TURNING POINT.......THROUGH ROTARY

The past is already passed, future is not predictable and the present never abides. Things are constantly changing, with nothing on which to depend…….but some person, institution and/or situation imprints everlasting impact on life. That is accounted as turning points. It comes in everyone’s life at some or other point. Sometime we might not realize its influence instantly. In due course when we pause and look into life gone by, we are sure to feel its overwhelming impact. Three years spent in hostel at Ranchi was such a turning point in my life earlier. Then my active association with Rotary in different capacity since 1974 was another such landmark that engraved so deep and positive imprints on and around me. I have no high educational background. But three years study at St.xavier’s college, Ranchi living in hostel independently made a difference. My outlook to world got variety into it. My shyness got back seated a bit. My interest to interact with people and to see the world in somehow different way surfaced up. Though circumstances compelled me to get back to family business and set up against my will, I could still place myself a bit differently. Our tax consultant sri P.C.Dasgupta was in process of bringing Rotary to Purulia in 1967. In one of those early meeting of organization, he invited me to attend to develop some interest in Rotary affairs. Many prominent and senior professional and business persons were also invited to form a nucleus to organize the Rotary Club of Purulia. I intentionally escaped because of my shy nature. The club was organized with Sri Dasgupta as the first president. Dr. Snook, Dr.A.T. Roy, Sri T R Agarwal, Sri B D Saraogi were amongst other prominent members. I attended its installation ceremony along with Raman who happened to be in India for vacation after completing MS in USA. It was my first interaction with Rotary though I did not join it as member. There after I attended a few annual functions and Eye camps sponsored by Rotary without being inducted as its member. Life moved on and years passed by. In early seventies, I was actively associated with Purulia District Merchant’s Association and came into close contact with Sri T R Agarwal who was an active Rotarian also. He persuaded me to join Rotary. By that time I had visited US and also happened to visit Rotary’s head quarter in Evanston, USA. Ultimately I was forced to become its member in 1974 with my classification as FINANCING because I was in financing business at that time. More specifically, I was inducted on 14th August 1974 into Rotary. For record, my proposal was given by past president T R Agarwal and I was inducted by Rtn. Past President and then GGR Santosh Ghosh of Rotary Club of Asansol. Rtn. B B Ghosh was the then president of Rotary Club of Purulia and the venue was Rajgharia Smriti Bhawan. At the time of induction, I was provided with some Rotary literatures to get me acquainted with my privileges and commitments towards Rotary. I pledged to be active by attending at least 60% of meetings, by paying its dues in time and by putting all efforts to participate in all club activities. Thus I took off for the most rewarding venture in my life that carried away not only my future but have ever lasting and positive impact and influence over generation next. I made a commitment for attendance and participation and that was the basis of a most successful Rotary career. Membership strength of the club was 20 at the time of my induction. I was the youngest at 28 with many a senior citizens. It was great gesture on their part to accommodate me at par to inspire and encourage me to be actively associated with them. To start with Rtn. Agarwal would take me to the meeting along with every Thursday to get away with my initial reservation. All would initiate to interact with me to remove my isolation amongst elders. Necessary Rotary information was being imparted by some senior member in each meeting. It enabled me to know what Rotary stands for and its method of working. It took time to understand the basic principles of Rotary around which its working revolves: SERVICE ABOVE SELF & HE PROFITS MOST WHO SERVES BEST. The then president was very articulate with good knowledge of its constitution and bye laws in addition of being very methodical and good orator. Soon I was made member of one or two club committees to make me active in action too. Rtn P C Dasgupta, Dr A T Roy, Dr.A Kabiraj and Rtn.T R Agarwal played a great role in my upbringing in Rotary. They all are no more in this world but their elderly guidance and care made me to sustain my interest in it, to start with. My joining the club opened door for youths to get interested and involved into it. Soon DN Agarwal, Biren and Govind Mukherjee joined the club to make it more homogeneous in representation. The face of Rotary club of Purulia began to change and change of guards to next generation was knocking at the door. Next year I was made editor for the club bulletin VOICE. It was one page bulletin to be circulated amongst the members and clubs in the district sharing Rotary information and club activities. That opened an opportunity for me to interact with Rotarians at large. That also enforced me to collect more information through THE ROTARIAN, our international magazine, Governor’s monthly letter, Rotary library and through club bulletins of different club. This boosted my interest into Rotary affairs gradually. Next year I was appointed as director, club service. I was made responsible to promote attendance and fellowship amongst members in addition to imparting Rotary information. Now I was a board member responsible to decide policy matters of