His Excellency Shri Shivraj V. Patil, the Governor of Panjab and Administrator of Union Territory of Chandigarh, addressed the Rotarians on the Installation Ceremony of District Governor Rtn. Manmohan Singh on 1st July 2012. His address was highly motivational and I reproduce below some of the excerpts :
I am very pleased to be here and I am very happy to
see the model of elections of your District Governor where no canvassing is
allowed. I think the politicians should
model their own elections and learn from you.
The outgoing government of District has done well
and I appreciate it. I am very happy to hear DG Manmohan Singh that the plans
he has for the District will add to the glory of Rotary and we wish him all the
best.
I am reminded of Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU)
which was founded in France and has become an international organization with
members of all Parliaments around th world.
It meets twice in a year in different countries. The concept of League of Nations was born out
of IPU, which later turned out to be the United Nations. UN has presence around the globe, but Rotary
is present in many more countries than the United Nations. If this is understood we can understand the
importance of Rotary in nthe world.
Rotary is an independent non-government organization.
United Nations is not so, and it is the governments of various nations who
support it and run it. The best part I
have realized in Rotary is that it never asks for financial help or for that
matter for anything, and instead believes in giving. In my public life I meet numerous people who
come asking for something or complaining about this and that. But I have not found Rotarians complaining
against anything. They have positive attitude towards life, and they do not
complain but instead come forward to find solution and help.
Our world has numerous problems. Neither the United
Nations or the governments of various nations can resolve them or find
solution. But I have seen Rotarians providing solution. It is not possible to
solve all problems but whatever is possible they come forward and make it
happen.
Rotarians are complete in themselves, successful and
more than anything else, have an attitude to help others. This is the attitude to help others which is
required in the world today. They work
together as a united force to help others, and if they can do it, others can
also do it.
The concept of Vasudhaiva
Kutumbakam (the whole
world is one single family)
is an
ancient concept of our country. In order to unite and have peace, this asks for
broad-mindedness of people, while the short-sightedness can divide this world.
Rotary is trying to unite the world. You
represent different communities, cultures and countries, all united to work
together. You are united as one force.
This attitude of oneness and being helpful to others is an attitude
which needs to be inculcated amongst people, and only then we can create a
better place.
Your theme of ‘Peace through Service’ this year is
excellent. But let there is peace in your mind, and we can have peace in the
world. I have no doubt that the Rotarians, endowed with the spirit of oneness
and the positive attitude of helping others and finding solutions to problems,
can bring peace in the world.
