September 2013 vol2 by Rotary News India

gap in skills by external outsourcing. Obtaining access to high-quality scientists, engineers and designers is on the top of the agenda of many major companies now. The impact of the severity of the shortage of R & D personnel can be seen by citing an example from the European Union (EU). For EU to meet the goal set at the Barcelona Summit to raise R & D spending as a share of GDP to 3 percent by 2010 will require 7,00,000 new researchers. Obviously, there will be a great demand-supply gap. It is not surprising that there will be a greater draw on ‘third world researchers’ as one of the EU representative put it recently. The demographic shift in the developed world means that developing countries with relatively favourable demographic profile with a large proportion of working and talented young people can become global innovation hubs, from which not only outsourcing of innovation will be done, but in which R & D based innovation centres will be set up by the companies from the developed world. This progressive shifting of the R & D location from the developed to the scientifically advanced developing nations is likely to have strong social, cultural, political, economic and strategic implications. Increased local demand on high quality science and scientists as also a competition between local institutions and industry on one hand and foreign R & D enterprises on the other hand for access to superior human capital will be some key drivers of change. Shifting of the ‘centre of gravity’ of knowledge production to these scientifically advanced developing nations will have strategic implications in the long run. Such shifts will also lead to a gradual reversal of brain drain due to the increased opportunities in the country of one’s origin. (Continued…) 42 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013

Country Totals for Arch C. Klumph Society as on June 2, 2013 Country

Trustees Circle

Chair’s Foundation Circle Circle

Total

Argentina

Australia

Bangladesh

Brazil

Canada

England

Finland

Germany

Hong Kong

India

Italy

Japan

Kenya

Macao

Malaysia

Mexico

Nigeria

Philippines

Seychelles

Singapore

Spain

Taiwan

166

275

Venezuela

Total

282

436

Korea, Republic of

United States

This BI/NF report provides an estimate of the number of AKS members by country. Because of reporting complexities, true recognition numbers are maintained by Donor Relations.

Level

Contribution (USD)

Trustees Circle

250,000 to 499,999

Chair’s Circle

500,000 to 999,999

Foundation Circle

1 million and above Source : RI South Asia Office

rotaryimagesad_en.pdf

7/7/08

4:19:14 PM

A picture can speak a thousand words.

CMY

ROTARYIMAGES WWW.ROTARY.ORG/ROTARYIMAGES

Adv_Voyager.indd 43

Now Rotarians can search and access thousands of high-quality photos taken by Rotary International photographers. Rotary Images is a database of pictures that bring Rotaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stories to life and can help enhance club Web sites and other publications.

30-09-2013 13:53:10

Payment can be made vide ‘At Par’ Cheque / Demand Draft, favouring ‘Rotary Institute 2012 Trust’ and sent to: PDG Jawahar Vadlamani C-5, Skylark Apartments, 3-6-309, Bashir Bagh, Hyderabad - 500 029, Andhra Pradesh. Telephone: 98490 23573

GET MORE

OUT OF MEMBERSHIP.

CONNECT FOR GOOD.

JOIN LEADERS | EXCHANGE IDEAS | TAKE ACTION www.rotary.org SEPTEMBER 2013

ROTARY NEWS 45

Your Rotary membership starts in your club. Getting involved will develop your leadership skills and knowledge and build lifelong friendships. Rotary brings together leaders â&#x20AC;&#x201D; people like you who want to make a difference. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here to provide you with the resources and opportunities to improve your community and create change in the world.

46 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013

Rotary Basics.indd 46

30-09-2013 13:54:03

SEPTEMBER 2013

Rotary Basics.indd 47

ROTARY NEWS 47

30-09-2013 13:54:04

CONNECTING FOR COMMUNITY The top two reasons people join Rotary are to give back to their communities and to connect with like-minded leaders and friends. Our members stay with Rotary year after year for the same reasons. What motivated you to join Rotary? What have you set out to accomplish with your club and as a Rotarian?

OUR COLLECTIVE IMPACT Rotary brings together people like you — leaders from all cultures and occupations who want to use their distinct expertise for good. People whose sense of responsibility inspires them to give back to their communities. Who step forward to tackle the toughest challenges — and persevere to create lasting change in communities around the world. Together, we empower youth, improve health, promote peace, and advance our communities in all corners of the globe. With 1.2 million members worldwide, our global community’s impact has never been greater — and it continues to grow.

Water and sanitation global grant provided new toilets and clean water facilities and encouraged good hygiene and disease prevention for 2,500 students in four schools in Adana, Turkey. Sponsors: Rotary clubs of Adana-Cukurova, Turkey, and Frutal, Brazil

When Rotarians come together and commit to a cause, like our PolioPlus initiative, the magnitude of our impact is clear. And with the ongoing support of Rotarians like you, we will continue the fight to End Polio Now. You joined Rotary because you want to make a difference. Because you believe in our motto: Service Above Self. Because you’re committed to integrity and making change happen, and because the areas that we focus on are important to you.

THE FOUR-WAY TEST

the we things Of theOf things think,we say think, or do: say or do: Of the things we think, say or do:

Is it the it TRUTH? the TRUTH? Is it the Is TRUTH?

Will itWill build GOODWILL and and it build GOODWILL Will it build GOODWILL and 3 BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? 3 3 BETTER BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? FRIENDSHIPS?

Is it FAIR to all Is ittoFAIR Isconcerned? it FAIR all to all concerned? concerned?

Will it be BENEFICIAL to be BENEFICIAL Will itWill be itBENEFICIAL to 4 all concerned? 4 concerned? 4 all to all concerned?

1 2

Peace and conflict prevention/resolution

Disease prevention and treatment

48 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013

Rotary Basics.indd 48

30-09-2013 13:54:14

Rotary’s 1.2 million members combine their resources and connect across the world to move communities forward with clean water, health initiatives, education and more.

Economic and community development global grant supported a grant recipient’s plans to expand Jhoole, the nonprofit clothing business she started to help impoverished women weavers in India. Sponsors: Rotary Club of Crystal Palace & Norwood, Greater London, England, and District 6420 (Illinois, USA)

Adopt-a-Village global grant renovated a schoolroom and provided books, computers and furniture; installed a water harvesting system; supported a vocational training team focusing on health issues; and formed and trained 25 microcredit groups in Nkondo, Uganda. Sponsors: Rotary Club of Kampala-North, Uganda and District 5340 (California, USA)

Water and sanitation

Maternal and child health

Share stories about your club’s connections at blog.rotary.org.

Basic education and literacy

Economic and community development

SEPTEMBER 2013

Rotary Basics.indd 49

ROTARY NEWS 49

30-09-2013 13:54:15

GET INVOLVED When you get involved, it’s not just your community, club and projects that benefit — you benefit, too. As an active Rotarian, you’ll develop skills like public speaking, project management and event planning. You’ll meet interesting people from your community and from around the world. You’ll tackle local issues that are important to you and your fellow club members. You’ll feel the shared sense of purpose that comes from working together to better your community. When it comes to being an active Rotarian, the opportunities are endless. Here are some ways to get involved.

START LOCAL AND HELP YOUR COMMUNITY Volunteer to help with your club’s signature service project. Get involved with one of the programmes sponsored by your club.

