RC SPIC NAGAR RI District 3212 Educational aid by way of notebooks and stationery was provided to students of TNDA Middle School, Mullakkadu. This would help the underprivileged students to study better.
RC VELLORE MIDTOWN RI District 3230 The club along with Rotaractors from Sri Arcot Mahalakshmi Nursing College conducted a medical camp at Arcot to address to the medical issues of the poor and needy.
RI District 3240 Rotarians from RI District 3240 together pledged to eradicate illiteracy from India and make way for an educated and brighter India.
RC PATNA CITY SAMRAT RI District 3250 Under the club’s signature project a mega eye camp was conducted and 450 cataract operations were successfully performed at Guru Govind Hospital.
MARCH 2014
ROTARY NEWS 41
An outstanding scientist and an accomplished speaker, Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, the pioneer in polymer science and engineering is a man of many talents; a man who strongly believes that the future of India lies in IT — Indian Talent when he says that each of the 1.2 billion Indians have a potential and the question lies in realising that potential. Welcome to this series of thought-provoking lectures/articles of Padmabhushan Dr. Mashelkar that is sure to stimulate and kindle the innovative spark in you. (Continued from previous issue)
Economics of traditional knowledge In my pursuit of economics of knowledge so far, I have dealt with factors which will drive knowledge markets dominated by conventional industries as in industrialised societies. The issue of economics based on traditional knowledge and biodiversity are far more complex. India, with approximately 8 percent of world’s biodiversity and as one of the greatest storehouses of traditional knowledge, has the potential of becoming a major player in the global trade in herbs-based formulations, medicines and products. Knowledge-rich companies and researchers from the developed world have been attracted to the wealth the poorer countries have in their biodiversity and the traditional knowledge systems. Some argue that the access to such biodiversity and community knowledge by the industrially developed nations is necessary for the larger welfare of mankind as this advances knowledge and leads to new products 42 ROTARY NEWS MARCH 2014
which contribute to the well being of global consumers. However, this is not the point. The point is that this access to the resources of the poor does not benefit them in any way, while their natural resource and intellectual property continues to be appropriated and exploited. Many researchers who have obtained knowledge about biodiversity and its uses from local innovators, communities and institutions do not even acknowledge their contributions, let alone sharing of the benefits resulting from such knowledge. One recalls here the case of a new antibiotic. This was launched in the USA based on the discovery of peptides in frog skin by a researcher who had found three tribes in Africa and America, which knew about the wound healing capabilities of the frog skin and were using it for that purpose. However, no benefit was given to the tribes. The local communities or individuals do not have the knowledge or the means to safeguard their property in
a system which has its origin in very different cultural values and attitudes. The communities have a storehouse of knowledge about their flora and fauna — their habits, their habitats, their seasonal behaviour and the like — and it is only logical and in consonance with natural justice that they are given a greater say as a matter of right in all matters regarding the study, extraction and commercialisation of the biodiversity. A policy that does not obstruct the advancement of knowledge, and provides for valid and sustainable uses and intellectual property protection with just benefit sharing is what we need. When we come up for reviewing TRIPS, we need to push for TRIPS plus, meaning TRIPS plus equity and ethics. It needs to be emphasised that the issues of the economics of community knowledge are truly complex. While it is true that many indigenous cultures appear to develop and transmit knowledge from generation to generation within a system, individuals in local
or indigenous communities can distinguish themselves as informal creators or inventors, separate from the community. Furthermore, some indigenous or traditional societies are reported to recognise various types of intellectual property rights over knowledge, which may be held by individuals, families, lineages or communities. Discussion of IPRs and traditional knowledge should draw more on the diversity and creativity of indigenous approaches to IPR issues. In addition, there are power divisions as well as knowledge divisions among people in many communities, and sharing of benefits with a community as a whole is no guarantee that the people who are really conserving traditional knowledge and associated biodiversity will gain the rewards they deserve for their efforts. To encourage communities, it is necessary to scout, support, spawn and scale up the green grass root innovation to generate employment and use natural resources sustainably through linking of innovation, enterprise and investment. This requires building up adequate linkages with modern science and technology and market research institutions. In short, one needs new models of development, employment generation and conservation of natural resources. There is also a deep philosophical divide on the issue of IPR that we have to deal with. The existing IPR systems are oriented around the concept of private ownership and individual invention. They are at odds with indigenous cultures, which emphasise collective creation and ownership of knowledge. There is a concern that IPR systems encourage the appropriation of traditional knowledge for commercial use without the fair sharing of benefits, or that they violate indigenous cultural percepts by encouraging the commodification of such knowledge. While recognising the marketbased nature of IPRs, other non-market-based rights could be useful in developing models for a right to protect traditional knowledge, innovations
and practices. Geographical indications and trademarks, or sui generis analogies, could be alternative tools for indigenous and local communities seeking to gain economic benefits from their traditional knowledge. To date, debate on IPRs and biodiversity has focused on patents and plant breeders’ rights. The potential value of geographical indications and trademarks needs to be examined too. They protect and reward traditions while allowing evolution. They emphasise the relationships between human cultures and their local land and environment. They are not freely transferable from one owner to another. They can be maintained as long as the collective tradition is maintained. Whether one likes it or not, it is a hard fact that a mere focus on morally defined rights will not be successful, because it is too difficult to build arguments to bridge the wide gap between general human rights and indigenous peoples’ rights in the changing value systems in the modern world. It is generally difficult to attribute an objective economic value to the knowledge of local and indigenous communities, and associated resources, for a number of reasons. One could be the absence of a market for genetic resources, and the complexity of inputs into creation of new crop varieties. It will be more pragmatic to focus on the costs of conservation to indigenous and local communities as a guide to designing economic incentives that will help them gain adequate rewards. Different interest groups, such as industry, intellectual property experts and indigenous and local peoples’ organisations need to cooperate in order to define mechanisms for more effective sharing of benefits with the providers of traditional knowledge and genetic resources.
Finally I believe the next century will belong to Asia. I believe India will have a chance to lead. I also believe India will be an economic power, mainly because
of her great intellectual capital and its mastery over the theory and practice of economics of knowledge. I do really believe that the creative potential of millions of individual Indians will be unleashed from the bondages of self inflicted mental sanctions. For too long we have talked about the potential of India. The latent potential energy of the creative Indians will be converted into creative and productive kinetic energy. The unique knowledge society in India will be based on Indian ethos and the ethics. I believe many schools will flourish, where brilliant new theoretical frameworks for economics of knowledge of the 21st century will be developed and India will assume a conceptual leadership in this development. This brings us to an interesting thought. 1998 was a great year for India. Amartya Sen won the Nobel Prize in economics. His development of welfare economics combined economic theories with philosophy and ethics. If knowledge economics has to deal with the issues of growth and equity, then it will have to combine economics, science and technology, philosophy and ethics in the most creative and innovative way. Will an Indian win the Nobel Prize in knowledge economics? Why not? We certainly have the right to dream. Concluded MARCH 2014
ROTARY NEWS 43
Polio Free Conclave 2014 Rotary celebrates certification of Polio Free India Be part of the Historic Event! Dear Friends, 2014 will be a landmark year in the history of the polio campaign in India and the world. Rotary is planning an event to mark the realisation of the dream Rotary dreamt over 25 years ago. The Polio Free Conclave is going to be an event of three decades, which will be remembered not only by the contemporary Rotarians but by posterity. The South East Asia Regional Certification Commission for Polio Eradication is scheduled to meet on 26 and 27 March, 2014 to certify the South East Asia Region as defined by WHO — of which India is a part — as ‘Polio-free.’ This will be an international event, with participation from countries of the South East Asia Region — Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Srilanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, alongwith participation from the three remaining endemic countries, namely, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. India — with the three year sans polio milestone stands eligible to qualify for the regional — South East Asia Region (SEAR) — Polio-free certification from WHO. Rotary International has planned to host a commemorative event rightly titled ‘Polio Free Conclave 2014’ on the 29th and 30th of March, 2014 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The Honourable President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee has kindly agreed to be the Chief Guest on 29th March for the inaugural at 12 noon. Meeting will conclude by lunch on 30 March. Rotary leadership endeavours to make this event not just a celebration of India’s success but the global movement to end polio. The distinguished participants in the two-day Conclave, numbering around 1,500 will include health officials of the Government of India; State Governments and senior health officials from countries in the South East Asia Region, as well as Rotarians from India and across the world, along with global representatives from WHO, UNICEF, CDC, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other donor agencies. Would you not like to be a part of this history-making event? Are we not fortunate to live in this period, where children will finally be free of the scourge of disability on account of polio? Are we not fortunate that we have an opportunity to be a part of this event when polio will be consigned to the pages of history? You have been part of this epoch-making struggle and now is your time to give your impulse to this “end game” thrust. Just go ahead and register yourself. Please remember Vigyan Bhawan has limited seats. We urge you to come and support this historic celebration, which could well be the harbinger for ending polio worldwide! Best regards,
Raja Saboo Chairman, Polio Free Conclave 2014 PRIP & Advisor, IPPC
Polio Free Conclave 2014 March 29 - 30, Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, INDIA
R E G I S T R AT I O N F O R M Please fill in CAPITAL LETTERS and tick where appropriate Rtn
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Registration Fee Single Couple 6000 3000
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Banquet Dinner on 29 March 2014 : At JW Marriott Hotel - @ Rs. 3000/- per person - Only limited seats are available
TOTAL (B)
Payment Details (Terms & Conditions)
Rupees in words................................................................................................................ ........................................................................... Cheque/Draft No........................................... Bank .............................................................................. Dated ............................................. Cheque/draft should be drawn in favour of Rotary International’s India National PolioPlus Society, Payable at New Delhi
GRAND TOTAL (A+B) Note : 1. Please take a Printout of the Registration Form, fill it and forward it to the Secretariat with Cheque / DD attached. 2. Delegates of foreign origin are required to provide the copy of the Passport alongwith the Registration form. (Especially page of passport mentioning Name, Nationality etc.) 3. For Hotel Accommodation, Local Transportation and other requirements, kindly contact official travel agency UNIEXPRESS (P) LIMITED, 106,Rohit House,3Tolstoy Marg, New Delhi-110001, Tel: 41505550-53,41505834-3988 Fax : 91 11 23355266 Email : unextravels@gmail.com Web : www.unextravels.in 4. Last date of Receipt of Payment is 20 March, 2014 5. The Conclave Secretariat will issue a Registration number for each participant. A copy of the Registration number needs to be shown at the counter at the Conclave venue to collect the Name badge and other materials. The Registration number should be used in all communications/correspondence. * eg: if your name is V.K.Jain, kindly provide in expanded form as Virender Kumar Jain, this is the requirement of Security Agencies. ** Required by Government security officials of Conclave venue, Vigyan Bhawan.
