I joined R.C. Calcutta, where my father was President earlier, in August 1958, inducted by the Rotary doyen Saral Deb. It was indeed an honour to be invited for membership of ‘Old Number One’ — and that too at the young age of 26 years.

I thought maybe it would be befitting to frame the same along the mileposts which I have traversed during the last 62 years, recalling the times when Dr. B. C. Roy & Pandit Nehru addressed the Club.

Post-induction was really my absorption period, from dipstick to deep dive in engaging with Rotary and with Rotarians in the different avenues of service. There were three of us — the late PP Toby Palchaudhury, PDG Somen Nandy and myself — considered by some as the 3-angry young men of the club. Along with others we called for ‘change’ – in our club’s ambience and working. In 1971, I was elected Hony Secretary for a 2-years period — 1971-73.

I had the privilege to serve under three Presidents — stalwarts Sookamal Ghosh, Balbir Dua, Badri Pd. Poddar. Sookamal Ghosh was an amiable easy-going taskmaster. He showed me how a teetotaller can get tipsy without drinking (as seen at Nepal King’s Kathmandu reception) by just swirling the glass of brandy and inhaling the aroma! Balbir Dua was thorough, he came to the meetings with the agenda and his speech prepared in writing. Badri Prasad-ji was always accommodating and caring but suffered indifferent health.

Some far reaching changes were made in the bye-laws. One such related to the Secretary’s tenure of office, reduced from two years to one. Two new offices were introduced, viz joint secretary and joint treasurer to ensure continuity and exposure. Why did I give this assignment priority? Because I wanted a future secretary to have some hands on exposure whereas I had to rough out the two years without any preparation or exposure whatsoever! The year 1971-72 wrought havoc in India with the holocaust in East Pakistan. Millions of refugees poured into our country and particularly in Bengal. PM Indira Gandhi set-up Sahara Refugee Camp on the outskirts of Kolkata bordering East Pakistan to house the refugees (to prevent them from proceeding to the big towns). Rotary clubs worldwide provided relief materials with R.C. Calcutta coordinating the relief work.

I had the opportunity to gain a few pearls of wisdom from Mother Teresa during one such relief expedition. I enquired “Mother how do you manage resources for all the humanitarian work you are doing in India, as also in many other parts of the world.” Nonchalantly she replied “when you do God’s work, He provides you with the resources’. Imagine my surprise — just then a gentleman walked in and quietly handed over to her a cheque for a substantial amount. I realised that Rotary in its ethos was also mirroring Mother Teresa’s exhortation — ‘Give, give—till it hurts!’ For rarely a person is able to give back to society what he receives from it.

The next milestone in my Rotary career came about in 1990-91 when my fellow members elected me as President of this prestigious club. The Brazilian RI Pres. Paula V.C.Costa gave a Rotary theme much to my mind — “Honour Rotary with Faith and Enthusiasm. After all what is the purpose of joining Rotary, if one is not committed to its ideals? Costa gave a new direction to Rotary — which time alone in due course would prove significant —”Preserve Planet Earth’.

Our club’s 3-H Project — Begumpur Rural Development — an integrated, sustainable village development programme at Begumpur, a township a few hours distance away from the city, proved how along with an active Rotary Village Corps our club created the infrastructure to meet essential needs of the rural community and upgraded the existing village industries, agro based occupations with educational facilities.

The urban slum uplift project at Garcha Bustee where the club had set up a Health Centre and an adult literacy project was awarded the “Significant Service Project’ by RI. Much attention was given to the New Generation by way of increasing the utilisation of the NCL Childrens’ Library and its premises. A separate committee — Rotary Bhavan Development Committee — was formed to work with Rotary Children’s Welfare Trust to consider extension of the building premises and other facilities and provide more facilities for children.

The District Conference in my year as President organized by our own Rtn Subimal Ghosh was a landmark event. At the conclusion of the presidentship year, I was honoured by Rotary International with Certificate of Meritorious Service. My concluding summation for the year was as a wise man had said “Make no little plans, they have no magic to stir men’s blood. Make big plans, aim high and hope that it works”.

The latest milestone in my Rotary career was when I was elected District Governor for the Rotary year 1998-99 at the tumultuous 1997 Kathmandu district conference. We had a most amiable, children-loving and literacy-minded President James L. Lacy at the helm of Rotary International. He is the man who taught me how — ‘To follow Your Rotary Dream’. He had visualised how neglected children were, the New Generation — the future of the world. To meet their needs he sought a US $ 20 million ‘Children’s Opportunity Grant’ from R.I. He urged the clubs to undertake projects for the care, welfare and education. Among the many projects submitted there was one which granted the District to improve teaching facilities at more than 50 schools of Calcutta Corporation. A long term project, somehow it was not taken to its logical end.

As I progressed as an entrepreneur I was more and more exposed to the trials and tribulations of the working classes. Rotary gave me the opportunity to understand that only holistic solutions to eradicate illiteracy, malnutrition, disease, vocational inadequacy and social discrimination would work for their upliftment to dignity and economic well being.

While concluding, I should like to say that ‘Service above Self’ is the key engine that can drive holistic initiatives. There are such great resources in terms of experience, talents, and knowledge in Rotary’s membership that can be leveraged for achieving much greater societal impact than presently. To this objective, members must commit themselves wholeheartedly.

Simply out, I realise that today I have spent 3/4^th of my life with Rotary. Truly, I have enjoyed the fellowship of a worldwide circle of volunteers engaged in ‘Service above Self’. Significantly, the Motto and the ‘4-Way’ Touchstone Test’ have defined my being, and the way I have interacted with fellow men, including my family. My gratefulness to Rotary is unbounded.