September 2021 @NewsRotary /RotaryNewsIndia 420 ` ͮŶŶƵĂů^ƵďƐĐƌŝƉƟŽŶ Vol.65, Issue 3 Vol.65, P_Wrapper_Front_Front_Inside_September 2021_2.indd 1 01-09-2021 13:51:42 Memorable moments Above: RI President Shekhar Mehta met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Delhi and discussed, over a 45-minute meeting, various development programmes, where Rotary can work with the GoI. Rashi Mehta, Rajya Sabha MP PDG Vivek Tankha (RID 3261) and PDG Ashish Desai (RID 3054) were also present. Below: RI President Mehta assumes charge at the Rotary International headquarters, One Rotary Center, in Evanston, USA. P_Wrapper_Front_Front_Inside_September 2021_2.indd 2 01-09-2021 13:51:41 Inside 12 12 Erode Rotarians build a `20-crore hospital in a record 45 days RI President Shekhar Mehta handed over a 401-bed state-of-the art Covid hospital built by Rotarians in Erode to the Erode Government Medical College Hospital. 18 18 10 years of giving hope to burn victims RC Coimbatore Metropolis has transformed the lives of over 600 burn survivors through its Hope after Fire project launched in 2012. 20 RC Delhi South launches Beti Siksha After providing scholarships to 273 girls last year, the club has expanded the project to cover 500 girls. 24 RI Prez announces recognition for 38 membership growth Under the Each One Bring One scheme, Rotarians will get special pins for introducing new members. 38 Solar lights keep elephants away in Assam villages RC Digboi installed solar street lamps in 10 villages which were frequently being attacked by elephants. 42 42 Rotary flag flutters on the Annapurna summit Bhagwan Chawale from RC Pune Gandhi Bhavan conquers the Mt Annapurna. 62 Kishori Amonkar, The Lonely Perfectionist With her unique voice, she carved a niche in classical NVTJD JODMVEJOHÜMNT 68 Chefs go down childhood culinary lane Check out these long-forgotten recipes that take 62 you through a kaleidoscope of memories of your mother’s cooking. On the cover: RI President Shekhar Mehta with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 68 SEPTEMBER 2021 ROTARY NEWS 3 K_Inside _September 2021.indd 3 01-09-2021 14:27:06 LETTERS Delightful tribute to Dilip Kumar I was delighted to view the cover photo of the DEI mantra on which past president Dilip Kumar in the August issue. His memo- Holger Knaack had laid emphasis are really ry will be cherished by movie buffs. Both the important. My compliment to PRIP Saboo, obit pieces on the veteran actor are excel- who headed and encouraged medical missions lent. RI President’s message dwells on the to Africa and India to help the poor and need to keep Rotarians constantly engaged. needy. He is an epitome of dedication, and The Editor’s note on the importance of humility and his article Saluting our doctors women’s empowerment and RI Directors’ is interesting. messages on environment, membership Raj Kumar Kapoor retention and inducting more women into RC Roopnagar — D 3080 Rotary are all good. Glad to read the noble work of two I simply loved the obit feature Style, Sub- Delhi clubs in constructing a check dam in Rajasthan stance and more on the legendary actor Dilip Kumar to benefit 700 households. Saluting our doctors by written by Editor Rasheeda Bhagat. PRIP Rajendra Saboo and the services rendered by RC Kriti Makhija, RC Delhi South — D 3012 Tirupur are noteworthy. All other articles including the one on Africa’s climate crisis and a wedding reception An insight into the life of Dilip Kumar in the cover story creating a rural eye hospital in Odisha, and Club Hop is wonderful. This edition is enough for the coming photos are good. Congrats for a good job. generation to know about the veteran actor. Powered Philip Mulappone M T by the Sun by Preeti Mehra is well-written with RC Trivandrum Suburban — D 3211 primary information to set up a solar photovoltaic system at home. I fail to understand why Rotary News has given enor- Mohan P Shaji, RC Cherthala Green City — D 3211 mous coverage to Dilip Kumar. Are we running short of Rotary projects for coverage? Or Rotarians who have An excellent issue, right from serious, thought- transformed communities with their dedicated work? provoking articles to delightful pages recalling the Even Rotaractors are doing amazing work, which can great thespian Dilip Kumar with lovely pictures. be featured. These are the highlights of the August issue. The Sandeep Goel, RC Karnal Midtown — D 3080 editorial on DEI is timely and inclusion of women in sport must be taken up as a mission in Rotary Dilip Kumar was a complete actor and there is no one programmes. to match him. He really had style, substance and more; Abhay Kishore Sandwar he was stunningly handsome and a versatile actor, RC