September gives us an opportunity to reflect on one of the most powerful instruments of social transformation—basic education and literacy. Literacy is much more than the ability to read and write. It is the ability to understand, communicate, question, learn, make informed choices and participate meaningfully in society. Education gives knowledge; literacy gives people the power to use that knowledge. Together, they create the foundation for confidence, opportunity, dignity and independence.
For Rotary, education and literacy are not merely themes for a month. They represent a continuing commitment to creating communities where every child has the opportunity to learn and every adult has the opportunity to continue learning.
For a child, literacy may begin with recognising a word, writing a sentence or understanding a number. These simple milestones become the foundation for confidence and future learning. Yet many children continue to face barriers such as inadequate resources, learning gaps and limited support.
This is where Rotary clubs can make a meaningful difference through foundational literacy and numeracy, school readiness, libraries, learning resources, teacher development, innovative teaching methods, digital literacy and inclusive education.
Our objective should not simply be to help children attend school, but to create environments where they enjoy learning, discover their abilities and develop the confidence to continue learning.
No discussion on education is complete without recognising our teachers.
A teacher does far more than complete a syllabus. Teachers identify potential, encourage curiosity, build confidence and often become the bridge between a child's circumstances and aspirations. Initiatives such as the Nation Builder Awards provide an opportunity to recognise and celebrate this invaluable contribution. Rotary can also strengthen education by supporting teachers with innovative resources, activity-based learning, digital tools and opportunities to share good practices. When we empower a teacher, we multiply our impact across generations of students.
Education becomes powerful when learning becomes joyful. Competitions, storytelling, creative activities, innovative teaching methods and experiential learning can transform the classroom experience. The Innovation Teaching Method – Video Competition encourages educators to share creative approaches, while Learn with Fun initiatives can make learning accessible to children and adults alike.
We must also recognise that literacy today extends beyond the printed page. In an increasingly digital world, digital literacy is a life skill. The ability to access information, communicate, use digital services and navigate technology confidently can influence a person's access to education, employment, financial services and government schemes.
As we focus on literacy, we must ask an important question: Who is being left behind?
Children with disabilities, girls, economically disadvantaged children, adults with limited educational opportunities and underserved communities may face additional barriers to learning. Our goal should therefore be not merely more education, but accessible, inclusive and meaningful education. Every learner deserves an environment that recognises individual abilities and provides appropriate support.
As Team Believers, we must look beyond activity numbers. How many books were distributed? How many children participated? How many teachers were reached? These are important, but the deeper questions are: Did children improve their reading ability? Did confidence increase? Did teachers adopt new methods? Did parents become more involved? Did adults gain useful digital skills? Did learning gaps reduce?
When we measure these changes, our projects move from activities to impact. And when successful initiatives can be replicated, supported through partnerships and scaled across communities, Rotary's contribution becomes even more powerful.
There is no single way to serve education. One club may recognise outstanding teachers; another may establish a library or reading corner. A third may conduct literacy assessments, while another may organise digital literacy programmes, competitions, innovative teaching initiatives or school-support projects.
The scale may differ, but the purpose remains the same. Imagine the collective impact when clubs across District 3060 simultaneously celebrate teachers, encourage children to read, promote innovative teaching, enable adult learning, strengthen digital literacy and create better learning environments.
That is the power of Rotary—not simply one club doing one project, but many clubs contributing to one larger vision.
A child who learns today can become the leader of tomorrow. A teacher empowered today can influence generations. An adult who acquires a new skill today can create new opportunities tomorrow. A community that values education today can build a stronger future.
We celebrated those who teach, empowered those who learn, and created opportunities for those who have been left behind. Because when literacy empowers an individual, education strengthens a family; when families learn, communities grow; and when communities grow, nations move forward.
Let us learn today. Let us lead tomorrow. And together, let us build brighter futures.
When we speak of literacy, we often think of classrooms, books and children. But literacy goes far beyond them. It is the ability to read a medicine label, complete a form, use digital services, support a child’s education, or simply participate more confidently in everyday life.
Literacy gives people the ability to participate.
Our approach to education must therefore move beyond teaching towards enabling learning. Teachers play a vital role in this journey—not only by delivering knowledge, but by encouraging curiosity and helping every learner believe, “I can do this.”
As Rotarians, we have an opportunity to bring together teachers, schools, families, technology providers, government institutions, corporates and community organisations to create meaningful learning opportunities.
Let us measure our impact not only by the number of programmes conducted, but by asking:
“What can they do today that they could not do yesterday?”
A child discovering the joy of reading, a teacher gaining new skills, or an adult gaining digital confidence may seem like small changes. But thousands of such changes can open the doors to lasting transformation.
As we move into October, our focus shifts towards Economic and Community Development—empowering individuals and communities with skills, opportunities and resources that can help them build sustainable livelihoods and stronger futures.
October also brings an important reminder of Rotary’s global commitment: World Polio Day on 24 October. It is an opportunity to reflect on the remarkable progress made towards a polio-free world and to renew our commitment to ensuring that every child is protected.
From learning to livelihood, and from awareness to action, every month gives us another opportunity to create lasting impact.
As Team Believers, let us learn today, empower tomorrow and continue opening doors to brighter futures.
Let us learn today. Let us lead tomorrow. And together, let us build brighter futures.
Rotary has always been about people. Not projects. Not numbers. People. Our goal of reaching 1.25 million Rotarians and 125,000 Rotaractors by our 125th anniversary in 2030 is also about people. I bring up this goal again not because I expect the number itself to move you. Numbers rarely do. I bring it up because I worry that a goal this large can begin to feel abstract, distant from the everyday work of our clubs. I do not want that to happen. So let us talk, once more, about what is truly behind it. I want to offer your club a simple exercise.
Look back over the last five to seven years and find your best year. Maybe it was a year new members arrived and, more meaningfully, stayed. Maybe it was a year your meetings became something members looked forward to, rather than another obligation on a crowded calendar. Find that year. Then I ask you to do better than your best. This is not a call to outpace the club across town or the district next door. It is never meant to be a competition between Rotary members. It is, instead, an invitation to hold ourselves to our own highest standard — and to rise to meet it again.
Why does this 2030 membership goal matter enough to me that I keep returning to it? Because behind every one of those numbers is a person whose life could be changed by this organisation, just as mine and yours have been changed by it. Rotary has given me friendships that have lasted decades, a sense of purpose I did not know I was searching for, and something that, in time, came to feel like an extension of my family. I suspect many of you understand this in your own lives, in your own way. That life-changing experience is what we offer when we invite someone to join us.
There are people in your communities right now who would find real meaning here if only someone thought to ask them. So, tell them your story. Tell them honestly how Rotary changed you, not just about the projects you led or the funds you raised but about the person you became along the way. Those stories have a way of reaching people when little else does. If we hope to Create Lasting Impact, the kind that resounds for generations, we will need more people standing beside us to help carry our work forward. Let us come together, not only this month but every month of every year, to make Rotary stronger, more joyful, and more like the family it has always been to me. Find your best year. Then let us be better than our best, together.