Share your ideas about how to achieve club and project goals with club leaders, and take the lead on carrying them out. Your suggestions could become the next big initiative in your community.

GO GLOBAL THROUGH ROTARY Participate in Rotary’s international service projects. Browse others’ projects on Rotary Showcase at www.rotary.org to inspire local initiatives. Support The Rotary Foundation, which provides millions of dollars in grants for Rotary’s humanitarian service efforts around the world. Attend Rotary events to exchange ideas and celebrate with members around the globe. Host a Rotary Youth Exchange student visiting your district, and learn about another culture.

Identify a need in your community and design a handson project that addresses it.

Learn with other Rotarians by attending the Rotary International Convention.

Collaborate with other clubs in your area, including Interact and Rotaract clubs, on a joint service project or event.

Give to PolioPlus and join the movement to End Polio Now. For only 60 cents, you can vaccinate a child against polio.

50 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013

Rotary Basics.indd 50

30-09-2013 13:54:20

GET CONNECTED Rotary is all about building lifelong friendships — connecting with fellow Rotarians across communities, cities, countries and cultures. Just one connection can lead to a great partnership.

Explore Rotary grants at www.rotary.org/grants to learn how to apply for global and packaged grants for international humanitarian projects.

ONLINE Update your Rotary profile at www.rotary.org to receive information tailored to your interests and connect with members who share those interests. Use your Rotary profile to connect with club leaders and get the information you need to participate in projects and your community.

Use social media to reach out and start conversations. Inspire others to follow your lead and spread the word about Rotary.

OFFLINE AND IN-PERSON You don’t have to use a computer to make a connection. Outside of your club meetings, there are lots of opportunities to meet with other Rotarians in person. Here are a number of ways to get started.

Discover inspiring stories of fellow Rotarians at Rotary Voices, the official Rotarian blog.

Make Rotary a family affair. Explore Interact, RYLA and Rotary Youth Exchange opportunities for your kids and invite your spouse to your club’s meetings.

Learn about service projects worldwide at Rotary Showcase and put your club’s projects on display, too.

Attend the RI Convention. Meet and celebrate with other members from around the world and learn how to expand our impact.

Go to meetings at other Rotary clubs anywhere in the world to find international service partners and form new friendships. Learn about another culture. Spend time abroad in a Rotarian’s home through a Rotary Friendship Exchange. Join a Rotary Fellowship or Rotarian Action Group. Meet other members who share your interests and passions.

OTHER RESOURCES Watch Rotary Video Magazine and read your Rotary magazine, Rotary news and newsletters for stories about remarkable projects, helpful tips and inspirational ideas. Explore special-interest publications available at shop. rotary.org.

START MAKING YOUR CONNECTIONS TODAY!

JOIN THE CONVERSATION!

facebook

youtube

blog

rss

www.rotary.org/ socialnetworking

flickr

twitter

vimeo

instagram

SEPTEMBER 2013

Rotary Basics.indd 51

ROTARY NEWS 51

30-09-2013 13:54:20

BEYOND CLUBS — THE ROTARY FAMILY Rotary is made up of more than just our clubs. Service can start at any age, so we offer programmes for teenagers and young adults who want to discover new cultures, develop leadership skills and give back. We also provide opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds who want to help in their communities. Through clubs like yours, Rotarians organise and sponsor all of the following. Interact is a leadership programme sponsored by Rotary clubs for anyone ages 12–18. With more than 12,300 Interact clubs in 133 countries, Rotary is inspiring the next generation of socially responsible and globally conscious leaders. Rotaract is organised by Rotary clubs to promote leadership, professional development and service among adults ages 18–30. With more than 8,000 clubs in 167 countries, Rotaract members are helping to lead change in communities around the globe. Rotary Community Corps (RCCs) are groups of non-Rotarians who work with Rotary to improve their communities through a variety of service projects. There are more than 6,800 RCCs in 78 countries, all organised and sponsored by Rotary clubs. Rotary Youth Exchange offers students ages 15–19 the chance to travel abroad for cultural exchanges. More than 8,000 students participate in this immersive programme every year. Through these experiences, which last from a week to a full academic year, students learn about new cultures, gain an appreciation for diverse perspectives, and foster global understanding. Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is Rotary’s leadership training programme for teens and young adults that emphasises social responsibility, global citizenship and personal development. Rotary Peace Fellowships offer students the opportunity to earn advanced degrees or professional certificates from universities that host Rotary Peace Centres. Rotary Peace Fellows focus on international studies and conflict resolution so they can advance their careers as promoters of peace.

595-EN—(613)

52 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013

Rotary Basics.indd 52

30-09-2013 13:54:24

GRAMMAR GURU

uture Perfect. Rings many a bell, doesn’t it? It is a 2002 album by V.V.V. Nation; a 2004 album by Autolux; a 2005 video game; the book, How Star Trek Conquered Planet Earth; a sound system; a blog and of course a tense in English grammar! To begin with a sample: The dying wife said to her husband, “I know you will have married again by this time next year and that’s alright; She will have lived in this house for some time and used my dishes, that’s alright; But I want you to promise me one thing. I do not want your second wife to wear my clothes.” The husband thought for a moment. Then he said, “All right. Promise. Your clothes wouldn’t fit Betsy anyway.” In grammar, the Future Perfect tense is used to describe an event that has not yet happened but is expected or planned to happen before another stated occurrence. When we use this tense, we are projecting ourselves forward into the future and looking back at an action that will be completed sometime later than now. The verb phrase takes the form, shall / will have + past participle form of the verb. Often we use this tense along with the time expression ‘by’ + a point in future time. By the time I understand this, I will have turned grey. I shall have become thoroughly confused by the time I finish reading this. The Future Perfect tense can take two different forms. The first is more common, with the form of the verb phrase ‘will have done.’ The other is less common: ‘be going to have done.’ You will have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S. You are going to have forgotten your English by the time you come back from Japan. Notice that you cannot use the simple future tense in time clauses. Once an Indian minister was travelling in an aeroplane alone with his private secretary. He said, “If I throw a

hundred rupee it will make one Indian happy.” “Ten ten rupees notes would be a better idea,” replied the private secretary, “That would make ten Indians happy.” The pilot who overheard the conversation, shouted, “I shall throw both of you out. By the time you fall, you are going to have made a hundred crore Indians happy.” A doctor pats the patient’s chest. “Don’t worry. This swelling will have been made to go away in a week’s time.” “Not this one, doctor; that’s my wallet,” screamed the patient. Here are some rules for using the Future Perfect tense. •

The Future Simple Perfect tense is used for actions that are non-continuous.

•

A specific time is usually stated or understood.

•

We use this tense to clarify the order of two future events.

•

It cannot be used with time clauses beginning with when, while, soon, before, after, if, unless, until etc.

The Future Perfect tense talks about the past in the future. There is also a way of expressing the future in the past as seen below: A kind passer-by assisted a small boy to push a heavily loaded cart up a long, steep hill. Reaching the top and at last getting his wind back, he said accusingly, “Only a scoundrel would expect a youngster to do a job like that! Your employer should have known it is too heavy for you.” “He did,” replied the boy, “but he said, ‘go on, you are sure to find some old fool who would help you up the hill.’ ”

Dr. V. Saraswathi, Vice President, English Language Teachers’ Association of India, Reproduced with permission from Education Times, The Times of India, Chennai.

