No Ragging Please!

Our Club organised a debate on ragging, "How safe is your child?" this Monday. The chief guest was Mr. Justice Hemant Gupta of Panjab and Haryana High Court, a former Rotarian of our Club who was accompanied by his gracious wife, Mrs. Alka Gupta.  Other penalists included former Principal of DAV College Rtn. Subhash Marriya, leading High Court lawyer Rtn Deepak Sibal, and representing the parent's concern was another leading gynaecologist of our city, Rtn Dr Mangla Dogra. 

The meeting was conceived by the Program Chair Rtn PP Man Mohan Singh and Rtn. A.P. Singh, while yours truly moderated the discussions.

Rotaractors of our Club set the ball rolling with two students providing their perspective on ragging, which they deemed it as a necessary ice-breaker. 

Another surprise finds were Rtn DGN Madhukar Malhotra and visiting Rtn. PP Ajit Gulati, who turned out to be alumni of same engineering college. Rtn Gulati recalled being ragged in the room of Rtn Malhotra, while the later said that it used to be a clean fun which led to life-time of friendships with their seniors and juniors. 

Rtn. Subhash Marriya, referring to the recent death of a student in Himachal Pradesh, said that the onus squarely lies on the college administration to ensure that ragging does not happen. He informed that in his college he introduced the system of friendly interaction and a welcome party was organised to greet the freshers. 

Rtn. Dr. Mangla Dogra however felt that the ragging in professional institutions is predominant and majority of the time no one talks about it. "My son was ragged in her medical college in Himachal Pradesh, and it appears, that it is more of a psychological issue and the people coming from the rural backgrounds want to take it out on the city lads because of complex."  She said that the victims of ragging invariably become the perpetrators next year to take revenge for their humiliation. 

Rtn. Deepak Sibal informed that ragging leading to death has been termed as homicide and strict laws are being implemented with Supreme Court's clear verdict to hold the institutions responsible for the act.  He informed that though the Supreme Court had issued mandate against ragging as far back as 2001 but implementation had been lax and now many of the states are putting the law in place. 

Mr. Justice Hemant Gupta wrapping up the discussions remarked that it is not a legal issue but a veritable social problem which need to be dealt with at various levels with the involvement of the parents, teachers, educational institutions, and the society together. "It is shameful that despite living in a so-called civilised society we continue to have such heinous practices", he remarked.

Mr Justice Gupta lamented that till now everyone wanted to put these incidents under the carpet since no one wanted to be seen in the bad light. 

Police as a deterrent should be resorted to at a last resort, he emphasised, and the police force should be brought in only if all other fails. 

The need, he said, was the inculcate human values amongst the children right from the childhood, so that societal mindset can be changed against this malice. 

The panel discussion generated great interest with a very active participation from the audience, which was rounded up beautifully by a short nazm that our own poet, Rtn. S.D. Sharda penned it on the spot and recited it. 

What next? The question was posed to the Rotaractors who said that they would sensitise the youngsters in their educational institutions against this practice.  

Rtn. Man Mohan Singh and Rtn. Neena Singh suggested constitution of an independent monitoring body having respected citizens on board to check this practice in the educational instutitons, besides putting up counselling facilities. 

NID Visit Video

The group of volunteers from various countries who were with us in January for the NID returned home and have numerous pleasant memories to share with everyone back home.  Many of us had the opportunity to host them in our homes; many of us moved around with them immunising little children against polio.  Here's a video to refresh your memories of this visit. Just click here and enjoy. 

How Safe is Your Child!

An open debate on ragging requires you in the Rotary House coming Monday. Open your hearts, and interact with some of the people who had been in the thick of ragging issues.  But each one of us as a Parent is concerned. Even if your children have grown up and married, YOU have equal responsibilities as grand-ones to have a say on this issue and get our society rid of this malice. 

And those of us who are the teachers, and heads of educational institutions, have double responsibility since the parents put their little ones in the care of their teachers for most hours of the day. 

In whatever little time we have for the meeting, let us be there, to raise our voice, and make the tri-city area, or for that matter all that area within our influence, "Ragging Free".  Can we do something about this?

Show us the way.  Thrash the issue out with the panelists, Rtn. Subhash Marriya, former principal of DAV College, Chandigarh, Rtn Deepak Sibal, a leading lawyer at Punjab and Haryana High Court;  Dr. Mangla Dogra, a parent; and our view own Rotaractors who are perhaps been through this rut too. 