President Yinka Babalola calls on every Rotarian to unite, take action, and finish the job Rotary began:
Rotary’s commitment to Service Above Self takes on a special meaning when fellowship and generosity come together for a greater purpose. With this spirit, an ambitious initiative is being undertaken to create a historic milestone in fundraising for The Rotary Foundation (TRF) in Rotary India.
Swing for a Cause is an exclusive initiative that combines fellowship, philanthropy and golf, with the potential to generate more than US$1 million in new support for The Rotary Foundation.
The initiative offers Rotarians and supporters an opportunity to make a significant contribution to the Foundation while participating in a unique golfing experience. Individuals or couples who make a new outright gift or pledge of US$250,000 or more between 1 August and 31 October 2026, or who reach the specified Foundation giving levels, will be eligible to participate.
Swing for a Cause is not simply a sporting event. It is a celebration of the individuals whose generosity strengthens the Foundation and enables Rotary to expand its humanitarian work.
Gifts may support a wide range of Rotary Foundation priorities, including Rotary Foundation programmes and grants, Areas of Focus, the Annual Fund, Endowment, PolioPlus and the Rotary Peace Centers.
The special golfing experience will take place on Friday, 27 November 2026, at Jaypee Greens Golf & Spa Resort, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Jennifer Jones, Chair of The Rotary Foundation 2026–27, will join the golfers on the course, followed by an evening of dinner and fellowship.
The event is designed as a fully hosted experience, with green fees, golf carts, caddies, transportation, accommodation, meals and incidentals provided at no cost to Rotary.
At its heart, Swing for a Cause is about giving with purpose. Every contribution to The Rotary Foundation strengthens Rotary’s ability to transform generosity into humanitarian action.
The initiative seeks to bring together Rotarians who share a belief in the power of collective giving and the Foundation’s ability to create lasting impact. As Jennifer Jones notes in her invitation, the generosity of Rotarians has always been the heartbeat of the Foundation — and this is an opportunity to accelerate the good Rotary can do in the world.
Swing for a Cause is more than an event. It is an invitation to give, to fellowship, to lead — and to strengthen Rotary’s capacity to serve.
Service Above Self. Giving with Purpose. Creating Impact.
“The stories people carry in their minds about us have the power to shape the world even long after we are gone.”
In 1932, a Chicago businessman named Herbert J Taylor was handed what seemed to be an impossible task. A cookware distribution company called Club Aluminium was bankrupt, and Taylor was asked to save the company. The company had $6,100 in borrowed cash, a decent product and a demoralised team. What it did not have was any obvious reason for hope.
Taylor did something unusual. He sat down and wrote 24 words. Four questions, really, that he wanted every person in his company to ask before any thought, word or decision:
Written by Herbert J. Taylor in 1932 · Adopted worldwide by Rotary International in 1943
The company survived, and went on to thrive. And another extraordinary thing happened, something Taylor perhaps never anticipated. These 24 words outlived the company, outlived Taylor himself, and travelled across the world. Rotary International adopted the Four-Way Test in 1943. Today it has been translated into more than a hundred languages and is recited at Rotary meetings everywhere.
Herbert J Taylor left behind a story about himself. And that story, nearly a century later, is still shaping how people think, decide and lead. Most of us will not write 24 words that will travel the world. But every one of us is leaving stories behind, whether we are conscious of it or not. And these stores will travel.
We live in the constant pursuit of growth. We seek prosperity, comfort, security. A better life for ourselves and those we love. This is not vanity; it is deeply, essentially human. We work hard, build things, serve our communities and try to leave the world a little better than we found it.
But, in the urgency of all this, many of us overlook a crucial question. What story am I leaving behind? By ‘story’, I don’t mean an incident, anecdote or memoir. I mean the living impression we create in people's minds through who we are and how we show up, day after day. I mean the stories people tell about us when we are not in the room. The stories they carry in their memory long after the meeting, the transaction, the interaction has ended.
These stories about us are not invented. They emerge — organically, continuously — from the deepest sources of who we are: our life's purpose, our driving beliefs, our values, our personality, our words, our decisions, and how we handle relationships. All these blend and meld, day after day, giving rise to a story about each one of us. Interestingly, we ourselves may never tell our story aloud. We don’t have to. Others will read it anyway and make meaning out of it. All the time.
Our stories matter more than most of us realise. When someone trusts us with a difficult problem, they are trusting the story they have built about us. When a community rallies behind a leader, they are rallying behind the story they carry in their minds about that leader. When a young person is inspired by a mentor, it is almost never a single piece of advice that moves them. It is the entire story of how the mentor has lived.
People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.
This feeling — this residue — is the story we leave behind.
It is these stories that ripple outward into the world. It is these stories that determine whether people trust us, follow us, believe in us, give us another chance, and speak well of us to others. When someone truly buys into us — as a leader, professional or person — they are not buying a credential or a track record alone. They are buying into the story they have created about us — the meaning they have constructed from everything they have seen, heard and felt about us.
But stories cut both ways. Not every story we leave behind is one that we would choose. A leader who consistently prioritises tasks over people leaves a story of indifference, even if that was never the intention. A professional who speaks with confidence but listens poorly leaves a story of arrogance, even if they are privately a humble person. A community builder who shows up only when visibility is on offer leaves a story of self-interest, however much they would protest otherwise.
Stories shaped by ego, fear or pettiness sometimes travel further than stories shaped by purpose and integrity. And the painful truth is that we ourselves are often the last ones to know these stories about us. We rarely see the stories others are reading about us. We are too close to them, too invested in our own intentions, to see clearly how our words and actions are landing.
This is why each one of us must mull over this question regularly: what story am I leaving behind? Is it the story I would choose to leave behind?
Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary International, believed that ordinary people doing ordinary acts of service, consistently and without fanfare, can change the world. He was right! But what made those acts transformative was not their scale. It was the stories they told — about what a human being could be, about what a community could stand for, about the kind of world that is possible when people act from their better selves.
In every field and era, the most enduring leaders are not always the most brilliant or the most powerful. They are those whose stories became larger and more powerful than themselves. Something that others could carry, be guided by and be uplifted by, long after the leader has moved on.
Herbert Taylor wrote those 24 words in a moment of quiet desperation. He was not thinking about legacy. He was just thinking about saving a company and preserving the dignity of the people working in it. But the story those words told — about truth, fairness, goodwill and benefit to all — outlasted everything else he did.
That is the power of the stories we leave behind. We do not always know, in the moment of shaping them, how far they will travel.
Think about what story you are shaping every day about yourself, and what story you are leaving behind.
What story is being written about you in the minds of everybody who interacts with you, works with you, learns from you, or is shaped by the examples you set? And is there something you should be consciously doing to change this story?
“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.” — Shannon L. Alder
Clubs via the Google form in (additional files sent). This comprehensive report includes:
When floods disrupted lives across South Gujarat, Rotary clubs came together with one purpose—to serve with compassion and restore hope. The flood relief initiative was led by the Rotary Clubs of the Surat area, with generous support from several Rotary clubs across District 3060, including the Rotary Clubs of Chikhli, Gandevi, Navsari, Valsad and Umbergaon.
