Issue 4 • JULY 28, 2020

BULLETIN OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF MADRAS DIST 3232 • 2020-21 Pursuit of

Rotary designated peace month JULY 2020 New Leadership Month EDITORIAL T H E L I G H T H O U S E • J U LY 2 8 , 2 0 2 0 2

We need them on that wall… Birthday

4th Aug – Rtn. Prashanth S. Kharche 5th Aug – Rtn. Abdul Kareem Sait 5th Aug – Rtn. Rohit Toshniwal 5th Aug – Rtn. Rani Muralidharan 6th Aug – Rtn. N. Vivek Pai 7th Aug – Rtn. Dr. Gauthamadas Udipi 9th Aug – Rtn. PP S.N. Srikanth 4th Aug – Ann. Meenakshi (Rtn. Ravee Malhotra) 6th Aug – Ann. Priya (Rtn. R. Rajenderan)

Wedding

9th Aug – Rtn. Ashok Bajaj and Ann. Jyothi 10th Aug – Rtn. L. Gopinath and Ann. Anitha

Sunshine

Rtn. Krishnamurthy Vijayan – `5,000 Rtn. Niloufer Seth – `1,000 President Rtn. Kapil Chitale – `10,000 Rtn. Alankrit Arora – `10,000 A soldier holds a special place in the hearts of citizens, no matter how little we know Rtn. Antony Lobo – `2,000 about them or how far removed we are from a their way of life. That demeanour. That carriage. That uniform. That mindset. That courage, dignity, discipline and steely focus - it is all truly admirable and aspirational for us “mere mortals”. The title of my editorial, taken from the famous dialogue by Jack Nicholson in A Few NOTE: Good Men, aptly wraps up our necessity for that brave soldier, thanks to whom we citizens can sleep a peaceful sleep. Ref.: Lighthouse Issue Last week’s meeting was poignant and invigorating all at once. 03-2020/21 - We had with us Col. V.N. Thappar, father of Kargil war hero Capt. Vijyant Thapar. Col. Thapar was joined by his wife Mrs. Tripta Thapar. We felt energised hearing Charter Nite. stories of the war and a soldier’s life. We were melancholic hearing accounts of the heroic actions of their brave son, which cost him his life. We wept when Col. Thapar Rotary Club of Calgary is the read out the letter his son wrote to him, just before he went to war and made his home club of James Wheeler ultimate sacrifice for his motherland. Truly, it was a meeting to remember with special Davidson and NOT the guests we can never forget, whom we will always salute. mother club of the Rotary In this edition of Lighthouse, Rtns. Indrani Krishnaier and Dr. Sharon Krishna Rau Club of Madras, as was give us their views on the talk given by our guest, including highlights of the end-notes reported. we heard from Rtn. N. Prakash during the meeting. You will also find the heartrending, yet heartwarming letter written by Vijyant, that Col. Thapar himself sent to us. Meanwhile, the biography of Capt. Vijyant Thapar - Vijyant at Kargil - is available for purchase, should any of our RCMers be interested. Moving on, we cover the amazing work done by the Lake Restoration team, which Rtn. P.N. Mohan has kindly information of. We bring back our go-getter Women in Rotary and we wrap up with a focus on peace-building and fostering human-to-human harmony, despite the cloak of constant preparedness in case of war. As I leave you to the read, let’s remember our soldiers and the women and men in our Defence Forces who embody all that is heroic, good and brave. Jai Hind! - Rtn. Shri Shakthi Girish GLIMPSES T H E L I G H T H O U S E • J U LY 2 8 , 2 0 2 0 3 MINUTES T H E L I G H T H O U S E • J U LY 2 8 , 2 0 2 0 4

