Rotary Year kick-starts with project Baghban

I had the privilege to attend the first District event of the new year on behalf of our Club. Following through on our very own PP Ramesh’s focus project Ananda Yaan and care for the elderly, the District has chosen the same focus area for this year.

More than 180 elderly people from 30 old age homes participated in a special event organized by the Rotary Club of Kandivli. The event was co-hosted by our own RC Bombay and 51 other Rotary Clubs of District 3141 at Aspee Auditorium, Malad West under the leadership of District 3141 Governor Rtn. Shashikumar Sharma.

The event held on July 1st, 2018, marked the beginning of a new year, titled Miracle, and was a day filled with lots of heart-warming moments and smiles.

The elderly from the city who are often living a life of loneliness in several old age homes across Mumbai are precious pages of our history.

52 Rotary Clubs from Mumbai came together to reach out and connect with these senior citizens, with a sole purpose to bring a smile to their faces with an event designed solely for them.

The event unfolded with a performance by renowned singer Dr. Rahul Joshi, who instantly connected with the audience and set the tone for the day. After enthralling the audience for a good three hours, the curtains finally drew halfway down with the powerful chanting of Vitthal… Vitthal.., sending out a feeling of universal blessing in the air.

Anu Shrivastava, a senior member, shared her experience saying, “When the eyes get moist, the throat gets all choked up and simultaneously a smile adorns the face…trust me, something good and wonderful is happening all around.”

Chetan Desai, Chief Group Avenue Head, Community Service 2018 – 19 added, “I would like to applaud the efforts put in by Avenue Chair Deepa Goenka, volunteers of RC Bombay Kandivli, members of District Non-Medical III Avenue, 52 Rotary Culbs of Rotary district 3141 for carrying out this meaningful project on the very first day of the Rotary year 2018 – 19.”

It was a wonderful start to the year and I had to remember this line more than once: “The glory of the elderly is their insight to life” (Lailah Gifty Akita).

– Christopher Bluemel