January 2012 - The Golden Orange

JANUARY 2012 T A RY

IN

AL

RO

TE

RN A TIO N

Reach Within to Embrace Humanity

CHARTER NITE DG VISIT CAMP AT TAMIA BLOOD DONATION CAMPS

DG CLUB ASSEMBLY

DG Gopal Shiralkar flanked by Atul Shah and Pres Tauby

13th DECEMBER 2011 “Rotary is not a person-driven organization but a systems –driven one,”observed District Governor Gopal Shiralkar while addressing the Club Assembly on Dec.13 during his official visit to the Club. At the outset, President Tauby welcomed the District Governor, Asst.

Governor Gulab Mahant and members.

Secretary Dinesh Naidu read out the Minutes of the last Club Assembly. Then followed the presentation of plans and projects by the Directors through their Committee Chairpersons.

The Treasurer's Report was read out by Mahendra Kamath.

Past President Vijay Naidu , while summing up the Club Assembly, said that, “ 65 committees with 135 Chairpersons had indeed reached within and embraced humanity with their commendable projects” Commenting on the Club Assembly, the District Governor said that the Rotary Club of Nagpur was an example to be followed. There is much to learn from this premier Club of the District. Secy. Dinesh Naidu proposed the vote of thanks.

-KHUSHNOOR CHUGH

The Board in full attendance

Chairpersons – Rotaractors – Interactors

The Board stood up to be counted………

2

DG Gopal addresses the Assembly

Tauby's Take....

Dear Rotarians, It's the time to reflect on the year gone by. To assess where we reached, where we failed, to be grateful for all that we received and all that we could give. In a few days we will open a new book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day. Once more each of us will have the opportunity to right some wrongs, to banish worry, doubt and fear, the opportunity to love laugh and give, to grow and try to be our highest and our best.

This is also the time of the year when families get together. It's the Family where everything begins; it's the core of all the love we get and give. The importance of family and the time we should give to the family has been the emphasis of this Rotary Year. RI President Kalyan Banerjee says that Family should always come First.

Importantly even Rotary should never, ever come between the Rotarian and the Family. In fact Rotary service should be something that brings the family together. Make family, your first priority.

Experience the joy of your children as they grow. Become their best buddies when they turn into their teens. Feel the warmth and love of your parents and grandparents. Say sorry to your estranged relative.

There's yet another aspect I wish to dwell upon. Our Club is something which makes us very proud, but let's not gets over swayed with making each event or project better, bigger, and grander than the last. Let's refrain from over using terms like “raising the bench mark”, “scaling greater heights”, and “better that before”. We are not competing with any one, least ourselves. I only wish, you put in your best, undertake whatever you do with honesty, sincerity and dedication, do it with love, and lastly do it because it brings you satisfaction and fulfilment.

Our annual pilgrimage to Hemalkasa is scheduled for the first week of January. A lot of work goes into it and the Doctors and non medical teams are on top gear. Going to Hemalkasa is an experience which never fails to touch you deep within. It's when we see suffering and misery at close quarters that we realise just how fortunate we are. In the last week of January is our Walkathon. This is another club event which requires a lot of work and involvement. Please do come forth and ask how you can help.

For me personally it has been a fulfilling and wonderful year. For that I need to thank my family and each one of you... part of my extended Rotary family. The Club and all of you have given me much more love, much more support, much more warmth and just so much satisfaction that my life becomes so much more purposeful.

Wishing all a wonderful and purposeful 2012,

Tauby Bhagwagar

Straight from the heart....

Aabra Ka Daabra!!!!!

The spirit of collective work and enjoyment is over. Or is it? The Charter Nite of 2011 may be a thing of the past, but the memories for those who were a part of the show will last for a long time. The team work, camaraderie, fellowship and fun during practice, planning, differences of opinion and all other things, make the run up to the nite as enjoyable as the nite itself.

We learnt on that day that change can be brought in with the wave of a wand. The results can be truly magical. All it needs is a bit of magic!!!!

Aabra Ka Daabra!!!!

There is equal opportunity for all and happiness every where; Every problem has a solution and every disease a remedy; Poverty is a topic only for academic discussion; Violence and crime have been stamped out of the world map; Skill and education are the identity that people have; Literacy is an elementary part of education…………..

Tears are only that of happiness. Going hungry is only for the purpose of dieting. Homeless are only those who are out on a vacation. Without clothes are those looking for a sun tan or going out for a swim. Pain is…………..only in the neck!!!!!

All NGOs (like ours) are rendered useless with nothing to do. All good souls (like you) will have no helping hand to lend.

This is 2012!!!!!

Aabra Ka Daabra Always !!!!!

Shabbir Shakir

shabbir.shakir66@yahoo.in

Keep in touch......

We invite expert comments, suggestions, criticism and commendations. This will help us know the pulse of readers and improve the publication. Please write in to shabbir.shakir66@yahoo.in

COVER up....

Nearly 75 participants converge on stage after the show at the Charter Nite DG likes what he sees – cheque to TRF People waiting their turn at the Tamia Medical Camp

CREDITS Director Khushnoor Chugh

Processing Eskay’s Scanner

Chairperson Nimish Sutaria

Designing Gurushree Graphics

Advisor Madhavi Naidu

Printing Shabbir Shakir

Editor Shabbir Shakir

Paper Courtesy BILT

3

MAIL BASTION - Letters To The Editor

ETTER BEST L FOR E IZ PR ISSUE EVERY

Everyone was busy with the festivities of December. The GO and editor were both ignored and no letters were received this month. The (leftover) prize is awarded to Madhavi Naidu and PP Dr. Sanjiv Chugh for being the LAST to submit the article for GO this month……

country. Prakash bhau with Manda tai his newly wedded wife stayed with a small band of volunteers.

Today Hemalkasa runs a 50-bed hospital that treats over 40,000 Madia tribals a year. It has a residential school up to Class XII for 700 Madia boys and girls and a training programme for barefoot doctors. All of this free of charge. It also has an animal orphanage affectionately christened Amte's Ark - that houses an astonishing range of wild animals from leopards & bears to crocodiles, wolves, hyenas, snakes, porcupines, badgers, deer and owls: all of them in lustrous health, all of them personally looked after by Prakash and some helpers.

HEMALKASA NOTES You have to turn away from the Hemalkasa experience, because if you didn't, you would be forced to confront and change your deepest self. You would need to re-examine your entire life.

But let me start at the beginning. As you drive away from the frenzied developments in Nagpur, the regions rich coal mines of Umred, fertile fields of Bhiwapur, modern paper mills of Ashti & deeper into the forested heart of India past Allapelli, you will find a beautiful country, an emerald world cut by streams and rivers, but so lonely, so isolated, you can almost touch its forgottenness.

Five hours away from my home & into this silent receding world, suddenly you come to a white arch: Lok Biradari Prakalp, Hemalkasa , Bhamragarh.

Forty years earlier, the legendary Baba Amte had brought his wife and sons, for a rare outing to Bhamragarh, a confluence of three rivers where Baba had roamed as a young boy hunting with the Madia Gonds, the tribe indigenous to the region. The picnic would become a crucial turning point. As India grew & developed, the Madias were still living in a pitiable condition.

As huntergatherers, they had little access to regular food, & almost no healthcare - barring the whimsy of witchdoctors. Malaria, tuberculosis, diarrohea, whooping cough, gangrene, ulcers, malnutrition raged among them. The sight of strangers sent them scuttling like startled deer. Baba made an impulsive decision to start work among them.

Baba moved in with a handful of workers in 1973. The young Prakash cut short his degree in general surgery & joined the project in Hemalkasa. They had nothing but two thatched huts to live in, and the fierce jungle around. Baba & the others moved back to other urgent projects scattered across the

4

None of this reveals itself as immediately extraordinary unless one explores the tenacious will & dedication it took to accomplish it. To live in Hemalkasa in the 1970s meant poverty and utter isolation.

There was no electricity for years, no supplies, no school, no community. Food meant a simple, unchanging menu of rice and dal, darkness meant the hiss of the hurricane lamp. For six months in the year, Hemalkasa was completely cut off when the river Bandia flooded in July. News of the world only came in sporadic gusts when a Herculean volunteer, cycled or walked the 60 kilometres from Allepali to deliver messages. In 1975, it took several months for Prakash to know his

second son Aniket had been born - and had been sick. When he was barely 18 months old, they almost lost their elder son Diganth to cerebral malaria; he suffered from epileptic fits for years afterwards. Manda tai, a deceptively strong woman, short on words, high on action, wept then and again years later when all three of her children - Diganth, Aniket and adopted daughter Aarti - consecutively failed their board examinations. Had they done right in choosing this life for their children? ".... we absorbed these shocks and kept moving on.”

Ask him what kept him in Hemalkasa through all this & Prakash Bhaus response is instinctive and quick. "my families companionship - and the people's faith. That is what keeps us here. The tribals come to us from a radius of 200 kilometres, we try to help them. I have never seen such tolerance for pain. Sometimes when we cut their wounds, the pus sprays onto our faces and body. We never had gloves but it never mattered. When I watch their wounds - black, poisonous, foul-smelling slowly turning red and healthy, that is my reward."

Son Diganth, now a qualified surgeon, and his wife Anigdha, a gynecologist from Goa who laughingly says she did not just "reply" to the matrimonial, she "applied" for it, are the third generation of Amtes to subsume their lives to the service of others.

This unassuming compassion - this lifeaffirming gratification in serving others - is the foundational chromosome of the Amte legend.

Every family member - and the vast armies of volunteers & journeymen who have walked the path with them - seems to have it in differing measure. This simple, unassuming compassion - this way of life - presents itself as an unspoken challenge to the most fleeting of visitors like me. It makes me feel the need to re-examine my entire life.

-NAUSHAD BHAGWAGAR

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Atul and his Team 2012-13 The Business Meeting of Dec.1 was conducted by President Tauby. Minutes of the last Business Meeting were read out by Secretary Dinesh Naidu. Treasurer's Report was presented by Mahendra Kamath.

The high-point of this Business Meeting was the introduction of Team 2012-13 by President Elect Atul Shah. While presenting his Team to

the House President-Elect Atul remarked that he would be making history by being the first President to be installed in office by a lady.