Their collective effort ensured that assistance reached families in some of the worst-affected areas of Navsari, Chikhli, Umbergaon, Valsad and Dharampur.
The relief operation began with the immediate distribution of dry snacks, drinking water and medicines, addressing the urgent needs of families who had been displaced or were struggling to access basic necessities.
As the situation evolved, Rotary expanded the support to provide more comprehensive relief, including:
Through sustained coordination and the spirit of Service Above Self, the initiative has touched the lives of more than 500 flood-affected families across the region.
This effort demonstrates the strength of Rotary when clubs unite beyond geographical boundaries. It was not merely the distribution of relief material; it was an assurance to affected families that they were not alone in their difficult hour.
The collaboration among the clubs of Surat and the supporting clubs of District 3060 and Rotary Club of Bombay District 3141 and other NGO like Lokmanglam Charitable Trust, Parab reflects the true spirit of Rotary—compassion converted into action, and service converted into lasting impact.
“The greatest reward for doing is the opportunity to do more.” — Jonas Salk
The flood waters may recede, but the impact of timely service remains in the lives of the families who received help. Rotary's commitment continues—to stand with communities in times of crisis and to Create Lasting Impact through service, compassion and collective action.
Conceived by PDG Tushar Shah during his tenure in 2024–25, this VTT initiative brings together Rotary District 9212, Kenya, Rotary Club of Tapi, Surat, and Swami Vivekanand Netra Mandir Trust in a powerful mission against avoidable blindness.
Kenya faces a severe shortage of ophthalmologists, especially in rural areas, where access to specialised eye care is limited by distance, lack of awareness and financial constraints. In some regions, one ophthalmologist serves a population of nearly 50 lakh people. Under the leadership of Dr. Bhavin Patel, Swami Vivekanand Netra Mandir Trust who joined hands with Rotary to share advanced knowledge and technology in eye care, six teams of eye surgeons from Kenya and Ethiopia, accompanied by Rotarians, are scheduled to visit Surat for intensive exposure to advanced eye-care practices. Three teams have already successfully completed their visits.
Members of RC Tapi, Surat have been the backbone of the hosting arrangements—managing travel, hospitality, meals and personal care for the visiting teams, making them feel truly at home. The mission will now travel from Surat to Nairobi, where our team of doctors and Rotarians will work towards performing 400+ eye surgeries, bringing the precious gift of sight to those in need…. To Conquer Blindness Beyond Boundaries.
A true example of Rotary connecting expertise with need, nations with friendship, and service with lasting impact.
Project Purpose: The project was undertaken to establish a dedicated, modern Audiology & Speech Therapy Center for children and individuals with hearing and speech impairments. Operating under the Shri Amreli Muk Badhir Seva Trust, this center provides advanced facilities for audiological diagnosis, hearing assessment, and specialized speech therapy, helping children overcome severe communication barriers and gain self-reliance.
Community Beneficiaries: The primary beneficiaries are children with hearing and speech impairments associated with the Amreli Muk Badhir Seva Trust, along with individuals from across Amreli and adjoining rural regions requiring audiology, hearing evaluation, and speech rehabilitation services.
Active Rotarian Leadership: Supported through combined contributions from Rotary Club of Amreli Gir, international partner Rotary Club of Emory-Druid Hills (USA), The Rotary Foundation, and District 3060 DDF, Rotary members actively steered every milestone. Rotarians coordinated with the trust, mobilized matching funding, supervised equipment procurement and calibration, and ensured a seamless handover on 10 July 2022. The center continues to provide ongoing therapeutic care to hundreds of beneficiaries.
Project Purpose & Healthcare Strengthening: Conceived and developed during Rotary Year 2025–26, this Global Grant equips Mahatma Gandhi Arogya Mandir in Rajula with state-of-the-art critical care, emergency, and diagnostic medical equipment. Serving Rajula and surrounding rural and semi-urban communities, the hospital's upgraded infrastructure substantially enhances treatment outcomes for patients needing emergency intervention and intensive care.
Saving Lives Locally: Prior to this intervention, patients in rural Rajula often faced perilous journeys to distant cities for critical care and high-end monitoring. The provision of modern medical machinery at Mahatma Gandhi Arogya Mandir bridges this vital gap, ensuring that timely, high-grade medical diagnosis and therapy are accessible to underprivileged families right in their home region.
Dedicated Rotarian Engagement: Members of Rotary Club of Amreli Gir spearheaded every phase:
✔ Grassroots medical needs assessment & hospital liaison
✔ Rigorous Global Grant application preparation & TRF coordination
✔ Club fundraising & partner collaboration with RC Emory-Druid Hills (USA)
✔ Transparent procurement, installation, and rigorous testing of advanced equipment
✔ Comprehensive project reporting and documentation submitted to The Rotary Foundation
Next-Gen Education at School Doorsteps: The Rotary STEM Lab on Wheels is a pioneering mobile science and technology education initiative designed to bring experiential, hands-on learning directly into school campuses across Amreli and neighboring regions. By overcoming geographical and financial barriers, the project empowers students who would otherwise have no access to cutting-edge science labs and high-tech equipment.
Curriculum & Technological Exposure: The mobile STEM lab will provide interactive modules, experiments, and workshops in cutting-edge domains:
Reaching Hundreds of Schools & Teachers: Designed to visit multiple schools every month, the vehicle facilitates hands-on practical STEM education for students from Grades 1 to 12, along with comprehensive teacher-training sessions that multiply educational impact.
Project Status & Rotarian Leadership: Grant approval has been received and TRF funds have been successfully remitted. The procurement of the specialized vehicle and high-tech STEM equipment is currently in full swing, with custom interior fabrication and lab fitting underway. Once completed, the vehicle will hit the roads to ignite curiosity and foster the innovators of tomorrow.
District Trek SAFAR 2026 brought together 255+ participants from across Gujarat and Maharashtra for an experience that combined adventure, endurance, fellowship, and meaningful connections beyond club and district boundaries.
The defining highlight of SAFAR 2026 was its challenging 18.5 KM trekking experience. Participants successfully completed a 12 KM forest trek along with a 6.5 KM waterfall trek, covering the complete routes and testing their stamina, perseverance, and team spirit along the way.
Safety remained a priority throughout the experience. The trek was conducted under the guidance of professional trekkers, while basic medical assistance was kept available to ensure that participants could take on the challenge in a safe and well-managed environment.
SAFAR was also a truly multi-club experience. With representation from 22+ clubs and participation of 40+ non-Rotaractors, the trek connected more than 255 people from Gujarat and Maharashtra. Away from formal meetings and conventional networking spaces, participants built friendships while walking the same trails, overcoming the same challenges, and encouraging one another towards the finish.
The journey was equally memorable beyond the kilometres covered. Reels were created along the trails, songs accompanied tired footsteps, and participants expressed the beauty of nature through shayari and poetry. These spontaneous moments transformed a demanding trek into an experience filled with laughter, creativity, and fellowship.