Kindly return the form duly filled in to Secretariat :
Polio Free Conclave 2014 No. 5, Aradhana Enclave, Sector-13, R.K. Puram, Ring Road, New Delhi-110 066, INDIA Phones : +91-11-2611-1014, +91-11-2611-1015, +91-11-2611-1016; Fax : +91-11-2611 1013 E-Mail : poliofreeconclave2014@gmail.com; Web : www.rotarypolioplusindia.org
Rotary International’s India National PolioPlus Society No 5, Aradhana Enclave, Sector 13 R.K. Puram, Ring Road, New Delhi 110066 Tel. : 26111014/15/16, Fax : 91-11-26111013 E-Mail : ppindia@rotarypolioindia.org / ppindia@del2.vsnl.net.in Website : www.rotarypolio.org
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No. of releases.
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Membership in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives Rotary No. of Women Rotaract Interact RI RI 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
151 88 130 65 85 95 64 64 50 79 111 82 74 88 109 66 105 71 133 92 57 125 131 88 124 92 125 81 59 125 72 89 70 68 77 85 118 77 145 86 3,696
6,216 4,090 5,349 3,121 4,497 2,142 2,533 3,260 1,782 3,449 3,245 3,255 1,969 2,004 3,437 2,486 4,504 3,074 6,999 3,443 2,076 4,804 5,396 3,602 4,712 3,613 3,833 3,522 1,673 5,903 2,583 3,145 2,175 2,545 1,381 1,802 3,638 2,179 4,118 2,753 1,36,308
105 293 548 180 435 206 173 417 137 258 236 157 80 94 169 155 603 239 891 270 75 221 207 245 261 171 163 112 187 353 237 345 151 205 164 266 344 135 582 295 10,365
56 121 49 27 39 16 33 21 10 28 39 38 17 8 40 21 40 25 90 53 4 23 35 40 51 39 4 5 56 89 34 29 12 19 28 12 145 109 36 88 1,629
250 236 171 172 172 79 114 120 29 96 115 140 27 81 37 30 162 81 333 147 37 250 351 99 76 317 56 122 178 335 108 104 93 57 15 35 42 17 92 83 5,059
RCC
183 67 80 258 120 131 328 116 89 99 55 95 122 146 59 48 64 52 134 107 80 153 140 41 43 37 111 115 93 269 107 159 40 64 13 32 103 36 510 82 4,581
As on February 3, 2014 Source: RI South Asia Office
CONVENTION
Let’s play footy
A
ustralia has its own accent, its own cuisine, its own continent. It also has its own style of football — Australian rules football, also known as “Aussie rules” or “footy.” Rotarians attending the 2014 RI Convention 1–4 June will have the chance to take in this homegrown sport with a game at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 29 May between the top-rated Sydney Swans and Geelong (Victoria) Cats. Spectators will see a sport that’s neither rugby nor soccer nor the game known to North Americans as “football.” It’s related to those, but there are differences: The ball, shaped like an American football, may be kicked or carried but not thrown. Players can tackle or block, but they wear no pads or helmets. The field, like the ball, is oval, and it usually measures about 150 metres long and 135 metres wide. The 18 players on each team have positions — such as full forward, left wing and back pocket — but can play any spot on the field; there is no offsides rule. There are two sets of goal posts at each end of the field; players can score “goals” (six points) or “behinds” (one point), depending on how the ball is moved and which set of posts it passes through. The Sydney Host Organisation Committee has secured seats to this game. Get details at rotary2014. com.au. Register for the 2014 RI Convention in Sydney by 31 March for a reduced rate. Go to www.riconvention.org. MARCH 2014
ROTARY NEWS 47
Adv_Endpolionow_Isabelli Fontana.indd 48
2/25/2014 3:05:39 PM
Bike Messenger Lisa McCoy Rotary Club of Gravenhurst, Ont., Canada
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or many Cambodian children, the hardest part of school is getting there. Some walk miles to class along dusty, rural roads. Sweltering heat, snakes and unexploded land mines, a remnant of the Khmer Rouge’s deadly reign, are constant threats. In rural areas, most children attend school only through the sixth grade, and just 33 percent complete ninth grade. Lisa McCoy, Executive Director of the nonprofit Mine-Free World Foundation, spends half of every year in Cambodia. In 2009, she learned of five students who had no way to get to school. McCoy emailed Rotarians back home, and now, with support from clubs in Canada and Cambodia, Gravenhurst Rotarians provide schoolchildren with simple, sturdy bicycles. The effort has expanded every year, with Cambodian Rotarians, school officials and local organisations identifying students in need, and clubs throughout District 7010 (parts of Ontario and Quebec) raising funds. The project also has extended outside Cambodia, supporting the distribution of 50 bicycles in rural Laos in 2012. Earlier this year, a team of Canadian Rotarians travelled to Cambodia, where volunteers from both countries attached pedals, affixed handlebars, and inflated hundreds of tyres by hand. They presented 1,231 bicycles. Vanessa N. Glavinskas Reproduced from The Rotarian
for f or LITERACY
LITERACY
DAVE CUTLER
Your club’s literacy project could win $2,500. How? The Pearson Foundation is awarding two cash prizes worth $2,500 each to support literacy projects Your literacyjointly project win $2,500. that club’s are created bycould Rotary clubs How? Pearson Foundation is awarding councils. two cash prizes andThe International Reading Association worth literacy projects Apply$2,500 by 15 each June.to Tosupport learn more, email that are created jointly by Rotary clubs rotary.service@rotary.org. and International Reading Association councils. Apply by 15 June. To learn more, email rotary.service@rotary.org.
Sep13 IRA NOV13 DEC13 FEB14 -- Rotarian Issue Literacy Conformer.indd Main Award Conformer.indd ad-v2.indd 28 1 24
Sep13 IRA NOV13 DEC13 FEB14 -- Rotarian Issue Conformer.indd Main Award Conformer.indd ad-v2.indd 1 24 Adv_Cash forLiteracy Literacy.indd 50 28
9/27/13 10/28/13 12/18/13 9/26/13 12:52 5:46 5:14 PM 4:40
9/27/13 10/28/13 9/26/13 5:46 5:14 PM 4:40 2/25/201412/18/13 3:04:4612:52 PM
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MISCELLANY
The Cost of Beauty
Women use an average of 12 cosmetic items per day; these products contain a total of about 168 ingredients. Men use an average of six grooming products daily, containing 85 ingredients. Many of the ingredients are — intentionally or accidentally — absorbed into the skin, inhaled, or swallowed. Studies published in environmental health and toxicology journals found that the ingredients could cause such problems as altered hormone levels, sperm damage, cancer and birth defects. In Europe, 1,100 ingredients are designated as illegal to include in personal care products. Only 10 have been banned in the United States, where the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) primarily reviews the safety of cosmetics that contain colour additives. In the U.S., the $50 billion personal care industry polices itself. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel, composed of scientists and physicians, has tested less than 20 percent of common beauty ingredients and found only 11 to be unsafe. Manufacturers are not required to act on the panel’s findings. Unless a product bears a seal from the U.S.