MINUTES OF THE MEETING TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2020

fter collaring, President Rtn. Kapil Chitale called the objective of the contest was to create an awareness of the A4th e-meeting of RCM to order. invaluable sacrifices of our Defence Forces, to keep our The minutes of the Charter Nite meeting were duly borders protected and our citizens safe. Winners will be confirmed. He appreciated all for making the event a great presented with prizes and gifts. one with their team effort. Speaker Col. Thapar spoke on leadership & motivation PP N.K. Gopinath pointed out that Rotary Club of with a visual presentation and anecdotes. The visuals Calgary is the home club of James Wheeler Davidson but included a glimpse of our soldiers’ lives at our borders, not the mother club of Rotary Club of Madras. battlefields and how we can all sleep peacefully because Rtn. Yadav Murthi spoke on the 4-Way Test and these heroes protect us. recollected how he, as an interactor of Vidya Mandir, on Mrs. Thapar read out their son Vijyant’s last letter – a 23rd sept 1965 had inculcated the tenets of 4-Way Test in moving, poignant moment. him. Theirs was the first interact club of this part of the Pres. Kapil said that it is a great sacrifice made for the world, sponsored by RCM & chartered by Rtn. R.P. Sarathy. country and saluted his unmatched bravery & supreme The guiding principles of the 4-Way Test have paved the sacrifice, bringing pride to the nation & to his family. way to do lot of projects in the interact – support for Kargil Rtn. N. Prakash thanked Col. Thapar for his inspiring victims, Gujarat earthquake, old age homes, medical speech and read out a patriotic verse in tribute to the camps and more. He cherishes these memories, he said. Kargil war heroes and offered gratitude and a salute to President welcomed Guest Speaker Col. V.N. Thapar with their heroic son. a deep sense of gratitude, Probus Club members, spouses, The meeting was then adjourned. Interactors and Rotary members across the district. President was glad to announce that he had attended more than 20 installations on the virtual platform which S.No. Name of Winner Name of Interact Club Grade were well-conducted. Also, steps have been taken to 1 Harsh Vardhan K. Sri Sankara Vidyashramam STD IX connect with the other JWD clubs who could not join at the Mat. Hr. Sec. School Charter Nite event. 2 M. Sreelaya Sri Sankara Senior Secondary School, STD XII Secretary Rtn. P.B. Prasad read out the birthdays/ Adyar wedding anniversaries list of members/ spouses for that 3 S.V. Akshaya Vidya Mandir, Estancia STD XII week and thanked them for their Sunshine. The announcement was made for the next weekly e- 4 Jessinth A. Kerala Vidyalaym HSS STD IX meeting: August 4, 2020 at 1.30pm. 5 V. Saadhanaa Lalaji Memorial Omega STD VIII The guest speaker would be: Mr. Pawanexh Kohli, International School founding Chief Executive & Advisor of National Centre for S.No. Name of Winner Name of Rotaract Club Coal Chain Development (NCCD) and the topic of his talk would be ‘Coal Storage Chain’. 1 V. Billvin Rex AVIT Final Year, Rtn. Abhay Mehta introduced the guest speaker Col. V.N. Civil Engineering Thapar, father of the Kargil hero, Capt. Vijyant Thapar; 2 Jayane GSS Jain College for Women B.Sc. CS and his wife Mrs. Tripta Thapar. 3 Shireen Zithara Rotaract Club of Rtn. Abhay thanked Rtn. Balaji Chinni for conducting the Elocution Contest for Interactors and Rotaractors on 4 Dharika Reddy Rotaract Club of SDNB Vaishnav College the topic of Kargil Vijay Divas, on 26th July’20. The 5 Shajeeth Rotaract Loyola College SPOTLIGHT T H E L I G H T H O U S E • J U LY 2 1 , 2 0 2 0 5 AN IDEA WORTH DYING FOR By Rtn. Indrani Krishnaier

