JJanuaryanuary 20212021 @@NewsRotaryNewsRotary //RotaryNewsIndiaRotaryNewsIndia 420 ` ͮŶŶƵĂů^ƵďƐĐƌŝƉƟŽŶ Vol.64, Issue 7 Vol.64, P_Wrapper_Front_Front_Inside_January 2021.indd 1 28-12-2020 15:41:01 P_Wrapper_Front_Front_Inside_January 2021.indd 2 28-12-2020 15:41:00 Inside 10 10 A season of Hope and Opportunity RID Bharat Pandya shares his thoughts on the Covid-19 crisis. 20 20 A grief-stricken Rotarian couple gives Jeevandaan to four people A moving account of how Rtn Bikkina Chakravarthi and Bhanu donated the organs of their brain-dead son Srikanth. 22 English language theatre cannot represent the vastness of Indian theatre: Vijay Padaki An interview with the founding trustee of 22 Bangalore Little Theatre who is also a Rotarian. 30 Virtual meetings, the new normal… Rotary e-clubs show the way Eighty e-clubs from 28 countries participate in a global e-clubs meet addressed by RI President Holger Knaack and Susanne. 32 When pictures speak RID 3040 Interactors organise a photo contest which gets global participation. 44 Afghanistan: more questions than answers An account from the war-ravaged country after a visit in 2005. 32 58 RC Bolpur Santiniketan opens adult literacy centres The Rotarians have opened literacy centres in two villages to educate 100 adult illiterates. 62 Mohammad Rafi, the complete singer He was considered the gold standard for Bollywood music. 44 On the cover: The prize-winning photo of a monkey and its little one from the Global Green photo contest organised by the RID 3040 Interactors. Photo: Interactor Vishal Naveen. 62 JANUARY 2021 ROTARY NEWS 3 K_Inside _January 2021.indd 3 28-12-2020 12:08:26 LETTERS Chennai’s flower sellers deserve our help he cover story on Chennai flower in a post-Covid world by K R Tsellers was such a well-written Ravindran and Rallies, awareness article, giving me the impetus to do campaigns mark World Polio Day a special project called Chennai’s are all worth reading. flower girls. Let’s see if like-minded Pleased to note that Rotary Rotarians can join in this. magazines are being published in Dr B Dakshayani, RC 25 languages serving members in Meenambakkam — D 3232 129 countries. The write-up on Manna Dey is exemplary.Congrat- he December issue touches ulations for the great work. Tupon the plight of the poor and he front cover photo of a flower Philip Mulappone M T highlights their sufferings during the Tseller at Chennai is simple but RC Trivandrum lockdown. I am sure our readers attractive and Kiran Zehra’s cover Suburban — D 3211 who move out of their comfortable story is heartrending. RI President apartments will look differently at Holger Knaack’s message gives n the December issue, the Editor’s our flower sellers and treat them positive energy to march forward Inote urging Rotarians, who have with respect and empathy. If the with new opportunities from the done ample Covid-relief work, to buyers don’t bargain, that by itself pandemic and marks 2020 as a year give economic relief and rehabilita- would be a great help. of strength for Rotary. tion to the poor is an eye-opener. The other articles including Editor Rasheeda Bhagat calls Congratulations to Kiran for the Trustee Chair K R Ravindran’s for economic rehabilitation of cover story on Chennai’s flower appeal for funds to TRF, and defin- low-income group post-Covid, sellers, and their plight during this ing its different categories, were in- with microfinance as a sustainable pandemic. S R Madhu’s report on teresting. The women in our family remedy. Delighted to read about Manna Dey and V Muthukumaran’s were very happy with the article on the various signature projects imple- article on pandemic relief by preparing Gujarati delicacies. mented by RC Pune South, which Rotarians were both fantastic. Nan Narayenen, RC Madurai turned 50. Articles like Challenges Daniel Chittilappilly West — D 3000 and opportunities for Rotarians RC Kaloor — D 3201 Well done, the doctors and medical the farmers’ income, thus completed a slew of pro- RC Pune South! students in Ethiopia and improving their livelihood. jects covering health and udos to RC Pune opened fixed deposits to Two articles were hygiene, women’s empow- KSouth for completing help with the higher edu- interesting to read in the erment, education and skill- 50 years in serving the cation of poor girls in the December issue. First, S R ing. My kudos to the club. community and transform- golden jubilee year. Let the Madhu’s piece on Manna Dr Pon Muthaiyan ing lives. Recognising sani- club continue its journey in Dey, who has sung more RC Aduthurai — D 2981 tary workers by giving them serving the community in than 4,000 songs, and moral support and utility more innovative ways. got appreciation