The new Team is as follows : President Elect -Rtn. Prashant Kale, Vice -President-Rtn. Bharat Goenka Hon. Secretary- Rtn. Shabbar Shakir Jt.Secretary - Rtn. Mahendra Kamath Treasurer- Rtn. Alok Goenka Sargeant at -Arms- Nilufer Rana Directors - Rtns. Manjot Kahai, Dr.Shaunak Mokadam, Manish Bhati, Parag Paranjpe, Shivkumar Rao and Sandeep Pathak.

Best Chairpersons Awards were presented to Dipesh Ajmera and

VISIT TO PLANT NURSERY row of flowers of the same shade, in 7 or 8 colours, covering a massive area, made a beautiful collage. Poinsettias, Acadiums, Roses, Palms, Ferns, Indoor plants, Outdoor plants, Fruiting trees --a feast for the eyes.

Ankur Agrawal, the owner of the place had promised to give tips on growing a

They walked less………

When 47 women decide to go for a day out, not much imagination is required to guess their excitement. After having every different type the mind can think of, 'Ladies Meet', month after month, the chairpersons decided that a day out in a nursery (with plants. not babies) would make a good change.

The circular definitely created quite a hype. Even women, who are seldom seen during other club activities, were enquiring about the picnic. Come Thursday morning on the 1st day of December 2011, we met outside the University Campus and proceeded to the Nursery.

And what a nursery!

One could call it 'poor man's' Amsterdam.

Chrysanthemums instead of Tulips. Row after

BUSINESS MEETING Monal Malji for RYLA and to Neerja Shukul, Ragini Sahu, Bhavna Kalra and Smita Chaubey for Slum Dvelopment and Women"s Upliftment.

The Lucky Chair prize was won by Yatin Malji.

Prizes for contest in the GO were won by Jerry Watchmaker and Akash Agarwal.

-KHUSHNOOR S. CHUGH

Pres Tauby and her Team 2011-12

LADIES PICNIC was --Chrysanthemums on the house. We could take as many of those plants, in whatever shade, free of cost. That brought a lot of smiles on most faces. To bring a smile, to those who did not come, let me tell you that we drove more than 30 kms.(one way) to reach the nursery, 19kms from Nagpur.

A convoy of 12 cars, most of them driven by beautiful young ladies, made a pleasant sight. Thanks, Jumana and Nita Gupta for the day out. And thanks Omnipresent Tauby for being with us that morning. Normally you never attend the Ladies Meet!

-MANJU SHAHANI

……..and ate more kitchen garden, herbs and other exotic plants. But answering, queries from 47 ladies was not what he had bargained for!! Dumb Charades, was a hit as always. Frankies from Tibbs, made an excellent lunch, along with pulao, raita and brownies. The highlight of the day

Whose shades are the best???????

5 ELE CTRIC AL A C C ESS O RIES VIDE O D O O R PH O N ES, REM O TE SWITC H ES LI G HTI N G S O LUTI O N S RA H UL - m o b # 9 8 9 0 2 5 7 5 6 5

REGULAR MEETINGS

TIGERS BEYOND BOUNDARIES.....

AMERICAN JAZZ

The meeting of Dec.8th was all about American Jazz and the Speaker was Margaret Mullen, A Jazz singer from U.S.A. Wife of a Paediatric Oncologist and mother of two kids, Maggie caught up with her love for music after a gap of many years. Now, for the last 12 years, she has been devoted to playing and exploring Jazz music. At the meeting, she explained the nuances of American Jazz with an audio-visual presentation. Her intermittent singing gave a musical twist to the meeting.

Differentiating between regular western music and jazz music she said that, in jazz there is a "swing" feel while in western music is based on regular rhythm. The second element is improvisation. That is, the jazz musicians do much more than playing the notes written on a piece of music. Most of the time, they spontaneously compose new melodies.

Both of these subjects, RHYTHM and IMPROVISATION are important in classical Indian music too, she concluded. Earlier, Maggie was introduced by Dr. Shailendra Mundhada. The vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. Ravi Wankhede.

-KHUSHNOOR S. CHUGH

Mrs Margaret Mullen

ARE WE GETTING AN OVERDOSE OF PORN ON FILMS AND TELLY? kids are watching, there was yet another who felt that there was no

came through was that we have to tread a middle path wherein we can have the channels of communication open and hence be in the know of what's being watched. President Tauby conducted the meeting.

The change in venue was refreshing With a topic such as this and a changed venue, it was no surprise that the Duke's at C.P.Club was abuzz with Rotarians and Anns.

Moderated by Vinita Chaturvedi , the subject was discussed by Panelists Vijay Naidu, Rachana Singh, Habeeb Khan and Kiran Rathod. While someone felt that as parents, we need to be mindful of what our

-KHUSHNOOR CHUGH

The panelists way we could do that. It's an open world and the more we try to control the kids, the more we'll draw them towards the forbidden territory. What Moderator Vinita is all smiles

PSYCHOLOGY OF MONEY A talk on an interesting subject amidst uncertain economic and investment scenario was organised in the meeting of 29th December. The topic was Psychology of Money and the speaker was Mr Ranjit Dani.

Ranjit is a director of Think Consultants, a Nagpur based financial planning firm.

President Tauby called the meeting to order and after the weekly projects and other announcements, Parag Paranjpe introduced the speaker.

6

Mr Ranjit spoke about the common mistakes people commit when dealing with money under different circumstances. He talked about the aspect of mental accounting where people in general treat money differently where sources are different. Eg a loss, which one has accounted for earlier and later

realised, suddenly becomes a 'free' money and used casually. Another example he shared is when the payoff is same but the goods/article in question has different price point we behave differently. Commonly in stock markets also, given a choice investor will sell the stock on which they have made money rather than a stock where they are losing money. It gives them a sense of winning without realizing that they are now betting on a losing horse. Eventually investors end up selling all profitable stocks and keep all the duds.

In an interactive session, many members could co relate with different aspect of psychological behaviour described by the speaker. He touched upon many aspects like Loss aversion and Sunk cost, Status Quo Bias

and Regret Aversion, Anchoring, Money illusion etc. He also shared a study called reversal of choice.

Vote of thanks was proposed by Nisreen Maimoon. The meeting was adjourned after signing of National Anthem.

-PARAG PARANJPE

Mr Ranjit Dani

KIDDIES MELA

USHA DEVI BHATT SCHOOL

The Nutrition & Childcare committee organised a morning of Fun Fare for the children of Usha Devi Bhatt school on Dec 2, 11. The school reported an attendance of over 90% which was a testimony to the enjoyment quotient of the small children of the school.

The area was dotted with stalls for games like Dart game, Ball in the basket, Ring and Win, Chalk the nose, Bouncy, Merry go round and The kids had a gala time every child carried multiple items in the form of prizes. The Fete would not have been complete without Food stalls. The committee had put stalls for Ice Lollies, Popcorn, Candy floss. The delighted kids had utility and food items to carry home along with wonderful memories.

The presence of President Tauby, Secretary Dinesh Naidu, PDG Satish Sule, Shahrukh A Poto op.

PDG Dr Sule has eye sight problems‌.. Cassad, Khuhnoor Chugh, Vishal Jaiswal, Vaibhav Jaiswal, Tushar Singhvi, Ritika Singhvi, Archana Javery, Sonal Singhvi, Divya Bhatti, Shilpa Jetha, Mamta Jaiswal, Sapna Vastani is acknowledged and appreciated by Committee members- Romesh Batra, Kiran Wankhede, Anagha Jaiswal and Varsha Jaiswal.

-ROMESH BATRA

PROJECT VISITS BY DISTRICT GOVERNOR Charter day, apart from the Club Birthday, is also important as that day is dedicated to DG's visit as well. After the breakfast Club Assembly and interacting with young Rotaractors and Interactors, it was time to showcase some of prestigious projects to our DG. The first visit of DG Goplarao Shiralkar was to the Mangalwari Deaf and Dumb school, escorted by Pres.Tauby, Hon.Secretary Dinesh, Pres Elect Atul. He was welcomed by the school staff and our Rotarians Director Shaharukh Casad, Rtn.Dr.Iqbal Khan, Rtn.Sanjay Sethi. He was shown the various gadgets and equipments, from state of the art hearing aids to physiotherapy equipments, which our club has donated to assist the children in hearing and the physically challenged students to develop their limbs, so that they can gradually over few years use the same. DG Rtn.Gopalrao Shiralkar took a keen

interest in watching the demonstrations and understanding the benefits of the same. He applauded the work done by our club in association with the school staff.

The 2nd visit was to Krishna Nagar slums where he was welcomed by the chairperson's of the Slum upliftment committee Rtn.Ragini Sahu and Rt.Anns Neerja Shukul and Bhavna Kalra. The DG was shown the Mobile Computer Training Bus which our Club had arranged thru the good offices of Shri Sammer Meghe to organise a month long Computer Literacy program for the students and a few house wives residing in Krishna Nagar slums.

The residents felicitated the DG and informed him on the benefits they had derived through this project. He wished them good luck and motivated them to further pursue their careers.

The 3rd and the last visit was to Nutandevi Bhat School where our Sergeant-at-Arms

DG PROJECT VISIT Sha bbar Shakir and the chairpersons of Project Nutrition committee Rt.Ann's Anagha Jaiswal and Varsha Jaiswal welcomed the DG.They briefed him on how on a daily basis our Club has been providing nutritious food to the children of this school. They also made him aware about the various other fun activities like a movie show or a fun mela which was organised for these children by our Club. The DG himself enthusiastically served the Children with nutritious food.

At the end of this visit the DG congratulated Pres Tauby and applauded the services rendered by our Club to different strata's of the society through these service projects.

-ATUL SHAH

The District Governor on his visit to various projects

7

BLOOD DONATION CAMPS

SB JAIN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Blood Donation camp at SB Jain institute of technology, management and research situated at Kalmeshwar road took place on 3rd of Dec 2011. A total of 54 units were collected in the camp. The principal Dr. Narendra Bawane and NSS Coordinator Mr. Suple appreciated the students who donated blood for making this camp a success. Present on the occasion were Shalini Gupta and Dr Sheela Mundhada. Rtn Anuj Badjate, the director of the institute has promised more number of donations from this institute.