India is an idea worth dying for. He then deftly manoeuvred to show Every year, on Gandhi Jayanthi, we how courage, discipline and the power hear moving stories about the of motivation would be equally “Father of the Nation” and the applicable to corporate leadership sacrifices that were made by so many situations as well. His astute to win our freedom. This year, it was observation was that resounding time to hear such tales about a “Son success comes only when people do of the Nation”. ‘what they want to do’ and not ‘what To mark Vijay Divas, our honoured they have to do’. It is the role of and very special guests Colonel V.N. management to make this subtle but Thapar and Mrs. Tripta Thapar took powerful transformation in the minds us on an unforgettable journey of people who work with them. In his through a battlefield… and beyond! opinion, the hallmarks of leadership We were given a rare glimpse into are competence, character and courage. the life of a glittering “Son of the While dealing with the harsh Nation”. We were transported to the reality of military conflict, Colonel heroic battle for the recapture of Thapar gently and almost Tololing-Knoll by a small group of imperceptibly brought in the soulful determined fighters from the softness that lay deep in the heart of Rajputana Rifles II, led by 22-year the fierce young warrior – Vijyant’s old Vijyant. chance meeting with a young war- Captain Vijyant Thapar VrC. making the impossible possible. victim; a young girl who could not This extraordinary tale of ultimate Colonel Thapar narrated the speak as if she were mute, from the valour and sacrifice was supremely heart-rending, yet heart-warming trauma of having witnessed the poignant, because the narrator was his story of a young braveheart and his horrors of war. bereaved father, Colonel V.N. Thapar “Dirty Dozen”, in whom echoed the Robin – as Vijyant was fondly who has himself served in the Indian patriotic fervour of every proud called – held a filial affection for her Defence Forces for nearly four decades. Indian – to stand up, to fight, to which changed her tender and The realism of that fateful day in never yield to aggression and to scarred mind – thanks to war, she Kargil was vividly painted for us in “stop not till the goal is reached”. had hitherto seen the world only as a grim colours. The sound of guns and Their valour was the nation‘s pride, barren expanse of terror and bleak bullets, the charge of determination, their victory was the nation’s glory and hostility. His encouragement and care defying danger and death – it was their sacrifice was for the Nation’s for her was indeed, like a robin there for us to see, hear and immortality. Young Vijyant, their perched on her bleak window sill as a experience. martyred son, epitomised the steel in a harbinger of hope and colour. Life? Or love for the Motherland? soldier’s heart and the compassion in a To his very last day, as penned in The choice was simple and had already saint’s soul. With Colonel and Madam his farewell note to his loved ones, been made. Kargil had to be won. Thapar, we marched through the tunnel he ensured that a protective hand And IT WAS, PROUDLY AND of their personal tragedy to emerge into would always remain over her. HEROICALLY! the glow of patriotism and the fragrance Madam Thapar, heavy of heart yet ’s soil will be protected, no of the vast meadow of beautiful flowers brave of face, stoically shared the matter what the price, no matter symbolising our immortal soldiers – our platform conveying that behind every what the sacrifice. Young Vijyant led Amar Jawans – for whom national gallant Vijyant, stands a Mother the assault, won the battle and honour and pride held far loftier value India Tripta! moved on – to immortality. than their own lives. We salute the Thapars and all the Colonel Thapar’s presentation was Using this and other riveting war- brave children of India serving in our an inspiring amalgam of leadership, time examples, Colonel Thapar armed forces. management, courage, sacrifice, illustrated the telling impact of timely These guardians of our nation heroism and glory. It was the story of decision-making and the significance believe as surely as the breath they one man against all odds, fighting of the power of conviction in take, that India is an idea worth for the pride of the nation and determining the outcome of a conflict. dying for… SPOTLIGHT T H E L I G H T H O U S E • J U LY 2 8 , 2 0 2 0 6 GRATITUDE Rtn. N. Prakash’s heartfelt thanks on RCM’s Behalf By Rtn. Sharon Krishna Rau

