Good interview with
Prez Arezzo
It was an exceptionally good write-up on RI President Francesco Arezzo by Rasheeda Bhagat in the October issue. And it has given some food for thought. He appreciates the good work being done in India by Rotary in the spheres of education, medical facilities etc, and says such service done by the Rotarians here is commendable.
However, it is high time Rotary thinks out-of-the-box and works at the root cause which is the rising population in India. We have to do justice to our younger generation; how long are we going to meet basic requirements like education and health of our increasing numbers?
Strong awareness programmes for restricting our population growth should be the clarion call of Rotary now. Family planning should be the key initiative which Rotary should undertake after its successful polio eradication campaign. Only then can our efforts bear fruit.
Radheshyam Modi
RC Akola — D 3030
The cover story on President Arezzo is exciting. Asked what musical instrument he plays, he says jokingly that he plays just the bell of the house! On Rotaractors, he mentions that we can have more Rotaractors become Rotarians if we admire and understand each other and work together. We must ensure that they work with us in every project and should be involved much more than is happening today. I was happy to note that our president is both cerebral and witty and yet so easy to talk to as he wears his power lightly.
K M K Murthy, RC Secunderabad — D 3150
The photo of President Arezzo and his wife on the cover page, and the cover story with his family pictures were superb. Nowadays, the overall standard of Rotary News has improved a lot including the photos and the paper quality. Congrats to the entire team of Rotary New Trust.
RI President’s message on “what community-led development looks like” was excellent. TRF trustee chair Holger Knaack has rightly said that in Rotary, “the friendship we make can create opportunities that transform lives for generations.” Arezzo has pointed out that the quantum of service by Rotary in India is highest in the world.
Muthukumaran’s article End Polio show wows Arezzo has come at the right time. Congrats to RCs Pune Hill Side and Pune Yuva for doing a clutch of community service projects in education, health and sanitation, and water conservation including providing solar energy to 42 schools and 300 poor households.
Daniel Chittilappilly, RC Kaloor — D 3205
RC Srikakulam, RID 3020, has transformed a compost yard of 1.3 acres into a well-managed park for the public and for the club to hold its weekly meetings in a natural environmental setting. This is a remarkable step to convert a compost into a usable park with all required features. It is indeed an exemplary step to boost Rotary’s public image.
Niranjan Kar, RC Bhubaneswar — D 3262
A success formula
RID M Muruganandam in his Sept message has rightly urged each club to bring in six new members in a year. This way we can get additional members and cross the two lakh member mark by 2025–26 across all the four zones.
He has given a good formula to all club leaders which is the need-of-the-hour. Every club must hold an orientation programme for all new members by August every year, and assign a leadership role to each one in the new projects of their clubs. Once we follow this, we can also ensure their retention.
Each member can bring in a new member which will boost our membership. Vibrant club leaders will do wonders to Rotary. If we adopt such norms, the day is not far when we will meet great success, thanks to the innovative formula of our RI director.
S Mohan, RC Madurai West — D 3000
Thanks for the article ‘Peace: not the silence of guns, but awakening of conscience’ (Aug issue) by Adhik Kadam which has a clear message for all of us. We cannot be silent observers. He has also given valuable guidance for our role in the Kashmir Valley hit by fear and uncertainty. His work through orphanage care, mobile medical services and educational initiatives in collaboration with Rotary offers a healing touch and has kindled the awakening of the human spirit.
Arun Deshpande, RC Pune Pristine — D 3131
Praise for Dakoju,
Rotary News
I couldn’t sleep in the early hours of the morning, so I did what I usually do when rest eludes me — I turned to reading. The article Rooting for a Green and Gorgeous Planet in your September issue, and how beautifully it has been written, caught my attention.
You have captured not only the scale of Ravishankar’s environmental project but also the heart and spirit behind it. The way you wove together facts, context and human emotion brought the story alive and gave it the depth it truly deserves. It is not easy to write about a project of such magnitude without it sounding either too technical or too overwhelming, but you struck the perfect balance.
What impressed me most was how clearly the article conveyed the larger vision — that this is not just about planting trees, but about restoring ecosystems, reviving communities, and creating a legacy for generations to come. In doing so, you have also shone a light on the values of Rotary at its very best: foresight, generosity, and service that transforms.
Please accept my compliments on an excellent piece of writing. It does justice both to the cause and to the remarkable individual behind it.
Over the years, I have seen countless service projects, but what Ravishankar (Dakoju) has undertaken stands apart for its sheer scale and foresight. To dream of planting a crore saplings, to transform barren and degraded land into fertile green spaces, and to restore lakes and bring back wildlife — these are not mere acts of service, they are acts of legacy. They will endure long after us, benefitting generations yet unborn.
What moves me most is the spirit with which this remarkable Rotarian gives — never for recognition or applause, but because he believes, deeply and completely, in leaving the world better than he found it. That is rare. That is extraordinary. He is truly an environmentalist, a guardian of nature, an eco-champion whose work speaks louder than any words. His stewardship towards our planet is not only admirable, it is transformational.
Past RI President K R Ravindran
You know that I always enjoy reading Rotary News India, but allow me to especially congratulate you on the September issue. I was delighted to read that you and your fellow editors from the Asia-Pacific were able to experience OzHarvest when you were at a seminar, because that is indeed a vital and much celebrated charity down here. And as a life-long environmentalist, it was wonderful to read of the work that DGE Ravishankar Dakoju, RID 3191, is doing to make your part of the world greener and more sustainable. He and Paola are an inspiring couple and are certainly Making a Difference.
Past RI President Ian Riseley