-DR SHEELA MUNDHADA

S.B.JAIN INSTITUTE OF TECH., KATOL ROAD The atmosphere at the sprawling campus of S.B.Jain Institute of Technology on Katol Road was absolutely serene. However, the building housing their 'Electronics and Telecommunication' department was bustling with activity.

The blood donation camp organized there on Saturday, 17th December, was the second camp to be conducted the same month. Indeed, the spirit of service displayed by students there was noteworthy.

The camp began at 1.30 in the afternoon and was well coordinated by the staff. Dr. Narendra Bawane, Principal, was glad to have his college students donate blood in quick succession and was eager to offer help in other projects as well. Vice-Principal Dr. Sanjay Badjate also visited the venue with his staff to encourage students and appreciate their efforts. Staff from Jeevan Jyoti Blood Bank was as efficient as ever. The camp concluded at 4.00 PM. It was attended by Bharat Parekh and Prashant Rajurkar and saw a collection of 25 units.

-DR SHEELA MUNDHADA

ROTARY CLUB OF NAGPUR –8TH DECEMBER 2011 It takes lot of discipline, dedication, sincerity and minimum 25 year to complete century of blood donation. Our club, it seems is blessed with people who come forward and religiously donate blood every quarter. PP Shabbir Shakir is one of them and on 8th December he donated blood for staggering 100th time. Not to be left behind Jumana too joined him in this cause and will surely complete her century soon. President Tauby, Hon Secretary Dinesh, and 9 other members of Rotary family too donated including first time donor Shailaja Sharma. In all 13 units of blood were collected. A large number of Rotarian, Rotary Anns and guests were present during this momentous occasion.

-PARAG PARANJPE

ABHA COLLEGE OF ENGG AND TECHNOLOGY The Blood donation Camp took place at Abha college of Engg and Technology at Mohengaon on 30th of Dec 2011. A total of 63 units were collected. Director of the institute Mr. Gaikwad, Mr Patil, Principal Ankush Mankar were very keen on having this blood donation camp. Present amongst the rtns were Dr. Sheela Mundhada, Dr. Ravi Wankhede.

-BLOOD DONATION TEAM

VOCATIONAL TRAINING

8

PARANJPE SCHOOL'S ANATHALAYA

The Vocational Training Committee had conducted a two day workshop at Paranjpe School's Anathalaya on 16 th & 17 th of Dec. The workshop was intended as a refresher course in order to help them complete an order of 75 tissue flowers placed by one of the Rotarians. These flowers will be used in gift wrappings for the wedding gifts in forthcoming wedding.

The workshop was conducted by Sadhana Paliwal along with Kanak Bhargava and Sharad Paliwal. Such orders will provide monetary help to them and also boost their self confidence. We request all the Rotarians to come forward and get their requirements fulfilled through the Committee and help to achieve the true purpose of the trainings imparted.

-SADHANA PALIWAL

TAMIA AAROGYA MAHAOTSAVA

The camp drew huge crowds

Dr Prashant Choudhary

It was on Sunday the 4th of Dec, that a mega Diagnostic health checks up camp, “ Ta m i a A a r o g y a Mahaotsava” was organised at Tamia, a hill station in MP. Our medical team consisted of Dr.Sushrut and Dr Nandini Babhulkar, Dr. Hazra, Dr Indrajeet Mulik, Dr Anil and Anjali Chaudhari, Dr Vivek Harkare , Dr.Prashant and Dr. Archana Choudhary , Dr Shantala Bhole and Dr. Bharti Gidwani. It was a power packed team right from surgeon to orthopaedic surgeon, ENT, gynaecologist, ophthalmologist, dermatologist, dentist and paediatrician The team left for Tamia along with President Tauby, Vishal and Anagha Jaiswal, Raj Shah and Amitabha Sharma. They were accompanied by an enthusiastic team of non

MEDICAL CAMP

…..and Rotarians too

Dr Surajit Hazra and Dr Indrajeet Mulik

Dr Anil Chaudhary

medicals, Sec. Dinesh, Mahendra, Shahrukh, Sohrab and Rukshad on bikes.

Dr. Sushrut Babhulkar, who had sponsored this entire diagnostic camp, had made fantastic arrangements. The stay, the food, the bonfire and tribal dance, the morning trek to Chhota Mahadev were all very well organised.

But of course what took the cake were the meticulous arrangements at the camp. It was indeed a Mahaotsava, what with 1750 patients checked and treated. These patients had undergone prior screening and were given numbers to facilitate their checkups. A massive team of NCC cadets, locals and students were deployed to take care of the villagers who had travelled from many of the nearby villages to make avail of the camp.

Our doctors did a fantastic job, ably assisted by our non medicos and Dr. Chetan Dixit from

Nagpur and Dr. Sahu. 131 patients have been shortlisted for corrective glasses, 43 for cataract, 10 Major surgeries including fracture fixation, correction of deformity, 35 minor surgeries including general surgery, burns deformity correction and dental surgery The Local dignitaries who visited the camp were Mr Chandrabhan, Ex Minister, and Mr. Sheshrao Yadav, CCF Chindwara District -DR. INDRAJEET MULIK

JAIN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL On 7th December, we conducted a health check up camp at Jain international School. In all, around 327 students from class 1st to 11th were examined. The medical check up was conducted by Dr Indrajeet Mulik, Pediatrician Dr Chetan Dixit, General physician Dr Piyush Bawne, Dental team : Dr. Harish Rathi & his colleagues. President Tauby Bhagwagar and Sonia Khurana helped in lining up the students. School teacher Mrs. Lata Pant made the arrangements. School principal Rtn. Anmol Badjatia felicitated the doctors on completion of the camp. The camp ended with a sumptuous lunch in the school canteen.

-DR. INDRAJEET MULIK

FOUNTAIN SIZZLERS

Dr Sushrut Babhulkar

MEDICAL CAMP

Dr Harish Rathi and his dental team

METLOK PVT. LTD. 9

PROJECT ROSHNI

TADOBA BUFFER FOREST AREA

Vipul Gupta & Harsh Dhanwatey – the heart and soul of the project

Pres Tauby hands over the lamps and…..

….. darkness no more!!!!

The atmosphere was bright and the turnout great

The results were for all to see – twinkle in the darkness In the second phase of solar lamps distribution to villagers who have no access to electricity, our team headed out to Tadoba Buffer forest area. Rotarian Harsh and his wife Poonam, who run an NGO there, helped collect data of such villagers, who assembled at two villages Bhamdeli and Wadala, and a total of 150

lamps were distributed. Later in the evening, the team visited a few huts, and saw the magic that these lamps had brought to their lives.

The project was well carried out with the help of Sohrab Kanga, Mamta Kanga, Vijay Naidu, Madhavi Naidu, Sunil Thapar, Renu Thapar, Atul Gupta, Nita Gupta, Vipul and Shalini

RUBELLA VACCINATION On 27th Dec, a Rubella immunization camp was conducted at Qidwai Urdu School. Dr. Indrajeet Mulik, Dr Rafat Khan, Dr.Shailendra Mundhada, Gouri Malji, Dr. Chetan Dixit , Dr. Neha Rajput and nursing staff of Mulik hospital administered the vaccines to 353 girl students. Principal Mr. Khan and other teachers made necessary arrangements. Pres Tauby and Sec.Dinesh helped the doctors .

-DR. INDRAJEET MULIK

10

Gupta, Sonia Khurana, Harsh Dhanwatey, Poonam Dhanwatey and headed by our President Tauby.

The entire team stayed back at Tadoba and took two game park rides in search of the elusive tiger.

-VIPUL GUPTA

QIDWAI SCHOOL

Dr Rafat Khan

CHARTER NITE

PAST PRESIDENTS FELICITATION

Bobby Srinivas 1961-62

Rajan Bhatia 1978-79 (Akola)

S.A.Marawar 1983-84

Dr S.S.Kulkarni 1989-90

Sati Khanna 1990-91

Dr Satish Sule 1991-92

Shiraz Gimi 1994-95

Dr Manu Daga 1995-96

Vishwas Sahasrabhojanee 1998-99

Aspi Bapuna 1999-2000

Gulab Mahant 2005-06

Arun Bhargava 2006-07

Vijay Naidu 2007-08

Shabbir Shakir 2008-09

Akhtar Parvez 2009-10

Ganesh Joshi 2010-11

11

PHF RECOGNITION

12

CHARTER NITE

CHARTER NITE

PHF RECOGNITION

13

CHARTER NITE Celebration Celebration

A novel way to start a meeting……

PDG Sule….for the love of mike

Naushad and Vinita

Khushnoor looks animated

Sandeep – Complete Man!!

Anita of Boston pedigree

Viju has arrived!!!

Vishwas the bachelor

Sunita sizzles….. Sohrab wriggles

14

A question for the detractors of "Fellowships" among us. Name the one project of the club which has equal, if not bigger passion, commitment & participation than the flagship Hemalkasa Surgical Camp? No prizes for guessing its the Fellowships! This cornerstone of Rotary is celebrated Hairy trick with expected enthusiasm by the Rotary Club of Nagpur year after year and the Charter Nite of 2011 was no different. It is an amazing sight to see over 70 committed participants take precious time out of their busy schedules to practice for over two weeks for their five minutes of glory on stage. No other project evokes this kind of response. Right from the line of cars at St. Ursula School two weeks prior to the show to the jam-packed audience on the day of the event, it is an exercise unmatched by any other.

Here, whole families turn up to respond to the Amrut Thakur needs a new body Brijesh – What a body!!!

El Spano!!!! director's call and punctually go through the whole rigmarole without complaint. Enough said. Now to the actual show.

December 13, 2011 .... the 67th Charter Nite of Rotary Club of Nagpur got off spot on time, in the presence of District Governor Gopal Shiralkar, illustrious Past Presidents of our club and families and friends of our Rotary fraternity. The Past Presidents were felicitated, the District Governor addressed the gathering, Paul Harris Fellows were recognised and the official formalities were taken The kids are always the highlight Madhavi makes it back to the GO care of with clockwork precision. Then it was time for the much-awaited entertainment, titled "Abra-KaDabra ... a magical evening". PP Shabbir, in the form of a Spanish magician led the gathering through musical and comical events snatched from the lives and dreams of various Rotarians among us to the accompaniment of laughter and applause. The over 70 participants gave their best, a fact much appreciated by those present. The whole entertainment programme went off without a hitch or stutter (kudos to the Director Rukshad and his team of able supporters). The CP Lawns wore a look of Dinesh… how cute!!!!

