Of All Things Rotary

OF ALL THINGS ROTARY….

During our trip to D3190, we visited many Rotary clubs through the opportunity of joint meetings held in honor of the GSE team’s visit to the District. There are subtle differences in protocol at these clubs as compared to clubs in D5080. Meetings are held in hotels or private clubs or in Rotary club owned buildings. A large banner depicting the current year’s RI President, the logo and theme for the year and a picture of the District Governor is displayed. So too, is a large banner depicting the name of the club is also on display. At the Farewell Party for our team, a special banner was prepared and honored the team and DGNE KS Nagendra who ably served as District Group Study Exchange Chair. A pleasant social hour precedes each meeting which encourages social networking. High tea or chats might be served. This period also allows those who are routinely stuck in Bangalore traffic to inch their way to the meeting site. When the bell is rung to start the meeting, the President is robed with his chain of office and as this is done, all members clap enthusiastically. The meeting starts with a minutes silence as an Invocation, or an elegantly attired dancer may perform to Karnatic music.

According to tradition, guests and Rotary Anns or Inner Wheel members are introduced and a program is presented; the exchange of club banners or “flags” is routine. We had the opportunity to speak to several visiting Rotarians of Indian descent who work abroad and who return “home” routinely to keep in contact with extended families. The work of the Club Bulletin editor is given special recognition, as each edition is graciously presented as a colorful wrapped gift and ceremoniously received. A token of appreciation for all of those taking part in the meeting reflects the generosity of Bangalore Rotarians and might range from recognition plaques to items symbolic of the spiritual life of Bangalorians or single flowers, bouquets or garlands of fresh jasmine. The induction of new Rotarians not only involves the new member but their spouse and children are also introduced to the club and a brief biography about the new member is presented by the sponsor. It obvious that Bangalore’s Rotarians are strong supporters of the Rotary Foundation and at almost every meeting, several members were presented with Paul Harris Fellow recognition. Clubs with 100% Paul Harris members usually only induct new members prepared to automatically become Paul Harris Fellows.

Change in meeting protocol is obvious in some of the newer clubs of Bangalore such as IT Corridor. The rule of casual dress has been adopted. This club meets early in the morning on Sunday, which is traditionally the only day of rest in Bangalore, so the club choses to focus much of their interaction on fun filled social events. So too, the Bangalore E-club reflects the relatively new and alternative model for Rotary clubs, where members meet weekly via the internet and only meet face to face once every month or six weeks.

We would like to thank the following clubs that made our visit to Bangalore so pleasant and informative and so generously showered us with gifts. In the event that we have forgotten to mention a club, we sincerely apologize. The many clubs included: Rotary Bangalore Lakeside, the Rotary Club of Bangalore, Rotary Club of Kumar Park, Rotary Club of Health City, Bangalore West, Rotary Bangalore North, Rotary Bangalore Junction/E-club, the District Governor’s home club-Rotary Bangalore South West, Rotary Banglaore South, Rotary Bangalore Kumara Park, Rotary Bangalore Sadashivanagar, Rotary Bangalore Rajajinager, Rotary Midtown, Rotary Bangalore Central Rotary Bangalore Brigades, Rotary Bangalore Garden City, Rotary Bangalore Koramangala, Rotary IT Corridor, Rotary Bangalore Yelahanka We also thank members of the Rotary Club of Metrotown and Rotary Club of Cubbon Park for hosting us on the trip to Mysore and for Rotary Ramanagara & Rotary Mandya and Rotary Mysore and Rotary Maddur for participating along the way. A very special thank you to Rotary Bangalore Southwest for hosting a wonderful farewell evening that allowed us to say farewell to hosts from other clubs.

Posted by Sheila Hart

Cultural Sharing Adds Special Flare To Closing Days

IMPROMPTU SHARING OF CULTURE ADDS A SPECIAL FLARE TO THE CLOSING DAYS

Twenty four days into the exchange, the team is beginning to show fatigue and I beg for a day off for members to rest, deal with personal shopping and recharge their batteries. Good decision!

A GSE is not a shopping spree, but fortunately we were given some limited episodes of shopping with local hosts guiding us to shops appropriate for our shopping needs. Between the overwhelming generosity of our Rotarian hosts and our personal shopping, all of us had to seek out a luggage shop and invest in an extra suitcase. Fortunately all of us kept our luggage weight to just under the airline’s baggage allocation. By now, all of us had converted from the team’s official uniform to beautiful Indian cotton garments and lovely silk scarves more suitable to the climate of endless sunshine and temperatures that were reaching the mid-30s. Exquisite hand crafted items such as wooden elephants (Ganesh), enamel bronze bowls, exquisitely woven table runners, intricate bronze earrings, bangles galore and silk shawls and scarves and purses were collected to be shared with loved ones back home. Locally grown tea, coffee, spice and prepared sauces were tucked away in anticipation of sharing a little bit of India with our loved ones. In the last days of the exchange, we were introduced to the delicacy of Indian sweets and this resulted in a sudden flurry of activity to find samples to carry home.

