RCB INAUGURATES PEACE GROVE AT MUMBAI UNIVERSITY
The Rotary Club of Bombay marked a significant milestone on September 28th, 2024, with the inauguration of the Peace Grove at the Rotary-HDFC Biodiversity Park, situated within Mumbai University’s Kalina Campus. TRF Trustee Chair Mark Maloney and Gay Maloney led the inauguration ceremony, joined by distinguished guests including TRF Trustee Bharat Pandya, Past TRF Trustee Gulam Vahanvaty, District Governor Chetan Desai, and District Governor-Elect Manish Motwani. Also present were ARRFC and PDG Sandip Agarwalla with Malini Agarwalla, President Satyan Israni, Curator R/Ann Avaan Vakharia, and MU Vice-Chancellor Ravindra Kulkarni.
Despite challenging weather conditions, the event witnessed strong attendance from club members, representatives from various Rotary clubs, CSR partners, and university officials. The Peace Grove represents Mumbai’s first Peace Poles project, aligning with RI President Stephanie Urchick’s priority of promoting peace and harmony globally. The initiative gains additional significance as District 3141 achieved Peacebuilder status in 2022-23 by estabblishing a $25,000 endowment.
“This project exemplifies our commitment to both environmental sustainability and peace-building efforts,” noted a club spokesperson. The installation serves as a permanent symbol of the organisation’s dedication to fostering understanding and tranquillity in the community.
The Peace Grove project stands as another achievement for the Rotary Club of Bombay, successfully addressing two crucial Areas of Focus: Environment and Peace. The installation features inspirational messages, including the poignant reminder that “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.”
The ceremony concluded with expressions of gratitude to the international delegates for accommodating the event in their packed schedules, marking what participants described as “a very satisfying morning indeed.”