Only generous people join Rotary, says Governor Punjab
- Run for Peace organised at Sukhna Lake
Demokratic Front, Chandigarh – Feb 23 :
Governor of Punjab and Administrator UT Chandigarh Shri Banwarilal Purohit attended the Rotary’s 118th-anniversary celebrations as chief guest at Sukhna Lake here today.
Earlier in the morning students joined by other senior Rotarians including former world president of Rotary International Rajendra K. Saboo, District Governor V.P. Kalta from Shimla, and Club President Vinod Kapoor joined in the walk.
The programme was organized jointly by Rotary Club of Chandigarh in collaboration with the Chandigarh Tourism department.
Visually challenged students from the Institute for the Blind opened the proceedings with Saraswati Vandana, as well as recitals of bhajan and a shabad.
Addressing the congregation of Rotarians, and school children at the Rotary Peace monument, Shri Purohit recalled the contribution that Rotary has made to the world in advancing world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its humanitarian services.
Switching over to Hindi for the benefit of the children, Shri Purohit remarked that only generous people who have big hearts and accept the challenge to serve society and humanity, join Rotary, and no one can ever refuse them.
He related the story of Maharaja Ranjit Singh who was known for his generosity and recalled how he rewarded an old lady with 1000 gold coins who had hit him inadvertently with a stone that she had hurled to get mangoes from the tree to feed her hungry children. Despite his ministers’ insistence to punish her, Maharaja remarked that when a tree can give her the fruit to eat when she hits it with a stone, why can’t I help her?
Peacebuilding today needs a new approach, he said, and efforts of Rotary to have a peace march is a good beginning to keep ourselves reminded that our ethos of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” is an age-old guiding principle that India has shown its commitment to even for upcoming G20.
The guest of honor Smt Hargunjit Kaur, Secretary of Tourism, complimented Rotarians and felt that the Chandigarh Administration has joined hands with the Rotarians to acknowledge their service to the society and our city.
Rtn Rajendra K. Saboo, shared the story of how Chandigarh was declared the Rotary Peace City on 12th December 2003, and the monument was unveiled by the then Governor of Punjab Shri O.P. Verma, and other dignitaries, which makes the city a unique status as a Peace City.
Later all the dignitaries joined in releasing the blue and white balloons into the air to spread the message of peace.
Earlier District Governor V.P. Kalta and Club President Vinod Kapoor shared insight into the celebrations and how Rotary is impacting the lives of the people worldwide, while Assistant Governor Rtn A P Singh Dhiman, the project coordinator, later proposed a vote of thanks.
Over 60 students and teachers from Bhawan Vidyalaya, Sector 27, and M.DAV School, Sector 22 participated in the peace march.