The parsi gang does a jig gaiety and celebration. The crowd wore their best attire. The participants wore a big smile throughout their performances and President Tauby wore a look of satisfied success.

Needless to mention the fellowship and dinner which followed were lapped up by our enthusiastic families. Yet again, we had proven to ourselves and to others that Rotary Club of Nagpur works hard and parties hard.

-Madhavi Naidu

Heckler Prateek…….is turned into a dog!!!!

Hurraaaaah!!!!!!!!

15

LITERACY After successful completion of a month long computer education project at Krishna Nagar, Slum Dev. Comm. along with Datta Meghe Foundation, on great demand has now launched this project at the door step of the residents of Adivasi Nagar slums.

The camp was inaugurated on 20th December

by President , Tauby Bhagwagar. For this

COMPUTER COACHING AT ADIVASI NAGAR SLUM noble cause, Shri Sameer Meghe has provided a mobile bus equipped with 30 computers which will impart free basic computer education for 1 month to the needy.

The classes will be 5 days a week from 3:004:00pm. The response here too was over whelming. One batch is already full and a number have enrolled for the 2nd batch. The

Slum Dev. Comm. Director, Shahrukh Cassad and Chairpersons Nirja Shukul, Bhavna Kalra, Smita Chaubey and Ragini Sahu are trying their best in providing this easily accessible opportunity to make the slum dwellers computer literate and in the long run making their future bright with better job opportunities.

-RAGINI SAHU

The Computer Literacy on wheels

SENIOR CITIZENS

AUDIO VISUAL PROGRAMME

On Dec 28th, an Audio-Visual Programme titled "Golden Tips for Silver Age" was conducted by Doctors of Chitnavis M. M. R. Trust in the community hall of Indora Nagar slums for the senior residents.

Heart Problems, Orthopaedic problems, Diabetes, Choking, Burns, and many other such old-age related diseases were discussed.

Prevention, symptoms, diagnosis, and emergency first aid measures were demonstrated by Dr Jyoti Chaoji in a very interesting, witty and easily-understandable language. President Tauby, Director Sheela Mundhada, Ragini Sahu, Bhavana Kalra were also present. We thank Dr Archana Patel and Mrs Nisha Thakur of Chitnavis Trust who helped in the presentation.

-ANITA JAIN

16

An audio visual presentation

INTER CLUB TOURNAMENT

FELLOWSHIP CRICKET

Like every year, the inter Club Rotary fellowship tournament was organized by Rotary Club of Nagpur Downtown. Our young and not so young Rotary team made it to the finals only to be eliminated in a fiercely competed match to R.C of Nagpur Ishanya. The performance of our team was a treat to watch. In separate matches, Sandeep Pathak was man of the match, ljaz Akolawal was best batsman, Kapil Bahri was best fielder and best bowler. The Man of the tournament was Kapil Bahri who took the first hat-trick in the 7 year history of the tournament.

Lady Rotarians and annes were not very far behind. In the finals, they went down fighting to Rotary Friendship team in a thrilling encounter.

Some umpiring and scorecard issues kept the temperament alive even after the match.

A great fellowship and kudos to our Rotarian Cricketers.

-KAPIL BAHRI

Team spirit to team work‌‌..

17

GET ON BOARD

know your Board members

Mahendra Kamath has completed his very own Bermuda Triangle. Thank the lord Almightly ( a la PDG Satish Suleishstyle !!) he did not disappear in it- on the contrary he emerged triumphant.

Janmabhoomi-Kerala, JananibhoomiRajasthan, Karmabhoomi - Maharashtra, then back again to Kerala to get married & Reversing a bit, back to Maharashtra to make a life for himself - this is the story of Mahendra Kamath. Though born in Kerala he moved to Rajasthan as his father was a lecturer in the commerce faculty at Sirohi in Mt. ABU. He did his schooling & college over there. He then shifted base to Nagpur to live with his Uncle I went on to do his C.A, C.S & L.L.B. Then he left all three because Mahendra is a person who does not do what he is told to do. If he climbs one mountain, he immediately looks for another. He likes to do different things in life - & family is the only constant in his life. Well considering his nomadic upbringing, I guess this attitude is hardly surprising.

Kamath & Duragkar are a leading CA firm of which one part is wealth management. So Mahendra decided to climb the mountain made of moolah. He is into consultancy Insurance, gold & real estate. For an unknown Keralite, who migrated from Rajasthan to Nagpur, he has certainly made a Name for himself.

He became president of Orange city Jaycees in 2001, chairman of Nagpur Chartered Accountant branch with a membership of I00 in the year 2003. He is a member of V.M.A , V.I A and on Executive council of V.E.D. , Vice president of the Indus Entrepreneurs, executive Council member of 'CAFE' ( Child adoption for education) It is as a JAYCEE that he developed leadership qualities, learnt crisis management & made lasting friendships.

It was his friendship with Venkatesh Chari that made him a Rotarian, inducted by PDG C.N.

18

- MAHENDRA KAMATH (Treasurer) Chari . In his 2nd year in the club he was on the board of directors and even bagged the outstanding Director of the year award. Now he is treasurer for the Rotary year 2011-2012.

Got his hands on the moolah here too!!.

When I asked him how he managed to juggle so many activities in his life, pat came his reply-“ Like a big animal on a ride, but be careful of falling. Once you learn how to balance, you begin to enjoy the ride.” Well said, Mr Kamath He is married to Nisha a typically pretty konkani Saraswat brahmin from Kerala. Cute & petite Nisha is the perfect combination of beauty & brains. She is also pursuing a C.A.and has a degree of Associates in Insurance. Busy with her children she chooses not to pursue a career of her own. At present she is handling back office for Mahendra.

The couple have two children quite a diffident Aishwarya who is in the 9th std at Bhawans .

She is passionate about singing & has already given 4 Exams for it. The opposite side of the coin is son Ashwin who is in the 6th std at Centre point. Flamboyant & outing - He feels he is good at everything. A very positive attitude. He claims to be playing squash, cricket & football. He's already decided his future a degree in hotel management & then to be a masterchef. I think he takes after his father – umm certainly shades of Mahendra in him.

As treasurer Mahendra feels that our club is a wonderful organization - which has aged. It needs a lot of changes, younger ideas and views, more intermingling between members and a new millinieum makeover. Though we are the best- we should take advantage of this very fact & now take on bigger & bolder project as we have the population & the finances & the goodwill to do so. At present we are just on our laurels. Why not move ahead.

Mahendra is a workaholic, even his ideas of relaxation are all activity related. An upwardly

mobile person, he enjoys interacting & meeting with new people, reading all sorts of books but favours books on self help &Development, games, music & travelling.

The couple takes 3-4 holidays in a year & have travelled extensively in India & abroad. They have been to Amarnath & Mahendra took a biker trip to Tamiya Pachmarhi. He also likes to workout at the GYM and enjoys a bout of Badminton. Nisha is very supportive so they make a good team. To quote their children they rate their parents as 9/10 as a couple?

10/10 as parents. Nisha is very fond of singing & has just bought a karaoke system to sing away all the blues.

When asked if he would like to change anything is his life if given a chance to relive it, he says nothing - I'm very happy. But yes I am always open to change – ha ! ha ! thats Mahendra Kamat for you, always with an ace up his sleeve.

Well Mahendra ,I sign off with acknowledging the fact that you came here as an unknown person - You have made a loud and clear statement that- 'I HAVE ARRIVED'.

- JYOTI GOENKA

THE SWISH SWISS!

There was a time when our very own Kashmir was Bollywood's answer to outdoor location shooting for movies. Then came a time when along with Jihad, Swiss Alps ousted Jannat Kashmir! Well, that's not its only USP! Switzerland is a clichéd destination. It is poster card perfect. That's what we have been hearing all our lives and the cliché is so oft repeated that it either makes you want to visit the country or simply say “ Hang it! I don't want to go. It's too common!” We have been hearing rapt stories about its scenic beauty, the magnificent Alpine mountain range as its crowning glory!

The truth is, it's the truth! Once you visit the country, you realize that everything ever heard, does not do justice to Switzerland. Its like a beautiful lady, manicured to perfection and high in maintenance! Not a single leaf, lake or mountain is out of place! Even the Alps have positioned themselves perfectly.

It's like someone has painstakingly painted the entire country with loving strokes.

The best way to see the country is of course, by car. But the train network there is so systematic and convenient that one gets to see even the quaint villages in the country side. Every village is connected with the railway network.

Zurich, the capital city is beautiful, with a canal running right through it. There are many bridges over it which connects the old city to the new. The old city is a delight with its cobbled, winding streets! The streets are punctuated by Swiss cafes serving mouth watering Swiss confectionary AND Swiss chocolate based desserts!! Truly sinful delights! The lake in Zurich adds to its multidimensional beauty. The tram network running through the city is convenient and charming.

Bern, Lucerne, Wengen, Interlaken, Mureen, Grindelwald, Lautoburnen, Zermatt, St. Moritz! Phew! All these charming fairytale

places and many more! It's not possible to do justice to all the places in one trip but it's possible to visit the above mentioned places in a two week trip! All you have to do is, sit in a train every morning, visit one place in a day and spend the entire day there and head back in the evening.

Make your base at Lucerne or Interlaken because all the places are around these cities.

Interlaken is situated on the banks of a river and Lucerne has its very own lake! Taking a train from Interlaken to Grindelwald will take you to the famous Jungfrau peak. Perched on this very scenic peak, is also a restaurant called Bollywood. While you relish an Indian buffet there, you feel at home surrounded by photos of Indian film stars staring down at your plate.

If you are lucky, you might find Shah Rukh Khan's well clad figure romancing chiffon clad

TRAVEL LOG provisions, travel etc.

A trip by the famous Glacier Express train from Zermatt to St. Moritz is an experience which cannot be missed. The entire train is made of glass, so as to give the traveler a lifetime experience of traveling through the Alps, with every scene visible from every corner.

Zermatt is a toy town. Its most amazing feature is wooden log huts perched on pillars as accommodation. Its amazing that these huts are not only luxurious inside but also house bedrooms, sitting room and toilet inside, even though it looks tiny from outside! These huts can also be transported from one place to the other.