word fraught with so much Our GRATITUDE Ameaning and emotions. The to the Thapars for weight of it is unsupportable until giving this country it is paid forward. Vijyant, for the Our speaker for this week Col. VALUES instilled V.N. Thapar, father of the Kargil in him and for war hero Capt. Vijyant Thapar, telling the world brought that emotion out in all of his story that will us who heard him. For an hour he inspire spoke to us about his son who was generations to – nay, IS – a hero of the Kargil War. come. He spoke with such pride and As individuals, equanimity that all of us were left we all have a duty; in awe of this superhuman father. a responsibility When he was joined by his wife greater than we Mrs. Tripta Thapar, who then read can possibly out the last letter written to them fathom. As Cicero by their son, I don’t think there was said, “Gratitude is a dry eye left watching them. not only the To paraphrase the unforgettable greatest of all words of Col. Jessup from the movie virtues, it is the “A Few Good Men”, Honor and parent of all Click to view full video Loyalty are words that mean others.” It should India a better country. Paying something; they’re not a punchline. make us think about what we are forward in GRATITUDE what we They are the backbone of the job teaching, by example, to the next have to give, to those less itself, a life spent in defending our generation. fortunate. country. This is what gives us the In this age of instant Perhaps the most thrilling luxury of going to sleep at night gratification, it’s easy to forget the surprise up Prakash’s sleeve, knowing we have men like Capt. million reasons we are walking produced in collaboration with Vijyant at the post to protect us. through life with a smile. That Secy. P.B. Prasad, was an AV clip As Rtn. Prakash so eloquently cloud of bright and beautiful featuring our next generation of said in his Vote of Thanks: butterflies following us around urban warriors – our Rotaractors Capt. Vijyant will inspire only gets brighter and more and Interactors; and children/ generations with his selfless deeds. beautiful when we pass those same grandchildren of Rotarians! Ably He is a hero. His actions are so reasons we smile onto others. supported by our own RCM music awe-inspiring that I am reminded Drinking water, indoor plumbing, maestro Rtn. Anil Srinivasan, the of a famous Urdu couplet by access to health care, education, video programme showed us all the Allama Iqbal: safe spaces to exist are all taken for myriad goals these youngsters are granted by us. This is where Rotary striving to achieve and the “Khud hi ko kar buland itna helps us be grateful. inspiration they’ve taken from the Ki har taqdeer se pehle The Rotary Club of Madras has martyred hero Vijyant and scores of Khuda apne bande se puchche been fighting a battle for the other soldiers like him. It gives us Bata teri raza kya hai.” country too, within our borders, for hope for the future in these the last 90-plus years. A hard- uncertain times and thanks to Col. “May your deeds be so lofty pitched battle against disease, and Mrs. Thapar, it was a clarion That before writing your destiny poverty and illiteracy. Our weapons call to remind us to be true citizens The Lord will ask you, My Son are our grit and determination to to our nation and renew our Tell me what I must write.“ do or die, as we endeavour to make purpose to service before self. SPOTLIGHT T H E L I G H T H O U S E • J U LY 2 8 , 2 0 2 0 7

SCRAPBOOK OF MEMORIES – A POIGNANT PAGE –

Click to view video COMMUNITY SERVICE T H E L I G H T H O U S E • J U LY 2 8 , 2 0 2 0 8 FIRST INTERIM REPORT LAKE RESTORATION By PP Rtn. P.N. Mohan

Project type : Restoration of the 3. Removal of invasive weeds on demarcated. lake and around the water body. 2. Invasive weed and garbage • Name of the water body: 4. Extending the total water clearance, completed removal of Madambakkam Lake holding area of the lake (within invasive plants in the lake. • Catchment/Source type: the legal boundaries). Also, to Significant amount of growth of Rainwater, storm water & natural implement eco-park along the invasive weed and garbage which aquifer bunds and fence it to prevent hampers the local eco-system • Purpose of restoration: further deterioration. shall be removed. Refurbishment of a water body 5. The central focus of this 3. Desilting and dredging work is in initiative is to assess the progress, to increase the area and Location: The Madambakkam stakeholders of the lake and de-silting to increase the water lake, is located in the south-west of bringing them together towards a holding capacity of the lake. Chennai and is one of the largest common goal of water body 4. Constructing and strengthening lake in the city. The lake covers an restoration. of bunds work yet to commence, area of 250 acres and located in the 6. To restore and make this lake a using the excavated soil to position of 12°53'39.1"N, Latitude prime ground water recharging strengthen the bunds in the and 80°09'08.2"E, Longitude. It is structure through watershed periphery of the lake. Thereby considered as a rain fed reservoir conservation approach in rapidly protecting the nearby community and is filled during the monsoons. urbanising area. in the advent of floods. It is impacted due to growth of 5. Inlet and outlet regulation work invasive weeds and garbage Commencement of Work: In yet to commence. Inlets and dumping in the periphery of the spite of the current COVID-19 outlets of the water body are water body as it is surrounded by situation we were fortunate to get regulated to ensure the flow of local residents. The lake is now the approval from the PWD water. under restoration process to engineer to commence the dredging Formation of Bunds: In the last conserve its ecological identity. work. On 8th June 2020, twenty days, as you can see, Environmentalist Foundation of substantial work has been done. Focus Agenda: India commenced the work. The progress is indeed very 1. Ecological and scientific satisfactory. The aim is to complete restoration of Madambakkam Current Status of the project: the dredging by October 2020. Lake. 1. Survey of the lake completed to Rotary Club of Madras is 2. To increase water-holding establish the boundaries of the monitoring the work very closely. capacity and to ensure increased lake and process the work. Thanks to Sun TV for ground water recharge. Encroachments have been clearly supporting this project. COMMUNITY SERVICE T H E L I G H T H O U S E • J U LY 2 8 , 2 0 2 0 9