Department of Agriculture certifying that no artificial pesticides and fertilizers were used to grow its plant-based ingredients, the words “organic” and “natural” on a personal care product do not mean it’s hazard-free. Two of the most widely used grooming products are hair dye and sunscreen. One of every three women older than 18 uses hair dye, as does one of every ten men older than 40. More than 5,000 types of chemicals are used in hair dyes. Resorcinol, a common ingredient, is a skin and eye irritant and a frequent cause of hair dye allergies. The U.S. government limits the amount of resorcinol that people can be exposed to in the workplace, but does not issue guidelines for its use in grooming products. Sunscreen sales, which total $1 billion annually, grew 4.2 percent a year between 2007 and 2012, despite the fact that major health authorities have concluded that sunscreens alone do not prevent skin cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, the rate of melanoma cases among adults in
the U.S. has tripled over the past 35 years. Manufacturers of sunscreens in Europe have seven chemicals available to them that specifically block out harmful UVA rays. In the United States, manufacturers can use only three of those ingredients; the FDA has been studying the issue for seven years to decide whether to lift the restrictions on others. Confusing claims on sunscreen packaging imply that products with high SPF — sun-protection factor — ratings will protect skin longer and better than those with lower ratings. But an SPF 100 sunscreen blocks only 1 percent more of the harmful rays than one rated SPF 50. In 2011, the FDA issued a new set of regulations demanding that all claims of water resistance and broad-spectrum sun protection be validated, and banned manufacturers from using labels that claim a specific SPF number above 50, unless they can prove increased efficacy. By Patty Lamberti Reproduced from The Rotarian MARCH 2014
ROTARY NEWS 51
ROTARY ACTS
Minutes before the dream trip.
An exhilarating fantasy comes true for the special kids who undertook a joyride aboard SpiceJet — an initiative by Rotarians of Rotary Club of Madras East, RI District 3230 combined with an excellent support from SpiceJet.
R
ewind to your childhood days when you would look up at the sky to the droning sound of an aircraft as it flies above your head; all of us would have fantasised about embarking on an air travel someday. And probably for everybody the first flying experience would have been a mixture of emotions ranging from exciting to overwhelming to daunting. It is one of those moments to be cherished. At the same time, it is also worth realising that such an experience is a privilege of the affluent. For several others, an aeroplane is a tiny toy that flies high above in the sky. For that matter, even a train journey is not something that has been experienced by all. A chance conversation between Rtn. S.S. Rajsekar and Dr. Vasudha 52 ROTARY NEWS MARCH 2014
Prakash about how an autistic child was not allowed to board an aircraft along with his parent ended up in RC Madras East (RCME), RI District 3230 tying up with SpiceJet Airlines and facilitating such a fascinating journey for twenty children suffering from different forms of mental and neurological challenges, enrolled with V-Excel Educational Trust, Chennai, of which Dr. Vasudha is Founder. “If a mentally challenged child is not allowed to travel by air, a diabetic should also not be allowed; a heart patient should not be allowed; or a person with any other illness should not be allowed to board the aircraft,” laments Dr. Vasudha Prakash passionately. This entire exercise was thus a part of the significant move to subtly sensitise airlines to allow people with
developmental disabilities to travel by air. Subsequently, after further discussions and deliberations, Rtn. Rajsekar and Rtn. R.M. Narayanan of RC Madras East came up with this idea, “Why not take these children on a short trip to Madurai and back, and give them the joy of an air travel?” The Rotarians and the staff were as excited as the children and the idea took shape. The SpiceJet personnel were also more than willing to facilitate the trip for the special kids. Their senior management flew down to Chennai from Delhi to be on this significant flight. Expressing their contentment, they said that they have never felt such satisfaction as this particular project in their three decades of experience in the aviation industry
and that they would love to do more such services across the country. As for the groundwork for the D-Day, February 7, when the children were scheduled to embark on their maiden air trip, they were given relevant training by the staff of V-Excel, for a smooth and uneventful journey. These children have been taken to other places on overnight journey by bus and train in the past. “Flight trip has been a frontier we hadn’t attempted until now,” said Dr. Vasudha. But why make such a fuss about flying a child with special needs? It is not so simple as you think. These children with various kinds of challenges have to be oriented on every single issue so that they do not panic nor do they disturb the co-passengers. The take-off and touch-down could be unpleasant for a normal passenger itself. Yet we know how to take care of ourselves in such situations. Right from chewing gum, or yawn or
V-EXCEL EDUCATIONAL TRUST is a nonprofit organisation founded by Dr. Vasudha Prakash, a professional academician who holds a doctorate in Special Education from the Rutgers University, USA. The centre is based at Chennai and it provides various support systems for children with special needs. A life span development institution, the organisation takes care of people with special needs from age 0 to adulthood. Their services are extended to individuals as well as groups from other schools or institutions. A variety of programmes such as early intervention, educational support, therapies, counselling, medical facilities and remedial programmes are offered in this umbrella organisation. It also takes up advocacy for equal rights, inclusion in society, enhancing self-confidence and even employment. Their vocational training unit teaches various kinds of activities that help the children become employable. The V-Excel Store stocks products ranging from desktop calendars, key-bag, mobile phone pouches, block-printed materials and gift envelopes to name a few. These products are designed by the young children with developmental disabilities. The centre follows the Rudolf Steiner’s humanistic educational philosophy, popularly referred to as the ‘Waldorf curriculum’ to impart education to the children.
anything to avoid feeling uncomfortable with the sudden clogging of our ears due to change in air pressure, to using the toilet is a lesson learnt on frequent flying. But these children tend to panic. The children were given adequate training on all aspects regarding the
This education emphasises on holistic improvement of the child, focussing on providing practical, hands-on activities, encouraging creativity, artistic expression, critical understanding and fostering social capacities and idealism at each stage of the child’s growth. The centre thus promotes strong values on integrating academic, practical and artistic pursuits. V-Excel aims to help families understand and accept the child’s life situation, so that they can lend an empathetic shoulder for the child to overcome obstacles to social access. The USP of the centre is providing counselling for every person related to the child with special needs, be it parents, grand-parents, friends, teachers and relatives. They also conduct workshops in other educational institutions and help them identify children with learning disabilities and also impart lessons in enhancing general learning process that would make learning interesting for the students. Presently V-Excel has about 320 students on roll and staff strength of 125. Each child will be under the guidance of 8 to 10 resource persons so that the development in the child is multidisciplinary. Satellite centres are also present at Nashik in Maharashtra, and Tirunelveli and Erode in Tamil Nadu
flight trip — whether it was getting used to clipping the seatbelts by taking them in a car or giving them mock training on how to use the plane toilet. Five facilitators from the organisation and Rtn. T. Muthukumaran accompanied the young guests on their joyride. Rotarians Sudhir and Revathi took care MARCH 2014
ROTARY NEWS 53
From top: Excited children aboard the aircraft; The children tour around the Thirumalai Nayak Palace, Madurai.