Subscribe 2013–2014

NOW!

For the year

Annual Subscription India - Rs.480 No. of copies Rotary News (English) Rotary Samachar (Hindi)

For new members pro-rata subscription at the rate of Rs.40 per month, per member may be sent. Please attach the TYPED list of individual members with their complete address and PIN Code. Intimate language preference (English / Hindi) against each member’s name. Please do not send the Semi-annual Report for address list. Rotary Club of .......................................................................................................... RI District ................................ Name of the President/Secretary ............................................................................................................................... Address ...................................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................................................................... City ............................................. State ................................................................ PIN STD Code .................................. Phone: Off. ....................................... Res. ............................................................ Mobile ........................................ Fax ................................................... E-mail ......................................................... DD No. ................................................ Dated ................................................. for Rs. ............................................... Drawn on ..................................................................................................................................................................... in favour of “ROTARY NEWS TRUST” payable at CHENNAI is enclosed. Outstation cheques will not be accepted Date:

President/Secretary

Mail this form to: Rotary News Trust, Dugar Towers, 3rd Floor, 34, Marshalls Road, Egmore, Chennai 600 008. ROTARY NEWS JULY 2007 Tamil Nadu, India. Ph: 044 4214 5666, Fax: 044 2852 8818, e-mail: rotarynews@rosaonline.org

Membership in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives RI RI Rotary No. of Women Rotaract Interact Zone District Clubs Rotarians Rotarians

5 5 4 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

2980 3000 3010 3020 3030 3040 3051 3052 3053 3060 3070 3080 3090 3100 3110 3120 3131 3132 3140 3150 3160 3170 3180 3190 3201 3202 3211 3212 3220 3230 3240 3250 3261 3262 3271 3272 3281 3282 3291 3292 Total

150 82 129 64 80 91 61 62 48 79 108 82 73 86 105 65 99 69 128 90 56 127 133 86 117 95 124 78 59 123 71 85 68 67 70 81 117 79 138 82 3,607

6,267 3,901 5,457 3,074 4,204 2,164 2,570 3,279 1,775 3,439 3,264 3,388 2,208 1,959 3,430 2,477 4,200 3,072 6,868 3,438 2,058 4,874 5,362 3,553 4,489 3,808 3,841 3,501 1,650 5,537 2,497 3,054 2,143 2,410 1,242 1,759 3,423 2,198 4,075 2,668 1,34,576

120 297 563 176 373 235 182 462 160 237 239 165 109 77 179 144 538 219 863 248 73 232 205 247 257 209 159 128 175 319 220 330 116 177 135 262 305 158 574 291 10,158

42 81 41 20 30 13 28 10 9 23 35 37 8 3 35 18 30 19 78 49 4 17 32 29 42 33 4 3 44 79 33 25 6 12 24 11 134 109 36 82 1,368

248 194 153 166 163 79 113 106 29 94 102 134 27 72 36 30 139 80 291 138 37 245 340 89 68 324 54 122 174 316 102 96 88 57 15 31 37 17 88 82 4,776

RCC

183 67 80 258 120 131 328 115 89 98 55 95 122 146 59 48 62 52 131 107 80 151 138 41 43 36 111 115 93 266 105 157 40 63 13 31 58 36 500 82 4,505

As on August 1, 2013 Source: RI South Asia Office

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

Invest in the world’s future Every year, 6.9 million children die before reaching their fifth birthday. Almost two-thirds of them — 4.4 million — die of infectious diseases, nearly all of which could have been prevented. What would happen if 1.2 million Rotarians continued their service efforts in water, sanitation, health, hunger and literacy, but with children in mind? If Rotarians provide insecticidetreated nets, fewer children will succumb to malaria. If we dig wells and address sanitation problems, more children will have clean water to drink and a lesser risk of falling ill with waterborne diseases. And if Rotary clubs carry out effective nutrition projects, we can save some of the almost 2.6 million children who die each year from malnutrition. We can do even more by providing a community with a trained birth attendant, a visiting nurse, a simple clinic, or a school food programme. These are direct ways to save children’s lives. Children are dying not because we can’t help them, but because too often, nobody does. If every one of us does our part, we can challenge these high child mortality statistics and save the lives of thousands. In 2008–09, I asked Rotarians to open their eyes to the needs of children in communities near and far. This September, Rotary celebrates New Generations Month, and there’s no better time than now to focus on giving all children the opportunity to have the future they deserve.

Dong Kurn (D.K.) Lee Foundation Trustee Chair SEPTEMBER 2013

ROTARY NEWS 55

ROTARY ACTS

Ode to LEARNING The enduring dream of PDG Deepa Willingham, RI District 5240, USA to empower girls with education culminated in an excellent centre that provides precious opportunities for learning and skills development. Welcome to Piyali Learning Centre, a project lovingly nourished by the Rotarians of RC Calcutta Metropolitan, RI District 3291.

hroughout PDG Deepa Willingham’s youth she was reminded by her mother to “finish the food on your plate, there are starving children outside the window.” In spite of her privileged upbringing in Kolkata, Deepa saw many families struggling to survive. She was particularly moved when she saw that other children, especially girls suffered most. Their lives lacked the most essential element of human life: hope. To exist without even the most basic of human needs is devastating, but to live without hope was to live without dreams. 56 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013

Deepa was fortunate to reap the benefits of schooling, and she discovered that with literacy comes freedom, and with freedom comes choice. She came to believe what studies would later show: education is the way out of poverty. So, when Deepa left India to attend graduate school in the United States she knew she was lucky. As she flew away from her homeland, she made a vow. She would return someday and make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. Today, after a successful career as a hospital administrator in the

United States, Deepa’s promise to herself and to the helpless children she saw so long ago, took form in PACE Universal, a not-for-profit organisation in the US committed to working with impoverished communities, to empower individuals, particularly girls and women, to lift themselves out of extreme poverty, and prevent associated crimes like abuse and trafficking. PACE is the acronym for Promise of Assurance to Children Everywhere and it is made up of several Rotarians and other partner organisations. Rtn. Deepa Biswas Willingham, the Past District

Governor of District 5240 is the Founder/Chair of PACE Universal. In November 2003, PDG Deepa visited Piyali, an impoverished rural community 45 km from Kolkata. She found the village steeped in the depravity of abject poverty, barely subsisting on $1–$2 per day. Limited access to potable water, proper sanitation, food, education and medical care that perpetuated diseases, economic stagnation and absence of hope defined the community. For girls, the situation was worse; none were in school. Instead their lives held the premise of child marriage, forced labour, trafficking and physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Beneath the weight of generation of poverty and gender-based social norms, PACE in association with The Hope Foundation opened the doors to Piyali Learning Centre (PLC). PLC started off as a modest village school with just two classrooms; through the support of US-based sponsors, the centre has grown to provide more than academic learning. Students receive breakfast and lunch, medicines, vitamins, hygiene kits and perhaps most importantly, a safe and caring environment. Slowly but steadily, the centre which was until now functioning from a rented facility, acquired a land of its own, with help from PACE and Hope. The project evoked great interest in PDG Vijay Bhandari, District 3291, who is now an Advisory Board member at PACE Universal, and the Rotarians of Rotary Club of Calcutta Metropolitan. When asked why she started this school for girls in India, PDG Deepa was spontaneous with her heartfelt answer: “Girls’ education in the severely poverty-stricken areas is still a luxury for many and it is certainly not a given. And yet when girls are educated, they grow up to be responsible citizens, changing not only their own lives but also the lives of their children and communities.

