and post-doctoral prog- a year later he was awarded the C.V. osity at the last meeting. Prof. Badwe’s seminal contribution to rammes. Menon Gold Medal for the best sur- breast cancer research has led to a He also mooted and implemented the gical research in India. paradigm shift in the understanding Clinical Research Secretariat (CRS) Apart from these, he has been honoured Service of cancer biology and has had a glo- for the first time to ensure involve- with the UICC “Reach to Recovery bal impact in the area of cost-effec- ment and commitment to research International Medal” (2003) and the Above Self tive and life-saving treatment. from faculty members and estab- Sushrut Award (2007) from the April 23 to April 29, 2013 THE GATEWAY, The Bulletin of the Rotary Club of Bombay Page 3 Aabid Surti says he is trying to inspire the common man and senior citizens to take up his campaign to save every drop of water

(Continued from Page 2) I say that if I can go out, so can you; You won’t get such love anywhere At that time, said Mr. Surti, he was Coming to my experiences going your experience will help the people. unless you do good for others. There is working on a scheme under which his from house to house and from door to My target is not affluent people, my a lot that I can say and talk about but, NGO would act like a fire brigade. He door, I get so much love from people target is the common man, the senior as I said, don’t talk, just do it. would have a tiny cabin, cubicle or a that I cannot describe it. Sometimes I citizens. I tell them that the Rs. 300 Answering questions, Mr. Surti corner of a garage, have a computer, an think that even my mother didn’t love per week that I spend should not go thanked Roda Billimoria who saluted operator, a bicycle and a plumber. Any- me so much! from their pocket, from the common him on behalf of her fellow members. one having leaking taps would call this We just go willingly on our own and man’s pocket, otherwise they will not In reply to a question about melting little office. The plumber would go on we are doing a free service. It is self- do it. Many do not have Rs. 300 per glaciers, he said that the quantity of the bicycle to attend to the problem less, without expecting anything in re- week to spend on this mission. water in the world was not increasing, and he would follow. turn. Thinking on these lines for five or but the population was galloping. However, he came down to earth What is our cost? A gasket costs 50 six years, wondering how to accom- But addressing the larger picture, he very quickly when he realised that get- paise a piece if I buy it wholesale; and modate everyone and move forward, I said, India faced hundreds of problems ting a tiny cabin or cubicle would cost I pay Rs. 250 to my plumber. He is got some T-shirts printed and went to so far as conserving water was con- lakhs of rupees. It was then that his also a committed man. Our Sunday a fair where they gave me a small table cerned. For example, despite the crores Commissioner friend asked how much mornings are meant for this. If some- to sell them. I put up a board saying of rupees spent by then Prime Minis- money he wanted. body goes to my plumber for any job, that this T-shirt cost me Rs. 100, please ter Rajiv Gandhi the government could “I realised that if he, as a Commis- big or small, he refuses, saying he is not pay me Rs. 100 plus anything you do nothing to clean the Ganga. sioner, tells anyone to give me Rs. 20 free on Sunday. So my expense is Rs. want. “I had been to Patna five years back lakhs, people will come running with 250 for the plumber and Rs. 50 for I got tremendous response. Some and the Ganga there was just like an money. But that money will be ‘fear conveyance and gaskets. people gave me Rs. 110 and some gave ocean. Last month I was again in Patna money’. It will not be given out of love, If anyone wants to start this scheme, Rs. 600 or even Rs. 800. The cost was and it was like a gutter. This is the prob- just as the Rotarians here willing gave the cost is just Rs. 300 per week. This covered through that. So the common lem with the Ganga and with other riv- me money. This man, whom the Com- scheme is for middle class people, for man who wants to launch this does ers... If you can’t save the Ganga, at missioner approaches, will come with the common man. If you meet the com- not have to pay a single paisa from his least you can save a few drops of wa- the ‘fear’ that if he doesn’t do it, then