More than reaching a destination, SAFAR 2026 was about discovering how far people can go when they move forward together. Every kilometre became a story of endurance, every trail created a new connection, and every participant returned with memories extending far beyond the trek itself.
255+ participants · 22+ clubs · 40+ non-Rotaractors · One unforgettable 18.5 KM journey.
Keep Exploring. Keep Connecting. Keep the SAFAR Spirit Alive!
All Official Club Visits including detailed project reviews, permanent service facilities, and event photo galleries have moved to our interactive OCV portal with monthly tabs.
The Cluster 2 Summit of Rotary International District 3060 brought together Rotarians and club leaders for a day of learning, leadership, fellowship and collaboration. The programme featured addresses by District Governor Rtn. Nilesh Shah and the Municipal Commissioner of Vadodara, Shri Arun Mahesh Babu, IAS along with sessions on public image, membership, fellowship, service and club strengthening. The Commissioner's address provided a glimpse into Vadodara's development priorities, including greener public transport and electric buses, improved rural–urban connectivity, road and drainage infrastructure, potable water, heritage and design-city aspirations, renewable energy, Vishwamitri riverfront and crocodile conservation, Ajwa Safari Park, bullet-train connectivity, new stadia and auditoriums, libraries, yoga studios, lake and garden beautification, youth skilling and other initiatives aimed at building a stronger and more sustainable city.
A major focus of the Summit was Public Image and storytelling. Rtn. CA Mihir Thakkar and DGN Rtn. Vipul Patel emphasised that Rotarians are the brand ambassadors of Rotary and that building public trust requires telling compelling stories of change. Participants were encouraged to move from simply reporting projects to communicating the problem, intervention, beneficiaries and impact, using formats such as People of Action, before-and-after stories, community stories, club-life stories and calls to action. The message was reinforced by Rtn. Deval Shastri and Rtn. Sangharajka: “Create stories, not projects” and transform service into story and story into impact. The role of reels and digital content in reaching wider audiences was also highlighted.
The Summit also addressed membership and club strength. Rtn. Hemang Shah presented the STRONG Club Formula, while Rtn. Yash Rathod emphasised Engage Every Member & Grow. PDG Mohan Parashar highlighted Rotary's global network and the importance of a learning centre for new members, stressing that the first two years are critical to building lifelong retention. His CARE approach—Connect, Assign, Recognise and Engage—offered a practical framework for member engagement, while reinforcing that membership numbers represent the capacity of a club to serve.
Sessions by Rtn. Bhavesh Shah on Fellowship and Rtn. Nimesh Rajput and Rtn. Gustad Anklesaria on Service Projects further reinforced the importance of vibrant clubs and meaningful service. The service discussions encouraged clubs to move beyond one-time activities towards social transformation and sustainable impact. The Summit also drew insights from senior Rotary leaders including PDG Ashish Desai, District 3055, and PDG Mohan Parashar, District 3055, along with other district leaders and facilitators.
The day concluded with a renewed understanding that strong Rotary clubs are built through engaged members, meaningful fellowship, compelling storytelling and transformative service. The Cluster 2 Summit encouraged Rotarians to think bigger, collaborate more effectively and move from individual projects to collective impact—truly reflecting the spirit of Team Believers and the commitment to Create Lasting Impact.
Our heartfelt appreciation to our Host Club – Rotary Baroda Sayajinagari, led by President Rtn. Sneha Ramani, for the wonderful hospitality and meticulous arrangements. A special appreciation to Event Chair Rtn. CA Jay Shah for his excellent coordination and leadership in bringing this Summit together.
I am currently translating Rakesh Anand Bakshi’s Directors’ Diaries, and I came across a small detail that stayed with me. Very few people know that when filmmaker Imtiaz Ali was a teenager in Jamshedpur, he used to write and perform plays for the Rotary Club of Jamshedpur.
Standing on that little stage, he must have watched people closely. the way they spoke, behaved, loved, struggled, and perhaps hid things they could not say aloud. Maybe some of what he saw there stayed with him and eventually found its way into his films: Watch Jab We Met, Rockstar or Tamasha, and you begin to notice something – Imtiaz Ali has always seemed more interested in the extraordinary things happening inside ordinary people than in extraordinary people themselves. Ved in Tamasha is successful on the outside but lost somewhere within, trying to discover who he really is. Aditya in Jab We Met is another man who has lost his sense of direction. Again and again, Imtiaz Ali comes back to the same place: the human being.
And that makes me wonder about Rotary: The same Rotary stage on which a young Imtiaz Ali may have learnt to observe people... have we, somewhere along the way, started looking at projects and events instead? Whenever we do a project, numbers appear almost immediately – How many trees did we plant? How many people attended the health camp? How many medicines were distributed? How much money was spent? How many machines were donated?
The numbers matter. They tell us the scale of the work. But numbers cannot tell us what the work meant to a person. Suppose we plant a hundred trees on a Sunday morning. There are photographs, a newspaper report, perhaps a caption about how Rotary planted a hundred trees.
The same is true of healthcare. We proudly say, “We donated a dialysis machine.” And yes, that is important. But what about the person sitting in front of it? Have we seen the fear in his eyes? Perhaps he knows that his kidneys no longer work as they should. He has to come to the hospital two or three times a week. There is the exhaustion of the treatment, but there is also the exhaustion of wondering how long this will continue. His wife is sitting beside him. There are children to think about, bills to worry about, and an uncertain tomorrow. Then the machine becomes available. For him, it may mean one less fear. For his wife, it may mean the relief of knowing that treatment can continue. For his child, it may simply mean, “My father will be okay.” There is no number for that relief: A report can say: “Dialysis machine donated, one.” It cannot say: “A family breathed a little easier today.” That is the difference between a project and a person.
A project tells us what we did. A person tells us what our work meant. We live in a time when almost everything has a photograph attached to it. An event happens, there is a photograph. A tree is planted, there is a photograph. A cheque is handed over, there is a photograph. A machine is donated, there is a photograph. There is nothing wrong with photographs. Accountability matters. But when the person disappears from the photograph, something important disappears from the service as well. The younger generation notices this. Tell a young person, “We helped five hundred people,” and the next question may well be, “Who were those five hundred people?” They want to know the faces behind the number. They want to know what happened to a life because someone decided to help.
Perhaps this matters even more in the age of artificial intelligence. A machine can organise numbers, prepare reports and turn information into polished presentations. But the relief in a person’s eyes is not a statistic. It is something another human being has to notice. Maybe that is why the stories behind our work matter.
Not because every project needs another report. But because somewhere inside every project is a person. John Steinbeck understood this beautifully in The Grapes of Wrath. At the end of the novel, the world around the Joad family has been reduced to hunger, poverty and uncertainty. People are struggling simply to survive. And in the middle of all that desperation, Rose of Sharon encounters a starving old man who is close to death.
There is no project there. No programme. No press release. No camera. No newspaper. There is just a hungry human being.
Rose of Sharon has just suffered the loss of her own child. Yet, in that moment, she reaches beyond her own grief and gives the starving man her milk.
