Day: February 1, 2025
A life of grit, valour
After her family threw out Zainab Patel onto the streets, “I begged and even had to sell my body to make ends meet.” That was the toughest phase of this transgender activist’s life in Mumbai, she said, addressing a plenary session at the Kochi Institute. Despite adversity, Zainab completed a Management course at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, and now holds an MBA in Human Resources, and has acquired over a decade’s experience working in a UN body. Here, “interactions with people, and seeing all the good, bad and ugly motivated me to start the NGO, Saksham Trust,” she said.
Celebrating the saree’s timeless elegance
Across cultures and generations, the saree has symbolised grace, versatility and resilience, making it a treasured emblem of identity for women. Deeply rooted in Indian culture, it is worn in various styles across the country. Nepali women prefer the saree for formal occasions, while the Kandyan saree of Sri Lanka has a unique draping style. The garment holds an enduring appeal in the Sindh region of Pakistan, the Indian Malaysian community and Bangladesh.
Rotaractors bag CSR Grant
RID 3170 DRR Nikhil Chindak has been instrumental in bagging a CSR grant of Rs.25 lakh from Ayu Foundation, the CSR wing of Vijaykant Food and Dairy in Belgaum. “The funds will be used to provide cervical cancer vaccines to 1,000 young girls in schools,” says Chindak, a member of RAC Belgaum South. “We had decided on the project last year before beginning my term as DRR and the costs worked out to Rs.20-25 lakh for 1,000 vaccines,” he adds. Serum Institute will provide the vaccines for the project.
A girls’ empowerment project takes wings
Yadhumanaval, the programme to empower girls, particularly in the smaller towns and villages of India by PDG V R Muthu, RID 3212, has picked up traction and is being implemented in other districts with help from Muthu, his club RC Virudhunagar and his Yadhumanaval team led by a retired professor of English and motivational speaker Jayanthasri Balakrishnan.
Shaping Rotary’s future
Stepping into leadership means more than overseeing your district. It means shaping the future of Rotary. You are the driving force that will steer Rotary through times of change and ensure its continued strength and relevance,” said Institute convenor and RI Director Anirudha Roychowdhury at the inaugural training session for DGEs and DGNs at the Kochi Zone Institute.
Diplomacy has an integrity missing in politics: Shashi Tharoor
Congress Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor held the participants of the Kochi Institute spellbound with his special brand of wit, charm, humour, his flawless English and faultless diction. Answering a volley of questions from past RI director A S Venkatesh, also known for his quick wit and repartee skills, the diplomat-turned-politician good naturedly and graciously accepted a couple of cheeky comments on his penchant for using “seven-syllable words”, diplomacy, politics and a brief stint as a stand-up comedian.
7 days of global military expenditure can educate 200 million children
All of us are aware of the highly dangerous and troubled world we live in today. But the critical issue is that “most of us, particularly the leaders and intellectuals of the world, know what are the major problems of the world… illiteracy, poverty, crimes, wars and so on. And they also know the solutions. For illiteracy, you have to invest in education; it’s simple and not such a big deal. Only a week’s global military expenditure can help in educating all the children of the world… 200 million children who are out of school can go to schools with just seven days of global military expenditure,” said Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, delivering the keynote address at a plenary of the Kochi Zone Institute.
RC Chennai Icons sets world record with 225 charter members
On Jan 1, 2025, RI District 3233 achieved a remarkable milestone with the formation of RC Chennai Icons, inducting 225 charter members — setting a probable new world record. The previous RI record stood at 221 charter members, while in India, a Rotary club in Bengaluru had held the record with 151 members, said DG Mahveer Bothra. “At 225 members, RC Chennai Icons has broken all records,” said Mahaveer Karnawat, the club’s mentor. Mahaveer Jain was installed as club president and Punit Kochar, secretary.
More than membership, let’s build a community
Before eagerly urging people to join Rotary, it’s essential that they understand its roots — its purpose.