Since Switzerland is surrounded by Italy, Germany, and France on all sides, you get to see a multilingual crowd here. People living on the Italian side speak Italian; those on the German side speak German, so on and so forth!

St Moritz is a famous skiing resort in winters. The skiing world championship is held here. The town is gorgeous, littered with homes of celebrities from all over the world, who congregate here in winters. Among all the celebrity villas, there is one nestled amongst trees and hill is our very own Laxmi Villa by Laxmi Mittal! The town has the most exclusive and expensive shopping area. Its most beautiful feature being the Lake around which the city is located. In winters the lake is frozen and doubles up as a skiing field. The homes in this area are also very different from rest of the country. All the homes are hand painted from outside, with very innovative filigree designs, just like our Varli paintings! can go on and on about this country. No words can describe its majestic beauty. It needs to be experienced!

-AMITA BEHAL

Kajol doing a jig on the snow clad mountain peak!

Murren is a place which fantasies are made of.

A cable car takes you to Murren from Lautobrunen. Murren is a vehicle free village perched high on a mountain top. It's a peaceful place littered with flower bed and tiny village squares. The famous Swiss chalets are everywhere.

A visit to mount Titilus and Pilatus is a must. It's a Mecca in the Swiss Alps. If you don't have the time, you can visit either one instead of both. Since a lot of Indians travel to Switzerland every year, there is no dearth of Indian restaurants in this country.

But to bypass the Swiss cuisine would be sacrilegious. One factor that's not in Swiss favour is the alewal expense factor. It's an expensive Simone D/0 Sachin P place, be it food, accommodation,

19

ROTARY RUN Rotary partners with world's largest postgraduate water education institution

By Arnold R. Grahl and Wayne Hearn Rotary International News -- 28 November 2011 Since 1957 UNESCO-IHE, the world's largest postgraduate water education facility, has provided master of science degrees and promoted PhDs to more than 14,500 water professionals from over 160 countries. Photo courtesy UNESCO-IHE Rotary International on Facebook Rotary clubs will be helping train engineers and scientists to solve problems in water and sanitation, particularly in developing countries, through a new strategic partnership between The Rotary Foundation and UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education.

Through the partnership, the Foundation will offer packaged grants that Rotary clubs may use to select and sponsor scholarships for professionals in the water sector. Up to eight students a year may be chosen for any of three master of science programs at the institute in Delft, the Netherlands.

Both the institute and Rotary share a vision of making water and sanitation more accessible and more sustainable for all people, particularly the poor. The partnership directly supports Rotary's water and sanitation area of focus.

"This strategic partnership with UNESCO-IHE enables Rotary to work with a globally recognized leader in the training of water professionals at a time when such experts are desperately needed in many parts of the world," said Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair

William B. Boyd. "By identifying high-quality, high-potential candidates for these scholarships, Rotary clubs will play an important role in addressing a serious global problem.”

"Eighty percent of diseases in the developing world are caused by the lack of water and appropriate sanitation," said UNESCO-IHE rector András Szöllösi-Nagy. "The cooperation with Rotary is an important milestone in the large-scale, global capacity building required to tackle this crisis.”

Since 1957 UNESCO-IHE, the world's largest postgraduate water education facility, has provided master of science degrees and promoted PhDs to more than 14,500 water professionals from over 160 countries. The institute also promotes research and capacity building projects, manages a worldwide network of educational institutions and organizations in the water sector, provides professional expertise on water education, and plays a role in setting international standards for postgraduate water education and continuing professional training.

Sustainability By focusing on postgraduate degree programs, The Rotary Foundation is making a long-term investment in water and sanitation, helping equip students with the research, managerial, and technical skills they will need to solve domestic problems by thinking globally.

Working with the institute is a particularly good investment for the Foundation: most of the institute's students are from

developing and emerging countries where the need is the greatest, and 87 percent of the program's graduates are still active in the field a decade later.

Rotary Foundation packaged global grants support large, international projects with sustainable, high-impact outcomes in Rotary's areas of focus. Because the initial work of finding a strategic partner and designing the general framework of the project has already been done, Rotarians can focus their talents and energies on the implementation.

One hundred Rotary districts are participating in the Future Vision pilot, a three-year test of the Foundation's streamlined grant structure, which began 1 July 2010. All districts will begin using the model on 1 July 2013.

-VIJAY NAIDU

NEWS YOU CAN USE • Saboodana is made by a root like sweet potato. This root is made into a pulp and put into pits. Pits are in open grounds and the pulp is allowed to rot for several months. There are huge electric bulbs throughout the night because of which millions of insects fall in the pits.

While the pulp is rotting, water is added everyday due to which 2” long white color eels are automatically born .This rotting pulp is crushed with the eels.

This action is repeated many times during 5-6 months.

20

This paste is then passed through a round mesh and made into small balls and then polished. This is saboodana. Probably many will not eat it now!

• THE world's first tickle spa, which opened in Spain in June 2011, works on the belief that getting tickled can be therapeutic.

Instead of massages and facials, the spa provides its visitors with a custom-made tickle session using a light touch or a feather.

• Fed up of the frequent fights among cockerels on their farms, dairy farm owners in China have come up with a novel idea.

The cockerels are made to wear plastic sunglasses that partially obscure their vision. As they can't see each other clearly, the birds remain quiet!

• If you yelled for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days, you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee.(Hardly seems worth it!!)

• Mosquito repellents don't repel. They hide you! The spray blocks the mosquito's sensors so they don't know you're there.

-ANMOL BADJATIA

Fashions and fads come and go. And not just in colours and clothes. Hairstyles and lifestyles, authors and artistes, Clubs and Cafes, all have their time in the sun, till something new overtakes the fancy of the trendsetters of the city. So it also is, with the social service clubs of our city. I have got to see two social clubs of the city closely and have had the good fortune of being associated with both.

In the 1940's and 50's the Rotary Club of Nagpur was an institution of great prestige. It was a strictly mens institution. Society stalwarts like Edul Eduljee, Bobby Srinivas, Framroz Bhagwagar, P B Kale, J DIrani , Jal Gimi , Abbas Ali Kamal were among its august members. It was an era of dignity and decorum. Men were inducted into the Club for being leaders in their field. Money power or social upstarts did not play a pivotal part. In those days the Rotary Club of Nagpur met at the elegant Mount Hotel (next to the present Jaika Motors Showroom) for their Tea Meeting every Thursday. Instead of the Skodas, Hondas, Indicas seen parked in that area now, stately Chevrolets and Pontiacs, stood in neat rows alongside Austins and Fords. In the early

PROGENETICS Genesis of Projects In 1986 - 87 the Rotary theme was "Rotary Brings Hope'. Our Club, for one, has actually lived up to this theme for 26 years, and still going strong is our flagship project Hemalkasa Surgical Camp". Dr. Satish Sule, shared with the G.O., as to how this project was conceptualized.

Dr. Sule, with wife Sunanda, was on a personal visit to Dr. Prakash Amte. The tribal and all so backward area of Hemalkasa was deprived of any professional surgical help.

Lack of electricity and many other factors were conditions not suitable for surgery. After coming back, Dr. Sule, along with other members of our Club, thought of venturing into

60's, while still a student at the NAGPUR (K)NOW LAD College, I took part in the Rotary Inter-Collegiate City Special Ex tem pore Debate. The subject, given 15 minutes before Lions of their time. By the the start of the declamation was 1980's Rotary shook off its self“Border Excursions by China, Will i n d u c e d s l u m b e r a n d Spell India's Ultimate Disaster.� Presidents like Sati, Dr Sule, Shiraz Gimi Things haven't changed much in 50 made Rotary a vibrant and happening years, have they? The subject would institution once again. A fresh breed of new be as topical today, as it was then. By and dynamic members were now seen in the the 1960's and 70's the Lions of Rotary fold. With a conscious inclusion of V i d a r b h a r o a r e d . R o t a r y younger members, the Club infused vitality was considered the more staid and and purpose in its working. By the1990's your boring club of the city. Whenever Rotary Club was on a roll and burst into there was a cause to be espoused or a natural prominence by2000. Membership into the calamity to be given succor, a pride of Lions Rotary Club of Nagpur was a coveted status was already there. The Leos and Lionettes symbol. The scale and grandeur of your were not far behind. Qualities of debate and events and projects dwarfed other clubs. I leadership were honed among young boys hear that membership had crossed 300 which and girls. Interesting Guest Speakers and is truly incredible. delectable dinners made for much bonhomie and a robust Club roster. The Lionettes under Today the Bhamragarh Surgical Camp, the the able leadership of Jolly Captain added to Slum Alleviation Projects and their work in the fun and the Fund Raising by organizing Municipal Schools sets the benchmark for dances with Bombay Bands and Made for NGO involvement in social work. The Annual Each Other evenings. Stalwarts like Walkathon, Inter-College Youth Fest and the D.P.R.Cassad and Professor Jamshed Gimi Rotary Food Festival are established and led the LionsClub of Nagpur. Rtn. Bobby much looked forward to events in Nagpur's Srinivas's younger brother Rangachari social calendar. The Club made history Raghvan, an active and dynamic Lion, rose to this year by inducting the first ever Lady become President and then District Governor. President of the Rotary Club of Nagpur, Tauby IPP Ganesh Joshi's father, Dr. S.U.Joshi was Bhagwagar. She has assumed office on pure one of the most liked and respected Lion merit and I am confident that she will prove Presidents of his time. Eye Camps in the that whatever men can do, women can do outlying areas of Nagpur became a big project better! under his able leadership. Lion Harish And so the circle goes on .... even Clubs like Wankhede was an institution by himself, just fashions change with time , what's in store as his son Dr Ravi Wankhede is in the Rotary ahead who (k)nows !!

Club today. Ratan Captain, Dr. Naidu, Kamal -DILNAVAZ E. BHAGWAGAR. Patni and Edul Bhagwagar were prominent

HEMALKASA SURGICAL CAMP this area and providing some relief in form of minor surgeries. The Board approved of this proposal, and with two jeeps and 7-8 people the journey started. It was rough terrain, people had to swim across a river, and covered with red earth, our troup finally arrived. Dr. Baban Goverdhan, Dr. Raghurao, are some members who have worked zealously for the success of this project.