from I President Holger kits is a remarkable pro- Veeranna A Huggi Lata Mangeshkar for his R Knaack’s message for ject. It has empowered the RC Shimoga — D 3182 exquisite rendition. My the new year has changed community through Udyo- greetings to the writer for all of my thinking about the jak Mitra that trained the he work of social activ- an excellent biography. year 2020. What a fantastic shepherds in making and Tist Mayank Gandhi The second article RC message he has given to all marketing goat milk soap. (Nov issue) is praiseworthy. Pune South turns 50 with Rotarians. He has described Also, they have trained His work has enhanced a bang is noteworthy as it how when the entire world 4 ROTARY NEWS JANUARY 2021 Letters to the Editor - January 2021.indd 4 12/23/2020 5:43:29 PM LETTERS was at a standstill, Rotary was not. We of people and health professionals numbers. These camps are inexpen- are being innovative indeed. are really exposed to the danger of sive and easy to organise. Dr Mahesh Kawle, RC Karaikal this infection, despite taking precau- During the camps, health Centennial — D 2982 tions. Giving a bright light of hope literature pertaining to importance for Rotarians and leading by exam- of having the right numbers — BP he cover story in the November ple, Deshpande gives importance on measuring 120/80, BMI less than 25, Tissue titled Community farming spending time with loved ones and fasting blood sugar less than 100 and for a prosperous India was really cherishing our dreams, which is also a post-lunch sugar less than 140 must inspiring. Mayank Gandhi’s work is core value of Rotary. This article was be emphasised. Let us distribute admirable and astonishing, particu- an inspiration to pursue our lives with brochures containing simple tips to larly in the days after demonetisa- great spirit and passion. control diabetes, BP, heart disease, tion. His hard work has transformed Dr Jayasekharan V P stroke and kidney failure with sug- the village economy. Kudos to him. RC Payyanur — D 3202 gestions for a healthy lifestyle. Vinayak N Upadhye Govinddas Agrawal RC Aurangabad — D 3132 t the outset, I must congratulate RC Belur — D 3291 AEditor Rasheeda Bhagat for n the November issue, the article presenting us such a beautiful A Rotary info plus Iabout a Rotaractor Jaya Sagar monthly magazine, with so many otary News Plus is as good and who got help from RC Manali, RID excellent articles. In the November Rinformative as ever. My best 3070, is interesting to read. I am issue, PDG Dr Rajan Deshpande has wishes to the editorial team. happy to know that the Manali club narrated the seriousness of the Covid Arun Kapur had donated a high-end computer to virus and how he escaped from the past district governor — D 3070 her for pursuing higher education in jaws of death, after getting infected. UK. Also, DG Davinder Singh has I would request those eligible, who A ray of hope arranged for Rotarians in Bristol to are cured from corona, to give back ith reference to your editorial, contact her; how wonderful that this plasma in gratitude for life. Wwe hope Rotarians can act as a Rotaractor was helped in this way. PDG N K Mishra — D 3262 bridge between financial institutions Hats off to club president G C and poor beneficiaries. They can play Thakur and his team for doing this Know your health numbers an important role in training the poor wonderful work. DG Singh’s effort in otary clubs must hold ‘Know and unskilled to improve their liveli- this project is appreciable. Let us make Ryour numbers’ camps to mon- hoods, working in partnership with Rotaractors feel that Rotary is there to itor the weight, BP and blood sugar local banks and governments. provide them help when needed. regularly in people and exhort every Govind Sharma N Jagatheesan adult to know his three main health RC Khandwa — D 3040 RC Eluru — D 3020 An inspiring true story We welcome your feedback. Write to the Editor: he article by PDG Rajan [email protected]; [email protected]. T Deshpande (A Rotarian doctor Mail your project details, along with hi-res photos, recalls his brush with coronavirus) to [email protected] was not only a call not to take the pandemic lightly, but also an inspi- Messages on your club/district projects, information and links on zoom meetings/ rational true story. He has recalled webinar should be sent only by e-mail to the Editor at [email protected] or [email protected] WHATSAPP MESSAGES the events in a simple manner which WILL NOT BE ENTERTAINED. ensured the readers were able to con- nect with the situation well. Click on Rotary News Plus in our website The article rightly points out the www.rotarynewsonline.org to read about more Rotary projects.