MANIC MARCH MONTHLY ROUND-UP
March proved to be another exceptionally active month for the Rotary Club of Bombay, continuing the momentum established in February. Our diverse range of projects and events reflected our commitment to community service, vocational development, and fellowship.
Highlights:
1. Assimilation Iftaar: The month commenced with a delightful Assimilation Iftaar hosted by the Bagasrawala family at their residence, offering a beautiful setting overlooking the Arabian Sea.
2. District Conference: President Satyan Israni, along with President Nominee Manish Reshamwala and Past Presidents Ramesh Narayan and Nirav Shah, attended the District Conference on March 1st and 2nd.
3. Adult Literacy Graduation: A significant milestone was achieved with the graduation of 30,000 adults in Palghar from our Adult Literacy Program, bringing the total beneficiaries to over one lakh. 4. “Phantom of the Opera” Experience: Rotarians and their families enjoyed an enchanting evening attending the Broadway musical “Phantom of the Opera” on March 6th.
5. Art Exhibition: On March 7th, Artist Sujata Bajaj led members through her captivating works at the Jehangir Art Gallery.
6. RISE Offsite: Future President (PE) Bimal Mehta’s RISE (Realign, Innovate, Strategize, Execute) offsite, held at the Harvard Business School Classroom at Taj Lands End on March 8th, provided valuable insights into the upcoming Rotary year’s vision.
7. Members Nite: The Members Nite on March 9th, with 165 attendees, featured musical performances, poetry, storytelling, and stand-up comedy. A highlight was the recognition of PPs Vikram Kamdar, Mahendra Sanghi, Suresh Kotak, and Sushil Jalan as Golden Members for 50 years of service.
8. Chinchpada Village Intervention: On March 10th, the club inaugurated its next village intervention at Chinchpada Village, installing three solar-powered lift irrigation systems and a water jetty.
9. Palghar and Boisar Project Day: March 13th saw the inauguration of a Career Foundation Learning Centre, an IT Innovation Lab, and a new Dialysis Centre in Palghar and Boisar. The Dialysis Centre marked our 14th such initiative, with 87 machines now aiding those with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
10. Holi Celebrations: The annual Holi celebrations at the Jain family’s residence featured their renowned culinary delights.
11. Shakti Awards: The Shakti Awards on March 22nd recognized 12 women achievers, with Dr. Swati Piramal as the Chief Guest.
12. Animal Welfare Panel Discussion: A thoughtprovoking panel discussion on animal rights and welfare, chaired by Rtn. Priyasri Patodia, was held in collaboration with the Fellowship and In-Camera committee.
13. HDFC Dharamshala Anniversary: The second anniversary of the HDFC Dharamshala project was celebrated with a tour, presentation by Rtn. Miral Shah, and a lunch prepared by the dharamshala kitchen.
The weekly meetings as usual saw great participation due to the amazing variety of speakers and awardees curated by our Program and Awards committees. We had Dr. MS Kamath speak on Consumerism. We also had a fireside chat on the India Middle Eastern Economic Corridor was conducted by Rtn. Manjeet Kripalani of Gateway House. We bestowed The Rotary Club of Bombay Uma Jain Young Woman Achiever Award on Ananya Birla and were privileged to have all the three generations of the Birla family in attendance which is a rarity. The club also got an opportunity to celebrate its 96th birthday with the Birla family.
We also had District Governor Chetan Desai visiting us on March 11th, praising the club’s community work at his Official Club Visit.
March was a month of significant achievements and impactful initiatives, reflecting the Rotary Club of Bombay’s commitment to service and fellowship. We look forward to building on this momentum in the coming months.
– President
Satyan Israni