mon man, he would be abusing the gov- pocket. ter. You can do that instead of just something might happen to his com- ernment and the system but not doing This is the way it is going and my criticising others.” pany. anything about it. So I tell him, don’t experiences are so beautiful... When Sonya Mehta presented Mr. “So I said, I don’t need that money, just talk, do something. This is what As I go from house to house, Surti with a sum of Rs. 50,000 col- I need ‘pure money’; if it’s there, I’m you can do. somebody says, you will have to lected on the spur of the moment, he willing to accept it. He started thinking If you can’t work to save water, help have lunch with us. We are three was overwhelmed. He said he never about what he could do to make me some animals or birds, help the spar- people and what have we done? We asked anyone for donations, but if happy and to save my one-man NGO. rows. There is so much to do in this have done a job worth just 50 paise. someone wanted to give willingly, “with He was concerned. We were sitting in world besides criticising the govern- And three plates mean at least Rs. a pure heart and without any string the Press Club having some drinks... ment and criticising the system. 300. But they offer us meals out of attached, you are most welcome”. when his intoxication had gone down This is my work... I want the com- love. He recalled that when one of his after ten minutes or so, he came up mon man and I am also inspiring re- Some people say, have some sher- friends, a Commissioner of the income with a different idea and said ‘I will tired people (to take up this scheme). bet with us, or we have made golgappas tax department, was transferred to offer you Rs. 10,000 from my salary We in India believe that after 60, when or chaat, you must have these with us. Bombay in 2010, they got talking about and this you cannot refuse’. our children are married and there are (On Sundays, people usually make his work. His funding was drying up. “I said, most welcome, write down grandchildren to play with, then our different kinds of dishes and they offer Whereupon the friend asked how much the cheque right now! I will accept that life is over. But I give my example and these to us.) money he wanted. money.” A SPONTANEOUS GESTURE sum of Rs. 50,000 was raised and handed over to Mr. Aabid ASurti at the end of the last meet- ing at which he received the Ro- tary Club of Bombay Taru Lalvani Award for Environment Protection. It was on the spontaneous initia- tive of what is popularly known as the “Bawa table’”, immedi- ately supported by a cross-sec- tion of the members, that the sum of Rs. 50,000 was collected on Please accept our congratulations and our best wishes. Roda Billimoria compliments Mr. Aabid Surti after hearing the spot and handed over to Mr. him speak at the last meeting. In the picture at right, Mr. Surti and President Nowroze Vazifdar bide their time as a Surti. member completes his question April 23 to April 29, 2013 THE GATEWAY, The Bulletin of the Rotary Club of Bombay Page 4 Aabid Surti says he is trying to inspire the common man and senior HOW AABID SURTI STARTED HIS citizens to take up his campaign to save every drop of water CRUSADE TO CONSERVE WATER

The point he was trying to make olly Thakore said while introduc- leaky tap. It bothered him. When he A day before, Tejal handed out pam- was that it was best to be “pure” with ing Mr. Aabid Surti, who received pointed it out, his friend, like anyone phlets explaining the mission and one’s self. If he had accepted Rs. 13 theD Rotary Club of Bombay Taru else, dismissed it casually; it was too pasted posters in elevators and apart- lakhs from the Gujarat government and Lalvani Award for Environment Pro- expensive and inconvenient to call a ment lobbies spreading awareness returned Rs. 5 lakhs, he would have tection at the last meeting, that there plumber for such a minor job; besides, about the looming water crisis. By had to make adjustments with a third was a fascinating aspect to his life. And even plumbers were not keen on com- Sunday afternoon, the team of three person and the whole enterprise would that was his commitment to a social ing over to replace an old gasket. ensured that all the taps in the building have turned into a mess. cause. But a few days later Mr. Surti came were drip-dry. “Plus, I would not be happy with His was an inspiring true story that across a statistic in a newspaper which At the end of the first year this