Nothing is announced. Nothing is recorded. Nobody applauds. There is simply one human being responding to another human being’s suffering. And somehow, in that quiet moment, there is more humanity than in a thousand reports about service.
Perhaps that is what we sometimes miss. Behind every tree, there may be someone looking for shade. Behind every dialysis machine, there may be a family waiting for relief. Behind every cheque, there may be a life hoping for another chance. The project will end. The event will be over. The photograph will eventually become old. The number will find its place in next year’s report. But the feeling left behind in a human being may remain. Perhaps that is what a young Imtiaz Ali first discovered on that little Rotary stage in Jamshedpur not merely how to write a story, but how to see the person inside it.
And perhaps that is the person we need to keep seeing, everytime a project is planned and executed.
Rotary International District 3060 organised a Cluster 3, 4 & 5 Summit in Surat, hosted by the Rotary Club of Surat Metro, bringing together 47 Rotary clubs and more than 240 participants. The full-day programme was designed to strengthen the knowledge and capabilities of Club Presidents, Secretaries and Avenue Chairs, with a focused emphasis on three critical pillars of Rotary—Membership, Service Projects and Public Image.
The Summit opened with a welcome address by Host Club President Rtn. Sanjay V. Chovatiya, followed by DG Rtn. Nilesh Shah, who outlined the purpose of the Summit and highlighted the importance of the three avenues in building stronger and more impactful clubs. Chief Guest CA Jay Chhaira, Central Council Committee member of ICAI, New Delhi, inspired participants with the message “Lead with Purpose, Serve with Impact,” urging club leaders to remain focused on purpose and measurable impact.
The District Public Image team explored Rotary branding, creating mega Public Image projects, effective storytelling and the strategic use of social media. Keynote Speaker DG Uday Pilani, RI District 3150, shared valuable insights on “Public Image – Rotary’s Voice to the World” and reviewed examples of club social media communication, offering practical guidance on content, presentation and messaging. The Membership sessions covered Club Development & Membership, building club strength, Women in Rotary, engaging every member, new club models and types of clubs. Keynote Speaker DG Dr. Lucky Kasat brought his energetic “Dhurandhar” approach to the session, engaging participants while highlighting the importance of understanding and responding to members’ experiences within their clubs. The Service Projects team focused on the importance of impactful service, CSR partnerships and community transformation. A panel discussion on “Rotary in Action – Create Lasting Impact”, moderated by EMGA PDG Ashish Ajmera, featured PDG Ruchir Jani and Tushar Jani, who discussed practical approaches to planning and executing effective service projects. Keynote Speaker PDG Rajiv Sharma, RI District 3030, elaborated on the key considerations for designing meaningful and sustainable projects.
The Summit concluded with DG Nilesh Shah appreciating the dedication, teamwork and hospitality of the host club. He noted that the event reflected the effort to bring greater knowledge, interaction and new approaches to Rotary District 3060. Event Chair Rtn. Jignasha Thakkar, in her Vote of Thanks, expressed gratitude to the speakers, participants and organisers for making the Summit a vibrant blend of learning, fellowship and fun.
The Summit reinforced a simple but powerful message for District 3060: strong membership builds stronger clubs, meaningful service creates lasting impact, and a compelling public image enables Rotary to reach and inspire a wider community.
Explore the official calendar for October 2026 including Governor Official Club Visits, District Cluster Summits, and Quarterly Review schedules:
Governor’s trail: Official Club Visits schedule for October 2026 across Rotary District 3060:
| Sr. No. | OCV Date | Day | Club Name | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 07-10-2026 | Wednesday | Rotary Club of Vadodara Banyan City | Evening |
| 02 | 08-10-2026 | Thursday | Rotary Club of Vadodara One | Evening |
| 03 | 09-10-2026 | Friday | Rotary Club of Surat Metro | Evening |
| 04 | 21-10-2026 | Wednesday | Rotary Club of Mahuva | Morning |
| 05 | 21-10-2026 | Wednesday | Rotary Club of Una | Evening |
| 06 | 22-10-2026 | Thursday | Rotary Club of Veraval | Morning |
| 07 | 22-10-2026 | Thursday | Rotary Club of Keshod | Evening |
| 08 | 23-10-2026 | Friday | Rotary Club of Porbandar | Morning |
| 09 | 23-10-2026 | Friday | Rotary Club of Junagadh | Evening |
| 10 | 24-10-2026 | Saturday | Rotary Club of Bhavnagar | Full Day |
| 11 | 28-10-2026 | Wednesday | Rotary Club of Kadodara | Morning |
| 12 | 28-10-2026 | Wednesday | Rotary Club of Bardoli | Evening |
| 13 | 29-10-2026 | Thursday | Rotary Club of Udhna | Full Day |
| 14 | 30-10-2026 | Friday | Rotary Club of Tapi Surat | Full Day |
| 15 | 31-10-2026 | Saturday | Rotary Club of Surat West | Morning |
| 16 | 31-10-2026 | Saturday | Rotary Club of Surat Sea Face | Evening |
Key seminars, summits, and district-level gatherings scheduled for October 2026:
| Sr. No. | Date | Day | Event Details | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 12-10-2026 | Monday | Quarterly Review Meet – Cluster 3, 4 & 5 | Quarterly Meet | Online (Zoom) |
| 02 | 13-10-2026 | Tuesday | Quarterly Review Meet – Cluster 1 | Quarterly Meet | Online (Zoom) |
| 03 | 14-10-2026 | Wednesday | Quarterly Review Meet – Cluster 2 | Quarterly Meet | Online (Zoom) |
| 04 | 25-10-2026 | Sunday | Membership, Service Project & Public Image Seminar – Cluster 1 Summit | Cluster Event | Rajkot (Host: RC Rajkot Prime) |
District Governor Rtn. Nilesh Shah and Team Believers will conduct the 1st Quarterly Review Meets for clubs across all clusters via online sessions:
This month, I want to have some fun and do a little preplanning exercise for World Polio Day on October 24. Are you with me?
Each year, World Polio Day gives us a moment to pause, reflect, and recommit to the promise Rotary made to the world that no child, anywhere, will ever again suffer the devastating effects of polio. This year, that moment feels especially powerful.
President Yinka has challenged all of us to “better our best,” and I want to echo that call with a challenge of my own. Look honestly at what your club has done to support polio eradication. If your efforts have been strong, stretch further. If your club has not yet engaged in our No 1 corporate priority, begin now by making a gift of at least $1,500 at endpolio.org/donate.
That single act of generosity will do much more than you may realise. Thanks to the Gates Foundation’s 2-to-1 match, every dollar becomes three. Together, we can reach our annual goal of $50 million and finish the job Rotary began.
Each step brings us closer to a world where polio exists only in history books.
But numbers alone do not tell the whole story. Above all, polio eradication is a human endeavour — built on courage, compassion, and the belief that service can reshape the future.
On World Polio Day, I will be spending time in a place that symbolises exactly that. It is a location unlike any I have ever visited, and I look forward to revealing it in real time on social media. I will be having a creative (and fun) time while using this as an opportunity to shine light on those whose work embodies Rotary’s highest ideals — health workers, volunteers, and community leaders who stand on the frontlines of disease prevention.
