Antarang – ROTARY

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KNOW YOUR PRESIDENTS – RTN AYESHA MAZUMDER

When CYP Purnendu RC said to me that he needed a fresh face to chat with some of our wonderful past presidents, I agreed, although a bit hesitantly. Being new to the club, I knew them but fleetingly. My condition was that he would allow himself to be interviewed as well. I have to say that it was quite the experience to connect with them and get to know their different personas. Since we were already in lockdown mode, [this took place in April/May 2020], I had to interview them from afar, through phone calls, email and messaging services. Some, sadly, were unavailable due to health concerns and connectivity issues.
This is what they had to say…… [I have used abbreviations for their names].

PRC: CYP Purnendu Roychowdhury

PSB: PP Partha Sadhan Bose

HG: PP Heena Gorsia

SK: PP Satish Kapur

HD: Haladhar Dey

What is your favourite film, book and song ?

PRC

Film: Action, Science-Fiction. Book: Fiction. Song: Jamaican Farewell.

PSB

It is very difficult to single out any particular favorite.

English Films – Any 2nd WW film – Clint Eastwood – Western, Sound Of Music and Hatari, and all-time favourite Tom and Jerry films.

Bengali Films – All Uttam – Suchitra films and comedies of Bhanu, Jahar and Rabi Ghosh.

Hindi Films – Mera Naam Joker, most of Amitabh Bachhan’s films, especially Silsila. Also, Rajesh Khanna films.

Book – Any Rabindranath Tagore book and books on Indian freedom fighters.

Song – Only Rabindra Sangeet, old Bengali “adhunik” and old Hindi hits.

I do not like Western music or songs.
Again, it is very difficult to mention one favorite.

HG

Film: Roman Holiday, Little Women. Song: Lag Ja Gale.

SK

Film: Sound of Music. It has taken me to Austria 4 times.

Song: “Jaane who kaisey log thhey jinko” from the film PYAASA.

HD

Bengali, Hindi English light entertaining films.
Bengali, English literature – classics, contemporaries, travels & history.
Hindi & English contemporary modern songs and classical instrumentals.What season or festival do you like?

PRC

I love winter.

PSB

Season-Winter. Festival – Durga Puja.

HG

I love Diwali.

SK

I love the winter season and the festival of Diwali.

HD

The Puja period and the cooler months of the year.
What is your favourite dish, restaurant and travel destination?

PRC

Cuisine: Japanese. Restaurant: Narisawa. Travel destination: Germany & Hong Kong.

PSB

Dish-Chinese cuisine. Restaurant – Tangra restaurants. Travel Destination – Hills and forests.

HG

Dish: Dal Dhokli. Restaurant: Sexy Fish, London. Travel destination: Melbourne.

SK

Dish: I love potatoes -must have it at every meal in any form. Restaurant: For different cuisines, I like different restaurants. Travel destination: Switzerland is my favourite holiday destination.

HD

PRC

It was always Business.

PSB

I always wanted to be in Business.

HG

I wanted to be in Top Management.

SK

To be a pilot was my childhood fantasy so that I could see the world.

HD

I wanted to be a pilot.What is the strongest trait in your character?

PRC

I am focused and pursue my targets single-mindedly. If I decide upon something, I
will get it done. I am open-minded. Give me an idea and I will improve upon it and
make it better.

PSB

Willpower, honesty and frankness.

HG

It has to be…Never say Die!

SK

To go by what my conscience tells me.

HD

I am uncompromisingly strong willed.What has been your lifelong passion?

PRC

Travelling around the world. I want to build a house in the mountains.

PSB

Definitely driving cars, all sports and wildlife.

HG

To produce a hit musical!

SK

It has been to travel.

HD

To understand others’ perspectives and be understood.
What has been a Memorable Moment in your life?

PRC

Escaping a bus fire and avoiding a plane crash 10 days apart. It
changed the way I think and act.

PSB

Meeting my life partner 52 years back.

HG

It was when I completed my PG Diploma from MIT.

SK

When I was told by the Ambassador of Finland that I was being awarded and
decoration as Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland by the President of
Finland for my long-standing association and contribution to the sevice of Finland as
the Honorary Consul in Kolkata.