myself, I would lose my sleep. Right showed how simple it was for one said that a tap that dripped once ev- team had visited 1,533 homes and now I am the happiest man – and my person with an idea to make a differ- ery second wasted 1,000 litres of wa- fixed around 400 taps. story is not from rags to riches but ence. ter in a month. In 2010, Mr. Surti was nominated from rags to happiness!” A few years ago, when he was in- That triggered an idea. He would take for the CNN-IBN CJ “Be The Cha- Hon. Secretary Sitaram Shah said he vited to New Delhi to meet the Presi- a plumber from door to door and fix nge” award. In the same year, a televi- was reminded of his college days when dent of India and receive a national taps for free, visiting one apartment sion crew from Berlin flew down to a professor visited his hostel and told award for literature, he politely de- complex every weekend. follow him on his Sunday rounds which the students that a poor country could clined. He was absorbed in writing the As a creative artist, he had earned continued come rain or shine. not afford to have leaking taps. This draft of a novel, he said, so he did not more goodwill than money and the first It was hard to say how much water was very true, because almost all the have the time. challenge was funding. “But,” he be- he had saved through his mission, given taps in the hostel were leaking. But what he had made time for ev- lieved, “if you have a noble thought, that the faucets he fixed would have The professor had pointed out that ery Sunday for seven years was going nature takes care of it.” continued leaking for months, even India was very poor and yet there was door-to-door in Mira Road, a nonde- Within a few days, he learnt that he years, had he not rung the doorbell maximum wastage of water here. How script suburb of Bombay, with a was being awarded Rs. 1,00,000 by one Sunday morning. But conserva- could this wastage at the grassroots be plumber in tow and asking residents the Hindi Sahitya Sansthan of UP for tively, it could be estimated that he tackled? whether they needed any leaking taps his contribution to Hindi literature. had single-handedly saved at least 5.5 Mr. Surti said it was difficult to cor- fixed for free. And so, one Sunday morning in million litres of water. rect the mindset of grown-ups because As a distinguished painter and au- 2007, which was the International Year As Maharashtra faced its worst they were not open to ideas. There- thor, Mr. Surti had written about 80 of Water, he set out with a plumber to drought in 40 years, the State’s Chief fore, he was motivating school chil- books but no story had moved him as fix problem taps for his neighbours. Minister had already warned citizens dren. Every year, he organised a rally much as one about water scarcity on He began by simply replacing old O- to begin conserving water. And while with school children in Mira Road. the planet. ring rubber gaskets with new ones, Ministers lobbied for drought-relief He gave them posters and asked them “I read an interview of the former buying them from the wholesale mar- packages worth crores of rupees, Mr. to paste these in their buildings and UN Chief, Mr. Boutros-Boutros ket. Surti saw his own approach as one societies so that people would see them Ghali,” he recalled, “who said that by He formed a one-man NGO called that was simple and inexpensive. and become aware and conscious about 2025 more than 40 countries were ex- “Drop Dead” and even created a tagline “Anyone can launch a water con- the problem. pected to experience a water crisis. for it: Save every drop… Or drop dead. servation project in his or her area. “There are a thousand children in “And I remembered my childhood Every Sunday, the “Drop Dead” That’s the beauty of this concept. It one school... I am going to cover more in a ghetto, fighting for each bucket of team – which consisted of Mr. Surti doesn’t require much funding or even schools. The best way is to create water. I knew that shortage of water is himself, Riyaaz the plumber and a fe- an office. And, most importantly, it awareness amongst children. If you put the end of civilized life.” male volunteer called Tejal – picked puts the power back in our own hands.” the seed now, it will grow very beauti- Around that time, in 2007, he was apartment blocks, got permission from Dolly added: “We salute you, Mr. fully,” Mr. Surti added. at a friend’s place where he noticed a the housing societies and got to work. Surti.”

