Mahatma Gandhi and Rotary

 

As we remember Mahatma Gandhi today on his birthday, we recall his association with Rotary too.   

Mahatma Gandhi had a direct connection to Rotary in India, having addressed the Rotary Club of Calcutta, the first Rotary club in the country, on August 18, 1925, to speak on the economic and spiritual value of the charkha (spinning wheel). Beyond this direct interaction, Gandhi's philosophy of "Service Above Self" resonates deeply with Rotary's core values, as seen in the shared emphasis on helping others, non-violence, and community empowerment. His teachings have inspired Rotarians and are reflected in their pursuit of service and positive change globally. 

Read the text of the full speech: 

He also wrote an article , "My 7 points for a new world order," which was published in the February 1942 issue of The Rotarian magazine. 

Read about PRIP Rajendra Saboo's encounters with him, and the lessons that he learnt from him, in his article that was published in Rotary magazine in May 2025 issue:   

Abha Sharma is sixth woman leader of Rotary Club Chandigarh for 2025-26

Rtn Abha Sharma is new Rotary president

- Sixth woman president of Rotary Club Chandigarh takes over

Chandigarh, July 01:  As the leadership of Rotary International changes world over on 1st of July, Rtn. Abha Joshi Sharma has taken over the club leadership of Rotary Club of Chandigarh.

An architect by profession, having had illustrious career of 36 years as senior architect with the Government of Punjab, including four years as senior architect with the Chandigarh Administration is is the sixth woman president of the Club. 

She kicked off her year with the Club celebrating anapurna day with the 35 children of Vidya Sadan, whose eye check up was conducted and later were treated to pizza and gifts.

A woman of many talents, Abha's passion is not limited to architecture alone, since she is a prolific poet to and a spiritual seeker too deeply involved in conducting meditation sessions.  

She joined Rotary in 2015 and is also a member of the IWN chapter of CII.

M: +91 98148 61054

Email: abha1054@gmail.com

 

Fwd: Press Release Health: Tricity Diabetic and Obesity capital of India;

 Press Release Mid-ESICON2025

Tricity becoming diabetic and obesity capital in the country, say Doctors

Chandigarh, June 1:

Endocrine Society of India (ESI) organised its conclave, Mid-term ESICON 2025 at Hotel Hyatt Regency, here today to discuss the intricacies of treatment of diabetes, obesity and the environmental impact on human metabolism.

Lt Gen (Dr) Narendra Kotwal, organising chairperson of ESICON and national President of ESI emphasised the endocrine disruptors and metabolic health is entirely dependent upon our environment which is impacting the well being of the people.  Endocrinology, as a rapidly evolving specialty, sits at the confluence of clinical insight and cutting-edge research, and recent advances in molecular endocrinology, diabetes care, obesity, bone health, and reproductive endocrinology have redefined our approach to patient care.

Gen Kotwal advised the people to Eat Less, Walk More, Smile More, and Live in the present moment, besides making special efforts to protect our environment. He said that new research is revealing many endocrine disruptors like plastics that are impacting the metabolic health of the people.

Dr. Sachin Mittal, organising secretary of mid-term ESICON informed that according to the Indian Council for Medical Research, Chandigarh has the highest prevalence of obesity among adults in India, at 13.6% compared to the national average of 11.8%. 

Dr. Gagan Priya informed that another area of concern is growing obesity among different age groups quoting the National Family Health Survey which found 32 percent male and 41.4 percent of the women in tricity, aged 15-49, fall into the obese category, making them the fattest across 26 states and Union Territories in the country.

Former PGI HoD of Endocrinology Dr. Anil Bhansali, blamed the north India's population's propensity towards consuming junk and fried food, sedentary and stressful lifestyle, sleep deprivation, and obesity.  He added that people cannot control their weight because of their uncontrolled desire to keep eating.

Yes, according to several sources, the Chandigarh Tricity area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula) has a high prevalence of diabetes, and it has been considered the "diabetic capital" of India. A study indicated that Chandigarh had the highest prevalence of diabetes (13.6%) among 15 states and UTs in India. Furthermore, a study found that the prevalence of diabetes in Chandigarh was almost double the national average. The urban poor in Chandigarh have a significantly higher prevalence of diabetes (26.9%) compared to the national average.

In the concurrent 15 sessions during the day, nearly 400 physicians attended the Conclave with almost 145 specialists faculty from around the country who touched upon diverse vital issues of obesity, thyroid, cario-renal-metabolic health, pediatric and adolescent endocrinology, and diabetes among pregnant women, informed Dr. Sachin Mittal, Organising Secretary of Mid-term ESICON 2025.

Dr. Gagan Priya, also the Organising Secretary of mid-termk ESICON informed that early in the morning, the President of Endocrine Society of India, Lt Gen (Dr) Narendra Kotwal, flagged off the walkathon at Sukhna Lake, in which various doctors and locals joined the walk to generate awareness about impact of environment and use of plastic that severely impact human health.

