The final bow — quite a jolly good journey
Dear Rotarians,
As I sit down to pen what the publishers rather ominously call “the last word,” I’m struck not by melancholy, but by a peculiar cocktail of gratitude, pride and the tiniest twinge of relief — rather like finishing a marathon in dress shoes: one is thrilled to have done it, but also slightly surprised to have survived it.
It has been a tremendous privilege to serve as your Rotary International Director over these past 24 months — months filled with discovery, delight, and a healthy dose of deadlines. Along the way, I have tried — most earnestly — to lead with four trusty companions: integrity, transparency, sincerity and humility. Admittedly, they’re not the sort you’d invite for a pub lunch, but they do make excellent travel companions on the road to service and leadership.
And what a journey it has been! From bustling metros to the quiet hum of rural classrooms, I’ve met the real heroes of Rotary — not just those in blazers and badges (though bless them too), but the club presidents, district officers, and indefatigable volunteers who’ve turned getting things done into an art form. Quietly, efficiently, and always with compassion.
To these unsung champions, I raise my metaphorical hat. You’ve conducted camps, built classrooms, empowered communities, and tackled challenges with goodwill, teamwork and at times, alarming amounts of WhatsApp. Your work is the very marrow of Rotary — noble, necessary, and far too often unnoticed.
As we transition from The Magic of Rotary to the wonderfully evocative Unite for Good, let us remember: Rotary has never been about solitary effort. It’s about finding one another, flaws and all, and doing something meaningful together, sometimes despite ourselves. The coming year calls for unity — not the syrupy, everyone-hug-everyone kind, but the clear-eyed, shoulder-to-shoulder way. Let’s roll up our sleeves (figuratively and literally) and get on with it — making working together actually work.
It gives me great confidence to pass the proverbial torch to our incoming RI Directors K P Nagesh (KPN) and Muruganandam (MMM) — men of substance, sense and hopefully, sturdy shoes. I wish them brilliant adventures, wise counsel and good Wi-Fi. A very special thanks to my fellow Director Anirudha Roychowdhury.
To all who’ve stood by me, cheered me on, or gently corrected my spelling — thank you. And to those who didn’t — I daresay I still learned a thing or two.
A special note of love and admiration to my wife, Vidhya, who was often more admired than I was on the Rotary circuit — a fact I came to terms with early and somewhat gracefully. She has been a pillar of strength throughout this journey. So yes, this is the final page of this particular chapter, but not of the book. Rotary, after all, is less of a title and more of a lifelong state of mind. I shall return now to the comforting anonymity of a Rotarian at large, cheering from the sidelines and continuing to serve in my own quiet space.
Until we meet again, keep serving, keep smiling, and above all, keep your sense of humour about you. It will come in handy as you carry the spirit forward.
Let us Unite for Good.
Raju Subramanian
RI Director, 2023–25