INTERIM REPORT - 1 KOLADI LAKE

Project type : Scientific structure through watershed- progress. Removal of invasive restoration of the lake conservation approach, in a plants in the lake is done to • Name of the water body: Koladi rapidly urbanizing area. protect the native species. Lake 7. Further, to create a guideline 2. Constructing and strengthening • Sponsored by: Brakes India Pvt module for future community- of bunds-work yet to commence, Ltd. and Sundaram Finance Ltd. managed water body restoration using the excavated soil to • Catchment/Source type: activities to be taken up within strengthen the bunds in the Rainwater, storm water & natural the city periphery of the lake. Thereby aquifer protecting the nearby community • Purpose of restoration: Current Status of the project: in the advent of floods. Refurbishment of a lost water Surveying the lake area 3. Removal of roadside garbage body completed to establish the work in progress and removal of boundaries of the lake and process waste disposal along the Focus Agenda: the work. Encroachments have boundaries. 1. Ecological and scientific been clearly demarcated. 4. Inlet and outlet regulation work restoration of Koladi Lake. yet to commence. Inlets and 2. To increase water-holding Sector 1 outlets of the water body are capacity and to ensure increased 1. Invasive weed clearance work in regulated to ensure the flow of ground water recharge. progress. Removal of invasive water. 3. Removal of invasive weeds on plants in the lake is done to 5. Fencing of the water body work and around the water body. protect the native species. yet to commence. Fencing of the 4. Extending the total water-holding 2. Desilting work in progress. lake will be done with PVC-coated area of the lake (within the legal Desilting is done to increase the wire, diamond-shaped wire mesh boundaries). Also to plant water-holding capacity of the and barbed wires. riparian vegetation along the lake. 6. Plantation works along the bunds bunds and fencing it wherever 3. Constructing and strengthening work yet to commence. Planting required to prevent further of bunds work in progress using of different types of plants across deterioration. the excavated soil to strengthen the bunds helps to fix the soil 5. The central focus of this initiative the bunds in the periphery of the and trees that support the is to assess the stakeholders of lake. Thereby protecting the ecology of the lake. the lake and bringing them nearby community in the advent Heartfelt thanks to Brakes together towards a common goal of floods. India Pvt Ltd. and Sundaram of water body restoration. Finance Ltd. for supporting 6. To restore and make this lake a Sector 2 Rotary Club of Madras in this prime ground water recharging 1. Invasive weed clearance work in venture. WOMEN IN ROTARY T H E L I G H T H O U S E • J U LY 2 1 , 2 0 2 0 10

Here’s a snippet of my conversations with our talented, accomplished, qualified and busy Lady Rotarians, who juggle their myriad activities in both their professional and home lives and yet manage to weave all of it into a beautiful Rotary tapestry. How do these passionate achievers manage to weave this magic! Let’s hear it this week from: Rtn. Roopa Shetty Rtn. Nalini Radhakrishnan - By Rtn. Indrani Krishnaier As they open a window into their hearts and give us a glimpse, as I ask them: How have you woven Rotary into the fabric of your life by balancing Rotary and your busy personal and professional lifestyles?

Rtn. Roopa Shetty

otary has opened so many avenues for me to give back to society. We all Rmultitask and juggle between professional, personal and social responsibilities, but we always make time to do things which are important to us. A organisation like Rotary makes huge positive impact in the society and it has been wonderful being part of that movement. Along the way I have made wonderful friends. I have tried to be part of projects which I, as a professional, can add value to. Last year I was chairperson of Her Place, a project which provides safe and clean toilets for women. We ended up making toilets for Men and Women both, in ! I am sure it was much-needed and will be well utilised. It was great working with a team of committed fellow Rotarians for this project and I look forward to being a part of more wonderful community projects by our RCM.