And to sum it up all we have the leading judicial mind and our former Rotarian, Mr. Justice Hemant Gupta, Hon'ble Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. 

Let's be there.

Blood Donation Camp

Rtn. PP K.K. Gupta and his family organised a blood donation camp yesterday at their factory in which employees of his factory participated enthusiastically. His son Vinay was amongst the first to donate blood.  Rtn. Pres Dr S.K. Duggal, Rtn PP J.B. Bhasin, Inner Wheel President Kanchan Bhasin, Rtn PP Anil Khanna, Ann Usha Gupta, and members of their family, and I were present at the camp. 

Rtn. Gupta has always been supportive of every good cause, and his dedication to Rotary ideals is exemplary. 

In all 73 units of blood were collected in which the team of our Rotary & Blood Bank Society Resource Centre, led by Dr. R.S. Shah, conducted the camp.

Slumdog Millionnaire

David Denby, the movie critic of New Yorker dismisses Slumdog as “fairy tale for adults” and states:  “What I will remember of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ is a disorderly exploitation of disorder, a kind of visual salad of glowing rotten fruit, constantly tossed. I object to the way that the director, Danny Boyle, orchestrates Jamal’s life.  Boyle has created what looks like a jumpy, hyper-edited commercial for poverty—he uses the squalor and violence touristically, as an aspect of the fabulous.”

The editor of La Lassurophobe on the other hand says, “Boyle has captured the rich tapestry of Indian life, expressed how a country so mired in such extreme poverty can manage to triumph as one of the world’s great democracies nonetheless.  The Bollywood dance number that finishes the picture shows there heroic people thumbing their nose at tragedy and daring to be happy despite their circumstances.  Rather than turning into bleak, morose devils yearning to bring forth a dictator like Stalin, the people of India choose hope and defiance.”

Bravo we say to Slumdog Millionaire; it winning 8 Oscars would be a minor victory for those who struggle for democracy throughout the world.

Dear members, what do you think the movie means for India and its image? Would you like to discuss this issue with the much accomplished Ms. Neelam Man Singh who has established her forte all over the world through theatre and who has studied other societies while treating the audiences the world over to some excellent plays directed by her.

Ms. Neelam Man Singh will be our chief guest this Monday, 2^nd March 2009 and talk to us on the current debate of what Slundog Millionaire means to India and the world.

AP

Join CATS for Blood

Blood - one component in your body that you recover within 24 hours and in just 5 minutes, you would have perhaps saved three lives. 

Voluntary blood donation is the most noble act that one can perform every three months without fail...year after year. And we have people like our selfless CATS, a self-motivated group of CEOs, executives and entrepreneurs, who besides being adventurous never go back to their promise to the world they live in.  And religiously, every third month, they are bringing their families and friends to donate blood and help our Club, meet the need for blood by the children who are operated free for congenital cardiac disease under Rotary Heartline Project. 

On 27th February once again, the 5th time, the members of CATS - Chandigarh Adventures, Treks & Sports, are getting together from 9:00am till 5pm at Rotary & Blood Bank Society Resource Centre in Sector 37, to contribute to this cause...selflessly.  Let's join to cheer them up, and bring our own staff to be a part of the drive. 

NID volunteers from abroad arrive

Polio: Every Rotarian's Commitment to Every Child

As a Rotarian we have a commitment. A commitment that we made to the children of the world, and the generation to come, that we will rid this earth of Polio.  Most of the world is already free...thanks to the concerted effort that the Rotarians have put together. Our country, unfortunately, remains one of the four countries in the world, which have yet to kick it out and protect our children. 

It is time for each one of us...for every Rotarian...for every member in a Rotary family, to rise once again and let not the efforts of 20 years of hard work go waste. 

We are almost there. We can do it.  Being a Rotarian it is a great responsibility that we had taken upon ourselves and we just cannot step back and hope that someone would be out there on Sunday morning to administer the drop anyway.  Who someone? It is only YOU who can make the difference, and no one else. If YOU get out of your bed on Sunday morning, say your prayers, express your gratitude to the God for blessing you with all His bounties and good health, and dress up to be there in the morning with the firm belief that YOU would check it out every where and anywhere, whether a child under five, has taken the polio drop. If not, YOU will have complete the task. 

