The article RID 3233 helps 200 women weave a dream (Dec issue) is interesting. Thanks, Rasheeda. We also have a tailoring project in our club, which has been lying dormant at present. Your article motivates us to revive it. Your write-up on Arundhati Roy is highly informative, But the photo showing her smoking is not in good taste.
Radheshyam Modi
RC Akola — D 3030
Rotary stands for disease eradication. End Polio is our very successful campaign. Rotary News is read around the world by Rotarians, Rotaractors and Interactors. It is disappointing to see a beedi-smoking photo of Arundhati Roy. As young minds can easily follow celebrities’ behaviour, this picture could have been avoided.
Commander (retd)
L Radhakrishnan
RC Chennai IT City — D 3233
RI President Francesco Arezzo (Nov issue) pointed out that let us give with gratitude, joy and hope to our Foundation, through which we unite for good. And in doing so, we leave behind not only projects but a legacy of peace, trust and service beyond self. TRF trustee Bharat Pandya was superb. He urged us, as we celebrate the festival season, to continue giving to TRF so that it can keep doing good in the world. Among the articles, the one on RID Muruganandam donating $250,000 for renovating Paul & Jean Haris’ home was informative. Congratulations to him for his generosity in donating this huge amount to Rotary.
Jaishree’s article A record-breaking Rotary club chartered in Tiruchirapalli was fantastic. A Rotary club born with 415 members is a miracle. Congrats to the charter members.
Daniel Chittilappilly
RC Kaloor — D 3205
Project Punch is a very good initiative by PDG V R Muthu. The write-up is so good. Though I have heard about this project, I fully understand its magnitude only now. This project should be extended to semi-urban and rural areas with financial assistance from the local Rotary clubs.
Since I am residing in a village near to Villupuram, I am aware of the student community in rural areas struggling to write and speak in English.
R Sairaman
RC Villupuram — D 2982
Satellite programme —
India’s pride
The simple language in which you have presented info about India’s space programme in the article India’s dramatic rise in space technology is praiseworthy. There are many people who don’t know what rockets are and what their history is in India. They don’t even know how much effort scientists have put into bringing the technology to this stage. From transporting rockets in bullock carts to occupying the third or fourth place in the world in space technology today, we have to give full credit to our scientists!
The incident where the rockets in our space programme were compared to Diwali firecrackers was interesting to read. Hardly anyone would know that ATMs get help from satellites in their daily operations, as also tele banking and other transactions.
Congrats to you for sharing this information and to those who have taken their country to this level today. We all remain in their debt! Thank you.
Vijay Rathi,
RC Latur Horizon — D 3132
Excellent coverage of
Tejas Institute
My compliments on your excellent piece Should directors have a 3-year term? I know from experience that it is not easy to report a meeting of this kind which features many issues and diverse voices. Sometimes a participant is not quite cogent, but a professional journalist reporting the event has to make up for this drawback!
Your piece reflected the “rigorous and engaging dialogue” inspired by the “tough questions” raised by past RI president K R Ravindran, and the response by RI President Francesco Arezzo. It is true that the stance of the present US Government on issues such as suspending of funding for USAID and withdrawal from WHO conflict with the principles of Rotary. I was shocked to read that 64 governors have been refused US visas this year. “Why are we still sitting in the US?” was a candid question. But discussion revealed that other countries have refused visas too. As many as 200 visas were refused for a summit in Belgium.
Most review meetings — relating not just to Rotary, but to the entire gamut of politics, economics and development in general — prefer to skirt controversy and draw a diplomatic veil over differences. It stands to Rotary’s credit that it has not chosen to do so And laurels to Rotary News for the professional competence and detachment displayed while reporting this meeting at the Tejas Institute in Delhi. Thanks, Rasheeda!
S R Madhu
RC Madras South — D 3234
The events from Tejas Institute were presented in a very simple and interesting way, so that even those who did not attend the event, could experience it. Especially the Q&A session of former RI President K R Ravindran. I have attended his sessions and from them you always get the feeling that the greatness of Rotary should always be protected. The answers of RI Director Muruganandam were simple and interesting. The information provided in all the articles written by the editor Rasheeda Bhagat about the Tejas Institute was very useful. Thank you.
R Thayumanavan, RC Cuddalore Mid-Town — D 2981
The cover-page photo of Tejas institute is scintillating. In his message, Rotary President Arezzo touched the most important human elements, namely healing, friendship and access to happiness.
In her Editor’s Note and inside pages, Rasheeda Bhagat gave a good account of the Tejas institute in New Delhi. RID K P Nagesh wanted the the clubs to welcome the new members through meaningful engagement. TRF trustee chair Holger Knaack said that through the Healthy Communities Challenge, Programs of Scale and polio eradication, Rotary has proved that partnerships, community engagement, and vision can transform global health.
There is a good review of Arundhati Roy’s book, Mother Mary comes to me, which narrates the love-hate relationship with her mother. Rotary News aptly respected the elders through an article, Rotary adds sparkle to seniors’ lives.
K M K Murthy
RC Secunderabad — D 3150
In the Editor’s note (Dec issue), I read about the Indian armed forces carrying out their duties on the glacier at a height of 21,000ft with minus temperatures at Siachen safeguarding the nation. Moreover, the speech of Brig D S Basera, secretary, Kendriya Sainik Board, Ministry of Defence, at the Tejas Institute that our armed forces fight for earning ‘naam’ (country), ‘namak’ (soil) and ‘nishan’ (flag) is really heart touching. My salute to the Indian soldiers sacrificing their lives for the sake of our country.
Niranjan Kar
RC Bhubaneswar — D 3262
I liked the article on RI President Arezzo’s speech at the Tejas Institute. He urged Rotarians to provide educational opportunities and healthcare in the society especially to the poor, and quoted from the Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads to drive home the message. In this way, Rotary can play a big role in the world.
T D Bhatia, RC Delhi Mayur
Vihar — D 3012