Please accept our contribution. Mr. Surti receives Rs. 50,000 collected by the Mr. Aabid Surti, who received the Taru Lalvani Environment Protection ‘Bawa table’ in co-operation with other members at the last meeting. With him Award, strikes a pose with Dolly Thakore who had introduced him. are Hon. Secretary Sitaram Shah, Jetu Lalvani and Sonya Mehta (centre) He recalled that she had reviewed one of his plays many years ago April 23 to April 29, 2013 THE GATEWAY, The Bulletin of the Rotary Club of Bombay Page 5 He slept in a cardboard box, became a champion boxer, turned to politics – and he is also a Rotarian; but is he destined to be the President of the Philippines? anny Pacquiao grew up poor thing else going on with Pacquiao – “Cash right out of his pocket!” Manny as more than a money- on the island of Mindanao in something like a higher purpose.” Manny bought one stranded con- maker. Comparing his top client to Mthe Philippines. How poor? He Two years ago, in a title bout at Cow- stituent a car. Another time he Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson slept in a cardboard box. He begged boys Stadium, the champ rained fought homelessness as directly as Mandela, Bob says, “We’re seeing for pesos. His friends still talk 474 punches on challenger Anto- possible. He bought a homeless an early stage of a world leader’s about the day he brought a stray nio Margarito. He broke Antonio’s man a house. “He is the people’s life. Manny is going to be Presi- dog home to his family’s shack. The right orbital bone. “Finish him off!” hero,” adds Chavit. dent of the Philippines.” boy cried when the dog wound up Freddie yelled from Manny’s cor- In Washington, Manny Pacquiao met Yet he entered 2013 at a career cross- in a stewpot. ner. a 6-foot-1 hero of his own: “Presi- roads. Back in June, Manny had Young Manny got into fights but not Instead, the champ backed up. “Box- dent Obama, he’s tall,” he mar- lost a controversial judges’ decision into crime; unlike many fighters, ing isn’t killing,” he said. “I beat velled after they discussed the trade to Timothy Bradley, though most he was never a thug. Sometimes he him up enough.” Antonio Marga- bill, their shared love of NBA bas- experts thought that he had won. hid in churches and prayed for guid- rito lived to fight another day. ketball and the champ’s upcoming His career record still stood at 54- ance. “I wanted a mission in life. A Manny has leveraged his fame into bouts. 4-2. calling,” he says. political punch, running for a seat Obama closed their summit by hand- Then, in December, he fought Juan Today, Manny Pacquiao (PACK-ee- in the Philippine House of Repre- ing over shopping bags full of Presi- Manuel Márquez at the MGM ow) is one of the richest, most popu- sentatives. He lost the first elec- dential-seal M&Ms for Manny Grand arena. Manny was leading lar athletes on earth. tion, a setback that led to three years Pacquiao’s four children and a Presi- on the judges’ cards when Márquez According to the 2012 Forbes list of grassroots preparation for the dential-seal wristwatch that now stunned the boxing world, knock- of the world’s highest-paid ath- next. The second time around, his adorns the Congressman’s office in ing him out with a sixth-round hay- letes, Manny Pacquiao earned opponent had no shot against a na- Manila. maker. As the fighting Congress- US $62 million in 12 months – tional icon whose face was already At 34, Manny is nearing the end of man lay flat on the canvas, a May- second to fellow boxer Floyd on a Philippine postage stamp. his boxing prime. Many fans have weather showdown looked distant. Mayweather and ahead of Tiger He won by a landslide and took of- dreamed of the day he (finally) There were whispers that Manny Woods and LeBron James. fice in June, 2010. As a junior legis- squares off against unbeaten Floyd had lost his edge. Nobody else in boxing history has lator, he was expected to spend his Mayweather, his long-time rival for But he swore that it wasn’t true and matched his versatility. With a time shaking hands and waving to the unofficial title of World’s Best he would come back stronger than record ten world titles in eight crowds, leaving the grind of day- Boxer. ever. And his political plans? weight classes, he has won cham- to-day politics to his