of the coordination and organising for the trip to ensure that everything went smoothly as per plan. The children were also excited to receive their special gifts in the form of T-shirts and caps and paint brushes, sponsored by the club. What made the trip extra special is that all these children hail from economically weak families and hence the flight trip is a huge dream come true for them. The excitement of the children on the day when they were scheduled to fly was palpable. It was indeed a pleasure to see the wide smiles on these children. SpiceJet personnel celebrated the presence of the young children in their aircraft. In fact, the children arrived at the airport amidst much fanfare. The guides accompanying the children explained to them the various aspects of the airport — the check-in, the conveyor belt, security check, collection of the boarding pass and waiting at the lounge until the announcement for boarding is made. The cabin crew were friendly as they welcomed each child aboard the aircraft. They assisted the children with care. The children were also thoughtfully served specially prepared gluten-free food on the aeroplane, as these children may have sensitivity to gluten that can disrupt health and in turn, affect brain functions. The co-passengers also were thrilled to have them on the flight. They interacted with them and took photographs with the group. Madurai is an hour’s journey from Chennai by flight. The temple town is famous world over for its architecturally and divinely splendid Meenakshi Amman temple. On landing at Madurai they were driven to the temple and few other places of interest, after which they boarded the return flight to Chennai. 54 ROTARY NEWS MARCH 2014
Rtn. Sudhakar, President of RCME was very happy that the project could bring cherished moments of joy for the special children and hoped that this exercise would be a trendsetter for other clubs in the rest of the world to undertake similar projects that would benefit the disabled children in gaining confidence to cope with the outside environment. Apart from learning something new, such outdoor activities can also enhance the inter-personal skills in the children. The Rotarians of RCME are a compassionate team. Apart from this unique project, they have, in the past organised a tree plantation programme in parks and they have provided an opportunity for the children to appreciate the nuances of classical music by taking them to concerts performed at the
various sabhas (hall) at Chennai during the annual music season in December, where they were made to sit along with the other rasikas (music lovers). Such considerate deeds are eye-openers to the society which otherwise shuns people with mental challenges rather than empathise with them. The impact on the children is also phenomenal as the feeling of warmth and security can go a long way in making them mentally comfortable and is psychologically good for their mind. The flight trip, though a short one, was a journey together that proclaimed inclusion in the society, embracing differences. Jaishree with inputs from Rtn. S.S. Rajsekar, RC Madras East RI District 3230
Rotary, UN share a goal of peace United Nations diplomats and officials gathered with 1,300 Rotary members on 2 November to discuss ways to engage youth activists, prevent disease, promote peace and resolve conflict around the world. Held annually at United Nations headquarters in New York City, Rotary-UN Day celebrates the enduring partnership between Rotary and the UN and their common goal of peace. RI President Ron Burton opened the daylong event by heralding the two organisations’ worldwide influence. “The collective efforts of Rotarians around the globe could have an impact at a real level on what happens here at the United Nations, ” Burton said. “We are helping to make our world a much better place. ” Jan Eliasson, UN Deputy Secretarygeneral, echoed Burton’s sentiment,
thanking Rotary not only for its ongoing work in the fight against polio but also for addressing other important issues, such as water and sanitation needs. “The United Nations needs organisations that work together with us, that work horizontally. Rotary does this, ” Eliasson said. New at this year’s event were sessions on youth innovation, peace and conflict resolution, disease prevention, clean water, and maternal and child
health. Leaders in each area highlighted the discussions, which aimed to motivate participants to take action in their communities. In addition to addressing the recent polio cases in Syria, a panel discussion emphasised the importance of eradicating the disease in the final three polioendemic countries and of responding to outbreaks where it is no longer endemic. Noted speakers included Peter Crowley, director of the UNICEF polio team; Carlos Enrique García González, ambassador of El Salvador to the United Nations; Ambassador Dnyaneshwar M. Mulay, Consul General of India; Rob Raylman, Executive Director of Gift of Life International; Patricia Shafer, Rotary Peace Centres alumna; Sharon Tennison, Founder of the Center for Citizen Initiatives; and Deepa Willingham, Founder of PACE Universal. Reproduced from The Rotarian
MARCH 2014
ROTARY NEWS 3
ROTARY ACTS
Grooming Smart Children The Rotarians of RC Jaipur Midtown, RI District 3052, sponsored smart classrooms and organised a unique RYLA for children with special needs, attracting appreciative recognition from who other than RI President-elect Gary Huang.
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hristmas time at the Pink City, Jaipur saw a good deal of humanitarian activities rendered by the Rotarians of Rotary Club of Jaipur Midtown, RI District 3052. All their services were aimed at enhancing the inclusivity-chances of the children with various disabilities, into the mainstream. Whether it was the ‘smart classrooms’ or the RYLA, the underlying objective was to make these children smart and raring to face their future with better knowledge, improved self-confidence and positive leadership qualities. Additionally, the facilities and the attention would immensely boost up the morale and the security in these young minds. A school is a temple of learning, an institution that empowers man with knowledge and wisdom to differentiate between right and wrong, a platform that provides enriching experience to 56 ROTARY NEWS MARCH 2014
learn and grow. Education is the basic right for every human being. But unfortunately in this world, going to school is a huge challenge for people with physical and mental disabilities. Mainstream education should not stop with just availability but it should be accessible, affordable and appropriate especially for students with disabilities. This is what Rotarians of RC Jaipur Midtown, RI District 3052, aimed to do as they set the ball rolling to provide a ‘smart class environment’ for the disabled students. A Matching Grant programme was chalked out with the help of The Rotary Foundation and RC Senremo Hanbury, RI District 2032, Italy. Disha, a nonprofit organisation that brings out innovative measures to impart education to children with disability was the beneficiary. This resource centre
for multiple disabilities is committed to the cause of early intervention and rehabilitation of such children through their well-equipped school and vocational training centre. Rotary Club of Jaipur Midtown has been associated actively with this organisation for over a decade and a half, attending to their specific requirements and assessing the progress of the institution. The smart classroom that has been provided by the Rotarians would make learning comfortable and interesting for the students enrolled with Disha. These children suffer from various mental, physical and neurological challenges such as autism, cerebral palsy and learning difficulties. This advanced classroom environment facilitates and enhances the learning abilities providing the children an opportunity to realise their full potential.
From top: RIPE Gary Huang and spouse Corinna inaugurates a smart class set-up at Disha; RIPE Gary Huang presents the charter to the Interact Club of Disha.
A smart classroom environment is one that is equipped with computers and its related accessories, besides the audio-visual equipment so as to facilitate the teacher to teach using a wide variety of media. Each classroom is fitted with a personal computer loaded with the relevant software, room speakers, LCD projector, projector screen and internet connectivity. “Introduction of this smart technology for the benefit of these children is a big leap for their future,” says the club President, Ishwinder Singh. It would revolutionise the teaching environment making it more interactive between the teacher and the taught. The teaching
aids would certainly improve the attention span besides increasing the retention power in these students who ail from intellectual disabilities. The curriculum is designed and edited in audio-visual mode as per the norms set by the Rehabilitation Council of India. The smart classrooms were inaugurated on December 24, 2013 by RI President Gary Huang and spouse, Corinna who were on a three-day visit to Jaipur. They along with RI Director P.T. Prabhakar and spouse, Nalini were the honoured guests at the Intercity Meet held at Jaipur and were also felicitated by the IIS University, Jaipur. The highlight of the Intercity Meet was
the presentation of the charter for the Rotaract and Interact clubs of Disha by RIPE Gary, where the Rotaractors and Interactors are the differently-abled children of Disha! To further build the sense of security and to boost the self-esteem and morale of the physically and mentally challenged children, the Rotarians also hosted a unique District RYLA for such children at the premises of Disha. About 65 children with various forms of disabilities, from all over the district, including places like Kota, Udaipur and Jaipur, enthusiastically participated in the programme. It was an activity packed three day programme where leadership skills were taught through specially designed games, theatre and dance. The participants were introduced to valuable lessons in communication skills, team building and time management. Attending the valedictory programme of the RYLA, RI President-elect Gary Huang commented that he was touched by the compassionate gesture of the Rotarians, particularly in this service of enhancing the knowledge of the intellectually challenged. District Governor Anil Agarwal who was present at the venue on the inaugural day of RYLA was extremely happy with the Rotarians of his district as they have facilitated an improved quality of life for the youngsters while rendering them dignity and self-respect. He also said that both the projects — Smart classrooms and RYLA — were a revolution of sorts for the district. The famous American writer Criss Jami said, “Good works is giving to the poor and the helpless, but divine works is showing them their worth to the One who matters.” Certainly, the Rotarians of Rotary Jaipur Midtown have performed a divine service in showing the ‘disabled’ children that they are, after all, ‘abled’ — able to dream a beautiful future and work towards their dream. Jaishree MARCH 2014
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In 1996, routine polio immunisations in Nigeria and other African countries were anything but routine. Competing health priorities and lack of funding kept many governments from putting polio eradication high on their agenda. The drive for a polio-free Africa needed a playmaker. Enter Nelson Mandela. Herb Brown, Rotary’s President in 1995–96, recalls seeking support from the South African leader: “President Mandela was so gracious and listened as we described the problem. I told him only he had the influence to persuade the countries to resume immunisation. ” Mandela agreed to help. “I’m well aware of Rotary and all the work you’ve done, and all the work you did while I was in jail, ” he told Brown. At a press conference, with Brown at his side, Mandela asked all the heads of state in Africa to open their doors to National Immunisation Days for polio. Mandela helped launch the Kick Polio Out of Africa campaign later that year with 1996-97 Rotary President Luis Giay and Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair Rajendra Saboo. Almost immediately, Africa’s polio eradication effort was back on track. Using soccer matches and celebrity endorsements, the campaign spread the word about polio and helped spur more than 30 African countries to hold their first National Immunisation Days. In recognition of his work, Rotary presented the Rotary Award for World Understanding and Peace, then its highest honour, to Mandela in 1997. “We chose President Mandela because of his significant contributions to world peace, human rights and freedom, ” Giay said, adding that Rotary members especially appreciated “his strong support of the eradication of polio throughout Africa.” 58 ROTARY NEWS MARCH 2014
Mandela called the award “a tribute to the people of South Africa’s rainbow nation, ” and said Rotary’s work toward eradicating polio “has shown the power of a global network of people who are ready to roll up their sleeves and put their heart and soul into saving children from disability. ” He donated the award’s $100,000 prize to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund. Upon his death in December, Rotary members in South Africa lauded Mandela as “one of the 20th
century’s iconic symbols of freedom and equality, ” “the father of the nation, ” and “a leader of service. ” “Mandela was a man who overcame unimaginable hardships to emerge as one of the greatest leaders of our time — and one of our greatest humanitarians, ” said RI President Ron Burton, adding that his “legacy of courage, determination, and commitment will forever inspire us to move forward in our effort to achieve a better, more peaceful world. ” Reproduced from The Rotarian
South Asia Reception.indd 59
25-Feb-14 7:09:22 PM
MISCELLANY
To live a rich life, invest in memories.