PDG Vijay Bhandari (extreme left) and PDG Deepa Willingham (extreme right) with visitors at the Centre.

When it is such a win-win situation, how can I not do it?” Nearly a decade after opening its doors, PLC continues to impart the elements of education from its new building. Built at a cost of Rs.2.5 crores, the school would now facilitate more than 300 young girls to grow into literate, self-reliant, confident and emotionally stable young women while simultaneously instilling in them pride and respect for their roots, their environment and their culture. Sponsored by donors from across the world, PLC students, ranging from nursery classes to higher secondary level, receive quality academic, cultural and social education, stationeries, uniforms, medical care, after-school activities and two nutritious meals five days a week. The PLC team has ambitious plans to set up the Sanctuary Abode for Education (SAFE), a residential facility for girls who face high risk of abuse and exploitation. PLC also works with the women of Piyali equipping them with facilities such as adult literacy courses, vocational training in sewing and jewellery-making, and microcredit. These social and economic tools would empower them to become agents of change and advocates of

equity within their homes and throughout the community. The world has changed for the Piyali community when Rotary made its way into the village.The strategic partnership between PACE, RC Calcutta Metropolitan and other Rotary clubs enable PLC to implement projects that allow individuals to access the basic necessities of life. To date, about 25 clean water wells, 165 sanitation units and more than 10,000 fruit-bearing trees can be found around the village. These transformational projects have been a source of inspiration not only for the Rotarians of the District but it also attracts youngsters from abroad who evince keen interest in volunteering at PLC. For them, these visits are not vacations; they are opportunities to learn, to contribute and to grow. The Piyali Learning Centre is more than a promise being fulfilled. It has become an effective proto-type model for the eradication of extreme poverty that can be replicated in impoverished communities across the world. Jaishree with PDG Vijay Bhandari, RI District 3291 SEPTEMBER 2013

ROTARY NEWS 57

MISCELLANY

Much Obliged

Writing thank-you notes is hard. Too bad.

hen my two sons were young, I would cringe whenever one of them received a gift. That’s because, as a stay-athome dad, I was the parent in charge of thank-you notes. And although my wife is flexible about most things, she is uncharacteristically obstinate when it comes to thank-you notes. In her way of thinking, all gifts require thank-you notes, and all thank-you notes should be sent promptly. There are few things more agonising than watching a kid agonise over a thank-you note. Apart from the formation of letters and concern for neatness, there’s the bigger question of what to say. How about, “Thank you for the gift?” I would suggest. That was rarely good enough, but after extended deliberation, it might find a place in the final draft — as in, “Thank you very much for the gift.” For an adult working without the delightful burden of a child’s help, writing a thank-you note should be a simple task. But when added to the other tasks that tend to pile up in busy lives, it can mushroom into a challenge, especially once a little guilt is sprinkled in. And deciding on the format for expressing our thanks can 58 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013

present yet another hurdle. Email is faster, but does it convey the same level of appreciation? “With all the choices available today, the medium you choose is actually the beginning of the content of the message.” So says Daniel Post Senning, the great-great grandson of Emily Post and the webmaster and technology specialist at the Emily Post Institute in Vermont, USA. His book Emily Post’s Manners in a Digital World was published in April. Post Senning is a staunch advocate of the handwritten note. “There are layers to what the handwritten note conveys about you,” he says. “It shows that you’ve invested something of yourself in it; you’re giving someone something personal that can be touched and held.” It stands out “not in spite of technology, but because of technology,” he adds.

One reason writing a thank-you note can seem daunting is that we see it as an obligation. Post Senning offers some reassurance: “The thank-younote police are not coming for you. Writing a note of thanks is a chance to distinguish yourself in an increasingly informal world.” Advances in technology have managed to both simplify and complicate the thank-you note. A colleague found herself befuddled after receiving a gift from a relative. Almost immediately after opening it, she received a phone call from her mother, who was calling on behalf of the sender to find out whether she liked it. “That left me irked,” she says. “I am conscientious about writing thank-you notes. But I didn’t have any time to think about the gift or the note. Even if I had, the only way I could have communicated my gratitude that quickly would have been to call or email, and I feel that an email is not as meaningful as a handwritten note. If it doesn’t require a stamp, it feels empty to me. But after that phone call, when I did write the thank-you note, it was anticlimactic.” In simpler times, the sender of a gift would not have been on the lookout for a thank-you note for at least a week. “What are you supposed to do?”

she asks. “Send a thank-you email and a thank-you note?” Yes, indeed. At least that’s the advice that Post Senning offers. “Unless you want to risk offending that gift giver, you’re better off emailing or calling to confirm that you have received it and then taking the time to write a real thank-you note,” he says. One area in which the thankyou protocol has become murky is following a job interview. Mike Grant, a Chicago-based executive search specialist, says that in a competitive employment environment, the thank-you note can be the deal maker — or deal breaker — when it comes to landing a job. “The thank-you note after an interview is not really a thank-you note,” he says. “It’s an opportunity to improve on your performance in the interview. While it conveys a sense of courtesy, it’s also an element of your strategy, a chance to add a detail or clarify a point.” Because time can be a factor, Grant leans toward email. He suggests waiting at least 24 hours before sending your thanks, to give yourself time to think. “Quicker is generally better, but interviewing in the morning and emailing in the afternoon is too hasty,” he cautions. “And opt for a handwritten note only if you are sure the time frame permits.”

Duly Noted Expressing thanks is a fundamental social skill and should be a simple task, but time and technology sometimes conspire to make it a challenge. Daniel Post Senning, of the Emily Post Institute, offers some advice on getting it done. The things that clearly merit a thank-you note, he says, are a gift (if you haven’t had a chance to thank the giver in person), a meal, a job interview and a condolence card. There is no need to send thanks for a get-well card — or a thank-you note. Consider your audience in choosing how to thank someone, he says. Some people appreciate a handwritten note; others may be OK with an email. In thanking someone you’ve been working with, he says, “thanks usually comes in the form of the medium you’ve been working in. But you may want to kick it up a notch — for example, if you’ve been emailing each other, you might give the person a phone call.” When it comes to composing a good old-fashioned thank-you note, “get all your information and supplies together ahead of time,” Post Senning says. “The likelihood that you will send a note increases exponentially if you have envelopes, stamps and addresses available.” The note itself should be brief. “It’s a note, not a letter,” he says. “Open with a thank you; write one or two original sentences, being specific about what you are thanking the person for; then close with a thank you.” If you have procrastinated and are feeling guilty about it, “just begin by acknowledging that you are late.”