Later this year, President Yinka and I will be travelling to Pakistan to meet with many of these leaders to express our personal gratitude. They are the reason we have come so far and must finish what we started.
As you prepare for World Polio Day, I ask you to join me in spirit and in action. Host an event. Tell the story of Rotary’s leadership. Invite your community to participate. Make your club’s gift. And above all, help us build momentum that carries into the months ahead.
And for all my puzzle-loving friends, here is a clue to my personal location on October 24:
“Polio with the _ E _ _ U _ _ S.”
“The top experts in the world are ardent students. The day you stop learning you’re definitely not an expert.” — Brendon Burchard
The Rotary Foundation Cadre advisers are valued for their professional and technical expertise, but their effectiveness also depends on continuous learning and developing the ability to work effectively with Rotary members. Over the past 18 months, the Cadre has identified core competencies essential for effective advising, covering both technical knowledge—such as grant planning and management—and interpersonal skills including communication and coaching.
The Cadre Core Competency Framework provides a pathway from basic to intermediate and advanced levels, helping advisers identify strengths, prepare for assignments, improve the consistency and quality of reviews, and support peer learning. Advisers are not expected to master every competency; instead, each is encouraged to identify one or two areas for focused development.
The ultimate goal is to build a Cadre of ardent learners and trusted advisers, capable of helping Rotary members develop stronger, more sustainable and scalable projects. As continuous learning strengthens individual expertise, it strengthens the collective impact of Rotary's grants and projects.
The common thread: Whether through food, fellowship, veteran support or healthcare, these projects demonstrate that Rotary creates lasting impact by understanding local needs and bringing people together to address them.
A chili cookoff organized by the Rotary Club of Mérida English in March raised more than $6,600 for youth services in the club’s Yucatán state community. Fourteen chefs vied for bragging rights, as determined by votes from more than 200 diners. The contest was held at the Casa de Amistad, the historic clubhouse of the Rotary Club of Mérida, of which Mérida English is a satellite club. The site was chosen “to bridge the gap between expat and Yucatán communities,” says club member David Keelan. The cookoff was held in collaboration with the Mérida English Library and the International Women’s Club. “When local clubs and libraries join forces, the result is more than just a meal,” Keelan says. “It is a sustainable investment in the city’s youth.”
Each year, the Rotary clubs of Kissimmee and Bartow team up and host a popular clay shooting tournament to support outdoor recreational opportunities for wounded military veterans in Florida. The clubs, which have raised $417,000 since 2018, welcomed 250 attendees to their October 2025 event, says Kissimmee Club President Jean Cunningham. In March, the Rotarians donated $80,000 to Operation Outdoor Freedom, a Florida Forest Service program that serves about 6,500 veterans by organizing outings for them to go fishing, camping, and hunting for alligators, pythons, wild hogs, and turkeys. Eric Lee, a veteran who took part in the event, told the club that “some of the toughest moments” occur after returning home from deployment. “When the structure, the team, and the mission are suddenly gone,” said Lee, “Operation Outdoor Freedom steps in.”
Even on a bustling Mediterranean island like Ibiza, making human connections can be a challenge. Denise Klischan formed the Rotary E-Club of Ibiza International to supercharge inclusivity, networking, and philanthropy — often in tandem. “Most of our members live in Ibiza,” says Klischan. “Those who live abroad have a special link to Ibiza, usually because they have a holiday home here.” At the suggestion of member Deborah Sass, the club this year began hosting business networking events for Rotarians and nonmembers alike. And they keep striving for inclusivity. “We are an expressly LGBTQ+ open club and have single mothers who bring their children to meetings,” Klischan says. “We charge the lowest monthly fee possible to make Rotary affordable for everyone — and we have a lot of fun.”
Health initiatives are a hallmark of the Rotary Club of Lake Bunyonyi. In April the club conducted a daylong medical clinic that served 772 people, most of them from rural outposts. “The outreach was aimed at improving access to healthcare, including general medical consultations, screening and testing, health education, counseling, and the treatment of common illnesses,” says Jean Tukamushaba, the club’s immediate past president. “Limited medical resources, financial constraints, and long distances to health facilities often prevent community members from seeking timely medical attention.” At the clinic, Rotarians, doctors, and other health workers teamed up with local leaders and Red Cross representatives. Tukamushaba says that demand was stronger than expected and future health initiatives will include more dental professionals and other specialists.
For more than seven decades, the Rotary Club of Taipei has coordinated a contest that challenges high school and college students to find solutions to societal problems. In its 2026 instalment, the club judged proposals to assist the country’s aging population. A team from Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology garnered the top prize of about $1,500 for designing low-cost updates to medical-alert bracelets that allow the devices to transmit the wearer’s location after a fall, even through thick apartment walls. “What distinguishes [the contest] is not only its emphasis on communication but its expectation that students engage meaningfully with the world around them,” says Nancy Chen Baldwin, a club member and service projects committee chair.
🎙️ “Ladies & Gentlemen
Rotary proudly presents Rotary National Photo Fest 2026 a celebration of creativity, storytelling, and the incredible power of a single photograph.
Your work will be evaluated by an exceptional panel of nationally and internationally acclaimed photographers and photography personalities:
Their experience, vision, and expertise will bring a truly distinguished perspective to the judging process.
So go ahead and ….
📷 Capture the Extraordinary.
❤️ Tell a Story.
🌟 Create an Impact.
🏆 Let Your Photograph Be Seen.
Submit your entries at: rotaryphotofest2026@gmail.com
Moments That Matter • Creating Lasting ImpactWith over two decades of creative excellence, Subi brings his unique perspective, imagination and storytelling to the Rotary National Photo Fest 2026 as a Jury Member.
From iconic portraits to conceptual photography, his work reminds us that a photograph can do more than capture a moment, it can create lasting impact.
ROTARY DISTRICT 3060 | Creating Lasting Impact • Moments That Matter
Submit your photograph at: rotaryphotofest2026@gmail.com
📅 Last Date: 10 October 2026
One Summit. One Vision. Greater Impact. Rotary is growing. Rotary is changing. And now, it’s time to take the next leap! Team Believers invites all Cluster 1 Clubs to come together for an action-packed day focused on:
📍 25th October 2026 Sunday | ⏰ 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Rajkot | Hosted by Rotary Club of Rajkot Prime.
Let’s discover new ideas, strengthen our clubs and turn Rotary’s vision into visible, meaningful and lasting impact.
What if we could stop community challenges before they begin?
The 2026-27 People of Action Honors will recognize six Rotary changemakers who are addressing the root causes of challenges like poverty, conflict, poor health outcomes, environmental harm, and lack of access to education.
Know someone creating sustainable solutions that help communities thrive? Nominate them to be a Champion of Prevention before close on or by 30 October.
Dear Club Secretaries,
District 3060 encourages each club to participate in this Service Project by organizing Training Programs on ‘First Aid for Suicide Prevention’. This initiative is an opportunity to learn as well as train people for an important life skill.