I
t was after 17 hours — in no fewer than 10 vehicles — along a jolting, washed-out road between Thailand and Cambodia that I first appreciated some basic things about air travel. In a plane, there is no rain. There are no bags of fruit leaking unknown juices onto your backpack. There are no bruised tailbones from an entire day spent hammering over rocks and potholes. And on a plane, when you cross an international border, drinks are on the house. I ran over this list of perks as I hung off the back of a pickup truck, watching my right foot disappear under layers of mud. My other leg was twisted underneath me, with no feeling left in it. My arms ached as I gripped a leaky plastic tarp that looked like it had been used for target practice by the Khmer Rouge. Periodically, the tarp pressed down in an inverted parachute that threatened to smother us all. Bridgit, my wife, was perched next to me, holding onto nothing but my pant leg. Eventually we arrived in Cambodia, where our $3 room with a ceiling fan and a cold shower felt like the Ritz-Carlton on Maui. The next day, we walked around the ruins of the Angkor Kingdom. I thought about that trip recently as Bridgit and I (now with a house in Minnesota and two daughters) sat down to look at our retirement 60 ROTARY NEWS MARCH 2014
planning. If you were an investment adviser, you would have been clicking your tongue and shaking your head. Bridgit, an accountant, clicked her tongue and shook her head. “Look,” I said, trying to cheer her up, “if we’d done what everyone
says you should do — if we’d gotten jobs straight out of college, kept our heads down and worked till we retired — we might have ended up like those people on the boat.” Those people on the boat were a retired couple I’d read about in
“Social relationships are emerging as the foundation of happiness.” the local newspaper. They’d worked hard their whole lives and were excited about their first trip overseas, a 16-day Mediterranean cruise. Two hours after setting sail, their ship — the Costa Concordia — hit a rock. All but 32 of the 3,229 passengers escaped. The retirees weren’t among them. That’s not to say they lived their lives badly. But their story filled me with gratitude for the things we’d done. Instead of investing in a 401(k), we’d invested in memories. “True,” Bridgit said. “But that doesn’t mean we don’t need to get saving, unless you want to be working until you’re 80.” This was a fair point. I understand the wisdom of saving, of investing and of being careful with money. But how do you strike a balance between seizing the day and saving up for it? I came across a new book called Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending, by Elizabeth Dunn, who teaches psychology at the University of British Columbia, and Michael Norton, a professor of marketing at Harvard. They explore this question scientifically. For several centuries, classic economic theory has held that more money is better: the higher people’s salaries, the happier they will be. But economists have started to realise that this isn’t true. For example, they’ve discovered that people who earn $55,000 are not twice as happy as people who earn $25,000. They are only 9 percent happier. And once people reach $75,000 in income, more money has no impact at all. This was the starting point for Dunn and Norton, who asked:
If more money doesn’t matter, what does? Among their conclusions is that “experiences” are a better value than “things.” Fifty-seven percent of people said an “experiential purchase ” made them happier, while only 34 percent said a material purchase did. Among Americans over age 50, only one spending category made a measurable difference in satisfaction: leisure, such as trips, movies and sporting events. Even owning a house has no effect on overall satisfaction. And when asked to look back on past purchases, 83 percent of people said their biggest regret was passing up an experience they could have had. With material purchases, the biggest regret was buying something they later realised they didn’t want. One reason for this, Dunn and Norton write, is that “experiences are more likely to make us feel connected to others.” Another is that after buying something, our satisfaction with it declines, while the opposite seems true for experiences. When researchers followed students on a three-week cycling trip replete with rain and mosquitoes and sore muscles, 61 percent of the riders reported feeling disappointed with the journey while they were on it. But afterward, only 11 percent did. Part of this difference has to do with how purchases affect our use of time. Dunn and Norton say this should be our primary concern when we consider financial decisions: Buying a giant flat-screen TV may make you happy as you walk out of the store, but “what we are buying is an implicit commitment to plunking ourselves in front of it — often
alone — for one-sixth of the next year.” And in every study, people who watch more television are less satisfied with their lives than people who watch less. This is mainly because TV takes us away from other people, according to Dunn and Norton. Social relationships are emerging as the foundation of happiness. In one study, when people received a gift certificate with instructions to spend it on either themselves or someone else, people who’d spent the money on others were measurably happier than those who hadn’t. The ones who were happiest were those who bought a coffee for someone and spent time with that person. When I pushed Bridgit to read the book, she told me I was trying to justify my purchase of a kayak. (“It’s not a kayak, it’s the experience of kayaking! ” I said.) Maybe I was grasping at straws, trying to justify not only my kayak but my whole life. Still, I couldn’t help feeling a little better about the time I’d spent out in the world. I couldn’t think of a place I regretted visiting. Even though our road trip to Cambodia was torturous and exhausting, somehow its value accrued over time. Taking a plane would have been faster. Staying home and working would have been more lucrative. But would we have remembered any of that? I knew how those cyclists felt. As the Roman philosopher Seneca said, “Things that were hard to bear are sweet to remember.” At least we have that much in the bank. By Frank Bures Reproduced from The Rotarian MARCH 2014
ROTARY NEWS 61
Have Have a a great great idea? idea?
Share it on Best Practices – a searchable database of membership strategies submitted by Rotarians for Rotarians. Submit Submit your your ideas ideas for for improving improving 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
GRAMMAR GURU You could say “I have two sisters” or “I have got two sisters” but not “I got two sisters.” “I have got a note in the mail saying that if I don’t stop seeing this fellow’s wife, he will shoot me.” “Then you’d better stop seeing her.” “I would, but he hasn’t signed his name!”
What is wrong with the following sentences? 1. Here’s my cup. Please fill. 2. Have you a pencil? I have not got. 3. He enjoyed during the holidays. 4. I asked for my pencil but he did not give me. Many of us use these sentences in our daily conversation but they are wrong. The transitive verbs in the above sentences require an object. What are transitive verbs? Some verbs are followed by nouns or pronouns that act as direct objects. These are called transitive verbs. (e.g.) Let’s invite Prem and Priya. (but not - Let’s invite.) Some verbs are not normally followed by Direct objects. These are known as intransitive verbs. (e.g.) Do sit down. (but not - Do sit on that chair.) Some verbs can be both transitive and intransitive. (e.g.) India won the match. India won. For sentence 1 the correct form would be: Here’s my cup. Please fill it. Remember the opening lines of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam translated by Fitzgerald? Come, fill the cup and in the fire of spring, The winter garment of repentance fling. Note: It is wrong to say: You have to fill an application form. You should say: You have to fill in an application form. We fill in details in a form. Fill out is more common in American English. (e.g.) Remember to fill out the counterfoil. Sentence 2 should be: Have you a pencil? I have not got one. Note: “I got several friends who don’t want children” is wrong. We should say: “I have got several friends who don’t want children.” Got is not used to replace have.