Count the number of children you have touched today and administered polio drops. Count the number of children you have checked whether his finger had the permanent mark assuring that the child has been protected.  And even if you are able to do it even for one child...it will make a tremendous amount of difference to the lives of the children. Because we hope that on Sunday, YOU will not be alone.  There are Rotarians from USA, Canada, Cayman Island, Jamaica, and Australia, who have flown in just for two days to be a part of this world-wide movement, to join you, and reach out to the maximum number of children who are at risk. 

Let's be there. YOU will be there I'm sure. Because YOU are a Rotarian...who stands by the word. 

RI Theme and Role of Rotarians

The 2009-10 RI theme acknowledges the important role individual Rotary clubs will play in shaping the future of Rotary.

RI President-elect John Kenny unveiled the theme, The Future of Rotary Is in Your Hands, on Monday during the opening plenary session of the International Assembly , an annual training event in San Diego, California, USA, for incoming district governors.

"The future of Rotary will not be shaped at RI headquarters -- it will be shaped in each and every Rotary club," Kenny said, "because it is for each of us -- as Rotarians -- to do what is necessary to keep Rotary strong."

Kenny acknowledged the foundation established by past Rotary leaders and laid the responsibility for building upon that success on every Rotarian.

"Each one of us is standing on the shoulders of generations of Rotarians past, and it is our responsibility to determine Rotary’s future," Kenny said.

"Everything begins and ends with our clubs," he said. "Our clubs can and do work together; they work through their own districts, in cooperation with other clubs and districts, and with the support of our Foundation.

"But at the end of the day, everything that we accomplish is done through the strength of our clubs. And so each club must have autonomy to serve where and how it can serve best."

At the same time, Kenny highlighted the importance of the RI Strategic Plan , adopted by the RI Board of Directors, as an essential tool in providing continuity. 

"The plan is designed to strengthen and proclaim the core values of Rotary: service, fellowship, diversity, integrity, and leadership," Kenny said. The training sessions for incoming governors during the weeklong assembly are all tied to some component of the strategic plan, and a final group discussion on Saturday will seek to tie all the pieces together and show the future district leaders how to take the strategic plan to the club level.

Kenny concluded his remarks by sharing a favorite saying from his homeland, Scotland: "We must look beyond our own parish pump."

"It means that we must look beyond our own home and our own community," Kenny said. "We must look beyond our own needs, and we must be aware that ours is only one community, of one country, of the many communities and countries in this world."

PRIP Raja Saboo bereaved

The elder sister of Past Rotary International President Rajendra K. Saboo, Smt. Savitri Mohunta, passed away at her Panchkula residence today. The cremation will take place in Sector 25 Cremation Ground, Chandigarh, tomorrow, i.e. 20th January at 2pm.

Rotary Theme 2009-10

The incoming world leader of Rotary International, John Kenny, has announced

the next Rotary year’s theme (2009-10) at the International Assembly: “The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands”

Indeed.  Considering the challenges that our world faces today on various fronts including population, health, hunger, literacy, climate changes, which would have far-reaching repercussions on our planet Earth, the time to bring about the positive change is now.  

You, who are going to be the leaders of your club next year, will have to start planning for all those good things that you would like to leave for your children as a legacy for their future.  Dream now, so that the Future of the next generation is secure. 

Bon Voyage on 11th January

This Sunday on 11th January, our Club - the home club of DGN Madhukar Malhotra - is hosting the Bon Voyage.  

As hosts, every Rotarian with spouses are requested to join in this special occasion at 11am at CGA Golf Range, to give a warm send off to our incoming district leader, DGE Chetan Aggarwal and his gracious wife Neelam, as they leave for International Assembly in USA the very next day. 

The Bon Voyage would be followed by lunch in the salubrious and hopefully, sunny Sunday afternoon. 

Look forward to having you all there!

Lakhmanas respond to keep little souls warm

When I visited Dhanas center recently with Rtn G.S.Lakhmna, 25 children were found to be from very weak economic backgrounds. With the onset of winter, we were requested by the teacher to help by providing some woollens to these kids.By then we had already distributed woollens to 60 kids in two other centers so Rtn Lakhmna volunteered and Ann Dolly Lakhmana was given the childrens' measurements - the good Samaritan that she is, she bought warm track-suits in a day which were distributed to the children at Dhanas today, the 18th December. 
God bless Lakhmnas!
Woollen caps will be given by us alongwith warm socks for the kids' parents. It will be a warm and joyous Christmas for these children this year!
All are welcome to this joint program of Rotary & Bharat Prakarsh Foundation(BPF). If you also want to help please call.These under-privileged kids need all the kindness of well-meaning people like you.

