Shekhar And Stirred!
Part II of PP Rtn. SANDIP AGARWALLA’S interview with RIPN SHEKHAR MEHTA about his journey from the Calcutta Mahanagar Club to the 18th floor of the Rotary World office in Evanston, USA
Sandip Agarwalla: What is your message to our Rotary family in District 3141?
Shekhar Mehta: I look at your district as one of the most outstanding districts in the world. My message to everybody here is – introspect and see what have you done to make it and where can you take it to. There is still a lot of unexploited potential. People should be in awe of Rotary in Mumbai and the surrounding areas. That is the impact you can have.
So, my message to you is start dreaming bigger, dreams that others have not even thought of. You should not see things as they are and ask why – dream of things that never were and ask why not! You need leaders that arouse the imagination and kindle the spark within.
Sandip Agarwalla: What has been the proudest moment for you as a Rotarian?
Shekhar Mehta: I was involved with the ‘2000 Paediatric Heart Surgeries’ programme. Ten years ago, as a part of it, Rashi and I went to Durgapur to Mission Hospital where one of the surgeries was taking place. We met a mother and child who had come from Pakistan for the child’s surgery. The mother told us how they had travelled very far to reach Lahore and even further to come to India and to Durgapur for the surgery. She said, and I will never forget, “In my son’s veins flows Pakistani and Indian blood! He may have been born in Pakistan but he has got the gift of life in Hindustan! Long live Rotary.” I still have goose bumps when I think of it. That was one of the proudest moments for me.
Sandip Agarwalla: Rotary has always been a major part of your life and you seemed to have achieved a beautiful work life balance. What advice would you have for other Rotarians who want to do more but cannot find this
balance?
Shekhar Mehta: My advice is to find the balance! The first thing I say to them is get your family involved. Everyone has a personal horizon they want to conquer. Early in life, maybe 20 years back, I took a decision to spend a lot of time helping other people. Ten years back I decided, along with Rashi, that my life would now be dedicated to doing good for other people in the world. My platform is Rotary. If I was not in Rotary now, even then I would be doing just this work. So I would advise that even as you care for yourself, your family – think about your community, your country and our world.
“FIND THE BALANCE… GET YOUR FAMILY INVOLVED… TEN YEARS BACK I DECIDED, ALONG WITH
RASHI, THAT MY LIFE WOULD BE DEDICATED TO DOING GOOD FOR OTHER PEOPLE IN THE
WORLD. MY PLATFORM IS ROTARY….
Sandip Agarwalla: I hope we can inspire more people to act like Azim Premji in India because generally giving by the very wealthy and the big families in India is disproportionate when you compare it to the top families even in the west.
Shekhar Mehta: Gandhi had said, “There is enough in this world for every man’s need. But not enough even for one man’s greed”. Wealthy people should be philanthropic. Bill Gates and Warren Buffett are examples to emulate. Back home, Azim Premji and Shiv Nadar amongst many others have shared their wealth. I am sure more will follow soon.
Sandip Agarwalla: Club days or RI days? What do you find more exhilarating?
Shekhar Mehta: Both! When I say this, imagine what a big compliment I am giving to my Club. That a meeting in my Club is just as exhilarating an experience as the feeling I get out of chairing a meeting on the 18th floor of the Rotary World office in Evanston, USA! When I sit there, it is exhilarating to see the internationality of Rotary and the power of the Rotary network. When I come down to my Club, I see grass-root implementation of the same plans we are making on the 18th floor!
Of course, the friendship and fellowship at the Club level are unbelievable. As I said earlier, my Rotary Club of Calcutta Mahanagar has been my testing ground, my springboard and my immediate family.