At first the villagers thought them to be a musical band and they were still skeptical towards the treatment we had to offer. Slowly the apprehension fazed out, and that year 14 surgeries were done. Though most were opthalmic, some general surgeries were also performed. Surgeries were done in daylight, due to lack of electricity. The tribals of

Hemalkasa were not sure about the intentions of our Club, thinking that this was the fancy of city people, but our perseverance has proved them wrong, and every year, we are told they wait for our team to arrive. Babasaheb Amte, came to Nagpur, just to thank our Club members for the work they do at Hemalkasa.

Every President, has never compromised on this project in any way, monetarily or physically. On the contrary, each new President brings in more vision to make this project more successful. What started with 14 surgeries has now graduated to 400 and more. This project clearly shows our Club's unstinted involvement for what Rotary stands for.

-ANITA CHITALEY

21

FREEDOM(AIN) For the children

Little keys open big locks, Simple words reflect great thoughts Your smiles can cure heart blocks So keep on smiling it rocks A Happy New Year to all.

With the advent of the New Year, a new era begins, and with it come new hopes and possibilities. Every year teaches us some of life's important lessons, and with this learning we put our foot forward into the new year. I am so glad to share with you – that the lesson on letter writing was taken seriously by some of you and …… was I glad to receive the few that I did ( and I replied instantly too). Life is a big university ……. Where every moment a class is being held and learning is taking place – sometimes voluntarily and sometimes involuntarily. This is one big campus where lessons soak in right from birth and later efforts are made to take in only that which we require for daily life e.g. training in sports, learning at school etc.

The New Year marks the beginning of a new era, but it also marks the Final Semester in schools/colleges. Bringing in joy, 2011 also brings in the anxiety of the voluntary learning that has to be done to progress i.e. preparation for the final exams to mark the end of the academic year. My dear Freedomanians, let us all put our best foot forward this new year - and resolve to bring about THE BEST in our lives and in those around us.

HUMOUR IN RIDDLES 1

22

What flies around the kindergarten classroom at night?

2 What did the ghost teacher say to his class?

3 Why did 6 hate 9?

4 Why did the student drown?

5 What do you throw out when you need it and keep it in when you don't?

6 Why did the man s leep with a ruler?

7 What has a bottom at its top?

8 What is the richest kind of air?

In early December I met a group of Teenagers and their Mothers at a programme organised by me to discuss how differences of opinions can be resolved without much difficulty…….. and as the year end was fast approaching. In the few lighter moments of the day…. the participants were asked to write some of their New Year Resolutions…which I would like to share with you.

TEENAGERS 1 I will put less clothes to wash and use more deodorant.

2 I will think of a new password, other than “password” 3 I will think of newer reasons to take leave from tuition.

4 I will keep a check on spending and save my pocket money…by allowing the boys to pay my canteen bills.

5 I will spend more time in watching movies on the TV to avoid waisting time in theatres MOTHERS 1I will pay more attention to the neglected things in my home…especially the kids.

2I will never take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

3I resolve to stop poisoning my family with my cooking……will have a montly dabbawala supply dinner every night.

4I will stop checking my husband's facebook account 5I will be more reasonable with myself……… and not rise very early on the weekends….. thus not making the children feel guilty if they get up late.

These are only some of the resolutions….I truly wish I could have shared all of them with you for they were indeed very hilarious. Send in a few of your funny resolutions and win a prize.

ANSWERS TO HUMOUR IN RIDDLES 1 The alpha(BAT) 2 Now, if you look at the board, I will go through it again.

3 Because 7 8 9 4 Because she was under C-level 5 An anchor 6 He wanted to measure how long he slept.

7 A leg 8 Millionaire LAUGH A LITTLE Mother ; Why did you drop the baby?

Ramu: You said it was a bonny, bouncing baby….so I wanted to see if it was.

I am ashamed of you Shyam, for fighting with your best friend” said his mother. “ what could I do, he threw a big stone at me, so I threw one back at him” “You shouldn't have done it “said mother “instead you should have come into the house to me” Shyam replied” what good would that have done, my throw is better than yours”.

Wiishing all our Freedomanians all the best for their preparations for the Boards due to begin next month. Keep cool and concentrate well.

Looking forward to all those mails coming in and the feed backs at auntsangeeta@yahoo.com.

A Poem By Priyanka Sutaria REMEMBER… Memories often jump out when you least expect; Memories we don't remember are the ones best kept.

Backpages of notebooks; margins in page; Graphitized eraser; lost memory cards; songs that were the rage; Well-preserved shoeboxes; drawers in cupboards; Forgotten planks and pockets; study tables etched with words; That tissue paper from the canteen; That wish that you could make out what the words mean; A lindt wrapper from a chocolate, welltreasured from an old flame; Consequence leaves; remember that game?

Scraps of papers scribbled with tic-tac-toe; A project so treasured; tickets to a movie show; Handmade cards, jewelry and gifts; Chits and letters lend remembrance to a rift; Prom dresses drawn on textbooks; pink cupcake sleeves; Made-up Barbie dolls; walls with dates of sleep-over parties; Folders with photos and news of celebs we adored; Post-its passed in class to keep us from feeling bored; A tie, an old blazer, perhaps a skirt; A tube of old lipstick - a silent partner in flirt; Diaries shoved deep, behind winter warms; A pet buried in the yard; a photo of the dorm; An old love letter; badges of loved bands; A portrait as lovebirds, smiling and holding hands; Decoupage boxes and pretty shopping bags from a mall; Borrowed socks and stories written to keep camp from being droll; A mistake of a tattoo; a souvenir beer mug; Hard work put into a patchwork rug; Time has passed like fall leaves make way for snow; We have grown up, and memories are scars raw; These material memories drop in for calls ever so often; These material memories stir an unforgettable potion; For trophies can deck shelves; certificates can cover walls; Our mums can regale us with stories of longforgotten falls; But objects remind us that sometimes material isn't bane; Because objects are quite a lot larger than folds in the brain; Yes, memories jump out when you least expect; Memories we don't remember are the ones best kept.

-SANGEETA CHHABRA

The Shadow of the Wind (By Carlos Ruiz Zafón) Once again, I have come across a book which was first unleashed upon the world almost 10 years ago. Written in Spanish, translated into Catalan and eventually into English by Lucia Graves in 2004, this book is now considered a modern classic. No praise can be enough for the translator either, one can only imagine how the book conceived and written in Spanish, must appeal in its original language. I am a neo-fan, both – of Zafón and not any less, of Lucia Graves. Believe me, the language will impress you.

That such a young author, only 37 when it released, can write such a wondrous first novel (which he must have taken a while to write I presume), is in itself amazing. His advice to aspiring authors is “become a writer if the possibility of not becoming one would kill you”. This passion for books, for writing, for reading could not have come out better, than through his chosen medium - writing!

The novel is set in post civil war Barcelona, and revolves around one central character, Daniel who discovers his love for books after his father introduces him to the secret Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a huge and labyrinthine library of old and forgotten titles preserved under the tutelage of Old book sellers of the city. According to tradition, everyone initiated to this secret place is allowed to take one book from it, and must protect it for life. Daniel selects a book called The Shadow of the Wind by Julián Carax.

Such is the impact on his mind that he becomes obsessive about finding all the books written by Julián Carax.

As you would guess, the quest for other books leads him into the mystery surrounding Carax who turns out be an enigma, practically impossible to find details of. The search uncovers a tragic and doomed love story of

SHIRAZSPEAK Grandfather', 'Pappa', 'Tatha', 'Ajoba', 'Dadaji', how wonderful these words sound. At least on me they have a magical effect ! This feeling once again surged through me when “Beti B” was born and a proud Grandfather, Big B walked out of the hospital holding the little Baby in his arms. It is a feeling very difficult to explain and has to be experienced to fully understand the joy one feels when, after hours of waiting in the Nursing Home corridor the Doctor / Nurse comes out of the delivery room holding a little bundle wrapped in a flannel blanket and pops it in your arms saying “ Ladka Huaa” , at least that's what the Nurse told me at Dalal Nursing Home when

Carax and his love, both of whom are missing since almost 30 years. During the time Carax loved and lost; and, perhaps wrote the novel which has taken Daniel's fancy, there are interesting flashbacks to the Spanish Civil War, and the negativity associated with the brutality of the rulers of the day.

The novel which is officially listed under the “Mystery” genre, in fact, has its fair share of love, betrayal, loyalty and intrigue. It's a beautifully characterized story within a story; a story of the motherless child Daniel, raised by his father; his evolution into adulthood - from his adolescent obsession and unsaid infatuation with a girl, his newfound love of books and personal tragedy. The story within the story, somehow manages to include amongst its characters, not only Julián Carax and his life and love, but the city of Barcelona.

The reader travels back and forth from the 1950's to the 1920's and the intervening revolution, the history and sufferings forming the backdrop into the eventual dawn of democracy in Spain. It is a wonderful, wonderful tour of pre and post revolution Barcelona – with the city emerging and acquiring a character which the reader discovers with each page turned. I am not tying to hard sell this book, but rarely does a book of 400+ pages move so quickly and the night turn to day, or a long wait at an airport feel too short!!!

This is also a book for Barcelona lovers: read it to rediscover / visualize the streets and monuments and places so well characterized

by Zafón; and for those who harbor secret desires to visit, it may work as an interesting primer. Such is the influence of this work of Zafón that Barcelona now boasts walking and cycling tours - which take you on a journey of discovery as you find the places, streets and

ALL BOOKED

book review

bui ldings /monuments so well described in the novel. (Check out http://www.oh barcelona.com/en/blog/ 2011/touristguide/tours/walking-tour-shadow-of-windbarcelona-8063) This leads us to the obvious questions - Is there a sequel? Well, yes and no. There are two follow up books already in the market; and the third is probably being translated at this point of time. The second book (The Angel's Game), is actually a prequel to the first; and the third is called Heaven's Prisoner. All the books are written in a way that you could read them in any order, as confirmed by the author himself.