HD

The moment my son succeeded in establishing himself in life by the dint of his own
efforts.If you could do anything for the rest of your life, what would it be?

PRC

Spend more time with my family. Covid-19 taught me how important it is to be with
the family and do fun things together. I want to meditate and increase my focus but
at the same time see there are finer things in life outside work.

PSB

I would like to ensure the welfare of the blind.

HG

I would definitely cruise round the world.

SK

Continue to be a good human being.

HD

To serve society.What is the biggest change that you have seen in your own life?

PRC

I am not a pack animal. I need “me time” and space. My Rotary Club for the past 20
years has taught me to rely on teamwork, brain-storming for ideas, planning things
together with reliable friends. Hence, I can easily acknowledge my team by putting
the spotlight one them for their genuine work. This increases my happiness.

PSB

I have learnt tolerance and patience.

HG

How ‘corona’ has reminded us about the humility and reality of ourselves.

SK

Has to be entertainment technology… From radios to transistors to automatic record
changers. From VCRS to DVDS Walkmans, teleprinters to fax machines, cameras to
cell phones to computers…..

HD

Remain calm in all situations.Your life’s philosophy in one sentence.

PRC

Spiritual banking and knowing how to do it.

PSB

Be frank, transparent, honest and focused.

HG

Enjoy the Best ‘n Wait for the Better!

SK

To be compassionate, honest and forgiving.

HD

You can bluf the whole world but not yourself. So be honest to yourself.What is your deepest desire?

PRC

I don’t desire anything deeply. I let things happen. I don’t focus on anything or
everything. I believe desire brings unhappiness and want for acknowledgment. I
prefer long-term and short-term goals and exit plans.

PSB

It is to work for humanity.

HG

There should be an angel watching over each child.

SK

My deepest desire is that my family remains happy and healthy.

HD

Be honest, behave and act honestly and remain honest.What has been your biggest non-Rotary achievement till date?

PRC

Being a businessman I am target-oriented. Failures and successes are there but I am
trained to be the boss as well as the janitor. There can be a hundred failures and only
ten successes but I maximise the successes and cut my losses. So when people
congratulate me on LinkedIn on my work, anniversary or a designation upgrade in
my company it makes no difference as I am in the same position as I always was. I
don’t measure achievement; it’s non-productive to me. I measure profitability.

PSB

Personal appreciation by former President of India, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma for
carrying off Indian attire confidently and proudly at a foreign diplomatic banquet.

HG

I have educated and made employable 5,000 students a year for 16 years.

SK

In some associations and clubs I am looked upon as a non-partisan senior and am
often called in for advice and mediation.

HD

Re-defining life’s graph from the brink of disastrous failure.
How do you relieve stress?

PRC

I do it through music, books, movies, shooting, long drives, meeting up with friends,
some “me time”.

PSB

By listening to Rabindra Sangeet.

HG

By listening to music and spending time with family.

SK

Turning to God and praying to him to gives me courage to overcome the root cause
of the stress.

HD

By listening to music.
Is Rotary a habit or a passion with you?

PRC

Neither. It’s a medium for me to do some good. Rotary for me is a place to have
wonderful and supportive friends. By nature I am not a creature of habit as it’s
restrictive and obsessive.

PSB

It is a passion.

HG

It is obviously a passion

SK

Rotary was a passion but over time it has faded away. Rotary Club of Calcutta is a
great institution but I was disillusioned with the way the District was functioning,
which lessened my interest in the Rotary movement.

HD

Passion.
Please provide a piece of advice for the younger generation.

PRC

I am young myself. My father always told me that I will not teach you anything but
you will learn. So my advice is of no value

PSB

Be honest and focused.

HG

Follow your heart without fear.

SK

Work is not the be-all and end-all of life; spend quality time with your family.

HD

Be understanding. Do not judge others without judging yourself.
“Aponi achori dharma porerey sikhao”.

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KNOW YOUR PRESIDENTS – RTN AYESHA MAZUMDER

In continuation of my interviews with past presidents, I connected with four more.
Centenary Chair Saumen Ray was held up in London due to the lockdown, but granted me
the interview over messaging services. The others were here in Kolkata, and were very
gracious with their time. Some others, sadly, were unavailable due to health concerns and
connectivity issues.
This is what they had to say…..[I have used abbreviations for their names].

