From the President’s Desk
Dear Rotarians,
As we mark Ganesh Chaturthi this week, let us embrace new beginnings with clarity and wisdom, and continue our Rotary service with gratitude and purpose. This month we kicked off our first fellowship and sports event.
The Parsi Nite celebration at the historic 150-year-old Allbless Baug was attended by 130 Rotarians, partners, family members, and friends, all dressed in traditional Daglis and Garas. The evening’s highlight featured a sit-down patru of Parsi delicacies accompanied by excellent music, with Rotarians performing classic golden oldies. I extend our sincere appreciation to all the gracious hosts, particularly Fali, Khurshed, and Ritu, for organising such an enjoyable and memorable event.
We commenced our first sporting activity of the year — a table tennis tournament held at YMCA Colaba. Over 36 Rotarians, partners, and children participated across two groups, competing for the championship title. In the finals, Anand Dalal and Vivek Himatsingka faced Farhat Jamal and Chetan Daiya, with Anand and Vivek emerging victorious after an intense series of rallies. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to Jamshyd, Chairman Moy, and the YMCA for their efforts in organising an enjoyable and well-coordinated Sunday morning event. We have maintained strong engagement at our weekly meetings. The month began with a fireside chat featuring Dr. Tarang Gianchandani, CEO of HN Reliance, and Rtn. Ashish Contractor, who provided valuable insights into healthcare transformation from a physician’s perspective. This was followed by an engaging discussion with Sanjiv Bajaj, Chairman of Bajaj Finserve, and PP Vineet Bhatnagar. Mr. Bajaj captivated the audience as he shared how Bajaj Finserve evolved into one of India’s leading nonbanking financial companies. Despite the torrential rains on August 19th, our recipient Elizabeth (Liz) Mehta, winner of the Somchand Parekh Award for Best Teacher, and Nazim Shaikh, recipient of the RCB Bravery Awards, persevered through inclement weather and Mumbai traffic to captivate our members with their inspiring journeys. I would like to extend my gratitude to our members for attending the meeting and supporting our distinguished speakers, Liz and Nazim. Finally, our concluding speaker for the month was Ashish Hemrajani, founder and CEO of Book My Show. He engaged the audience with an insightful account of his entrepreneurial journey and shared practical lessons on business and life.
With regard to community service, a wide range of activities were conducted across our BY, Ananda Yaan & Lighthouse Centres, Mankhurd Centre for Neurodivergent Children, and at our Interact Schools. I would like to highlight two particularly significant events. On August 13th, I had the privilege of participating in the Satellite Club celebrations with the children at Tata Memorial Hospital. Observing their resilience and joy in the face of adversity was truly inspiring. The following day, we commemorated Independence Day at RCB Lighthouse, where our young participants impressed members with powerful speeches, as well as dance, yoga, and Taekwondo performances.
In September, we are initiating three new projects.
• Anaemia screening and treatment of 15,000 children in Dahanu.
• Transformation learnings through Life Skills Play Program at ST Kadam School, Palghar
• Sports Development Programme at the Talwada and ST Kadam Schools. We are looking for both volunteers as well as financial support for these impact programmes.
I would like to take this opportunity to announce that our senior member and former president, Rtn. Dr. Adi Dastur, has resigned from his position as trustee effective August 12th due to health reasons. Dr. Dastur has served as a founding trustee of the Rotary Club of Bombay Charities Trust No. 3 since 2003, and his exceptional contributions have greatly advanced the trust’s goals and management. We extend our sincere gratitude for his dedicated service.
Additionally, I am pleased to welcome Fali Mehta as a new trustee. We are confident that his expertise and insights will support the continued fulfilment of our mission and our commitment to the communities we serve.
Thank you for all your support, and I wish you and your families a happy Ganesh Chaturthi. Warm regards, PRESIDENT BIMAL MEHTA