elders. “Ex- A cocky American who likes to show “My mind is on my next fight,” he pionship belts in divisions from cept, he didn’t do that,” says Eddie off his fleet of luxury cars and his says, ducking the question like an flyweight (108-112 pounds) up to Roach. “He started acting like a real diamond-studded platinum iPod, expert politician. super welterweight (147-154). Congressman.” Floyd has spent five years thrash- “What about after that? Did he want His rise began in 1995 when the The rookie lawmaker secured $4.5 ing lesser contenders, ducking his to be his country’s President?” scrawny kid turned pro at age 16. million to build a hospital in his Manny-fist destiny. Their show- He smiles. It’s the only smile out of “I was just a little guy,” he recalls. native Sarangani Province. He down promises to be the most im- “Mr. Sincerity”, a crinkle of the lip He stood at four feet eleven inches backed a bill to fight human traf- portant fight in decades, the rich- that says me to know, you to find and weighed 98 pounds. The story ficking. est in history, a bout that might out. He’s too smart to announce goes that he was so far under the And in 2011, Congressman Manny reverse the sport’s long slide into any career plans before this year weight limit that he put steel ball Pacquiao went to Washington, second-tier status. “It would be a plays out – and too young to run bearings in the pockets of his trunks D.C., to urge Senate Majority Lea- great fight,” says Manny. “Maybe for President until 2022. Still, that at the weigh-in. Of course, he won. der Harry Reid, a former Golden the greatest.” smile suggests that the world will Since then, his 60 fights have made Gloves boxer, and his colleagues to Meanwhile, he continues to train, be hearing from Congressman “Pac-Man” more than a hero to his pass a trade bill that could create zipping around his homeland in Manny Pacquiao even if he never fellow Filipinos. More like a su- thousands of jobs for Philippine a bulletproof Escalade and still knocks out Floyd “Money” May- perhero. His superhuman training garment workers. finds time to lead the Rotary weather. routine might melt a weaker man. “My people do not want handouts. Club of Manila 101. “After win- “Boxing is my passion,” he adds, “but After a 10-mile mountain run, all of it They want jobs,” says Manny, ning my first few world titles, I public service is my calling.” uphill, he spars 30 to 40 rounds, “and it’s my job to help them.” was asked to speak there,” he his punches whistling through the He speaks with a steady intensity says. “I guess you could say I air. Then he hammers the heavy and that leaves no doubt that he means liked being a Rotary guest so speed bags for 10 minutes, followed what he says. As those around him much, I decided to join. The Club by 10 minutes of skipping rope, attest, the fighting Congressman appeals to my core beliefs in ser- 1,000 sit-ups and his personal abs takes his second career as seriously vice to others. It nurtures my builder: letting a friend whap his as his first. soul.” stomach with a bamboo stick. Then “I told him to wait. ‘Boxing first,’ I He has boosted its efforts to improve he sits down to one of six daily said, ‘then politics’,” recalls Chavit and even save lives. “We’re sup- meals – chicken, rice, beans, eggs Singson, Governor of Ilocos Sur plying much-needed medicine, food and a protein smoothie – before a Province who serves as one of and clothes to those who need couple of hours of full-court bas- Manny’s advisers. “But Manny help,” he said in the wake of a re- ketball. follows his heart.” cent typhoon. “A man on a mission? That’s him all Chavit, a colourful politico whose Bob Arum, the legendary promoter over,” says Freddie Roach, Manila mansion is guarded by a ti- of fights including the epic Manny’s grizzled trainer. “He’s got ger, was amazed to see his friend Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier killer instinct, but there’s some- hand money to needy citizens. “Thrilla in Manila” in 1975, sees April 23 to April 29, 2013 THE GATEWAY, The Bulletin of the Rotary Club of Bombay Page 6 FROM THE R.I. PRESIDENT It’s always better White House honours 12 Rotarians to be ‘the best’ as ‘Champions of Change’ Dear Fellow Rotarians, otary is an international organisa- welve American Rotarians were