Sentence 3 should be corrected as: He enjoyed his holidays. Or ‘He enjoyed himself during the holidays.’ Note: You always enjoy doing something. It is wrong to say: I enjoy to speak foreign languages. You should say: “I enjoy speaking foreign languages.” Mother: Did you enjoy the circus, Joe? Joe: Yes. But I didn’t think much of the man throwing knives at the woman. Mother: Why not? Joe: He missed everytime, didn’t he? For the last sentence, the correction is: I asked for a pencil but he did not give me one. The verb ‘give’ takes two objects — direct and indirect. Lady drivers are notoriously bad at parking. One lady was trying to take her car out of a parking space. First she banged in front, then at the back. Finally after going back and forth several times, she swerved into the street, causing all traffic to halt. A policeman noticed her and walked over to the car. “Ok, lady, let’s see your license.” “Don’t be ridiculous,” she said, “Who’ll give me a license?” Dr. V. Saraswathi, Vice President, English Language Teachers’ Association of India, Reproduced with permission from Education Times, The Times of India, Chennai.
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ANKLESHWAR UDHAMPUR SAHARANPUR GREATER RAJPURA GREATER MORADABAD MIDTOWN SHAHJAHANPUR VARANASI CENTRAL PANVEL MIDTOWN SOLAPUR NORTH KAMAREDDY ANANTAPUR CENTRAL PANAJI RIVIERA SHIMOGA RIVERSIDE KOTHAMANGALAM TIRUPUR METROPOLIS KOTTAYAM CENTRAL VALLIYOOR CENTRAL MADRAS SOUTH RANIGANJ KODERMA BHUBANESWAR NEW HORIZON CALCUTTA RIDGE KATHMANDU MIDTOWN CHIDAMBARAM MIDTOWN JAMBUKESHWARAM CHANDRAPUR JODHPUR VAPI RIVERSIDE AMRITSAR EAST MOHALI AGRA WEST AHMEDNAGAR PRIYADARSHINI MUMBAI NORTH ISLAND GUNTAKAL QUILON CASHEW CITY MARTHANDAM MARAIMALAI NAGAR KUMBAKONAM SHAKTHI DINDIGUL VIZAG METROMARCH AKOLA 2014 GODHRA MIDTOWN NOKHA BARODA JALANDAR SOUTH ROOPNAGAR RAJPURA GREATER MORADABAD CIVIL LINES HALDWANI VARANASI SUNRISE PUNE SPORTS CITY LONAND DOMBIVLI WEST KAMAREDDY DHONE ANKOLA RURAL KUNDAPURA MIDTOWN COCHIN AIRPORT TIRUPUR Su JAMSHEDPUR Mo Tu We Fr COSMOPOLITAN Sa COTTON CITY QUILON LOTUS RAJAPALAYAM CENTRAL VELLORE SOUTH DURGAPUR WESTTh RAIPUR CALCUTTA UPTOWN BUTWAL SALEM COSMOS THURAIYUR PERUMALMALAI VIJAYAWADA VISIONARY COUPLES NAGPUR SOUTH EAST VISNAGAR GANDEVI RAJOURI FATEHABAD GREATER GANGA BIJNOR BAREILLY SOUTH PUNE KOTHRUD SOLAPUR NORTH POWAI 1 GWALIOR 31 30 MEGHDOOT WARANGAL RASIPURAM TIRUCHIRAPALLI REWARI MAIN ANAKAPALLE JALGAON INDORE AHMEDABAD MIDTOWN VEERANGANA VAPI RIVERSIDE JULLUNDUR DEHRADUN WEST RAJPURA GANGA BIJNOR AGRA HERITAGE VARANASI CENTRAL POONA MIDTOWN MADHA THANE HILLS WARANGAL TADPATRI PANA JI RIVIERA MANGALORE SOUTH BANGALORE SADASHIVANAGAR 8 GREATER 7 6 BURDWAN 5 4 3 CENTRAL 2 KOTHAMANGALAM TIRUPUR GANDHINAGAR QUILON NORTH NAGERCOIL CENTRAL MADRAS AADITHYA GAYA CENTRAL INFOCITY BHUBANESWAR CENTRAL CALCUTTA DHULIKHEL SALEM TEXCITY DINDIGUL VIJAYAWADA CHANDRAPUR CAMBAY LUDHIANA GREATER KARNAL MIDTOWN NABHA BAREILLY CENTRAL BAGALKOT BUTWAL KOMARAPALAYAM PERAMBALUR 15 METRO 13 14BAREILLY 10 11 12 KHURJA VUYYURU CHANDRAPUR BIKANER BHAVNAGAR UDHAMPUR BHAKRA NANGAL 9SRI GANGANAGAR BAHRAICH PUNE TILAK ROAD WAI BOMBAY JUHU BEACH SATTENAPALLI RAICHUR KARW AR BELUR CHANNAPATTANA COCHIN VYPIN ISLANDS TIRUPUR WEST QUILON LOTUS TINNEVELLY VANDAVASI GREATER TEZPUR RANCHI SAMBALPUR WEST CALCUTTA 22 LUDHIANA 21EAST 18 19 20SURAT 17 MARUDHARA MID SOUTH BUTWAL HOSUR PERIYAKULAM RAJAHMUNDRY RIVER CITY AKOLA 16 BIKANER CITY ROORKEE RAJPURA PUNE SHIVAJINAGAR MUMBAI GHATKOPAR WARANGAL GUNTAKAL SANGLI KOMARAPALAYAM KARUR ANGELS SONEPAT UPTOWN ICHAPURAM JALGAON GOLD CITY INDORE MEGHDOOT PALANPUR CITY JAIPUR GWALIOR VEERANGANA 29 CENTRAL 28 JALNA 27 EAST 25 26PUNE 23 24BAHRAICH SHINDKHEDA UDHAMPUR ROOPNAGAR RAJPURA MORADABAD CIVIL LINES HALDWANI BOMBAY MID CITY WARANGAL TADIPATRI HONAVAR SHIRVA PUNGANUR CENTRAL COCHIN VYPIN ISLAND SAKTHINAGAR ALLEPPEY EAST GOLDEN RAMNAD GUWAHATI DAMODAR VALLEY KORBA BHUBANESWAR FRIENDS SALT LAKE METROPOLITAN BUTWAL PONDICHERRY BEACH TOWN PUDUKKOTTAI PALACE CITY BHUSAWAL LUDHIANA NORTH FARIDABAD CENTRAL MATHURA CENTRAL SANGOLA ULHASNAGAR MIDTOWN SALT LAKE CITY AARCH CITY MADRAS MANNARGUDI MADURAI NORTHWEST FARIDABAD MIDTOWN
ick P OF THE MONTH
RC RAIPUR ROYAL RI District 3261 The club donated steel cupboards, notebooks, pens and snacks to the students of Gopalvani Mukh Badri School. This was a gift of delight to the students.
RC CALCUTTA SOUTH WEST RI District 3291 On the occasion of the declaration of “Polio Free India” the club organised a polio awareness rally for regular immunisation and proper hygiene.
RC BUTWAL RI District 3292 A six month training programme in cosmetology was inaugurated by the club. The programme will train 25 poor women in the vocation.
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NTRAL GALAM R NEW VAPI SHEW NOKHA PUNE UPUR OLITAN EAST POWAI ALIOR NTRAL AGAR EATER RAPUR BALUR METRO OCHIN CUTTA HIANA ARUR NGANA NTRAL EPPEY UTWAL NTRAL TOWN
RC SALEM COSMOS RI District 2980 End Polio Now hoardings were erected at different places by the club in order to emphasise the importance of administering polio drops to children.
RC TIRUCHIRAPALLI RI District 3000 A unique quiz programme for special children was organised by the club. This came as a move to encourage and boost the morale of these children.
RI District 3010 Rotarians of RI District 3010 in association with Delhi High Court, BWWA and Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Technology conducted a blood donation camp that collected 376 units of blood.
RC VUYYURU RI District 3020 Students of ZPH School received educational aid by way of notebooks that were distributed by the club. This would help them in their day to day schooling.
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RC AKOLA CENTRAL RI District 3030 The club distributed dental health kits followed by a dental check up for the children. This was done in order to emphasise oral health among poor children.
RC RATLAM CENTRAL RI District 3040 Over 60 poor girl students of Naveen Higher Secondary School received warm comfort in the form of sweaters distributed by the club.
RC AHMEDABAD METRO RI District 3051 Under its permanent project on Thalassemia awareness, the club extended financial support to the Red Cross Society. Medicines, pumps and other material aid was also provided.
RC TONK RI District 3052 Poor students of the government primary school, Palda Teh Tonk were given sweaters by the club in order to help them attend school in the cold weather.