club. It provided me a platform of learning lesson of leadership. My quest for intellectual interaction was being fulfilled to some extent. So far I had contacts with relatives, family members and business associates only. Now I had wide range of people around me to develop mutual understanding and that too on a common platform where there was no consideration of age and status. It provided me an opportunity to come out of my self built cell to see the world around me in different perception. Its dimension was unlimited from local community to international level depending on the interest and capacity of the person in question. Club’s membership strength got increased to 30 in no time. Young business persons could find matching interest in Rotary. To name some of them, Dilip Singhania, Vinod Singhania, Bhairab Mall, Ghanshyam Mall, Gopal Khedia joined the club. Now it appeared to be a young and vibrant club. But its standing was not recognized at the district level as its activities were limited within local community without much interaction through correspondence, visit or participation at district level. Besides some small community projects, annual eye operation camp was the most prominent project being taken up by the club. More over our representation at district conference was also not up to mark. My standing in the club was unique in a way as I was the first young member inducted. My status was like a bridge in between young and senior members. I enjoyed love, affection, regards and respect from both end. That was a great contribution to make me learn my lesson in Rotary very smoothly and in right direction. I could learn to share and inter act my views as speaker at different levels and occasions and that built up self confidence and leadership through concept of service in positive direction. I owe a lot to Rotary for widening my horizon of contacts that flourished into intimate friendship in due course. Biren was appointed as the secretary of the club when I was to lead as president in 1978/79. That brought us into very close contact. Leadership has been provided to youth for the first time and we took the challenge to come up to expectations of the members. We could build great team in between us. It developed into an ever lasting friendship amongst us. A year before, I was vice president and was very closely associated to the then president Rtn.Bhagwandas Saraogi. In fact Bhagwan da agreed to be president only if I depute him as vice president. But he led the club from front. He never missed a meeting and provided a very positive leadership. He could make an impact on all young and senior members by his ever- ready-to involve approach through out the year in all projects. That started to build name and public relation of Rotary in local community. But he promoted me to represent him at district level. That helped me to get acquainted with Rotary affairs widely and became very handy when I took the leadership. As president elect, I took keen and honest interest in my training sessions and could make up my mind where I was to focus as the leader. Members had bestowed confidence on young leadership and I was determined to stand up to their expectations. Rtn M.C.Poddar was the district governor when I was president. He was a thorough gentleman. Clem Renough was the R I President of the year who launched a great theme REACH OUT…….He gave many new ideas and programs to usher Rotary a fresh in youths. His emphasis was on membership growth and participation. My board was constituted in December 1977 and I was to take over as the president of the club from 1st of July 1978. Biren was made the secretary and Rtn.Dilip, Binod and Govind Mukherjee were directors of different services. I utilized this period to develop close interactions as friends with concerned members in particular and members in general to form a team to work together in the year. I was advised by seasoned leaders in Rotary to take it to be my year and not allow aim of excellence to drift for any reason. So my priority was to utilize the best talent to excel my ideas for the year and that was my test of leadership. At that point of consideration, Bhagwan da, Dilip and Govind da were well ahead of Biren in spite of him being closer. They formed the nucleus for achieving my aspirations. As a devoted student, I went through necessary Rotary literatures sincerely as an honest navigator to adventure in service. I had witnessed working of my club through four years. I intended to present it with a difference. I wanted to get projects implemented through strong club committees and not through the office of president or secretary. Hence I constituted very vibrant committees with clear vision of their annual plans, programs and action. A well knit friendly relation was being gradually developed between members during six months of preparation period Enthusiasm was very high before hand and I was alert to keep it up through out the year. I wanted to build up public relation in the community and the rotary district by our good deeds of welfare and not by self drum beatings. The day arrived and I became the youngest president of Rotary club of Purulia on 1st July1978. It was 6th of July when I addressed the first meeting as the president though I was ceremonially installed as the president on some other day in the last week of July in a well attended public meeting. My address and conduction of meeting over night elevated me as very prominent and promising citizen and social leader in the local community. It was beginning of the turning point. Purulians could see the new and young face of Rotary Club of Purulia on the installation occasion itself. It was for the first time that