In the employment arena, Post Senning concedes that email may be a preferable medium of thanks, especially if time is a consideration. But he thinks that mastering the handwritten note can be a valuable skill for “younger people who have grown up with electronic technology — it helps them to distinguish themselves. In hiring at the Emily Post Institute, we give preference to the interns who follow up with a note.”

Yes, that’s right. Even would-be interns at the Emily Post Institute may not grasp the basic etiquette or value of a thank-you note — which gives me a bit of added satisfaction when I think about a recent phone call from my mother-in-law to my wife. It seems that my mother-in-law received such a nice thank-you note from our 20-yearold son that she felt compelled to call and say thanks. By Paul Engleman Reproduced from The Rotarian

Rotary Clubs and Rotarians in South Asia Country

No. of Clubs

Rotarians

3,118

1,21,634

Pakistan

148

2,954

Bangladesh

196

5,621

Sri Lanka

1,618

Nepal

2,651

Afghanistan

Bhutan

Maldives

3,606

1,34,574

India

Total As on August 1, 2013

Source: RI South Asia Office SEPTEMBER 2013

ROTARY NEWS 59

YOUTH SERVICE communication. To the youth the priority is to have freedom to go out on their own, have money, have friends and spend time with them. However, even for the youth what service means depends on where they come from — small town or big city, what kind of family they were born into or raised in, their economic status, educational background and so on. Typically a girl in India may not enjoy as much freedom as a boy does for many reasons including safety concerns. So if we were to engage the youth in service through Rotary, what is to be done? One way is to convert their desire to be of use to the society into action without much of

hen elderly people speak of service, do young people connect? What is their perspective on service and organisations that carry out service projects? People value something more when they have some memory of the event. Youth in today’s world might not relate to the 1950’s or even 1970’s generation of service activities in the community. One of the reasons is even their parents were perhaps not part of the service projects that were so essential during those years to make people live a better life. It is something they hear people talk about or read in books and magazines. 60 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013

The meaning of service for today’s youth must come from their experience of it. What they have or do not have is part of their own life. The definition of the word ‘service’ is context-sensitive. An adult’s experience of service may be linked to absolute sacrifice, whereas the youth of today may not see it that way. To the youth, the reality may not be sacrifice of personal wealth but dominantly sharing time through the various modes of

the jargons and bureaucratic hurdles. Today’s youth have greater freedom to choose. Since their desire is always at the heart of their actions, it may be worthwhile finding out what the desires of the youth are when it comes to undertaking service projects rather than thrusting ideas such as rallies and other awareness programmes through Rotaract and Interact. Today’s youth demand personal space, their own rooms in their homes if possible. Since the concept of joint family has disappeared, the need to adjust to the needs of others at home is no more learnt. The concept of service is born

out of this character. The acute awareness of the quality ‘me’ shows that the notion of service is restrictive rather than inclusive. Aided by technology the notion of personal contact is becoming slowly irrelevant and hence the need for e-clubs. The ability of social norms to define personal behaviour is disappearing. Technology savvy youth are increasingly showing tendency to become an island. So, to engage youth in service through Rotary, their sense of meaning of life has to be redefined. It comes through transactions. Probably telling them that their responsibility was to future generations and not just to themselves and their immediate family might help.

Youth is what most would call a joyous state of life. Probably some even categorise them as care-free people. But they do follow certain ethical and moral principles that are meant to improve the quality of life. Is that enough? People who are in service organisations get upset that the youth of today do not participate in rituals. But the youth of today are wise enough to discover for themselves why service to the community is needed. The personal experience of people who have delved into their own awareness has brought them closer to Rotary and other such organisations. What service organisations should teach is the method to discover an identity beyond the ego. Youth today must discover that they are not perfect, either in their love for humanity or in their ability to protect the community. Their minds are constantly darting either to the past or to the future owing to a chain of thoughts that cloud their mind. Making them realise that these thoughts are influenced by the environment, the society in which they live, can awaken certain characteristics that may be desirable to engage them in service through Rotary. Engaging youth to service can have a slogan like, “Create a little happiness for others.” Youth should think that when they are good to others, they are happier themselves. Show them where they can reach in life. Show them that you believe in them much more than what they believe in themselves. Just one idea, one thought, one insight, one revelation, one experience, one incident ... that is all that is required to prepare the youth for engaging in service through Rotary. Rtn. T.K. Balakrishnan SEPTEMBER 2013

ROTARY NEWS 61

ROTARY ACTS

P The challenge, the hope, the victory and finally the joy, this is the story of the inmates of a humble abode set up by the Rotary Club of Parur. Love and care instilled within the concrete is visible in the form of service to the most special children in the world. Welcome to Pratheeksha, the world of special care.

Special yoga classes.

arur, the land that opens its shores as the gateway to the Malabar is also the gateway to care and love for specially-abled children. Pratheeksha the concrete fort built by the Rotary Club of Parur, RI District 3201, fosters the growth and development of children with mental disabilities. Pratheeksha believes that love and care is what acts like a catalyst for the action that unfolds the journey of any human beingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life. Children who are mentally handicapped deserve equitably the same measure of love and care any normal child does. While we boast over the developments in the field of education we fail to see beyond the horizon of schools, for the classified normals. Education is for all whether within or beyond the horizon. Investment in the area for developing the mentally and physically challenged will bear returns of an educated and advanced nation. Rotary Club of Parur has with no apprehension, invested in the most attention seeking scenario

Above from left: Cultural performance; Humble home of care.

of today’s indifferent and rational world. Pratheeksha, the signature project of the Rotary Club of Parur which was inaugurated on 15th April 1987 celebrated its pre-eminent silver jubilee and hopes to continue its sojourn of love and care for the differentlyabled children. In the last 25 years of its service the institution has trained over 200 children with mental disabilities in various aspects of life like self realisation, economic efficiency, social competence and civic responsibility through the medium of well trained

teachers and appropriately designed teaching aids. The strength of the institution is currently 25 children and it also provides a transport facility for these children. The Rotary Club of Parur has plans to extend its human gesture on the outset of a School for Spastic Children. The school would facilitate the children with physiotherapy and speech therapy sessions along with training parents of the special child. The Rotary Club of Parur has lit the flame of love and care that continues to illuminate the world of very special children. The light of Pratheeksha is expeditiously spreading into an aurora that would reach every child who

needs special attention, a little more love and a little more care. The efforts of the Rotary Club of Parur are like an alchemy that is working towards development in its true aspect. Sports activities, yoga, dance and entertainment are initiatives the club is making to bring out the best in these differentlyabled children. Pratheeksha is truly a blessing in disguise. This shower of blessings will continue to flood the world of many more special children. The Rotary Club of Parur is and will continue to carve a beautiful smile on the face of each special child who enters Pratheeksha. Kiran Zehra

OBJECTIONS Man

: “I can’t marry you. My family is totally against it.”

Lady

: “Who is objecting in your family?”

Man

: “My wife and two kids.”