Is this being made into a movie? No, he does not want the books to be made into movies, because he feels his books approach to be sensory. In order to help him write better and set the mood for the period he writes about, he researches and composes music, performs and records the music first before writing the particular sequence / chapter. (Check and download for free, almost 24 original tracks from www.carlosruizzafon.co.uk/shadowmusic.html) I am yet to come across a single book store which has this author, but to my delight, almost all his titles are available on www.flipkart.com in English, Spanish and Catalan versions, and some also at www.crossword.in -NIMISH SUTARIA

“ BEING FATHERHOOD” PARSI ” “ ON GRAND Ayesha's son Jehaan was born and then again when Jasmine & Parheez's little fellow Yohaan was gently put into my arms. In both cases it was “love at first sight”.

That love grows with each passing day, nay each passing moment. Any thing that the grand kids do is quite unique as far as the grand father is considered, till I am gently reminded by grand mother, that Parheez and Ayesha also used to do exactly the same things and it would drive me up a wall then. As far as I am concerned the Grand Children can do no wrong !!

It is so lovely seeing them growing up ( too fast if you ask me !), but its great fun and the questions they ask – boy that's something else. You, as Grandfather, are supposed to

know all the answers to everything under the sun.

I suppose one mellows with age and becomes more mature and understanding, but the fact of the matter is you actually are slowly but surely entering your 'Second Childhood'- I won't say going “Ga Ga”, but are certainly on the way. That is why we can relate with the Grand Kids so easily !

-PP SHIRAZ GIMI

23

X-FACTOR Com passion is the divine quality that makes a person human. This is Karuna , that polishes our consciousness for the divine , to make it stand out clear beautiful and true.

Compassion is the universal principle for happiness and peace. Compassion is the concern we feel for the other person's welfare.

Compassion begins with empathy. Empathy is the ability to feel all the more deeply than just sympathizing. It is getting into the other's pinching shoes.

Compassion is born when one notices the movements of thoughts, the unnecessary burden of thinking and doing and living in pain!

Also when one notices the emotional surges of anger and hate, compassion begins. It comes

COMPASSION when we relate to life's experiences. So Compassion thus born will naturally blossom into acts of kindness to reach out to one another. Compassion is not the armor of the weak but a weapon for the strong.

Compassion in the true sense is not only understanding the pain of the sufferer but trying actively to mitigate it by using one's intelligence, time experience and resources.

Compassion transcends love. In love there is a reciprocal endeavour where as in compassion you simply give. It is like the flower in bloom which can only spread its fragrance. Compassion is your inner state, whether you are or you are not. If you are, you have to embrace the entire universe, for compassion is unconditional, undirected and unaddressed. Compassion should emanate from a no-pretence-you. In compassion you

BOBBY'S BUBBLES This is a story about the work being done by Rotarians in assisting those in the tragedy of tropical storm Sendong that hit the Philippines . There has been a wonderful joint effort by Rotarians, ShelterBox, and the Philippine Air Force in bringing aid to those in need.

Here first is a story from PP Abner Tyco written on Christmas Eve. Abs is also one of three certified ShelterBox Response Team members in the Philippines .

The first shipment of 80 Shelterboxes has landed in CdO yesterday and delivered to Iligan City and temporary stored in the clubhouse of RC Iligan North. Another wave of shipment is waiting for the devastated province after Christmas. The city government has ordered by Jan 3 that all evacuation sites in schools have to be vacated in time for the opening of classes. That is where the dilemma lies, with about almost 14,000 families affected, 8 barangays (communities) has been declared unsafe for them to go back, and the city will close down said areas in January.

Groceries and supermarket, small or big has stopped its bulk sales, they could no longer

24

need some one to accept your offering and so the gratitude to that person should also flow from you. It is thus a two way process. Giving is paramount and that brings happiness There are 5 steps to compassion practice 1. Add it to your daily prayer 2. Begin with sympathy 3. When you meet another harp on the common things shared 4. Imagine and be in the others life situation 5. List your resources, the parts you are willing to share Compassion and truth are reciprocal.

Compassion is like a healing agent which helps us to tolerate the hurt on seeing the truth.

-DEEPALI KALE

TROPICAL STORM IN PHILIPPINES

sustain the purchases for relief operations. All commerce is headed there to augment its supply that coincides the spending season for the holidays. Aid agencies are getting their supplies in other provinces like that of Cebu, Davao or Cotabato. Half of the city has no water. In areas that have been devastated, you can smell the stench of death, it's a hair raising experience. One gym is serving to house 1867 families or 4375 heads, with 4 toilets to use and very little water. The situation is unimaginable, after the loss, sufferings in the evacuation sites looms. You cannot even walk in between without stepping on someone's sleeping mat, if lucky enough to have one, or cardboard to sleep on.

With over 1,000 people dead, another 1,000 missing, and over 280,000 displaced by the late-season tropical storm, Philippines President Benigno Aquino has declared a national calamity. `The assistance we have had from Rotary has been invaluable here,' said PDG Jess Nicdao , Chairman and Founder of ShelterBox Philippines . `It is possible for PP Abs, PP

Jose, and I to set up the tents ourselves, but it would have been a much slower process. Now that we have shown area Rotarians how to do it, they will be able to help us set up camps rapidly. This will allow families who have lost everything to soon begin to rebuild their lives, offering them shelter, warmth and dignity assets everyone should have so close to Christmas.’ ShelterBox was founded by Tom Henderson OBE, a Rotarian and former Royal Navy search and rescue diver. He saw that the aid response to most disasters was in the form of food and medicine to help people survive the immediate aftermath. However little or no assistance was given in terms of proper shelter to help them through the first few days, weeks and months as they tried to rebuild their lives. ShelterBox was launched to fill that void.

Ron Nethercutt TRF Major Donor, District Rotary Information Chair, RC Mabalacat D 3790 Angeles City, Philippines -BOBBY SRINIVAS

for@technicallychallenged.com

ROTARY RATTLE

Learn Something New

Fun Interesting Facts You Never Knew About The Internet • Well, it's official. Pretty much everyone now has broadband and the majority us of use the Internet more than we watch TV. Everyone and their grandmother is on Facebook, and many of us have some kind of embarrassing moment enshrined on YouTube. But how much do you really know about the Internet revolution?

Let's take a look at how it all began, with this list of fun facts about the Internet that you probably didn't know already.

• The technology behind the Internet began back in the 1960's at MIT. The first message ever to be transmitted was LOG.. why? The user had attempted to type LOGIN, but the network crashed after the enormous load of data of the letter G. It was to be a while before Facebook would be developed…

• The first emoticon is commonly credited to Kevin Mackenzie in 1979, but was a rather simple -) and didn't really look like a face. 3 years later, was proposed by Scott Fahlman and has become the norm.

• The first webcam was deployed at Cambridge University computer lab – its sole purpose to monitor a particular coffee maker and hence avoid wasted trips to an empty pot.

• Although the MP3 standard was invented in 1991, it wouldn't be until 1998 that the first music file-sharing service Napster, would go live, and change the way the Internet was used forever.

• Google estimates that the Internet today contains about 5 million terabytes of data (1TB = 1,000GB), and claims it has only indexed a paltry 0.04% of it all!

• One THIRD of all Internet searches are specifically for pornography. It is estimated that 80% of all images on the Internet are of naked women.

• According to legend, Amazon became the number one shopping site because in the days before the invention of the search giant Google, Yahoo would list the sites in their directory alphabetically!

• Of the 247 BILLION email messages sent every day, 81% are pure spam.

• Twenty hours of video from around the world are uploaded to YouTube every minute. The first ever YouTube video was uploaded on April 23rd 2005,by Jawed Karim (one of the founders of the site) and was 18 seconds long, entitled “Me at the zoo”. It was quite boring, as is 99% of the content on YouTube today. 20 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute. That's comparable to Hollywood releasing 86,000 new films every week!

• Internet terrorism is very much a real threat. In February 2008, 5 deep-sea cables that provided Internet connectivity to the Middle East were cut. Curiously, USoccupied Iraq and Israel were unaffected.

• Now why should good old India be left behind? Here are some interesting facts about the internet in India.

• India's first cyber cafe was called “Cybercafe” and was launched in a Mumbai hotel in 1996.

• The most popular search term in India according to Google in 2008 was “How to kiss” ... in 2010 it was “How to get pregnant”.

• India stands third behind China and USA in terms of number of internet users. We have a long way to go to catch up with the big boys!

Cheers! Until next time!

-SOHRAB KANGA

Weddings, Weddings and more Weddings....

Dressing up for soooooo many weddings, day in and day out, sure RATTLES one up.

We just saw two elaborate ones, at the Maimoon and Doongaji families.

Fatima, daughter of Anjum and Abdul Maimoon tied the knot with Quraish from the US. Danush, son of Shiraz and Anu Doongaji got tied to Nianaaz.

Then, there were double celebrations in the homes of 2 Rotary families on Christmas, when, Rashmi, daughter of Rajni and Dr. Hargun Sangtani and Punan, son of Abha and Rajiv Choudhary, decided to come together in a Roka Ceremony.

Pratap Chandrana, an ex student of The Manchester Textile Association, visited, UK and attended the alumni get together where the present head of the Association was also present.

Jagdish and Prabha Agrawal were blessed with a Grandson, born to Nikhil and Surbhi.

Hasmukh and Archana Panchmatia also are proud grandparents to a baby boy, who was born to their daughter Bhavika at Jullunder.

Alok and Anula Goenka are enjoying a leisurely holiday with their kids on the back waters in Kerala.

Wish you all a very very HAPPY NEW YEAR !

More jingling and rattling, next month.

Ciao,

-MANJU SHAHANI

DOMESTIC & INTERNATIONAL PACKAGES 09890387018

25

LET'S PLAY GAMES

IT'S A DATE...

BIRTHDAYS 15 Jan. to 14 Feb. Rukshad Bhagwagar Ritu Agrawal Raj Shah Rajiv Behal Kantilal Singhee Bina Jaiswal Bela Thapar Anita Sutaria Shashi Thapar Mahendra Kamath Namita Sharma Gurmeet Singh Vij Nakul Malani Ranjeet Khanduja Kirti Joshi Jyoti Goenka Laxmi Wadhwani Aspi Bapuna Sunil Bhatia Gunjan Deveshwar Renu Chopra Vivek Bhangde

15 15 15 17 18 18 18 18 19 19 20 20 21 21 21 22 22 23 23 24 24 26 Sunanda Sahasrabhojanee 26 Prakash Jain 26 Fatema Shakir 27 Neeta Singh 27 Sarang P. Kale 27

Nilanjan Bhowmick Manjiri R. Datar Priya Sahu Dr. Ajay Sood FEBRU ARY Pavneet Singh Sudeshna Chourasia Vaibhav Jaiswal Dr. Anil Choudhari Hiralal Mulani Dr. Manmohan Daga Yatin Malji Mehernosh Rana Noorddin Rana Rajiv Bhargava Dr. Neena Parekh Sharad Paliwal Dr. Nirmal Jaiswal Sangita Parekh Amina Vali Dr. Nandu Kolwadkar Sanjiv Nahar Parheez Gimi

ANNIVERSARY 15 Jan. to 14 Feb.