SR: CC PP Saumen Ray

NJ: PP Nilima Joshi

SKS: PP SK Sharma

VS: PP Vikram Somany

What is your favourite film, book and song ?

SR

Film: Sholay, Bridge on the River Kwai.
Book: Autobiography of an Unknown Indian.
Song: Tumhi meri manzill tumhi meri devta…. Mujhe ek chotisi mitti ki guria….

NJ

Film: Roman Holiday, Gone with the Wind.

SKS

Film: Chalti Ka Naam Gadi. Book: Bhagvad Gita.
Song: Kasmey Vaadey, Pyar Vafaa.

VS

Film: Ben Hur. Book: Merchant of Venice.
Song: Ekla Chalo ReWhat season or festival do you like?

SR

Christmas and New Year in London.

NJ

I love spring and Durga Puja.

SKS

I like winter and Diwali.

VS

I like Durga Puja.What is your favourite dish, restaurant and travel destination?

SR

Dish: Chicken Cacciatore / neem begun bhaja.
Restraurant: Karco Restraurant.
Travel destination: Duttapukur / London

NJ

I don’t have any one favourite dish or restaurant but I love french-fries. Travel
destination – Mountains.

SKS

Kadhi chawal, nil, forests in any part of the world.

VS

Dish: Pizza. Restaurant: Novikov (London). Destination: London.
What was your childhood career choice?

SR

Taxi driver / photographer.

NJ

I always wanted to be an artist.

SKS

It was always to become a doctor.

VS

It was to become an engineer.What is the strongest trait in your character?

SR

I can’t think of any one particular trait.

NJ

Determination.

SKS

Friendliness and creativity.

VS

Resilience.What has been your lifelong passion?

SR

Earn money from my hobby / be a film star.

NJ

It is definitely travelling far and wide.

SKS

It is definitely travelling far and wide.

VS

IT has been to serve humanity.What has been a Memorable Moment in your life?

SR

A ring with a yellow sapphire bought with the first rupee i earned, saved me from
falling froma bus, and that ring is still with me and saved me many a time.

NJ

It has to be becoming a mother.

SKS

Being elected sheriff of calcutta.

VS

When I became President of RCC during the centenary year of Rotary International in
2004/5.If you could do anything for the rest of your life, what would it be?

SR

Make people smile through service above self.

NJ

I would love to roam around the whole world.

SKS

Be a doctor till the last minute.

VS

Philanthropy.What is the biggest change that you have seen in your own life?

SR

From self-centred I have become people-centric.

NJ

Changes in technology – A land line to a mobile.

SKS

I have become more religious with time.

VS

When my father expired when I was young and I had to shoulder the full
responsibility of the family.Your life’s philosophy in one sentence.

SR

Love people; remember the good things and times with them.

NJ

It is to live and let live.

SKS

Do your part with utmost care – leave the rest to god.

VS

Reach out to others in need.What is your deepest desire?

SR

The British ruled India. Let Calcutta now rule Britain through Rotary.

NJ

To live in a tension-free world.

SKS

To help as many people as possible in this life.

VS

We are contributing to build an engineering college – hope it flourishes! What has been your biggest non-Rotary achievement till date?

SR

Leaving out being a topper at London University and partner of PWC, and an
international badminton player, the smile on my mother’s face is the most important
one.

NJ

As a working professional when I rolled the first round chapatti.

SKS

Being elected as Sheriff of Calcutta.

VS

Setting up a ceramic unit which has become one of the largest in the country.How do you relieve stress?

SR

I drink red wine, listen to music and play sports.

NJ

I sing, paint and listen to music.

SKS

I do yoga and meditation.

VS

By going for long walks.Is Rotary a habit or a passion with you?

SR

Rotary is neither a passion nor a habit. It’s a way of life. Rotary is life but life is beyond Rotary.

NJ

It has become a habit, a part of me.

SKS

It is a passion.

VS

It was a passion when I joined in 1975 but now it is a habit.
Please provide a piece of advice for the younger generation.

SR

In every job there is an element of fun. find that fun.

NJ

Be patient – Rome was not built in a day.

SKS

Life is short – do not keep any regrets.

VS

Do not expect to receive unless you are willing to give.