SEPTEMBER 2013

ROTARY NEWS 63

The Rotary Foundation

Top 30 Giving Countries in 2012–13 (in US Dollars)

Rotary at a glance

Rank

Country

Annual Giving

Other Giving

116.41

2,497,052

15,814,529

137.24

560,495

1,583,860

11,970,454

167.60

8,096,004

2,167,234

1,342,418

11,605,656

70.17

Canada

4,339,493

3,131,898

756,381

8,227,772

169.69

Taiwan

4,378,867

1,134,893

1,532,528

7,046,288

205.39

Germany

4,061,171

2,027,989

1,006

6,090,166

78.86

Community Corps : 1,74,547

Australia

3,841,250

1,563,958

101,996

5,507,204

122.34

Corps

Brazil

4,242,722

836,686

32,497

5,111,905

74.12

Italy

3,156,634

1,363,546

118,130

4,638,310

75.96

2,932,317

1,663,583

29,466

4,625,366

57.41

France

2,642,485

1,022,803

27,734

3,693,022

80.58

Nigeria

732,149

1,373,686

1,160,070

3,265,905

119.05

Philippines

1,832,871

140,358

1,600

1,974,829

88.30

Mexico

1,443,246

472,213

29,574

1,945,033

133.99

Thailand

874,685

366,112

37,559

1,278,356

116.67

Belgium

632,943

354,933

969

988,845

64.82

Netherlands

721,596

238,475

755

960,826

37.72

Finland

187,043

697,404

1,500

885,947

16.69

New Zealand

723,281

161,125

1,000

885,406

82.79

: 12,05,662*

Clubs

: 34,348*

Districts

: 537*

Rotaractors

: 1,33,860

Clubs

: 5,820

Interactors

: 3,65,125

Clubs

: 15,875 : 7,589

*As of August 1, 2013 As of June 30, 2013 Source: RI South Asia Office

Have a great idea?

United States

39,692,404

54,572,164 11,379,517

Japan

11,872,130

1,445,347

Korea, Republic of

9,826,099

India

Annual Giving Per Capita

105,644,085

Rotarians

Permanent Total Fund Contributions

Share it on Best Practices – a searchable database of membership strategies submitted by Rotarians for Rotarians.

Sweden

440,477

432,028

2,198

874,703

16.22

Switzerland

638,265

223,076

2,323

863,664

52.09

Submit your ideas for improving

Austria

739,125

42,041

3,078

784,244

102.41

Bangladesh

671,303

30,268

29,822

731,393

130.93

Hong Kong

437,614

182,440

105,000

725,054

300.77

Argentina

548,988

319,850

(170,188)

698,650

46.75

Denmark

338,022

165,398

1,371

504,791

30.30

South Africa

323,139

142,040

31,980

497,159

71.19

Malaysia

270,804

97,096

111,311

479,211

101.50

Spain

165,832

259,078

18,377

443,287

37.66

77,188,217 20,770,884

208,762,060

101.13

t "UUFOEBODF t $PNNVOJDBUJPO t %JWFSTJUZ t .FNCFS &EVDBUJPO t /FX .FNCFS 0SJFOUBUJPO t 1VCMJD 3FMBUJPOT t 3FDSVJUNFOU t 3FUFOUJPO Find more great ideas at www.rotary.org/en/membershipbestpractices

Total 30 Countries

As of July 18, 2013

110,802,959

Source: RI South Asia Office OCTOBER 2010 ROTARY NEWS 65

FOCUS RC BANGALORE SADASHIVANAGAR RI District 3190 Under Matching Grants with RC Oriental, RI District 7720, USA, RC Pavada, RI District 3190 and TRF, the Rotarians built a check dam at Pavada village to help the village store rain water. Nearly After ﬁrst rain

RC KOTHAMANGALAM RI District 3201 Rotarians donated a virtual smart classroom kit to St. Stephens Higher Secondary School. This would make the experience of learning more interactive and the children will learn to use technology as tool for learning. 66 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013

6,000 villagers will be benefitted by this project.

RC TIRUPUR GANDHINAGAR RI District 3202 Uniforms were provided to the orphan children at Sankara Sevalaya who are taken care of by the club in their ongoing project. The children are provided with all their needs and the club also facilitates the education of these children.

RC QUILON NORTH RI District 3211 Relief material was sent to the victims of the Uttaranchal flood disaster. The gesture of care and concern was wrapped in boxes to assist the people in the most badly affected areas.

RC NAGERCOIL CENTRAL RI District 3212 The club accepted the sponsorship of polio affected men to participate at the national level body building competition for the differently-abled. This comes as a source of encouragement and rehabilitation to the polio affected people.

RC MADRAS CENTRAL AADITHYA RI District 3230 The club in association with RC Klang, RI District 3300, Malaysia distributed 150 spectacles to children hailing from economically weaker sections at Malaysia under the project ‘Help a child to see.’ SEPTEMBER 2013

ROTARY NEWS 67

RC BURDWAN GREATER RI District 3240 The club enabled clean and safe drinking water at Samanti High School. This would be immensely beneficial for 1,000 children and the staff at the school, quenching their thirst and protecting them from water-borne diseases.

RC GAYA CENTRAL RI District 3250 A mega health camp was organised by the club along with RC Magadh Gaya at the village Khurar. Medicines were distributed to 250 needy patients and those requiring further treatment were referred to the District Hospital.

RC INFOCITY BHUBANESWAR RI District 3262 Water filters were distributed to Tangi Girls High School by the club to provide clean drinking water within the campus.

RC CENTRAL CALCUTTA RI District 3291 Steel Cupboards and kitchen accessories were distributed to Mentaid, a special school for the mentally challenged. This would help in better comforts for the 65 children who are looked after at this school. 68 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013

RC DHULIKHEL RI District 3292 The club jointly with RC Edwardstown, RI District 9520, Australia and TRF facilitated 9 bore wells to provide water for a school and over 450 households who are ex-bonded labourers. The Matching Grant project cost US $14,500.

RC SALEM TEXCITY RI District 2980 The club organised a roller skating rally to promote its message of polio-free India in Salem. The event enabled a massive awareness about the dreaded disease and Rotaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role in its eradication, among the public.

RC DINDIGUL RI District 3000 Artificial limbs were donated to the physically challenged. This would help them to stand and walk without support or dependence.

RC VIJAYAWADA RI District 3020 Hearing aids were distributed to the hearing impaired people. This was done with a view to help the ageing people hear with more clarity so that they can participate in the happenings around them. SEPTEMBER 2013

ROTARY NEWS 69

RC CHANDRAPUR RI District 3030 Squint eye surgery camp was organised by the club at the Civil Hospital, Chandrapur. Eleven patients were operated and the eyes were rectified of the squint to help them enjoy comfortable eyesight.

RC CAMBAY RI District 3060 Food materials and new clothes were distributed to the children residing in an orphanage. This visit by the Rotarians would cheer them up and secure them with a feeling of warmth of being cared for.

RC LUDHIANA GREATER RI District 3070 A workshop on the correct technique of brushing teeth and hand wash was conducted at Ramgarhia School in Ludhiana. Children were also taught other hygiene habits. Tooth brushes were also distributed to the children.

RC KARNAL MIDTOWN RI District 3080 Water coolers were donated to the Mata Parkash Kaur Deaf and Dumb Viklang Welfare Centre by the club. This was done under the view to provide the institute with clean drinking water.