address the world’s most pressing of polio and the alleviation of suffer- tion and when I travel for Rotary, Thonoured at the White House on problems. He noted how Rotary’s ing of people with polio her life’s work. RI usually speak in English. But it has April 5 as “Champions of Change” partnership with other organisations A polio survivor herself, she has led been a long time since my last English for their efforts to improve communi- had nearly eradicated polio worldwide. numerous Rotary volunteer teams to exam so when I am working in ties locally and around the world. “When we defeat polio – and, yes, India, Nigeria and other countries to Evanston, I always have a Japanese As part of the day-long event, more we will defeat this disease – we will immunise children and provide assis- interpreter. It is important to under- than 160 Rotarians attended a morn- prove that there is nothing we cannot tance to people disabled by polio. stand every word at the meetings and ing round of briefings by government accomplish for the good of humanity Jeremiah Lowney Jr. of the Ro- it is important as well that the staff officials on topics including polio by working together,” John added. tary Club of Norwich, Connecticut – understand what I am saying. eradication, health, violence prevention The 12 Rotarians honoured as Jeremiah led the effort to establish the It was a new experience for me to and the environment. “Champions of Change” were: Haitian Health Foundation, now the speak Japanese to a group and then “It is a great honour to see these Tom Barnes, a member of the Ro- primary health care provider in south- hear my words spoken in English. Even dedicated Rotary members recognised tary Club of Marion-East Cedar Rap- western Haiti, delivering live-saving now, I find it interesting. I hear new by the US White House as ‘Champi- ids, Iowa – he leads a project that has services to a quarter million people in ways of expressing myself in English ons of Change’ for their work to im- provided new shoes to more than 3,500 104 rural villages. and I also have a small glimpse of what prove the lives of people around the children from low-income families Douglas McNeil, a member of the it must be like not to speak Japanese. world,” said R.I. President Sakuji across the state. Rotary Club of Los Gatos Morning, But perhaps the most interesting Tanaka. Bob Dietrick of the Rotary Club California – He leads area Rotary mem- moment came early on in my year as He said that those honoured exem- of Franklin At Breakfast, Tennessee – bers in programmes that mentor and President-Elect when I was in a meet- plified how Rotary brought people Bob is the driving force behind Opera- inspire young people, such as the Ro- ing with Rotary staff members. To be together to solve problems that were tion Starfish, a project that provides tary Earth Day Project. He also helped sure that we could communicate well, too large for one person to tackle. clean water and sanitation to low-in- establish Lighting for Literacy which I had with me a Japanese interpreter. I “Alone, we look at the problems of come residents in the region who would provides low-cost solar lighting sys- spoke in Japanese and she interpreted our community and our world and we otherwise have to rely on contaminated tems for communities without elec- what I said into English. We had a feel helpless,” he said. “But together, shallow wells. tricity, promoting more at-home read- pleasant and productive meeting. we are powerful. Through Rotary we John Germ, a member of the Ro- ing, a key tool in increasing literacy After it was over, one member of have the power to change our commu- tary Club of Chattanooga, Tennessee rates. the staff came up to me and asked, nities and communities throughout the – John is a leader in fund development Harriett Schloer of the Rotary “There is one word I heard you use world – now and in the future. We for Rotary’s polio eradication cam- Club of Bend High Desert, Oregon – many times in Japanese. I would like have the ability to build the world we paign and recently coordinated an ef- In 1999, Harriett enlisted Rotary sup- to know what it means. What is the dream of, one that is healthier, happier fort that raised more than $228 million port to launch the Shots for Tots word ichiban?” I told her