Rtn. Neena Singh

President Duggal bereaved

Rtn. Pres. Dr. S.K. Duggal has lost his younger brother today, 10th December 2008 in Delhi after a prolonged illness.  

Rtn. Dr. Mangla Dogra also lost her mother in an accident and cremation was held on Monday, 8th December.

We deeply grieve and condole these untimely deaths.  May the Almighty grant peace to the departed souls and give courage to the members of the family to bear this loss with fortitude. 

Blood Donation Camp on 11th December

The 9th Annual Amrita Darshan Blood Donation Camp is being held at Aroma Hotel on Thursday, 11th December 2008 from 10am onwards.  This is an annual feature which is held every year in memory of Rtn. Man Mohan Singh's father, late S. Darshan Singh Kohli.  This year, it is being held in memory of his mother too who passed away in May this year. 

The Kohli family has requested all to join for brunch at Hotel Aroma, and inspire the donors, even if you are not donating. However, if you can bring along an eligible member of the family or any other volunteer donor with you, it would be great. 

Mrs. Keshni Anand Arora, IAS, Commissioner and Secretary Tourism, Government of Haryana, would inaugurate the camp. 

All are requested to join in. 

Rotary Family Day

December is designated as Rotary Family Day, and therefore, the Sunday, 7th December 2008 is Rotary Family Day Out. 

A picnic has been organised in the Kansal Forest Range, where pot-luck lunch will be served. There is a lot of entertainment, fun, and games for everyone.

Let's be a part of it. 

The Monday meeting stands preponed and Sunday would be the meeting day for this week. So make up your attendance too.

The New Face of Terror

The nightmarish happenings at Mumbai have shocked every one of us. And the biggest challenge today our world faces is terrorism...the misguided individuals out to prove their point through violence, hatred, mayhem, and what not. 

This Monday, on 1st December 2008, an expert on the subject has been invited for an interactive session on this topic that concerns everyone of us. 

Please join in the debate. 

Club Update

The business meeting scheduled for 24th November stands postponed and instead our Rotarian Dr. Gautam Munjal, an expert orthodontician would talk about protecting our teeth. 

Members are also requested to register themselves for the District Conference scheduled on 14-15 February at Panchkula.  Kindly contact President/Secretary for more details.

Business Meeting on 24th Nov

Next Monday is scheduled for Business Meeting.  Rotarians are requested to kindly come up with ideas that they would like the Club to take up. 

The major agenda item would be election of office bearers for 2009-10, the participation in the forthcoming District Conference on 14-15 February 2009 which our Club is hosting, and the bon voyage of Rtn. DGN Chetan Agarwal to be hosted by our Club.

It's 17 now!

The total number of surgeries has touched 17 now under our matching grant project, the Gift of Sight. Recently, 55 year old Mrs. Raj Rani, who had lost her vision in right eye due to long term diabetese, functional vision was restored under the expert hands of Dr. Vishali of AEC, PGI, Chandigarh, who also restored functional vision of another 21 year old Birbal, who had lost eye sight due to an injury at his work place. 

And all those who hold the doubts, as to "Why give to the Rotary Foundation?" have numerous reasons to look around, and ask the person who is able to once again see the sunshine, the colorful life around, and of course, his family and friends...and how it is making the difference to their lives?   Can you measure the value of this happiness?  What our Rotarians and those in Coral Gables gave and matched by The Rotary Foundation, is perhaps, miniscule compared to the value this Gift of Sight would mean to an individual...to every individual who would be able to see again!

CATS Blood Donation Camp on 21st November

So moved I was with their enthusiasm that I forgot to write the date of the 4th CATS Blood Donation Camp.  It is at Blood Resource Centre in Sector 37, Chandigarh, on Friday, 21st November. 

And those of us who have not heard about CATS, it is a motley group of adventure minded entrepreneurs, professionals, CEOs, bureaucrats, academicians, home makers, and students who are a part of Chandigarh Adventures Treks and Sports.  Do read about their adventures on their blog.
And why CATS bleed every three months? Click here to know more.