70 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013

RC NABHA RI District 3090 A medical check-up and distribution of sweaters and shoes was organised by the club for underprivileged students of an elementary school at Nabha. The sweaters and shoes will make the children feel warm in school during the cold days.

RC BAREILLY CENTRAL RI District 3110 The sponsorship for school fees, bag, books, uniform and shoes of the children at Kushtha Ashram has been undertaken by the Rotarians. The children are supported in all aspects for the purpose of education.

RC BAGALKOT RI District 3170 The club inaugurated â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Rotary Circleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in the heart of the city. The emblem is an excellent image-building endeavour and stands as the proud symbol of Rotary and its good work in Bagalkot.

RC BUTWAL RI District 3292 A literacy programme for the senior citizens was organised at Devdah and Kerawani villages by the club. The training lasted for three months enabling the old women to read and write in basic form.

SEPTEMBER 2013

ROTARY NEWS 71

HEALTH WATCH

Iron

content in

Vegetarian

foods

What is iron and why do we need it? Iron is an essential nutrient because it is a central part of haemoglobin which is found in red blood cells, which help carry oxygen to all parts of the body. If iron intake is low the amount of haemoglobin in the red blood cells can fall leading to iron-deficiency anaemia. Symptoms include tiredness, weakness, feeling cold and an inability to concentrate. Types of iron There are two types of iron in food: Heme and non-heme iron Heme iron is found in animal tissue. It is a component of haemoglobin (oxygen-carrying protein in the blood) and 72 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013

myoglobin (an oxygen-carrying molecule in muscle) and makes up around half the iron found in red meat, poultry and fish. Non-heme iron makes up the other half of the iron in animal tissue and all of the iron found in plant foods, dairy foods (which contain a very small amount) and eggs. Non-heme iron is less well absorbed. Vegan diets only contain non-heme iron. Because of this, iron recommendations are higher for vegetarians than for non-vegetarians. Are you iron deficient? Lack of iron is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world. Women are most particularly at risk for iron deficiency. The average woman needs 18 mg iron a day. The average man needs 10 mg of iron in their diet every day.

What are the main causes of dietary iron deficiency? â&#x20AC;˘ Not eating enough iron rich foods. For example, those on restrictive diets and in some cases, vegetarians who do not eat enough of the proper foods. â&#x20AC;˘ Increased demand for iron, for example to replace blood loss (e.g. from menstruation in some women) or in times of accelerated growth (such as during adolescence) or extreme and/or unusual physical activity or during and after an aggressive blood donation programme. Iron status in vegetarians Some might expect that since the vegetarian diet contains a form of iron that is not that well absorbed, vegetarians might be prone to developing iron deficiency anaemia. However, surveys of vegetarians have found that iron deficiency anaemia is no more common among vegetarians than among the general population although vegetarians tend to have lower iron stores. The reason for the satisfactory iron status of many vegetarians may be that commonly eaten foods are high in iron. Foods such as spinach are good sources of iron. Dried beans and dark green leafy vegetables are especially good sources of iron, even better on a per calorie basis than meat. Good sources of iron include pulses (peas, beans and lentils), soya bean products (soya milk and tofu), dark green leafy vegetables (parsley, broccoli, pak choy and watercress), fortified breakfast cereals, whole grains (whole meal bread, whole meal pasta), dried fruits (raisins,

prunes, apricots and figs) black treacle and plain dark chocolate. Another reason for the satisfactory iron status of vegetarians is that vegatarian diets are high in vitamin C. Vitamin C acts to markedly increase absorption of nonheme iron. Adding a vitamin C source to a meal increases non-heme iron absorption up to six-fold which makes the absorption of non-heme iron as good or better than that of heme iron. Fortunately, many vegetables such as broccoli and bok choy which are high in iron are also high in vitamin C so that the iron in these foods is very well absorbed. Commonly eaten combinations such as beans and tomato sauce or stir-fried tofu and broccoli, also result in generous levels of iron absorption. Source: The Indian Vegetarian Congress Quarterly SEPTEMBER 2013

ROTARY NEWS 73

CULTURE Luz Church, Chennai.

74 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013

Tucked into one of the by-lanes of the bustling Mylapore area in Chennai stands a glorious testimony to the Portuguese era — the Church of Our Lady of Light. This Roman Catholic shrine referred to as ‘Luz Church’ by the locals is one of the oldest churches in the city. SEPTEMBER 2013

ROTARY NEWS 75

The presiding deity, Our Lady of Light.

raditionally, the advent of Christianity to India is referred to as two phases; one is when St. Thomas, the Apostle of Jesus brought the religion to the country in the first century and attained martyrdom in Chennai in 53 A.D.; the second phase is after the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century. The Portuguese were great sailors and pioneers in discovering the sea route to many countries, particularly to India, after the invention of the sea route in 1498 by the most celebrated Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama. His landing on the Indian soil at Calicut on the Malabar Coast was 76 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013

considered the pinnacle of world history as it marked the beginning of global multiculturalism. His discovery of the sea route connecting Europe and India was very significant and it paved the way for the Portuguese to establish long lasting colonial empire in Asia. This discovery meant that the Portuguese traders need not cross the Mediterranean or the deserts of Arabia. For these traders who were until then trading with Northern and coastal West Africa, the legendary Indian spice route proved to be highly attractive. They found the pepper and cinnamon very interesting for their trade and soon included other products, all

new to Europe and enjoyed commercial monopoly for several decades. The spice trade also proved to be a major asset to the Portuguese royal treasury. India was not a new territory for the Europeans; Alexander had conquered central and northwestern India in 330 B.C. This first wave of exploration was by land. The second wave of exploration of the Indian soil, this time by sea was paved with the discovery of sea route by Vasco da Gama. From then on, several Portuguese explorers have found the country resourceful for their trade. They remained in the country till 1961. The Portuguese traders were Catholics and they would take the missionary priests along with them during their sailing expeditions to administer the sacraments and to say the mass for them. In 1500 A.D., a group of sailors accompanied by the priests (referred to as Friars) of the Franciscan Missionary (followers of St. Francis of Assisi) led by Fr. Pedro Alvares Cabral set sail from Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, to India. They routinely sailed between India and East Malacca for commercial activities. Their business was flourishing and they even built a fort, Fort Abmosa, in Malacca in 1511. They had their halting point at Pulicat, which is today a stunning lagoon, a perfect weekend get-away and a birdwatchersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; paradise, 55 km from Chennai. The traders established their own Portuguese settlement there and also erected a fort and a small church, Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres (Our Lady of Joy) in 1515, which today is renamed as Church of Our Lady of Glory. This church grew into a pilgrimage spot for the wealthy Portuguese who lived in Madras (present day Chennai). Luz Church Legacy During one of their ventures, when the sailors along with the Friars were sailing from Malacca, their ship was tossed by a violent hurricane at mid-sea. The merchants and the missionaries could do nothing against natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fury but to pray fervently to Mother Mary for their