Dhanbad Midtown — D 3250 very serious and choosy when it came to accepting film roles. He was adored by all, especially Bollywood Compliments on yet another wonderful issue; I loved actresses like Vyjayanthimala, Madhubala, Noor Jehan the fact that you dared, so deservingly, to put the great etc. Noor Jehan, his heroine in Jugnu, once went to Dilip Kumar, a non-Rotary person, on the cover! This the extent of shoving others aside to hug Dilip. is what ‘regional’ really means in a Rotary regional President Mehta’s vision to empower girls and magazine! Your small but very meaningful personal Let’s promote diversity women and they are fully involved in priority; RID A S Venkatesh stresses and women’s empowerment club activities. on transforming new members into President Mehta’s mantra to empower Col Vijayakumar (Retd) RC Alleppey fine Rotarians; RID Mahesh Kotbagi girls through club projects across India Greater — D 3211 stresses on environment-friendly ini- like scholarships, giving bicycles, toi- tiatives like tree-planting, and PRIP lets in schools; his vision to increase The August editorial on DEI inspires Saboo salutes our doctors — all worthy membership from 1.2 to 1.3 million, Rotarians to follow RI’s new mantra, messages. are noteworthy. Of the six new mem- on girls’ empowerment. President K M K Murthy bers inducted in our club, three are Mehta makes membership growth a RC Secunderabad — D 3150 4 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021 G - NEW - Letters to the Editor - September 2021.indd 4 8/29/2021 9:18:25 PM LETTERS A ‘Chak de’ moment Merit counts in Rotary News Chak de India, say Odisha girls was Thanks for publishing our work in heartwarming and inspirational. The Rotary News. Your positive and quick touches to the magazine add timing was perfect as our country has action encourages Rotarians to share value, like the apt title ‘President made great progress in Tokyo Olympics. their work through our magazine. It is Speaks’ instead of President’s Odisha has taken a lead in reviving the rightly said in Rotary circles that merit Message. RN’s continuing empha- fortunes of Indian hockey, and the wom- is the only criteria for getting published sis on range and depth of cover- en’s hockey team success story is equal in Rotary News. Thank you. I will try age of Rotary events and projects, to winning a medal. Rotary should make to do even better and come back again. along with non-Rotary subjects, it a point to empower sportswomen. Manik Raj Singla such as books, is appreciated. RC Patiala Midtown — D 3090 Thanks for the Q&A with TRF An inspiring RI President The cover story Dream weaver ignited Trustee Chair John Germ, which K L Saigal, a genius will clarify Rotarians’ doubts. my mind. The life of President Mehta is I was overwhelmed by the article on Atul Bhide, RC Thane a spectacle of true, selfless service. K L Saigal. I’d like to add that Jagmohan, Hills — D 3142 Dr Jayasekharan V P the great singer, says in his autobiog- RC Payyanur — D 3204 raphy that while learning music under I read your article on the great Shambhu Maharaj (uncle of Birju Maha- actor Dilip Kumar. The nostalgia, I salute President Mehta for his message raj), “actually a dancer but also a great memories and events are really on the environment, as ecological pro- ustaad of thumri and tappa gayaki,” he well-written. Thanks for such an jects are badly needed. As a professor, I once met a “tall man” (Saigal) learning excellent article. will educate my students on environmen- a new thumri ‘Babul mora.’” Jagmohan Uday Subhedar talism and saving our planet. too wanted to learn it, but Guruji said RC Pune Metro — D 3131 Dr A R Johnson Durai it would take 4 months. But Saigal, the RC Cuddalore — D 2981 With due respect to Dilip Kumar, genius, mastered it in just a few days. does Rotary News need film Satish Vyas heroes on the cover? Please President Mehta has given a clear mes- RC Bhavnagar — D 3060 include real heroes — we have sage about our responsibilities. We have many in Rotary — and not reel to update our projects on virtual plat- Thanks for sending three issues of heroes, as we are not a film forms. I wish him a fulfilling year ahead. Rotary News (May, June and July). All magazine. Editor, it’s all in your Indra Goenka, RC Belur — D 3291 the pictures are eye candies as they cap- hands. ture the essence of Rotary. The articles Sham Phadnis, RC Kharghar Let the better light shine by Preeti are compelling you to read them. Midtown — D 3131 Mehra offers a practical approach with Sanjay Pahuja effective solution to save energy by RC Yamuna Nagar — D 3080 Thanks for writing such a great switching over to energy-efficient LED Correction article on Dilip Kumar.