Super-organised, ever-dependable, indefatigable.
Rotarians brought in RCB’s new President Framroze Mehta in a celebratory Zoom ceremony last Tuesday
PRESIDENT FRAMROZE MEHTA WAS INSTALLED AS THE 92ND PRESIDENT OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF BOMBAY
in a Zoom function last Tuesday. The evening started with enthusiastic welcome messages to ‘Fali’ and ended with the President, and all his men and women, belting out rock classics with a glass of champagne in hand. The champagne was part of a hamper that included chocolate and was sent by Fali to all Rotarians before his installation.
The event began with Rtn. Tara Deshpande summarising a history of Rotary, thus placing Fali’s role firmly in context. Tara carried the ceremony with her usual smile and wit. She said: “Ninety-two Presidents with almost a hundred years of service to the community, city, and the country, RCB has an amazing history. Every year, RCB elects a President to walk in the hallowed halls of these predecessors… I would like to take a quick walk down memory lane.”
“Pheroze Sethna, the only Indian member of RCB’s maiden charter in 1929, was an Indian politician – a member of the Imperial Legislative Council. He was selected to represent the Indian community at the round table conferences at the height of India’s civil disobedience movement held between 1930 and 1932 alongside Ramsay MacDonald, Aga Khan III and Muhammad Ali Jinnah, which resulted in the Gandhi-Irwin pact.”
“The first President of the RCB was Rtn. Charles N. Moberley, an engineer in the Indian Army. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and was awarded the most eminent order of the Indian Empire, King George V himself. So, Sultan Chinoy, our President in 1940-41 – at the beginning of World War II – was also the mayor of Bombay. He was a pioneer; he was the first to bring German Motors to India with the Chevy in 1960. So, Sultan Chinoy realised the importance of broadcast communication and obtained the patent rights from Marconi in 1925. Lord Irwin, the then-Viceroy of India, inaugurated the first wireless broadcasting service in 1926.”
“Padma Bhushan Asif Ali Asgar Faizi, President of RCB in the year of India’s Independence in 1947 was an Indian educator, jurist author and an Islamic scholar. He served his first India’s ambassador to Egypt in 1949-52 and Vice Chancellor of the University of J&K from 1957-60.”
“Our President Framroze Mehta follows in the footsteps of fine men and women but he does so in a difficult year. The Covid pandemic has turned everything that we have known into unknown. As citizens we fight the virus while our brave soldiers fight at the front. We, at the RCB, salute them. President Framroze Mehta will no doubt take this club to greater heights this year.”
Next, it was the turn of IPP Preeti Mehta who handed over her Presidential responsibilities to Framroze with a speech that has been reported in The Gateway dated July 7, 2020 and is available on the Rotary Club website online.
This was followed by DGN Sandip Agarwalla who drew upon Fali’s own bio while reminding members that Pheroze Framroze & Co Pvt Ltd, of which Fali is CEO, is, at 73, only 18 years younger than RCB itself. Drawing upon Fali’s interest in the retail and travel business, Sandip added: “This explains his love for travelling and food but the one thing he won’t eat is french beans. He is Covid-19 proof, as they say, having gained immunity by eating turtle shell jelly in Singapore which apparently keeps respiratory diseases away.”
The coincidence between the duo stretches to the day of Framroze’s induction into RCB – July 2, 2002 – which was also the day of Sandip’s installation as President of RCB. Reminding members that Fali and Zarina have three sons, Sandip peppered his welcome speech by telling everyone that in the early years, it was often Fali’s turn to put the boys to sleep after a long day at work. He would spend hours in their room which impressed Zarina to no end. It was only when she peeped in to check, one day, that she saw Framroze fast asleep and the boys left to their own devices.
Sandip then ended his speech by recalling Framroze’s love of music which, in his school years, had led Fali to joining the school band. Sandip added, “While playing the trumpet once, he blew so hard that he burst his ear drum and fell down. I can see you all imagining how he would have looked then.”
He is a fabulous singer and hopefully we will soon see him singing Sinatra songs.
–DGN Sandip Agarwalla
He finished with these adjectives for Fali: super-organised, ever-dependable, indefatigable.
Framroze then took over and read out his first speech as President of the club. He thanked IPP Preeti Mehta and also congratulated incoming Board and Chairpersons. He expressed his gratitude for the support and encouragement of his family i.e. Zarina, and his three sons, Pheroze, Rohaan and Zahan. Fali then joked that he never envisioned addressed a group of pixilated Rotarians or conducting a meeting over Zoom! He said, “I thought Zoom meant great speed but here we are, so relaxed, in the comfort of our homes… (however) lack of physical interaction, though not ideal, is neither a limitation nor a deterrent to getting the job done.”
“Over countless Zoom meetings I’ve realised that every member has the same fervour, enthusiasm and willingness as before.”
President Framroze Mehta
“For me, that was the game changer! The impetus to innovate and explore a new language of work can and will achieve all our objectives, just in a different way.”
“As we eventually and gradually step out of the lockdown and slowly resume our daily lives, I hope to not only achieve what I had initially envisaged but also to expand that vision.” He affirmed RCB’s commitment to its key projects while also outlining his vision for them. He revealed that the medical centres at Talwada will be integrated into one large RCB Medical Centre, Talwada. New services would be added i.e. Gynaecology, Dermatology and Vocational Training. The rest of his speech was reported in The Gateway dated July 7, 2020 and is available on the Rotary Club website online.
DG Sunnil Mehra followed the President by a call to action to service to the community. He said: “It is now that the Rotary can serve the needs of those affected.”
“Can we help those who are jobless by outsourcing the excess production of our companies through self-help groups? Yes, we can.”
“Can we save thousands of children dying due to malnutrition by a contribution of Rs 5000 for a child with protein-based food packets? Yes, we can. Can we attack the problems of the hungry by feeding them meals at Rs 15 per meal through our Annapurna project? Yes, we can.”
“Can we assist all those beyond our personal domestic staff, and drivers, who need small amounts to meet their educational and medical needs, with a meager contribution of Rs 3000 per month through our Rotary NGOs vertical? Yes, we can.”
“God’s very own children who have disability challenges – can we not give them a life of dignity, develop talent and opportunities for gainful employment through our verticals? Yes, we can.” DG Sunnil Mehra then emphasised ways in which Rotarians could contribute individually and as a community.
Although the round of applause and wishes for Fali ended, the evening didn’t. Long after many Rotarians had left, a few stayed behind to urge Fali to sing along with them. Not one to disappoint, he agreed, laughing and singing with First Lady Zarina and the other Rotarians as the evening drew to a close.