fair sex got involved in rotary programs so actively. Installation meet itself created an impact on community and prospect of membership growth seemed very high. During District Governor’s visit in August /September, we could get seven new members inducted. It was indication of our drive towards membership growth. By mid of year our strength got increased up to 56 and we were awarded with the top prize for membership growth in the district conference. It was beginning of line of action to make our club’s standing in the district spread over West Bengal, North East, Bangladesh and Nepal. Our prime project of the year was adoption of village SIMULIA, about five kilometers away from Purulia. Weekly medical check up with free medicines to the needy was organized regularly through the year. Weekly club meetings were made very interesting by organizing various programs and bringing prominent speakers. Though the club used to meet once in a week, every day was made rotary day by some or other program such as swimming competition, quiz competition, cycle tour, football tournaments, citation for excellence in different vocations, etc to name some. The aim was to make it one of the most vibrant clubs of the district. Our sincere efforts with full participation got acclaimed and we were awarded with six trophies at the annual district conference held at Calcutta. Thus the year went by without a pause. I was very satisfied at the end with my own performance at the time of handing over the charge to Rtn.SB Kataruka as the next president. I was a changed personality altogether at the time of becoming past president. In last four years of my association with Rotary, I had seen presidents becoming past presidents and that was the end of achievement and/or contribution at personal level. But in my case it was not to be so. It was beginning of the things to come and carry me deep into rotary affairs. I have therefore reason to go into details of some events during the year which has very positive impact on me and the club as well. An annual eye operation camp was being organized by our club with financial assistance from Royal Commonwealth Society for the blind, UK since inception. Rtn.Soli Pavri of Bombay was the then representative of the society. Looking into our club’s youth brigade and its vibrant working, he suggested us to take up some bigger plan considering our experience of organizing so many eye camps successfully. He invited us to meet him at Bokaro Steel City to discuss the matter sometime in October only after two months of my becoming the president of club. Twenty two of our members met him there. He suggested us to take up a long term plan to construct an eye hospital at Purulia to be managed by the club with the assistance of the society. He further suggested us to organize a larger eye camp during the year where he would make a team of UK Rotarians to visit to feel the need of such hospital. Though our club did not have fund for regular activities, I was very positive about the project. I could persuade the members to accept the challenge. Accordingly a large eye camp with make shift hospital like facilities was organized in a newly constructed spacious building with Padmshree Dr.GK Saraf and his team to perform operations. It took about two months for initial preparations. The camp was inaugurated on 22nd January 1979 in the presence of six Rotarians from UK and Ireland. During the meeting we announced our decision to construct an eye hospital on a land donated by Sri S L Singhania an ex Rotarian and father of Rtn Dilip Singhania. The visiting team got impressed with the club and camp and assured of exploring all possible assistance. I had many other reasons to be thrilled and contented as seven young members got inducted on that occasion to our club, I could make so many new friends abroad, could get dedicated participation by one and all members along with their family, hundred of patients got treated at the camp and our club’s standing got elevated tremendously at district and international level. Within short time, I got confirmation from UK clubs about their decision to be partner in our eye hospital project on matching contribution. My approach to the members for commitment from their part as matching contribution got instant positive response to the tune of Rs .ninety thousand to start with. An equal amount of contribution got confirmed from UK through their Bombay office courtesy Rtn.Soli pavri. All this happened within my term as the president. The dream project of eye hospital thus appeared to take shape in due course. It was the result of my faith in Him. It was beginning of my quest for self discovery. Faith can neither be forced nor taught. It is an experience that transcends trust, reason, belief and ideology. I realized by this larger than life achievement. Before eye camp, we had another celebration that made me to understand depth of a new term FELLOWSHIP. Rtn Ajit, a recently inducted member offered to arrange a fellowship meeting at his residence to celebrate the New Year. His arrangement was superb. The house was well decorated for the event. A special dais was erected for the president and secretary to conduct the meeting to be followed with grand fellowship dinner. Participation by members with family was up to mark .The intimacy and oneness that had developed within members and their inner urge to participate whole heartedly in all rotary programs made me proud to be a Rotarian. By no means, this intimacy could be developed in such short time on any other platform. That elevated the greatness of this organization in my mind and heart. I was the same person, a very ordinary citizen of the community but privileged