The Doll With One Eye

Every discussion on Rotary's fight against polio in India begins with one man - Past Rotary International President Rajendra K. Saboo.

He was the pioneer who gave Rotary's efforts in India a national shape, launching dedicated NIDs - National Immunization Days - when the idea of immunizing every child in a single day seemed impossible.

The journey began with a powerful symbol.

In 1991, at a UNICEF conference at the United Nations in New York, RI President Rajendra K. Saboo painted one eye of the Daruma doll, pledging Rotary's commitment to end polio. The tradition is to paint the second eye when the wish comes true."

The tradition he explained: In Japanese folklore, a child paints one eye of the doll while making a wish and paints the second eye when that wish is realised. His wish was, of course, total eradication of polio. "That Daruma doll is still waiting for its second eye, and I hope very soon an RI President will be drawing the second eye on it," he said. 

The second eye, he said, would be painted only on the day the world becomes truly polio-free.

We have travelled far since then. India is polio-free.

But our work is not done. Pakistan and Afghanistan remain endemic. As long as polio exists anywhere, children everywhere are at risk.

So the Daruma doll waits - with one eye full of hope, and one eye waiting for history.

The day we paint that second eye is not far. And it will be Rotary's finest hour.

To See, You Must Sometimes Close Your Eyes

Past Rotary International President Rajendra K. Saboo's visit to the Institute for the Blind in 2017 was not his first. For years, our Club, Rotary Club Chandigarh, has been associated with the Institute - organizing leadership programmes for its young residents and supporting them with Braille machines and Braille paper.

But this visit was different.

That afternoon on 10th April 2017, Raja Saboo did something no one expected. He tied a dark patch over his eyes and asked to be led through the building. Step by step, he navigated the maze of stairs and corridors, alongside the children, experiencing for a few minutes what they live every day -a world without sight. 

There was no media around. It was not a photo op.  It was empathy in action.

This is Raja Saboo. The man who doesn't just speak for others - he steps into their shoes to truly understand their life.

Rotary should promote civic sense for cleanliness in city, says Punjab Governor

New Team of Rotary Club Chandigarh to focus on waste management in city.

Addressing the Rotary Club of Chandigarh on the installation of the new team at CII here today, the Governor of Punjab Shri Gulab Chand Kataria asked the Rotarians to Instill the spirit of cleanlness and leadership through service among people besides reaching out to the rural and deprived sections of society.

He congratulated the new team of office bearers under the leadership of President Teena Avninder Virk who shall be carrying on the legacy of goodness of the club which has a rich history of serving the community since 1958 in the city, and commended her planned projects for cleanliness and waste management.

Chandigarh Garbage Dump to be transformed

He pointed out that Chandigarh Administration is engaged in converting the garbage dump in sector 25 into a beautiful garden with the help of Indian Oil Corporation, and is also very near to making the city TB-free very soon, in which Rotary is contributing immensely.

Educating the needy but brilliant students

He also implored Rotarians to identify economically-challenged yet brilliant students from Plus-1 and Plus-2 classes and support them so that they can pursue higher education.

President Teena Virk informed that the Club intends to take up several initiatives including recycling of plastic waste by creating vertical gardens, management of ewaste, cloth and wet waste, education scholarships to girl children, and setting up a Miyawaki forest in 38 West area.

Shri Kataria also said that this change of leadership throughout the Rotary world is a unique example of maintaining the continuity to the humanitarian service that  promotes human dignity, empathy, care and concern for their fellow beings, which is a true representation of Rotary.

On this occasion, the Rotary Club Chandigarh inducted Shri Gulab Chand Kataria as an Honorary Rotarian, and Past RI President Rajendra K. Saboo presented him the Rotary pin.

Rotary District Governor Dr Rita Kalra, presented two scholarship cheques of Rs.10,000 each to class 4th and 5th students of Vidya Sadan in Bapu Dham colny, supported by the family of Rtn Manmohan Singh Kohli.

Earlier the Punjab Governor inaugurated a waste management project of the club that would address the issues of general household waste and e-waste.

Earlier outgoing President Abha Sharma Joshi, presented the report of the Club's activities and highlighted various projects including the latest one of gifting a Rs.30 lakh van to the human milk bank setup earlier in Mohali under AIMS.

Those who spoke on the occasion included the current District Governor of Rotary District 3080 Dr Rita Kalra, immediate outgoing District Governor Ravi Prakash from Roorkee, and Past Rotary International President Rajendra K. Saboo.