🗓️ Preferred months: September (Suicide Prevention Month) & October (Mental Health Awareness Month) 2026
✅ Commitment: Conduct minimum 1 Training Session
🏫 Engage locally: Schools / Colleges / Companies / Organizations
👥 Participants: Approx. 50-100 per session
🕒 Duration: 2 hours
👨⚕️📄 Get Support from District 3060: Professionally Qualified Resource Persons & Training Materials
📰📺 Ensure: Media Coverage of the event
✔ Anyone & everyone can learn.
✔ Each participant trained will be a potential life saver.
Rotarians, take the initiative to build a community that is prepared to act when someone is on the verge of life & death. Let us all, as TEAM BELIEVERS, Create Lasting Impact, by training more & more people around us, to Save Lives!
Exciting activities across Club, Cluster, and District Conference Levels: Solo Singing, Duet Singing, Solo Dance, Group Dance, Garba, Antakshari, and Mad Ads!
Total Registry: 805 Potential Donors
Session 06: Rotary Club of Baroda Cosmopolitan & Parul University
Attendance: 400 Students Present | 119 Potential Blood Stem Cell Donors Registered with DATRI
Date & Venue: 16 September 2026, Medical Science Auditorium, Parul University Campus
Our Goal: 5,000 Potential Donors during the Rotary Year
Dist. Project Chair: Dr. Uma Patel | Dist. Service Project Chair: Dr. Nimesh Rajput | District Governor: Nilesh & Shruti Shah
Registrations are open!
5000+ Registrations till printing this, 6+ from RID 3060 already registered!
Please send your Registration details to: santoshdg2122@gmail.com.
Let us represent our district in large numbers!
Healthy Girls • Strong Families • A Healthier Nation
Under the Rotary Gram Kalyan Project and Indian Medical Association (IMA) banner of Aao Gaon Chale Initiative, in collaboration with Shree Rang Navchetan Mahila Arts College, Valia, a comprehensive health awareness campaign was organized for adolescent girls and young women.
Rotary continues to champion girl-child health, hygiene dignity, and preventative healthcare education across all rural communities of District 3060.
Recognizing the exceptional generosity and leadership of clubs and individuals across Rotary International District 3060.
Heartiest congratulations to our top scorers and avid quizzers across District 3060 in the Monthly GML Quiz Challenge! We celebrate their keen knowledge and active engagement:
Congratulations to the leadership and members of our 18 Achiever Clubs who have achieved 100% Giving status:
We sincerely appreciate your generous contribution of USD 1,000 to The Rotary Foundation (APF-Share):
Congratulations to our distinguished Major Donors for their profound commitment to The Rotary Foundation:
Experience the inspiring moments and vibrant international exchanges of District 3060 youth ambassadors. Rotary Exchange opens minds, bridges cultures, and builds goodwill around the world!
Good Habits with Khanak is our (My Spouse and myself) passion project dedicated to creating engaging and entertaining educational videos for preschool children using Artificial Intelligence and animation. September being the Basic Education & Literacy month, Khanak fits right in! Through colourful characters, storytelling, music, and fun adventures, the channel teaches children important life values such as:
YouTube Channel: Good Habits with Khanak:
▶️ Visit Good Habits with Khanak on YouTube
The objective is to make value-based learning enjoyable for young children while responsibly using modern AI technology for education. As a Rotarian, I believe that nurturing good values in children today helps build a better society tomorrow. This project reflects Rotary's spirit of Service Above Self by contributing to early childhood education in a creative way. Please have a look!
एक दिन किसी ने मुझसे पूछा,
“डॉक्टर साहब, रोटेरियन होना क्या होता है?”
मैंने मुस्कुराकर कहा,
“बस इतना समझ लो…
जहाँ अपनी खुशी से पहले, किसी और की मुस्कान याद आती है।”
लेकिन फिर लगा—
क्या रोटेरियन होना सिर्फ एक Rotary pin लगाना है?
या फिर—
किसी अनजान इंसान के लिए अपने समय में से थोड़ा-सा समय निकालना भी है?
रोटरी को हमने अक्सर देखा है—
मीटिंग में बैठे हुए,
प्रोजेक्ट की योजना बनाते हुए,
बजट पर चर्चा करते हुए,
और कभी-कभी चाय के आने का इंतज़ार करते हुए।
लेकिन—
क्या हमने कभी यह सोचा है कि इन बैठकों के पीछे कितने सपने होते हैं?
किसी बच्चे की पढ़ाई का सपना।
किसी माँ के इलाज की उम्मीद।
किसी जरूरतमंद के चेहरे की मुस्कान।
रोटरी में हर कोई अपने साथ कुछ लेकर आता है।
कोई अपना अनुभव।
कोई अपना समय।
कोई अपना पैसा।
कोई अपनी पहचान।
और कोई—
बस अपना दिल।
लेकिन सेवा की बात आते ही सबके हाथ एक ही दिशा में उठते हैं।
रोटरी की सबसे खूबसूरत बात शायद यही है—
यहाँ डॉक्टर भी होता है, व्यापारी भी।
शिक्षक भी होता है, उद्योगपति भी।
कोई अपने व्यवसाय में लाखों का हिसाब रखता है,
तो कोई क्लब में चाय के कप गिनता है।
लेकिन जब किसी की मदद करनी हो,
तो सबका हिसाब एक ही होता है—
इंसानियत का।
रोटरी में दोस्ती भी कुछ अलग होती है।
पहले परिचय होता है,
फिर साथ बैठना होता है,
फिर प्रोजेक्ट बनता है,
और धीरे-धीरे—
अजनबी लोग अपने लगने लगते हैं।
कभी कोई कहता है—
“सर, बजट भेज दीजिए।”
कोई कहता है—
“पहले उपस्थिति ले लीजिए।”
और Treasurer साहब चुपचाप कैलकुलेटर निकाल लेते हैं।
क्योंकि रोटरी में सपने बड़े होते हैं,
लेकिन बजट भी अपनी जगह जरूरी होता है।
फिर भी—
हँसी-मजाक के बीच एक गंभीर बात छुपी होती है।
हम सब जानते हैं कि अकेला इंसान बहुत कुछ कर सकता है।
लेकिन जब लोग मिलकर हाथ बढ़ाते हैं,
तो वही छोटी-छोटी कोशिशें किसी की पूरी जिंदगी बदल सकती हैं।
कहीं किताबें पहुँचती हैं।
कहीं बच्चों की आँखों में नए सपने जन्म लेते हैं।
कहीं रक्तदान से किसी परिवार को उम्मीद मिलती है।
कहीं दो बूंद जिंदगी की किसी बच्चे का भविष्य बचाती हैं।
कहीं स्वच्छ पानी किसी बस्ती की प्यास बुझाता है।
और कहीं—
एक पेड़ लगाकर हम आने वाली पीढ़ी को साँसों का उपहार देते हैं।
रोटरी में सेवा सिर्फ दान नहीं होती।
सेवा का मतलब है—
किसी के दर्द को अपना समझना।
किसी की जरूरत को समझने की कोशिश करना।
और बिना यह पूछे कि बदले में क्या मिलेगा,
अपना हाथ बढ़ा देना।
रोटरी में नेतृत्व भी कुछ अलग होता है।
कभी अध्यक्ष बनकर रास्ता दिखाना होता है।
कभी पीछे रहकर किसी और का हाथ थामना होता है।
कभी District की जिम्मेदारी आती है।
कभी Global Grant की फाइल।
कभी DDF का हिसाब।
और कभी—
एक छोटी-सी मीटिंग पूरी शाम ले जाती है।
लेकिन असली नेतृत्व कुर्सी पर बैठने से नहीं आता।
वह तब आता है—
जब कोई साथी थक जाए, तो हम उसका काम थोड़ा-सा बाँट लें।