safety. Suddenly, the dark sky was illuminated by a mysterious bright light. The amazed sailors set their sails in the direction of the light. The divine light led them to the shores of the fishing village, San Thome (present day Mylapore). San Thome was the place where the church of St. Thomas was located and where the Apostle was initially buried. There stands the grand St. Thomas Basilica today. The light continued to precede them inland. The mariners anchored the ship at the shore and followed the light through a thick forest and it disappeared at a clearing there. Moved by the experience and to honour the divine light that saved them, the Portuguese led by Friar Pedro erected a church in 1516 A.D. at the very spot where the light disappeared. They called the church, ‘Nossa Senhora da Luz’ which translates as ‘Our lady of Light,’ in reference to the divine light that saved the lives of the sailors. The church even today is referred by the locals as ‘Kattu Kovil’ in Tamil meaning ‘Forest Church.’ The forest has long disappeared in the metropolis of Chennai. And today the Mylapore area where the church is present is a bustling commercial region. The historical importance of the church is not diminished for the area is officially called ‘Luz,’ the Portuguese word for ‘Light’ and the road leading to the church is named as ‘Luz Avenue’ after the church itself. It is a pity that battles and wars target such heritage properties wreaking havoc on them. The Luz Church was also a victim of such attacks. In 1672, the French seized Mylapore from the Sultan of Golconda. Soon they besieged Mylapore but could not take it. They then sought the help of the Dutch and seized the city from the French in 1673. The church suffered great damages during these struggles; the French and the Golconda forces used it as a base from where they directed their attacks. The English East India Company also occupied the Luz Parish residence for some time and did

The prayer hall.

not tolerate the presence of the Catholic priests there. On a later occasion, Hyder Ali invaded Mylapore and plundered the place which also included the church. The Portuguese were the first to establish a colony in Madras. But they did not survive long here. After lot of struggles, they relinquished the settlement to the British in the 1800s but during their sojourn, their cultural signatures and Baroque-styled churches spread across the city. In fact, there is a tombstone in a Portuguese monument in Chennai, St. Lazarus Church, which records that the name ‘Madras’ which was the former name of today’s

Chennai derives from a prominent Portuguese family, Manuel Madra, that lived in the 1600s. Despite the troubled times, Luz Church today stands tall — a testimony of faith and hope for generations to come. The church built in 1516 has been renovated and restored to its former glory. Its foundation stone marks it as one of the oldest European monuments in India. The church remained in the hands of Franciscans until the middle of the 19th century. Architecture The church is designed based on the 16th century European architecture SEPTEMBER 2013

ROTARY NEWS 77

From Top: Inscription testifying the origin of the church; Symbol of the Franciscan Order; Facing Page: Ornamentally designed statue of St. Joseph.

consisting of Gothic arches and the typical Portuguese Baroque ornamentation. The structure is small, very modest and compact. A flight of steps leads up to the main entrance at the centre. The faรงade of the church shows a threestorey arrangement. There is a staircase that leads to the belfry on the left side of the faรงade. The grotto of Mother Mary and a statue of St. Jude are present on the right side near the main entrance. The prayer hall inside the church has a single nave with a square recess at the end. A transept extends from either side of the sanctuary. A wooden communion railing divides the nave and the sanctuary. Richly carved shrines with the statues of St. Joseph and the Sacred Heart are present at the end of the nave, before the sanctuary. They are made of wood, and decorated with ornamental designs and painted in gold. Another remarkable feature of the church is the thickness of the walls which are so typical of Portuguese edifices. The doors and windows testify the antiquity of the building. The ceiling of the nave is a semi-circular barrel vault. Two columns support the choir. The apse or the sanctuary vault depicts an emblem of the Five Holy Wounds, the five piercing wounds suffered by Jesus Christ during the crucifixion. The main altar is a striking feature of the church. The altars are gilded with silver and gold leaves and the ceilings are covered with powder-blue fresco paintings. Beautifully carved wooden reredos covers the entire wall behind the altar. The statue of Our Lady of Light, represented as the Madonna with the Infant Jesus, stands above the main altar in the central niche of a very ornate reredos. Above the niche are two cherubs holding a crown. The upper niche has a statue of the Divine Child with an Armenian inscription mentioning 78 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013

the name of Petrus Uscan, the 18th century benefactor of religious institutions. He was instrumental in laying the long flight of steps that lead to the Church of Our Lady of Expectations atop St. Thomas Mount. The altar-table has a striking motif of the symbol of the Franciscan Order: a pair of crossed hands, that of St. Francis of Assisi and that of Christ intertwined, with a cross at the centre. The wooden brackets on either side of the reredos hold a Pieta on the left and a statue of St. Michael holding a sword and a pair of scales, triumphing over the dragon, on the right. The arch in front of the sanctuary has a painting of St. Francis of Assisi blessing five of his companions. Framed paintings of the Stations of Cross adorn the walls of the nave. The legend behind the origin of the church is commemorated in stucco work in the vaulted ceiling of the church. A black stone plaque in the side wall of the church has the message testifying its tradition of the miraculous light and its dedication to ‘Our Lady of Light’ engraved on it. The inscription cut in relief reads thus: Fre Pedro Da Atougia Religio Observte De St. Franco Edificou Esta Egreja De Nossa Senhra Da Luz Em 1516. A number of memorial tablets can be seen in high relief on the walls around the church. Numerous tomb slabs and monumental records are spread over the church; one can see them in front of the church, on the left of the main entrance, against the wall, against the nave and close to the transept wall. The cemetery of the priests belonging to the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore is also located within the church premises at the entrance on the right. Festivities The Church of Our Lady of Light was declared Shrine of Our Lady of Light on August 15, 2010 by Rev. Dr. A.M. Chinnappa, the then Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore. The Feast of Our Lady of Light is celebrated on August 15 every year. The day is also observed

as the Feast of Assumption of Mary. The church commemorates the feast with a grand mass and a magnificent car procession. Approximately 500 families belong to the parish of Luz Church. The Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. L.C. Rayanna has been guiding the smooth functioning of the church since 2010 before when he was serving the Church of Our Lady of Glory at Pulicat for nine years. The church takes care of the education of children hailing from poor families and runs a night school with the support of retired teachers and professionals who volunteer their services. Around 300 children of different ages attend the Sunday school which is served by about

25 teachers. Various service activities are conducted regularly by the church administration for the welfare of the community. The Luz Church occupies a prominent part of Chennai’s history surviving the vagaries of each era and when one sets foot on the church’s soil one cannot help feel shaken by the number of years, or millennia that has rolled by. It is just three years short of the 500 year mark since the establishment of the shrine and it is truly a well maintained, magnificent monument that holds its own amidst the hugely transformed area which slowly developed from a forest to a significant landmark in the city. Jaishree SEPTEMBER 2013

ROTARY NEWS 79

NOW IN PAPERBACK !

ANNOUNCEMENT With effect from August 1, 2013 the revised RI exchange rate is

US $1 = INR 60.00 Source: RI South Asia Office

“ALTHOUGH THE PACKAGING HAS CHANGED, THE MATERIAL REMAINS THE SAME — A TIMELESS RECORD OF A CENTURY OF SUCCESSES.”

Includes a new foreword by 2004-05 RI President GLENN E. ESTESS SR.

Order at shop.rotary.org US$15 – 912 (EN, ES, and JA only) Interested in more Rotary history? Go to www.rotary.org/history.

Tel.: 011 |42250101 shop.rotary.org Tel: 847-866-4600 Fax: 011 42250191