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RC AJMER ROUNDTOWN RI District 3053 The club conducted cataract surgeries for needy people after examining around 150 patients at an eye camp. Further medical aid was also provided to them.
RC GONDAL RI District 3060 Rotarians of the club door delivered essential grocery items to poor and needy families who do not have any source of income.
RC UDHAMPUR RI District 3070 A surgical eye camp was organised by the club in association with KLSM Rotary Eye and ENT Hospital. Out of 336 patients IOL was implanted for 86 patients successfully.
RC KARNAL RI District 3080 The club donated a television to MDD Bal Bhawan, an orphanage for mentally disabled children. This would provide the inmates of the orphanage with fun and entertainment.
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RC SRIGANGANAGAR CITY RI District 3090 Sweaters were distributed to poor school students and children from slum areas in order to protect them from the cold.
RC MUZAFFARNAGAR GALAXY RI District 3100 The club in association with RC Gyneongju, RI District 3630, South Korea and TRF set up a computer lab at Grovil Public School to enhance basic computer skills of poor students from Shahpur village.
RC FIROZABAD RI District 3110 On the occasion of “Polio Free India” the club organised a rally and 400 students from Sugra Begum Girls Inter College participated in it.
RC VINDHYACHAL RI District 3120 Polio drops were administered to children with a view to keep the battle against polio on the winning front.
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RC POONA DOWNTOWN RI District 3131 The club along with RC Bangalore Peenya, RI District 3190, Ellen Meadows Foundation, USA and Apang Kalyan Kaksh organised a LN-4 arm fixation camp for the poor followed by a training on the usage of the artificial arm.
RC JALNA RI District 3132 Rotarian organised a rally to celebrate the occasion of “Polio Free India” in consonance to the celebrations by other clubs throughout India.
RC BOMBAY AIRPORT RI District 3140 The club along with five other clubs from RI District 3140 and a Canadian NGO “Sleeping Children Around the World” distributed slumber kits to nearly 500 poor children. These kits consisted of food, clothing and bedding.
RC SULLURPETA RI District 3160 The club conducted IOL surgeries for underprivileged individuals. Precautions and medical advice for healing of the operated eye was also provided.
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RC KUDAL RI District 3170 Distribution of sweaters, food packets and blankets for the inmates of Anandashram was undertaken by the club.
RC SULLIA RI District 3180 Rotarians from the club organised a dental check up at Vivekananda School, Adkar for 320 students in order to promote healthy oral habits among the students.
RC COCHIN QUEEN CITY RI District 3201 Food packets were distributed to 150 traffic police while on duty to appreciate their work and encourage them to continue the good job.
RC TIRUPUR SOUTH RI District 3202 The club received a polio fund from the students of Pollikalipalayam Primary School who also wanted to make a contribution in the fight against polio.
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RC JABALPUR EXCELLENCE RI District 3261 The club organised a health check up for children aged between three and five years. Over 150 children were examined and parents were counseled on various ways to keep their children healthy.
RC CALCUTTA LAKE TOWN RI District 3291 A rally marked the club’s celebration of “Polio Free India” with over 400 people participating in it. The rally also laid emphasis on the polio Vaccination.
RC NEYVELI RI District 2980 Sewing machines were distributed to women suffering from aids in order to engage them in a vocation and lead a dignified life.
RC MADURAI WEST RI District 3000 The club donated six deep freezers to store polio vaccines in six primary rural health centres of Madurai.
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CULTURE
Welcome to the village of Lepakshi; rediscover your spirituality at this serene and tranquil land of the gods where art and architecture are elevated to a new meaning — one that transports you to the land of yore!
T
he glorifed history of India lives in her ancient yet rich temples, palaces, forts and other monuments. If true love had motivated a ruler to build the most exquisite art on marble for his queen, devotion and divinity had inspired the creation of the magnificent temples across the length and breadth of the nation. A visit to Lepakshi in Anantapur district in Southern Andhra Pradesh will certainly take anyone to the ambience of the golden age of the Vijayanagara Empire. The beauty and the
Entrance to Lepakshi temple. 72 ROTARY NEWS MARCH 2014
awe-inspiring magnitude of the structures are a treat to an art connoisseur’s senses. Lepakshi is a village located in Anantapur, about 13 km from Hindupur, 480 km from Hyderabad and 130 km from Bangalore. The place is associated with Ramayana — it is the place where the bird Jatayu fell, wounded after a futile battle with Ravana who was kidnapping Sita. When Lord Ram reached the spot, as Jatayu called out to him in a feeble voice, he spoke compassionately to the bird, “Le Pakshi!” meaning ‘Rise, Bird’ in Telugu.
This came to be known as the name of the village and the temple there in the later days.
History Inscriptions in the temple precincts suggest that the village was under the Mauryan rule after which it passed on to the Satvahanas. The Chutus, Gangas, the Chalukyas of Badami also had a hand on its administration before it fell into the hands of the Nolambas with whom it remained till the tenth century. Then the Chalukyas of Kalyani took over after which it was ruled by the Hoysalas until early 13th century. In 1346 A.D., Harihara, the founder of Vijayanagara empire constructed the fort at Penugonda in West Godavari district and made Lepakshi his second capital. This was the foundation of the Vijayanagara rule over the town. Lepakshi benefitted with a multitude
of architectural wealth during the Vijayanagara reign. Lepakshi occupies a significant place in the Puranas too. The Skandapurana refers to the village as one of the 108 holy sites of Lord Shiva. ‘Lepashiya papanasanah’ proclaims the holy book. It means ‘A visit to Lepakshi absolves all our earthly sins.’ The sthala purana (legend) mentions that sage Agastya stayed here in a cave on the Kurmashila hill during his pilgrimage to the sacred places in the south of the Vindhyas. He built a small temple dedicated to Papanaseshvara, an attribute of Lord Shiva as the one who forgives our sins. The temple is in the form of a natural rock shelter over a hill and is still revered by the locals. Lepakshi temple complex holds three temples each dedicated to
Shiva, Vishnu and Veerabhadra, of which the one for Lord Veerabhadra is most prominent. Veerabhadra is a creation of Lord Shiva, created out of his rudra (wrath) to destroy the yagna (fire sacrifice) of Daksha after Dakshayani (Sati), the daughter of Daksha and consort of Shiva, self-immolated in the yagna fire. Veerabhadra is depicted as a warrior with five pairs of arms, each holding a weapon. A temple dedicated to him is located in the town of Veerabhadra, near Rishikesh in Uttarakhand. Veerabhadra is prominently worshipped in South India too and most of the Shiva temples here have a separate shrine for him.
Legend This temple of Veerabhadra at Lepakshi dates back to 1530 A.D. and is believed to have been built by the brothers, Virupanna and Veeranna. Puranas mention that this temple was initially built by sage Agastya. It is said to be
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later developed to the present exquisite shrine by the brothers, after one of the brothers, Virupanna, the royal treasurer in the court of a Vijayanagar king Achyutarya, unearthed the idol of Veerabhadra around the region. The brothers had constructed the temple using the money from the treasury when the king was away at Vijayanagar. When the construction of the temple was almost complete, the king returned and found the treasury empty. Livid with anger, the king ordered for Virupanna to be blinded, as a punishment for using the treasury funds without the king’s knowledge. Virupanna carried out the king’s orders himself and plucked his eyes and bashed them against the wall. Even today one can see two dark stains in the western wall at the temple complex, which are said to be the marks left by Virupanna’s bleeding eyes. Locals say that the village came to be called “Lepa-akshi” meaning ‘village of the blinded eye’ after this incident. The work at the temple came to a standstill after this incident. This explains the presence of some unfinished structures in the temple even today.
Architecture The rich architecture of Lepakshi temple has the distinct stamp of the Vijayanagara work. Several renowned sculptors of the period have carved their creative skills on the stones of this temple. The temple is executed in trikuta style, although the third shrine dedicated to Raghunatha (Lord Vishnu) was added later. Originally two shrines — the main shrine dedicated to Lord Veerabhadra and another shrine to Lord Papanaseshvara shared the same mandapa and platform; the Raghunatha shrine was later added opposite to the shrine of Papanaseshvara. Veerabhadra shrine is at the southern end, the shrine for Papanaseshvara is on the eastern end and the Raghunatha shrine is on the western end. A huge granite boulder behind Papanaseshvara shrine has a marvellous bas relief of Bhikshatanamurti carved on it. There are three enclosure walls — the innermost enclosure encompasses all the shrines and it has only one entrance on the north. The second enclosure wall encompasses the Kalyana Mandapa, Bali Peetha, Vahana Mandapa and Homa Mandapa. It can be reached
through two entrances, one on the north and another on the south. The third enclosure is larger and has three entrances — on the north, east and west. It encloses halls such as the Yaga Mandapa, Somavara Mandapa and Uyala Mandapa.
