![Words of encouragement at 90th anniversary celebrations]({"default":"http://rotaryclubofbombay.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/words-of-encouragement-at-90th-anniversary-celebrations.jpg","2x":"","mobile":"","responsive":"true"} "Words of encouragement at 90th anniversary celebrations")
Words of encouragement at 90th anniversary celebrations
PRIP (2011-2012) Kalyan Banerjee
The word ‘good’ has many different aspects. It’s like a well-cut, polished diamond that shines no matter which way you look at it. Rotary is a bit like that diamond. But nowhere else is Rotary as good as it is here and in your Rotary Club of Bombay.
Truth to tell, I have always rated your club as the second best in the whole world, second only to mine, at Vapi, in Gujarat. So, as you enter your ninth decade, I ask you to carry on the great work you have always been engaged in. Help in eradicating polio in the world by motivating Pakistan and energising Afghanistan. Support Rotary India’s effort in making India literate by taking all its women and its children to 90 per cent literacy plus and more. Work with youth and promote Rotaract – and show the world how we can enhance Rotary’s growth by involving them in carrying on our legacy. Help promote peace through your support to The Rotary Foundation and despite the roadblocks, despite the pitfalls, despite the naysayers and doom-mongers, prove again and again that as long as there is Rotary there is always hope for a better tomorrow.
DG Shashikumar Sharma
The most successful people are those who give their life, time and energy for others, all the time thinking about bringing a change for a better tomorrow in service to mankind. Love whatever you do, every service you render, be a giver, serve others and as much as possible, keep building your wealth by doing good in the world.
Enjoy Rotary, be the inspiration ready to create miracles. Friends, that is the concept of this year: create miracles, make them happen, nothing is impossible.
Smt. Rajashree Birla
My heartiest congratulations to the Rotary Club of Bombay on this phenomenal milestone of completing 90 years of selfless service and dedication. Captured in this coffee table book titled A Living Legacy, I can well imagine the herculean task it must have been for the team led by Shri Vijay Jatia to stitch together nine decades of the organisational history and the great work done by RCB. The approach to the coffee table book is unique, it goes beyond researching the archives; the team has made stupendous efforts to capture the memories of Rotarians who have been instrumental in shaping the history of the Club and that is what distinguishes it. But then, Rotarians are a class act – they have a spark, they have a spunk. I feel humbled and privileged to be part of this memoir.
In my long association with Rotarians I have always been struck by the spirit of altruism. We, in the Aditya Birla group, have been in step with Rotary International in the eradication of polio. Through the Rotary clubs in Mumbai, we galvanised support from the government’s health department, international organisations to make this happen.
Being with Rotarians reminds me of Leo Tolstoy, who said, “Joy can only be real if people look upon their life as a service and have a definite object in life outside themselves and their personal happiness!” And, Albert Einstein who said, “It is high time the ideal of success be replaced with the ideal of service. Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” This is in the DNA of Rotary clubs. Once again, it is a pleasure to be with you all today.
Since its inception, what could be called the heart of the Rotary Club of Bombay, its Community Service Committee, was beating healthily and spiritedly. It had already organised a Rag Day, had made contributions to the Children’s Society and arranged for the transport of Hindu and Muslim children from Juhu on festival days. A catalogue of good works in which the Club came to be engaged would be endless since it continues and covers a wide field.
In 1931, discussions over lunch continued and it was agreed that the caterers should be asked to provide a lighter lunch during the hot weather or, alternatively, a choice of dishes. At this time, the practice was started of the President inviting Directors to lunch when pleasure and business could be fruitfully combined. Also, the precedent was established of asking H.E. the Governor to visit the Club at one of its regular meetings during the rains.
In 1931, it was agreed that the subject of the address of the following week should be announced every Tuesday. Reflecting the ever-increasing pace of life, there was also a suggestion that meetings should proceed more briskly than they had been doing. A new procedure was instituted which allowed for the introduction of guests during lunch so that the address could start at 2 pm. Just to bring perspective, a Rotary office assistant was paid Rs 20 per month.
At about this time, the first hesitant steps towards associating ladies with Club meetings became firmer when a Ladies Lunch was arranged at which Miss Amy Rustomjee was asked to speak. It was also realised that the post of Sergeant-at-Arms was vacant in the structure of Rotary’s official hierarchy. But no one was quite clear as to what this post involved. The Secretary was asked to write to Commissioner James to obtain details.
As the Club struck roots, there was no lack of proposals for outings and other similar activities. Yet the Directors felt that parties for outings, picnics etc were not practicable and recommended instead visits to hills, museums, printing presses etc., perhaps, during the lunch hour. This did not sound practicable either and it must be assumed that at this stage of the Club’s story there was not too great an interest in outings.
As always, there continued to be a great deal of interest in the procedure to be followed in introducing guests. A debate produced the decision that “in future” the Chairman was to call out the names of guests who would “stand up and after all had been called there would be the usual welcome accorded by clapping of hands”, the speaker of the day being introduced first. For the first time, the question of reducing Rotary membership dues was considered and the cost of the weekly lunch and drinks was felt to be too high.