 Dr. Sanjay Kumar Bhadada, head of the Endocrine department in PGI, said that it is unfortunate that tricity has become the leading hub of diabetes prevalence in the country

Dr Dharminder Nagar, Managing Director, Paras Health, was the chief guest on the occasion who advised that endocrinologists should now be focussing more on holistic treatment of the human beings instead of focussing on few diagnostic parameters only.  He commended the endocrinologists for their commitment to improve health and well-being of people.

On this occasion, the Year Book of Endocrine Society of India written by Dr. Gagan Priya was also released.

Some of the leading endocrinologists participated in this one day conclave,  including  Dr Sanjay Badada HoD, PGI Pinaki Dutta PGI , Dr Muralidharan, Dr Anil Bhansali ex-PGI, Lt Gen. Dr Narendra Kotwal, Dr Nikhil Tandon, HoD, AIIMS, Dr. Ganpathi Bantwal.

The sessions included diabesity symposium, metabolic health, pregnancy and osteoendocrinology, diabetes, obesity, cardio-renal-metabolic health, pediatric and adolescent endocrinology, etc.

 

 

Press Release 2 / Mid-ESICON2025

Endocrine Society of India holds walkathon

Chandigarh, June 1: Led by Lt Gen Dr Narendra Kotwal, President of Endocrine Society of India, doctors from across the country participated in a walkathon to highlight the impact of environment on human health at the Sukhna Lake.

Dr Sanjay Bhadada, head of endocrinology department in PGIMER, along with Dr. Kaushik Pandit, Dr Sachin Mittal and many others participated in the walkathon.

CAPTIONS  

Inaugural Session"

Launch of Year Book: L-R Dr Sachin Mittal, Dr Kaushik Pandit , Lt Gen Dr Narendra Kotwal, Chief Guest Dr Dharminder Nagar, and Dr Gagan Priya, 

Morning Walkathon by doctors at Sukhna Lake

Fwd: Press release Baru Sahib

Akal Academies introduce AI Skills for children in rural Punjab

March 26: In a groundbreaking initiative, Akal Academy, a chain of 130 schools in rural Punjab, delivering value based education, has teamed up with renowned US-returned AI expert, Dr. Sandeep Singh Sandha, to impart Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills to its students. This new age program was blessed by Dr. Davinder Singh, President Kalgidhar trust at village Jiwan Arian

From the new academic year 2025-26, students of grade VII to XII across over 100 Akal Academies in Punjab, will have the opportunity to learn from Dr. Sandha, an IIT Roorkee alumnus who did his doctorate in AI from the University of California, Los Angeles.

"We are grateful to Dr. Sandha for agreeing to mentor and skill our students in AI, ML, Robotics, Drones, and 3D Printing," said a spokesperson, of Akal Academies, Dr Neelam Kaur, Advisor Education and Health, Kalgidhar Trust, Baru Sahib. "This shall benefit over 15,000 students and aligns with our mission of providing value-based education," she said.

 

Having led AI research at Abacus.AI, Amazon, ARM, Teradata, IBM, and Oracle,Dr. Sandha's expertise in AI has been recognized globally, with his research being implemented in production, ranging from controlling robots to designing precision agriculture strategies.

It was at California that his research work on Artificial Intelligence (AI), specifically the Mango library, is used in designing commercial CPUs powering billions of devices, including Samsung and iPhone smartphones.

Dr Sandha serves as a program committee member for top AI conferences and as a reviewer for leading journals in the field, and has over 50 research papers and articles in prestigious computer science journals. 

He has devoted himself to giving-back to his motherland and has returned from US in January this year to settle in his village home in Punjab, and has initiated Punjab AI-Excellence Programme and is not only mentoring school students but also guiding the IITs across the country on AI.

In his meeting with Dr. Davinder Singh, President Kalgidhar Trust, at his residence Dr Sandha shared that it's time that we bring the advancements in AI to our middle and senior school students for making them and the state of Punjab future ready. World wide AI is now a routine may it be agriculture, healthcare, education, industry and research. It is time that we gear-up to reap its benefits

Both, Dr. Sandha and his life partner, Dr. Inderjot Kaur, who did her Masters from North Carolina State University and Ph.D. and post-doctoral from Mississippi State University, who also empowers the students of Punjab for acquiring higher education in Universities abroad, have left their well paying jobs in USA to give back to their birthplace, Punjab, and the country.

About Kalgidhar Trust

Kalgidhar Trust is a registered non-government organisation committed to empowering the school children through value-based education, which runs over 100 Akal Academies that impart world-class education upto Class XII, as also the Eternal University at Baru Sahib, and Akal University at Talwandi Sabo, besides undertaking humanitarian service activities. https://www.barusahib.org

Caption:

Dr Davinder Singh, President, Kalgidhar Foundation, along with advisor Bhavneet Singh Bhalla, met Dr Sandeep Singh and Dr Inderjot Kaur, for their selfless service to teach AI to Akal Academies