Layout A mammoth Ganesha in monolith stone, beneath a rock-cut roof supported by two pillars greets the devotees at the outer enclosure. Perpendicular to this is a massive Naga with three coils and seven hoods sheltering a black granite Shivalinga. This Nagalinga is reckoned to be the largest in India. A giant monolithic statue of the Nandi (Bull) referred to as Basavanna in granite, located a mile before the main temple, is synonymous with Lepakshi. It is positioned to face the enormous Nagalinga. At 27 feet in length and 15 feet in height, it is considered to be the second largest monolith in the country, after the colossal statue of Bahubali in Shravanabelagola in Karnataka. The Nandi is adorned with intricately carved bell chain, earrings Majestically carved Nandi at the courtyard.
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Above: Colossal image of Lord Ganesh; Magnificent Nagalinga - the icon of Lepakshi.
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From top: Incomplete structures of the Kalyana Mandapa; One of the rich mural artwork for which the temple is renowned; Intricately carved sculptures on the pillars at the Kalyana Mandapa.
and other jewellery on its perfectly proportioned body. Its grandeur makes it a popular photo-op with visitors. The temple is divided into three parts — the Mukha Mandapa (also called the Nritya (Dance) Mandapa or Ranga Mandapa), the Ardha Mandapa and Garbha Griha, and the Kalyana Mandapa. These three halls form a triangle within a larger enclosure. It is indeed a great pleasure to look at the exquisite sculptures in the Mukha Mandapa. Life size representations of musicians and dancers striking elegant poses adorn the 100-pillared hall. Figurines of Puranic icons such as Ananthasayana, Narada, Chaturmukha Brahma, Nagalinga, Rambha, flying Gandharvas, Dattatreya and Tumburu remind the visitor of the legends associated with them. A huge shikara (dome) rise high to 21 feet at the centre of the hall. The famed ‘Hanging Pillar’ is a huge draw at this hall. Local tourist guides highlight this feat by passing a twig or a sheet of paper underneath the pillar and the ground and it emerges from the other side. Yes, the pillar does not rest on the ground and it seems to be hanging entirely from the roof! This breathtaking architectural marvel is a tribute to the engineering ingenuity of ancient and medieval India’s architects. However, this column is a little bit dislodged from its original position. The tourist guides explain that during the British era, a British engineer tried to move it to uncover the secret of its support, but it seemed to have been an unsuccessful attempt. The Ardha Mandapa is common to all the three shrines. The Garbha Griha is the sanctum sanctorum of the presiding deity. It is adorned with a huge idol 76 ROTARY NEWS MARCH 2014
of Lord Veerabhadra in granite stone. The Kalyana Mandapa or the marriage hall is believed to be the exact spot where the celestial wedding of Lord Shiva and Parvati took place. Although the structures here seem unfinished, it is an outstanding monument that is testimony to the artistic excellence of the Vijayanagara architects. There are many beautifully carved granite pillars, and some of the incomplete structures have empty pedestals inside, which may have been supposed to hold idols of some deities. Goddess Bhadrakali, the consort of Lord Veerabhadra is represented in a separate shrine. She is depicted with an uncharacteristically serene expression here, rather than the usual fiery form. The shrine for Hanuman is attached to Raghunatha temple. It looks impressive under a typical Vijayanangara-style dome, right behind the marriage hall. One could also worship the Navagraha at the north of the Papanaseshvara shrine.
Mural art Lepakshi is renowned as a repository of the best mural paintings done in natural vegetable dye. Mural art is found in abundance throughout the temple complex. The 24 by 14 feet fresco of Veerabhadra flanked by Veeranna and Virupanna as devotees, on the ceiling at the Ardha Mandapa before the sanctum is considered to be the largest in India of any single figure. The roofs of Papanaseshvara and Raghunatha are also decorated with mural art depicting scenes from Mahabharata, Ramayana and other Puranic legends. Mural paintings of Arjuna aiming the arrow at the fish on the roof, while looking at its reflection on the water beneath, Draupadi marrying the five Pandava brothers are excellent works of art. The ceiling of Raghunatha shrine has paintings of various incarnations of Lord Vishnu. It is interesting to see and admire the walls of the Ardha Mandapa which is decorated with a very large panel painted with
The awe-inspiring Hanging Pillar.
15 forms of Shiva such as Lingodbhava; Nataraja; Dakshinamurthi; the majestic Kankalamurthi, the vanquisher of the demon Tripura, Tripuranthaka; and half-male, half female form, Ardhanareeshwara. The other friezes depicting various religious themes are also equally beautiful and display an impressive attention to detail with strikingly contrast colours. However, it is disturbing to note that these precious frescos are peeling off in many places and it would be the best tribute to our culture rich ancient era if expert restoration and maintenance could be provided to preserve these wonders of art. Special pujas are conducted at the temple every Monday. The Asvayuja Masam festival is celebrated in February. It is a 10-day utsav which
attracts huge crowd of devotees from across the state. The antique mural paintings have inspired a special ‘Lepakshi design’ that is being printed in fabrics around the village. Lepakshi sarees are available in vibrant hues in Andhra Pradesh. Dharmavaram, a famous silk-weaving centre is also close to Lepakshi. Visit to Lepakshi would remind one of Hampi in Karnataka. Though many structures stand incomplete within the complex, Lepakshi will amaze you. It holds a lot of surprises and the wow-factor for the die-hard heritage site visitors and for those who marvel at the art of our ancestors. It is a perfect week-end get away which would teach us lessons in Puranic legends and fascinating ancient architecture. Jaishree MARCH 2014
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HEALTH WATCH
Majority of the people know that eating five servings of fruits and vegetables a day is important. However, did you know that by eating different coloured foods, you can get all-round health benefits? Think of yourself as Picasso or Ravi Varma and your plate as the canvas and mix those colours up. Each different coloured fruit and vegetable contains unique components that are essential to health.
Red fruits and vegetables: These are coloured by a pigment called ‘lycopene.’ They help to: Reduce arthritis Reduce the risk of cancer Lower BP Maintain urinary tract health Examples include red apples, cherries, red grapes, strawberries, red watermelons, pomegranates, red capsicums, beetroots, tomatoes and radishes.
Yellow / Orange fruits and vegetables: These are coloured by a pigment called ‘cartenoid.’ They help in: Maintaining a healthy heart Maintaining healthy vision Strengthening the immune system (Vitamin C) Reducing the risk of birth defects (Vitamin B) Examples include yellow apples, apricots, mangoes, oranges, lemons, sweet lime, papaya, pineapples, yellow watermelons, carrots, sweet potatoes, sweet corn, yellow capsicum and pumpkins.
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White / Brown fruits and vegetables: These are coloured by a pigment called ‘anthoxanthin.’ They help in: Balancing our hormonal levels Boosting our white blood cells Keeping cholesterol levels and blood pressure healthy Examples include dates, dried figs, bananas, pears, leeks, onions, garlic, ginger, cauliflower and potatoes.
Green fruits and vegetables: These are coloured by a pigment called ‘chlorophyll.’ They help in: Maintaining healthy vision (Vitamin A) Maintaining strong bones and teeth (Calcium) Reducing the risk of birth defects (Vitamin B) Examples include kiwi, green apples, green grapes, asparagus, spinach, avocados, ladies finger, peas, broccoli, green beans, green cabbage, cucumber, lettuce, green capsicum, peas, spring onions and zucchini.
Blue / Purple fruits and vegetables: These are coloured by a pigment called ‘anthcyanin.’ They help in: Healthy digestion Fighting inflammation Reducing the risk of stroke and heart disease Examples include dried plums, raisins, currants, figs, purple grapes, brinjals and purple cabbage. So don’t settle for a dull and boring plate; add colour to your diet and your body will thank you! Source: The Indian Vegetarian Congress Quarterly MARCH 2014
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PDG Dr. Brij Bhushan (extreme right), RI District 3100, has been conferred with D.Litt. in Sociology by the prestigious CCS University, Meerut.
H.E. Shivraj V. Patil (second from right), Governor, State of Punjab and Administrator, Chandigarh Union Territory giving polio drops to a child in a programme jointly organised by all Rotary clubs in Latur, RI District 3132.
Rotary Club of Maraimalai Nagar, RI District 3230, honoured Past President of the club Rtn. P. Ganesan (second from right) for becoming an Arch C. Klumph Society member through his commitment to contribute Rs.1.5 crore to The Rotary Foundation.
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