26

Rajiv & Urvashi Yashroy Akash & Shilpa Agrawal Ashish & Mamta Mehadia Rahul & Divya Sharma Ashok & Savita Mokha Mohan & Aarti Anand Surinderpal & Rajbir Kaur Singh Shivkumar & Geeta Rao Vishal & Anagha Jaiswal Rajiv & Rita Bhargava Bharat & Jyoti Goenka Bobby & Prema Srinivas Bhupesh & Bhavna Kalra Sanjay & Punam Sahu Sunil & Manju Sahni Gagan & Reema Sial Bunty & Sonu Rawal Habeeb & Smita Khan Vishal & Alpana Agrawal Prakash & Jayshree Jain Anupam & Mamta Rai Aspi & Mehru Bapuna Abad & Villoo Bapuna Dr. Nikunj & Darshana Pawar Renu & Sunil Chopra Parag & Varsha Paranjpe Dr. Hargun & Rajni Sangtani Farooq & Farzana Haque Neelesh & Alka Agrawal Dr. Ravi & Kiran Wankhede Vinod & Pranoti Parekh Pratap & Jayshree Chandarana

14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 19 21 21 21 22 22 22 23 23 23 24 25 26 26 26 26 26 26 27 27 28 28 28 29

It's time to get interactive. The contests below are open to members, spouses and children. Each has exciting prizes which shall be announced during the following business meeting.

More than one correct entry shall be decided by a draw of lots.

Send in your answers to me@madhavinaidu.com

28 31 31 31

Answers for last months brain teasers and quiz.

1. LOCK — PIANO : Key, 2. SHIP — CARD : Deck, 3. TREE — CAR : Trunk, 4.

SCHOOL — EYE : Pupil, 5. PILLOW — COURT : Case, 6. RIVER — MONEY : Bank, 7. BED — PAPER : Sheet, 8. ARMY — WATER: Tank, 9. TENNIS — NOISE : Racket,10. EGYPTIAN — MOTHER: Mummy

1 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 6 7 9 10 11 11 13 13 14 14

Nilanjan & Sushmita Bhowmick Jagdish & Prabha Agrawal Anand & Parul Garodia FEBRU ARY Girish & Gaytri Deodhar Prem & Sangeeta Grover Brijesh & Priya Sahu Kapil & Anita Sutaria Dr. Rajesh & Neeta Singhania Sandeep & Sarita Pathak Rohit & Pooja Agrawal Vilas & Neeta Kale Anuj & Priti Badjate Prashant & Vaishali Rajurkar Ashish & Sujata Kaswa Rajeev & Vanita Shukul Shabbir & Jumana Shakir Vipul & Shalini Gupta Viju & Madhavi Naidu Shree Krishna & Devyani Buty Rahul & Ruchi Chaudhary Shreeram & Mrinalini Marawar Ashok & Premlata Malani Kishore & Smita Sheth Shridhar & Veenita Pasari Giriraj & Jayshree Singhee Shilpi & Ajay Bagdi

A sundial is a timepiece that has the fewest number of moving parts. Which timepiece has the most moving parts? The answer is..... 'A sand clock' .

1. Nectar Head : Amritsar, 2. Emotional City : Bhavnagar, 3. Gone: Gaya, 4. Ear town: Kanpur, 5. Face: Surat, 6. Puffed Indian Bread: Puri, 7. Sunrise Town: Udaipur, 8. Mr City: Srinagar, Correct answers received from... Anjali Thakur, Itisha Bahri, Nakul Malani and Parag Paranjpe.

Brain Teasers Can you imagine the world without Colour??? Let's see how observant you are about the colours around you....

1. In the Peanuts cartoon and comics, what color is Woodstock?

2. What is the main color of the UN flag?

3. An Oscar is what color?

4. What color is the M in McDonald's?

5. What is the main color on the Chinese flag?

6. What part of the eye gives it color?

7. Who was the talk show hostess that played a role in the movie The Color Purple?

8. What color is an octopus's blood?

9. Emu eggs are what color?

10. The Nazi SS troops wore what color shirts?

QUIZ

29 29 31 1 2 3 3 5 6 6 7 8 9 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 14 14 14 14 14

Don't we just love movies??? And don't we love the songs in our movies??? This months quiz is therefore on Bollywood songs which have been based on English Originals... So rack your brains, sing some songs and come up with the right answers.

Question: “Dilliagi”, a movie released in 1999, had a popular song 'Haan Haan Yeh Pyaar Hai' as part of its soundtrack. This tune is blatantly copied from the English number 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You'. Who sang the English song?

Question: “Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye” released in 2000 sank without a trace at the box office. The most popular song on its soundtrack 'O Priya O Priya' is lifted from 'Maria Maria', which was Number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for ten weeks. Name the artist who composed this song.

Question: The track 'Jeena, Pyaar Se Jeena' from the movie “Yeh Tera Ghar, Yeh Mera Ghar”(2002) has been blatantly copied from the popular song 'Nina, Pretty Ballerina'. Name the band which sang the original.

Question: 'Tera Mujhse Hai Pehle Ka Naata Koi' features on the soundtrack of the movie “Aa Gale Lag Ja”(1973) in two versions. Both have been copied from the English number 'The Yellow Rose of Texas'. Who sang this song in the 1963 movie “Viva Las Vegas”?

Question: The title song of “Dil Deke Dekho”(1959) is a direct lift of 'Sugartime'. Which group sang the original?

GUESS WHO Please sms your answers to me on 9823080820

Correct answers received from Sandeep Pathak, Jerry Watchmaker and Shiraz Doongaji. The people in the photographs are Monica Bhagwagar and Behram Patel. ( we had loads of entries... With everyone guessing Monica right but Behram stumped almost all except the above three ) .

- MADHAVI NAIDU

The Question(s) for this month is for Anns and Annas who later become Rotarians: What made you decide to become a couple member?

Have you found any difference in your involvement level since becoming a member?

Does the Club derive any significant benefit from spouses becoming members?

Would you recommend that more of our Rotary spouses go on to become members? Why? AMITABH SINHA: In the year 1999 Rina was a member when I joined my family from Bangalore.

Those days there was no 'spouse' member concept.

So I became a member as idea of 'Anna' was not acceptable to me, and we have been separate members since and later took the benefits under the spouse members programme.

As we went along I realized that Anns contributed significantly and most of the time more than their spouses and therefore the club does not really benefit from 'conversions'. I would recommend spouses to become members only if they wish to go on and take up executive roles in the club and the district and RI.

ANMOL BADJATIA: I felt my contribution to the cause of Rotary was authenticated by becoming a member! The validation increased the commitment and the responsibility. If the spouse is not too active a member then in my opinion there is no benefit in the partner becoming a member also, as the general thought process is "why increase the financial commitment if you are already getting all the benefits of being a Rotary member"??!

Therefore if the spouse is active and wants to have a say in the official matters it would be good for the spouse to become a member.

SHIBU MATHEW: Joining Rotary as a Rotarian, after Beena joined with the GSE [Netherland] experience, was a natural decision. I never felt comfortable being called just a Rotary anna and believe in enjoying the privileges of a Rotarian. Somehow the equation is working well for us and as long as we stay along this way nothing else matters.

Of course we haven't been able to put in the best in us for Rotary as yet, but surely we both will always remain assets for the club. The club gains, as an active couple will contribute far better plus there will be fewer differences at home over Rotary matters.

I think there is no harm in being a Rotary couple as long as you have the passion and drive to stay on. All this, when we ourselves are yet to set out seriously.

KHUSHNOOR CHUGH: Having been actively involved in Rotary-related work for over 15 years, I became a Rotarian myself when I thought I had my priorities taken care of at home and at work. No, there hasn't been any difference in my involvement; was always there and still there if there isn't a family commitment! However, the difference lies in being able to hold an office / be on the Board.

That's where the fulfillment comes from! As a Chairperson, one only implements the tasks assigned while as a Board member one is involved in policy-making and planning at a broader level.

Yes, it is a good idea to be a spouse member but only when one has ample time and energy for service activities and there is full support from the family.

X-PRESS

MANJU SHAHANI: I personally became a member, because Gulab Mahant, then president, insisted. I was active as a Rotary Ann and don't think there has been much difference in my involvement as such, but of course as a spouse I could not have been a part of the governing board. That is a great learning experience in itself of which I am quite proud.

I enjoy wearing my PIN. I feel the Club does benefit from Couple memberships.

1) The organisation gets pre-trained and dedicated members.

2) Since the spouse has already been there, he/she understands the involvement.

3) Theoretically, attendance should increase.

They could both attend together.

4) Number of Lady Members increases, giving the club a position on the RI map.

I feel more couples should join in, as not all spouses are as involved otherwise.

With both the husband and the wife as Rotarians, we get not 2 Rotarians but a Rotary FAMILY. Three of the above have not only been board members but office-bearers in the Club and have acquitted themselves extremely well!! The other two will surely be there soon enough!! That's an excellent strike rate by any standards.

There are plenty more spouses who would make excellent Rotarians ‌‌.. They only need to be motivated and both they and the Club will be the gainers for that!!

27

SNAP SHOTS The GO finally makes PP Akhtar smile

BEST CHAIRPERSONS AWARD FOR NOVEMBER

Bhavna Kalra and Ragini Sahu for Slum Development & Women's upliftment; Dipesh Ajmera for RYLA

CHARTER NITE SNIPPETS

A silent start to a vibrant show

Vindhya & Naushad

DG bytes

Nimish has found an alternate profession

It's a FULL HOUSE!!!!

PAPER COURTESY : BILT