CATS to organise 4th Blood Donation Camp

Every three months, CATS get into action and voluntarily start asking their leader CAT Supreet, sister of Rtn. Amrit Pal Singh, "Now when do we bleed next?"  In the last three camps, they have responded exceedingly well touching everyone with their true concern for the people who might need the blood to survive, and live again!

Now again, the CATS are ready to give blood in support of our Club's Heartline Project. This time their target is 55 units, so as to reach the 200 target with this camp having earlier contributed 145 units. And believe me they are as enthusiastic as ever. Rotarians, members of their families, and the staff from their offices are also welcome to join the noble task, and reiterate their commitment to humanity. 

The camp will be on from 8:30am onwards till 5pm at Rotary and Blood Bank Society Blood Resource Centre in Sector 37.

You can look at CATS blog for their earlier blood donation efforts.

Gurpurb Celebration on 10th November

The Club is celebrating Guru Nanak Dev ji's gurpurb with a talk by Dr. H.S. Shan, a noted scholar, who would be speaking on "Guru Nanak's Poetry as a Medium of the Message".  The meeting shall be followed by pot-luck langar, which is being prepared so fondly by the families of Rotarians to share it together. 

Dental Health Workshop for Teachers

Bharat Prakarsh Foundation, dedicated to spreading literacy and led by our Rtn Neena Singh, joined hands with our Club to organise a Dental Health and Hygiene workshop on 7th November for the school teachers and volunteers who teach never-gone-to-school children in Dhanas. 

The teachers and volunteers of Dhanas AIE Udaan Centre which operates inside Government Senior Secondary School, village Dhanas (near Chandigarh) attended the workshop in the clinic of our famous orthodontist, Rtn. Dr. Gautam Munjal. 

Club President Rtn S K Duggal and Secretary Rtn Anil Chadda also attended the workshop.The teachers were given a detailed audio visual presentation for teaching correct dental habits so that these can be taught to the children at the center, as also demonstrated the right brushing techniques which every teacher learnt.  

The teachers were given samples of toothbrushes and tooth paste tubes for distribution to these children.

Next week it is planned to give to these children,  stationery (copies,pencils and crayons) and some refreshment.

There are three Udaan centers running in Dhanas with 90 children from poor economic strata between the ages of 6-14years. Of these 90 children,71 are graded at Class 1 level so we will be catching them young and impressionable for good habits and mainstreaming.  

Make Every Monday Matter

An excellent suggestion has come from our member Rtn. Neena Singh, and I am reproducing the same here. 

There are innumerable ways in which one can contribute to making the world we live in better and these ways are not rocket science but lie in the simplest of things viz.donating old books,picking up some litter,using eco-friendly bags,re-using paper envelopes, planting a sapling,starting a car pool,the list can go on and on...

Let every Rotarian suggest ideas to make our world more clean,more green and more environment friendly! We will use these ideas to make every Monday matter and commit to practice it ourselves and motivate others in our circle/community also to join in this mission.Let us make a difference.

In the words of Dr.Martin Luther King (Jr) -
"Everyone has the power of greatness. Not for fame but greatness. Because greatness is determined by service."

Let us as Rotarians strive to make every day better starting Monday which is our Meeting Day.My idea :

If each one of us decides to shun the use of plastic bags and instead use eco-friendly re-usable canvas shopping bags - imagine the difference it would make.
US Statistics say that 7 billion paper bags and 400 billion plastic bags are used every year.90% of all grocery bags are plastic.Do you know the average length of time an average high density plastic bag will exist on earth- 1000 years! An average family accumulates appx 60 plastic bags every 4 trips to the grocery/veggie store.When San Francisco banned the use of plastic bags it eliminated 100 million plastic bags/year!

ACT TODAY
1.Buy several canvas bags.
2.Keep spare bags in your car.
3.Use these bags for grocery and vegetable/fruit shopping.

YOU MATTER
- You would accumulate 1000 fewer bags this year if you and your family start the action.
- Paper and plastic bags are an environmental hazard-they biodegrade slowly or not at all.
-They deplete energy and natural resources,endanger wildlife,and poison the soil.
MAKE A SHIFT TODAY-FROM PAPER AND PLASTIC TO CANVAS.
We could help in making Chandigarh the first PLASTIC FREE city in India .

Yes, each one has to make Monday matter...every day of the week. Let's start with our Monday fellowship fruitful and meaningful, and taking up the cue from Neena Singh, we would like to utilise our fellowship time to come up with new ideas.