that ichiban and with hope for better things to in response to the $355 million chal- programme which provides free rou- in Japanese does not convey any phi- come.” lenge grants from the Bill & Melinda tine immunisations to any area school losophy or complicated thought. It R.I. General Secretary John Hewko Gates Foundation. He also leads children, insured or not, through age simply means to be the best. said the 12 Rotarians represented what projects to assist mentally and physi- 18. Deschutes County now has one But it made me think. Of all the Rotary was all about: “Committed cally challenged children and adults in of the highest immunisation rates in words I had used in Japanese, of all volunteers working together to improve Tennessee. the state. the words she had heard over and over, communities not just in the United Peggy Halderman of the Rotary Bonnie Sirower, a member of the this was the word she had heard the States but throughout the world.” Club of Golden, Colorado – Five years Rotary Club of Paterson, New Jersey most. I did not realise that I had used it He said that Rotary was an early ago, Peggy launched Golden Backpack, – Bonnie organised and coordinated so often. But for me, that one word, and continuing example of organisa- a programme that provides food ev- Rotary relief efforts in the aftermath ichiban, is essential to how I feel about tions that were neither government ery weekend to more than 520 under- of Hurricane Sandy which devastated my job as a Rotarian and as President institutions nor private businesses but privileged school children in the Golden the region in October. As a result, truck- of Rotary International. were increasingly joining together to community. loads of critically-needed relief sup- For me, Rotary service means being Nancy Sanford Hughes, a mem- plies were sent from Rotary Clubs to ichiban. It means doing your best and ber of the Rotary Club of Eugene communities along the East Coast. being the best you can be. It means Southtowne, Oregon – Nancy helped Neli Vazquez-Rowland of the working as hard as you can – not for establish Stove Team International, a Rotary Club of Chicago – Neli and her yourself, but for others. It means programme that assists local entrepre- husband in 1994 established Safe Ha- achieving as much as you can, to make neurs in creating factories in five Cen- ven, a comprehensive programme that other people’s lives better. tral American countries that make helps thousands of people dealing with In the dictionary, ichiban means clean, fuel-efficient cooking stoves to homelessness, hunger, addiction, “best”. But in Rotary “best” means replace dangerous open cooking fires. chronic unemployment and other is- something different. It means bringing The programme is now supported by sues. Service Above Self into all of your Rotary Clubs throughout the US, “The commitment of these individu- thinking. It means looking at your own Mexico and Central America. als to service reflects that of our world- effort, not in terms of what it costs Walter Hughes Jr. of the Rotary wide membership of 1.2 million men you, but in terms of what it can give. Club of Rocky Mount, Virginia – He and women, all of whom deserve to In this way, we are inspired to do so leads a multinational Rotary partner- share in this recognition,” Sakuji said. much more. It is our job to see to it ship that is helping to eradicate guinea “Rotary is a way for good people to that our Rotary service is ichiban – so worm disease in Ghana and South step forward and work for a better that we do the most we can to build R.I. President Sakuji Tanaka, who Sudan through the implementation of world. And it is a way for all of us, Peace Through Service. was present on the occasion, clean water projects. around the world, to transcend race, Yours in Rotary, applauds the 12 Rotarians honoured Ann Lee Hussey, a member of the religion, nation and politics – to come Sakuji Tanaka by the US White House as Rotary Club of Portland Sunrise, together to give help to the people who R.I. President 2012-13 ‘Champions of Change’ Maine – She has made the eradication need it,” he added. April 23 to April 29, 2013 THE GATEWAY, The Bulletin of the Rotary Club of Bombay Page 7 Published on Tuesday. Regd. No. MH/MR/South-109/2012-14; R.N.I. No. 14015/60 Posted at Mumbai Patrika Channel Sorting Office, Mumbai 400 001, on Wednesday, April 24, 2013