जब कोई नया सदस्य आए, तो उसे अपनेपन का एहसास दें।
और जब कोई प्रोजेक्ट सफल हो, तो तालियाँ सिर्फ अपने लिए नहीं, पूरी टीम के लिए बजाएँ।
रोटेरियन होना सिर्फ दूसरों की मदद करना नहीं है।
यह अपने भीतर भी कुछ बदलना है।
अपने समय की कीमत समझना।
अपने साधनों का सही उपयोग करना।
और यह याद रखना—
कि हमारे पास जो कुछ है, वह सिर्फ हमारे लिए नहीं है।
कभी कोई बच्चा आकर कहता है—
“सर, आपकी वजह से मेरा सपना जिंदा है।”
कभी किसी माँ की आँखों में आभार दिखाई देता है।
कभी कोई जरूरतमंद बस हाथ जोड़ देता है।
और उस पल—
न Rotary pin याद रहती है, न पद, न नाम, न सम्मान।
बस इतना लगता है—
आज का दिन बेकार नहीं गया।
इसलिए—
रोटेरियन होना सिर्फ Rotary का सदस्य बनना नहीं है।
रोटेरियन होना अपने भीतर के इंसान को हर दिन थोड़ा और बड़ा करना है।
किसी की उम्मीद बनना।
किसी की परेशानी में साथ खड़ा होना।
किसी की मुस्कान में अपनी खुशी ढूँढना।
और जब दुनिया पूछे—
“तुमने हासिल क्या किया?”
तो मुस्कुराकर कहना—
कुछ दिल जीते हैं।
कुछ आँसू पोंछे हैं।
कुछ सपनों को उड़ान दी है।
और चलते-चलते—
इंसानियत के रास्ते पर कुछ खूबसूरत कदम छोड़े हैं।
क्योंकि—
रोटेरियन होना सिर्फ यह नहीं कि हम दुनिया में क्या लेकर आए हैं।
रोटेरियन होना यह है—
कि हमारे जाने के बाद भी दुनिया में किसी की जिंदगी थोड़ी बेहतर रहे।
और शायद—
रोटेरियन होने की सबसे सच्ची पहचान यही है—
हमारी Rotary pin सीने पर लगती है,
लेकिन हमारी सेवा किसी के दिल में जगह बनाती है।
Swastik is a Sanskrit word derived by सु+ अस्ति means wellbeing. It represents peace, luck, hope, harmony and prosperity. In our tradition, we start any auspicious occasion by making Swastik whether it’s a new vehicle, a new house, or pooja in temple or anywhere else. Swastik is one of the auspicious symbols in Hindus, Jains and Buddhists used since last thousands of years.
Scientifically also this is proven that the energy level of the place is multiplied by 108 times where the Swastik is made. The Swastika is the central and essential symbol of Jain Gahuli. In Jain philosophy, the four arms of the Swastika represent the four gatis, or states of existence:
The Swastika therefore reminds us that the soul continues to wander through the cycle of birth and rebirth according to karma. Its presence in Gahuli is a reminder to live consciously, follow the Jain path and work towards freedom from this cycle. The Swastika is often accompanied by other Jain symbols, about the Swastik, such as the three dots, representing Right Faith-Samyak Darshan, Right Knowledge - Samyak Gyan, and Right Conduct-Samyak Charitra, and the crescent and dot representing the highest spiritual state and liberation, where one should try to reach.
In Hindu traditions, the Swastika is widely regarded as an auspicious symbol of well-being, prosperity, good fortune and positive energy. It is commonly drawn at entrances, during pujas, weddings, festivals and other auspicious occasions. The four arms can also be interpreted in different philosophical and cultural contexts, including the four directions and various groups of four that have significance within Hindu thought.
The Swastika is also found in Buddhist traditions, particularly across Asia. It is associated with auspiciousness, eternity, good fortune and the Dharma. It can be found in Buddhist art, temples and sacred representations.
Thus, although the symbol has different interpretations in different traditions, its broad Indian cultural association is overwhelmingly connected with auspiciousness, harmony and well-being.
Just as the rice does not grow again, may our soul not return to the cycle of birth and rebirth. May we attain Moksha.
Gahuli is made on clean surface , we can use different colors of clothes too to cover surface. We have to follow some rules, i.e. Directions, unbroken lines etc. to make Gahuli.
Traditional Gahuli is not made randomly. The direction and form of the Swastika are important. A traditional Jain Swastika is generally created so that its arms have an open, flowing appearance in the clockwise direction. The clockwise orientation is associated with an auspicious and positive movement.
One of the most important principles of creating a beautiful Gahuli is that the Swastika should have a continuous, unbroken flow. The line should not appear broken or disconnected. This unbroken form can be understood beautifully at a spiritual level. Life is a continuous journey. The soul moves through different experiences, learns through karma and continues its journey until it reaches liberation.
The true beauty of Gahuli lies not only in its final appearance but in the process of creating it. When a person sits quietly to make Gahuli , the hands create the pattern, while the mind becomes still. This makes Gahuli a beautiful combination of art, devotion and meditation. It teaches us qualities that are central to spiritual life:
Note: For me Gahuli is a passion too, every design created gives satisfaction, peace and happiness. Have a look at my art and do subscribe to my YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@kavitaAjain
A few samples of the art I pursue:
Heartiest Congratulations to Rtn. Sharmila Divatia, RC Vadodara Heritage & GML Co-Chair!
We are proud to share that Rtn. Sharmila Divatia was conferred the prestigious Social Entrepreneur Award (सम्मान) on 29 September 2026 by Mahila Unnati Sanstha (महिला उन्नति संस्था की ओर से सम्मान) in recognition of her tireless commitment to community upliftment, women empowerment, education, and social entrepreneurship.
“When you empower a woman, you strengthen a family, uplift a community, and inspire generations.”
The entire Rotary District 3060 and Team Believers congratulate Sharmila ji on this well-deserved honour and wish her continued success in creating lasting impact!
In this episode, our guest is '26-'27 Vice President Rtn. Ashish Joshi along with our very own Annet Dhruvi Panchasra. Join us as they share their inspiring thoughts, vision and perspective on Rotary, leadership and service. Enjoy this episode on the Rotary Club of Rajkot Greater YouTube channel and please share your thoughts with us.
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Test your knowledge of Sneh Sindhu, District 3060 initiatives, service projects, leaders, and key updates from GML Issue 4.
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