Rtn. Nalini Radhakrishnan Just the thought of being A Rotarian is a fabulous feeling. When I returned from the US many years ago, we were invited to join the Rotary community. So I became an Inner Wheel member and placed my first step into the Rotary family. Many years ago I was invited to become a Rotarian in our club. When it is something dear to our heart, time makes it a passion worth pursuing. When I handled Lighthouse a few years ago, I was passionate about publishing, so being able to handle this iconic publication was a super-high, an icing on the cake. (I was any way publishing magazines for 4 city clubs.) I have handled golf tournaments for RCM, and being a golfer myself, it was another passion. It was something I thoroughly enjoyed coordinating. Have been in charge of Fellowships, I just love to host and put together dinners, get- togethers, it was another avenue which was so dear to my heart. Shuffling time between work, grand kids, sports (golf, shooting, snooker, badminton, work-outs)... “enjoyable" is the only word to describe it! (And you can see it from my big smile while I stand by one of RCM’s beautiful, cleaned lakes - Puducherry Keni Lake, near Sholinganalur.) Once you enjoy what you do then time will automatically bend, sway and dance to your tunes. Life is short. Enjoy every minute doing what you love. ROTARY CONNECT T H E L I G H T H O U S E • J U LY 2 8 , 2 0 2 0 11

Building peace Fostering friendships Easing conflict

he other side of the coin for every Twar and battleground is: Resolution of conflict and building peace. And Rotary has been an active movement for creating peace and harmony across the globe for decades. Through Rotary Clubs (with their Rotaract and Interact Clubs), the Rotarian Action Group for Peace, Peace Clubs, Peace Fellowships and such programmes and entities, Rotary strives to create happiness and cooperative environments from the community level up. Here’s a peek into the Peace Programmes of Rotary through many years… POSITIVE NOTE T H E L I G H T H O U S E • J U LY 2 8 , 2 0 2 0 12

PRESIDENT #THROWBACK TO Rtn. Kapil Chitale HONORARY SECRETARY Rtn. P B Prasad PEACE MILESTONES IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Rtn. Dr. Vijaya Bharathi Rangarajan PRESIDENT ELECT BY ROTARY Rtn. P.V. Mohan Raman PRESIDENT NOMINEE Rtn. Jayshree Sridhar Asst. SECRETARY/BULLETIN EDITOR Rtn. Shri Shakthi Girish DIRECTOR - CLUB ADMINISTRATION Rtn. Shanno Ravi DIRECTOR - YOUTH SERVICE Rtn. Balaji Chinni DIRECTOR - PUBLIC IMAGE AND FUND RAISING Rtn. Hemant Chordia DIRECTOR - SERVICE PROJECT 1 Rtn. N. Prakash DIRECTOR - SERVICE PROJECT 2 Rtn. Dr. Anuradha Ganesan DIRECTOR - PANDEMIC & DISASTER MITIGATION Rtn. S Balakrishna TREASURER (CLUB FUNDS) Rtn. Aditya Agarwal TREASURER (CHARITABLE TRUST) Rtn. Gooch Kumar TREASURER (SPECIAL PROJECTS) Rtn. Nimish C. Tolia

LIGHTHOUSE COMMITTEE: Editor: Rtn. Shakthi Girish

Rtn. Indrani Krishnaier Rtn. Shanno Ravi Rtn. Sharon Krishna Rao Rtn. Rinku Mecheri Rtn. Rani Muralidharan

Send in your articles, news, write-ups to be considered for publication here on [email protected] Be in touch with the Lighthouse, your very own RCM magazine!

EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY: Rtn. Asst. Secretary, Rotary Club of Madras, 'Rayala Towers', 2nd Mezzanine Floor, 158, , Chennai - 2, Ph: 28591020. Contact the editor at: [email protected] Design: www.studiodescience.com Visit: www.rotarymadras.in Contact club secretariat at: [email protected]