ROTARY CLUB OF BOMBAY Happy Birthday FOUNDED 19 MARCH, 1929 Charter No. 3128, Dated 08 May, 1929 97-B, Mittal Tower, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400 021, INDIA Tel.: +91-22-2202 4089 Fax.: +91-22-2202 4509 [email protected] OFFICE-BEARERS 2012/13 PRESIDENT NOWROZE VAZIFDAR Ashwin Ramesh Dr. Ameet Pispati Immediate April 23 April 25 Past President Paul George President-Elect Nirav Shah Vice-President Shailesh Haribhakti Honorary Secretary Sitaram Shah Joint Hon. Secretary Hiren Kara Hon. Treasurer Ishraq Contractor CLUB SERVICE: New Members With Swiss guests. President Nowroze Vazifdar and Shiv Dev Gorowara Director in charge Nirav Shah with Beat Burgler (second from left) and Meinrad Fleischmann (right), Membership PP Sandip Agarwalla Classifications PP Dr. Adi Dastur Visiting Rotarians from Schoenberg, Switzerland Partha Rakshit Renu Basu Information PP Dr. Kekoo Kavarana April 25 April 27 Membership Development & District Conference Ramesh Narayan CLUB SERVICE: Programmes/Meetings Director in charge Framroze Mehta Attendance Arvind Agarwal Programme PP Haresh Jagtiani Fellowship PP Ashish Vaid Bulletin, Website & Public Relations PP Arun Sanghi Darius Pandole Sergeant-at-Arms Roda Billimoria April 27 COMMUNITY SERVICE: Medical – I Director in charge Dr. Percy Chibber Chairman Emeritus, Spouses Talwada PP Dr. Rahim Muljiani Preeti Tankha HTEC, Talwada PP Dr. Rumi Jehangir April 23 ADMC, Talwada Dr. Sorab Javeri Preeti Ambani Oral Health Dr. Rajeev Narvekar April 26 COMMUNITY SERVICE: Medical – II Tarang Jain Director in charge Dr. Vandana Bulchandani Another foursome snapped enjoying Fellowship at the last meeting. April 26 Control of TB Dr. Rohini Chowgule And two of them are Jatias. From left in this photograph are Ashok Jatia, Sharmila Lele Cancer Aid Zinia Lawyer Vijay Jatia, Jamshed Banaji and Dr. Paresh Ichhaporia Heart Care and Health Dr. Aashish Contractor April 27 PolioPlus & Niloufer Vazifdar Differently Abled Shyyamniwas Somani At the last Visiting Rotarians April 27 COMMUNITY SERVICE: Non-Medical (On April 9) Director in charge Sunny Pariyaram meeting Anita Shantaram (Rotary Club of Old Age Homes/ Bombay Bay View); Ashwin Shah, Senior Citizens Naresh Kumar Jain (Held on April 16, 2013) Bernhard Steinrucke (Bombay Mid- Rural Development Dilnavaz Variava ATTENDANCE Environment Jagdish Malkani Town); Oscar Martins (Bush Hill, Members 109 UK); One Profits VOCATIONAL SERVICE Visiting Rotarians 3 (On April 16) Director in charge Shernaz Vakil Rotaryanns 5 Rotary & Public Awards Ram Gandhi Chandrika Jain (Rotary Club of Most Who Vocational Training & Guests 3 Delhi Main); Beat Burgler and Mein- Night Study Centres Bimal Mehta Total 120 rad Fleischmann (Rotary Club of INTERNATIONAL SERVICE Svc. box collection Rs. 3,750 Schoenberg, Switzerland). Serves Best Director in charge Ashok Minawala Rotary Foundation & Matching Grants PP Arvind Jolly R.I. Programmes & Editorial Consultant: Anmol Purohit, Slumber Kit PP Rajnikant Reshamwala THE FOUR-WAY TEST Sajjan Sons, 203/204 Triveni, Mith NEW GENERATIONS: Education Chowki, Marve Road, Malad (West), Director in charge Madhusudan Daga Of the things we think, say or do... Mumbai 400 064. Cell: 09322227026; Bhavishya Yaan Manish Reshamwala Landline: 022-28880712 Scholarships & Loans Manojj Kumar Patodia 1. Is it the TRUTH? E-Mail: [email protected] Management Studies Poonam Kumar NEW GENERATIONS: Youth 2. Is it FAIR to all concerned? Director in charge Arjun Jolly 3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Regd. No. MH/MR/South-109/ Interact Meera Alreja 2012-14, R.N.I. No. 14015/60 Rotaract Ravindra Fotedar 4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? Road Safety Deepak Kapadia Posted on Wednesday, April 24, 2013; Published on Tuesday Printed, Published by Rtn. PP Arjun Bulchandani on behalf of Rotary Club of Bombay and printed at Nikeda Art Printers Pvt. Ltd., Unit No.H & I,Kanjur Industrial Estate, Quarry Road, Off L.B.S. Marg, Bhandup (West), Mumbai 400 078 and Published at 97/B, Mittal Tower, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400 021. Editor Arjun Bulchandani April 23 to April 29, 2013 THE GATEWAY, The Bulletin of the Rotary Club of Bombay Page 8