to have so many friends to stand by me who had developed confidence in me as the leader. I was overwhelmed with the esteem love and confidence of fellow members. Even after thirty years, I still feel the warmth and that is why I am still a Rotarian. No doubt, it is an organization that provides unique platform to build up positive leadership based on concept of service that extracts excellence out of ordinary person and generates bond of oneness and friendship all around without consideration of age, cast or creed what so ever. Within five years of being Rotarian, I climbed the ladder to be club president. I was relieved with full satisfaction at the end to look into my personal attainment through it. I opted for a pause now but it was not to be. Construction of eye hospital was at hand. Foundation stone was arranged to be laid down by reverend Swami Sri Swaroopanandji, the holy Shankaracharya of Jyotishpith. Thus the construction got started under supervision of Rtn.Dilip Singhania. In addition I was given responsibilities to organize the Rotaract club of Purulia to bring younger generation of community under rotary influence to serve it. So I had to be very actively associated with club with special focus on these specific projects along with some assignments at district level. The Rotaract Club of Purulia was organized on 10th November 1979 with me as its organizing chairman. Completion of these projects successfully contributed a lot in my standing as Rotarian as well as in shaping up my own capabilities in future. It took about three years to construct the first phase of hospital to commence activities from there. In between we had visitors from UK and our Rotary District to look into its upcoming. In 1982, it got inaugurated for regular services with Dr. Debasis Banerjee as surgeon in charge and other paramedical staff to assist. I was again appointed as the first chairman to manage the hospital. It was a happy and befitting coincidence that Rtn.Biren was president of the club during that year. Indeed it was a challenge that met with success through great struggle and involvement. It made us all happy, satisfied and proud to be part and parcel of such noble project. At personal level it transformed me very positively. In addition, it provided me an opportunity to make great contacts and friends by working together for a very specific social cause. And that was the prime period of my recognition in rotary world as well as within local community. That made me indebted to rotary for ever. It took me deep into the values it stands for. It brought love and cheers to my life through intimate contacts with elders and youths, privileged Rotarians and rustic patients from rural area. My range of contacts got widen in quality, quantity and variety too. It overwhelmed me and my life. Some contacts got transformed into a typical kind of relationship. Those are worth mention that made deep dent into course of my life. My standing in community, club and rotary district impressed my club to nominate me as candidate for District Governorship. It was an ambitious and very tough proposal considering the geography and demography of the district. But I had to bow down and accept the challenge in the light of confidence and trust of fellow members who always stood by me. I took it as an adventure and did the best that was at my disposal while accepting the result very sportingly. I lost the election. I was again proposed by the club next year but I withdrew at the last moment as I had assured Babuji to contest once only Since 1988, I could not remain that actively associated with the club on account of Sandeep’ and Sangeet’s marriage and new business venture at Faridabad. I discontinued my 100% attendance too after maintaining it for consecutive 16 years when I found some dishonest manipulation. But some unpleasant development in club compelled me to become chairman of the eye hospital again for some interim period in 1995/96. Since 1997 after my family got shifted to Faridabad, I am not at all involved with Rotary affairs though I am still a member of Rotary Club of Purulia and do attend to share the fellowship occasionally. During this period of my pause from Rotary affairs, Rotary itched and engraved its influence on me the most indirectly. During this period Sandeep got involved in it as Rotaractor. It provided him a platform to learn the lesson of leadership and make friends and widen contacts. He served the club as secretary, president and later on succeeded to become the leader of Rotaract Clubs in the district, in Rotary term called as DRR. He was acclaimed to be the most efficient secretary, dynamic president and most methodical and admiring DRR of the district. Thus Rotary has great contribution in shaping up his future and in due course creating a very positive impact on our family and business set up. Training through Rotary has, no doubt a significant role in building up his career so successfully. Thus Rotary has served us through generations. Rotary and my sincere involvement in it made a great difference. It opened unlimited horizon to make friendly contacts. In a way it made me to trust myself more. No one can be happy without confidence in his own abilities .The inferiority complex prevents attainment of aspirations and hopes where as self confidence leads to successful achievements. Rotary helped me to overcome this weakness. It took me to new world of contacts, friends, leadership, fellowship and concept of service. It introduced my own capabilities to me. It taught me the lesson of oneness without consideration of cast, creed, age, sex and status. They conquer who belief they can. And Rotary rekindled the spark of I CAN within me.