Past presidents recognised

At the Kochi Institute, three past RI Presidents were recognised for their contributions to Rotary.

Addressing the Institute on the topic of peace, past RI President Kalyan Banerjee said we lived in a very disturbed world where so many nations were in conflict. When “you see the world in such turmoil, you wonder if peace is ever possible in our world.”

While the UN observes Sep 21 as the Day of Peace, he felt every day needed to be marked as a day of peace in a world where15,000 individual died daily from hunger-related causes, with almost a billion people suffering from malnutrition; over one billion people have no access to safe drinking water; and yet another billion, two-thirds of them women, are illiterate. The worst scenario was that currently 20 significant armed conflicts were raging worldwide, with 300,000 children pressed into combat, and nearly 37 million people were homeless or living as refugees, often in their own homeland, he said.

In such a disturbing scenario, Rotarians could, and indeed had, rendered a lot of help through The Rotary Foundation. “Even in developing countries, $100 is not a great deal of money. It may mean just a dinner for you and your spouse at a good restaurant or just about a good pair of shoes. But out there, in the real world it can mean the difference between hope and despair, life and death itself,” he said, urging them to donate to TRF.

Banerjee urged Rotarians to just think about every girl child who was born in Afghanistan today who would have to grow up under “inhuman” conditions. “Today the real borders are not between nations, but between the powerful and powerless, free and fettered, privileged and humiliated.” If Rotarians really want to be “true peace makers, we have to bridge this divide and close these gaps.” Rotary Peace centres were striving to promote peace in the world, and required Rotarians’ support.

It was clear that understanding and peace would elude the world as long as poverty and hunger existed. So the common goal of all Rotarians should be to eradicate human misery, “just as we have systematically eradicated polio. We are here today because there is more left to be done, challenges to be completed, stories yet to be given happier endings,” he added.

In his brief talk, PRIP Rajendra Saboo recalled that once he had completed his role as RI president, he was wondering what he should do next and “my wife Usha told me that your presidential theme was look beyond yourself, and you have to continue to do that.” One of his major initiatives was organisation of medical missions and he was instrumental in holding 45 medical missions across Africa and India.

PRIP KR Ravindran, accompanied by his spouse Vanathy, was also recognised at the Institute, and his contributions to Rotary recalled.

But the cynosure of all eyes was Usha Saboo, who through her brief and right-from-the heart address, left many eyes moist in the hall. She said: “I just want to thank all of you for your warmth and your respect for both of us. Raja is often not able to express properly what he wishes to.” This was because Covid had hampered his hearing and speech. “But his passion and dedication to Rotary are not hampered. At 90-plus, he is here because of his love for Rotary, and all of you. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers so that we can continue to do whatever we can still do for Rotary,” she said amidst thunderous applause.

Pictures by Rasheeda Bhagat