From The President’s Desk
DEAR MEMBERS,
Recently, I attended the installation ceremonies of the Interact Clubs New Bharda School and Sir JJ Girls School. It took me back to my days as President of the St. Mary’s School Interact Club in 1983. The President of the Rotary Club of Bombay that year was none other than our dear late PP Dr. Rahim Muljiani, and we had the privilege of attending a Tuesday meeting at the Taj. You can imagine us, barely teenagers, walking down the hallowed halls of this iconic hotel. That was an event in itself. And, to top it all, Rahim Uncle offered us Thums Up. Picture this, my dear friends: India had won World Cup cricket for the very first time, and Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister. Thums Up, Limca and Gold Spot formed the holy trinity of cola brands that urban Indians aspired to. Imagine then our joy when Rahim Uncle said we could have as much Thums Up as we wanted. And we did! We each had 3-4 bottles. That lottery notwithstanding, most of us want to make the world better when we’re young, and how fortunate that being a Rotarian allows us to continue that mission throughout our lives, even as other responsibilities emerge.
The memories of that day – the grandeur of the Taj, the generosity of Rahim Uncle, and most importantly, the sense of being part of something larger than ourselves – remind me why moments like these matter. They’re not just events; they’re the experiences that bind us together and inspire us to keep serving.
This month has been full of such moments for our Club. It has been a dynamic and energising start to the new Rotary Year! We kicked off with a memorable inaugural meeting. Our chief guest, DG Dr. Manish Motwani, captivated the audience with an inspiring address, sharing his vision for the year and unveiling his A5 ideology. I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to the entire installation team for making this afternoon a success. Early in the month, I also attended the installation ceremony of the Inner Wheel President Roopal Thakkar, where District Chairman Lakshmi Singh brought energy and encouragement to the occasion.
Our regular meetings got off to an exceptional start. We had the privilege of hosting a powerful fireside chat featuring Hon. Rtn. Ajay Piramal and noted philanthropist Amit Chandra, delving into the intersection of profit and purpose, and how wealth can meaningfully coexist with spirituality. I completely resonated with Ajaybhai’s statement that true happiness comes when you give – a great reflection of the Rotary spirit.
The month’s highlight was our meeting honouring Mr. Narayana Murthy with the Ramkrishna Bajaj Award for Good Governance. We also had the privilege of hearing Mr. Murthy’s advice on values, ethics, and corporate management in a fantastic fireside chat hosted by PDG Sandip Agarwalla. The meeting had an impressive attendance of 250+ members. We were also honoured with the presence of Hon. Rtn. Deepak Parekh.
We continued the momentum with two enjoyable and insightful meetings. The first featured Mr. S.V.R. Srinivas, IAS and CEO of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project, alongside Dr. Manjari Kamat, Professor of History, in conversation with Rtn. Nandini Sampat. Together, they offered thought-provoking perspectives on balancing Mumbai’s rich heritage with a sustainable future. Also in July, Anish Gawande, National Spokesperson of the NCP (Sharad Pawar), shared his fascinating journey as a young politician in today’s dynamic political landscape. Our first assimilation dinner, graciously hosted by Rtn. Akhil and Rtn. Ptn. Madhavi Sanghi was a wonderful opportunity to connect with our newest members.
What strikes me most about this month’s service activities is how they’ve brought us closer to the communities we serve. The Urban Heritage committee took us on a journey through time with an exclusive tour of DAG’s exhibition on cubism in modern Indian Art, while the Ananda Yaan centre at Mazgoan created joy for senior citizens with a musical celebration of their 8 years of service – thank you, Kaushal Mehta and team, for a remarkable evening.
Our connection with young people continues to inspire, from the heartwarming stories and songs at the Night Study Centre in Prabhadevi to the BY committee’s thoughtful work on mobile addiction and responsible citizenship. The Child Welfare Committee’s Nature Trail perfectly captured what we’re about – discovery, leadership, and genuine fun working hand in hand.
And our healthcare outreach at the Talwada Medical Centre, focusing on Sickle Cell Anaemia and eye screening, reminded us that service often means being present for the most fundamental needs of our community.
Planning for the year is well underway with continued excitement and diligence, expanding long-term programmes and rolling out several promising new initiatives.
We’re kicking off our fellowship calendar with Parsi Night on August 8th, followed by our first sports event of the year – the annual Table Tennis Tournament – on August 10th. I warmly encourage all members and their families to join in and be part of the fun.
Thank you for your continued support as I begin my term as President.
Warm regards,
PRESIDENT BIMAL MEHTA