Throughout this exchange, every team member has remained involved and interested in every opportunity provided to them. A really memorable evening introduced the team to Rangoli – the Art of Using Colors. The puja room of a spectacular home in Palm Acres served as the setting for this cultural event. With soft candlelight and quiet chanting, the ambience of the setting was truly remarkable. Our hostess carefully explained the process of creating the beautiful designs that decorate the entrance to every home. Traditionally this art was done in front of the puja room and elaborate drawings could take 2-3 hours to create. The floor would be washed with cow dung that is known for its antiseptic qualities. As the custom is to enter a house barefoot, stepping onto the cleansed area provided some degree of cleansing the feet. The artwork for Rangoli is created with rice flour and water. In modern times this can be done using a pastry tube or a squeeze bottle with a fine tip. Alternatively, metal sieves pierced with designs can be used to apply a chalk mixture.  The lotus flower is a favored design as are geometric designs, some of which have auspicious meanings. An image of the God Ganesh is usually found in the centre of the design.

The opportunity to watch hosts prepare food was always enjoyed. Some team members now know how to prepare Chai, Butter Chicken and Chapattis.  However consuming the wonderful array of Indian dishes was even better. We have been introduced to more kinds of lentils than we ever knew existed. Idli, Sambar, Coconut Chutney, Jal Jeera, Shrikhand, Masala Dosa, Gajjar, Boha, Sheeera, Paneer Butter Marsala, Papad, Saputa, Gobi Manchurian, Alu Hariyali, Puta, Son Papdi, Moti Pak, Bhindi Masala Fry and Lollipop Chicken and Chili-Cheese toast have become part of our dietary vocabulary. Of course nobody can forget the fig and honey ice cream or the very special ice cream cake or Kulfi.

Our final day in India, was indeed very special. We visited the Institue of Ayurveda & Integratie Medicine ( I-Aim). We delighted in the greenery of I-AIMS Ethnomedicinal Garden which is a centre of excellence in medicinal plants and traditional knowledge operated by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. We enjoyed a yoga class and a full body massage.  Abhyanga Treatment uses copious amounts of Dhanwantaram Tailam oil applied by 2 masseurs who massage the body with long sweeping strokes. This technique is quite different from what is provided in North America. By the end of the session, some of us felt ready to be put on a BBQ spit for a slow roast. What better way to relax before a long journey home. When we returned to our day host’s home, we were greeted by some vivacious members of the Bangalore Rotaract Club. These fine young college students adorned all of the team member’s hands with Mehendi, the artwork using henna so often seen in pictures of brides in India.

In Bangalore, there is a saying that “The guest is God”. With these guiding words, our Bangalorian hosts have provided us with the experience of a life time that has truly surpassed every expectation that we had at the start of this wonderful journey. Namaste – we  too  truly recognize the spirit in each of you.

Posted by Sheila Hart

Polio Eradication Day in India

POLIO ERADICATION DAY IN INDIA

This past week has enabled us to truly understand the magnitude of the effort to eradicate polio in India. Gigantic bill boards at important traffic intersections inform the general public about the National Immunization Day. Immunization Stations are festooned with bright yellow flags. Auto-rickshaws and taxis equipped with loud speakers travel throughout the cities calling to people to bring their children to the closest immunization site. The effort does not end on the NID. As we travelled throughout Banglore during the past week, we have spotted ongoing immunization sites at temple doors, such as the ISKON temple. We have heard how busy Rotarians were at some sites that immunized more than 2000 children in one day. We have heard from women attending micro-finance meetings of the Grameena-Kuda Bank that indeed they would be having their young children immunized when volunteers arrived at their homes; indeed some of the children in attendance bore the widely recognized purple dye on their left pinkie that indicated that they have been immunized.

Here are some of the basic facts received from Dr. Sameer Hariani, the District Secretary for D3190 for the first 2012 NID held on February 19, 2012 in which 1 lahk+100,000 and 1 crore + 10,000,000:

* 800,000 vaccination booths
* 23 lahk vaccinators
* 12 lahk vaccination teams
* 155,000 supervisors, with 155,000 vehicles ( cars, motorcycles,
mopeds, bicycles, boats, elephants, camels or whatever it takes )
* 22 Crore doses of Polio Vaccine, carried around the country in 20 lac vaccine carrier bags
* 63 lacs ice packs to keep all those doses of polio vaccine in the 20
lac vaccine carries bags cold
* 19.1 crore homes visited
* 17 crore children immunized during each NID – of these, 10 crore
children immunized in just one day at booths

There have been no new cases of polio reported in India in 2012.

Posted by Sheila Hart

Bangaluru Temple Festival

COLOUR AND PAGENTRY OF THE BENGALURU TEMPLE FESTIVAL

One of the highlights of our trip was the visit to the Bengaluru Temple Festival that reflects Indian culture based on the divinity of all creation. Set on the grounds of the Varaprada Sri Devagiri Devasthana Temple in the Banashankari area of south Bangalore, the festival exposed us to superb examples of Indian music and dance. The evening started with a Carnatic Vocal highlighting Neela Ramanujam. This form of music is best known to the four states of southern India and is a sub-genre of Indian classical music. The pitch, sound of single notes, the melodic formula or raga and the tale or rhythmic cycles are all important to this music. Singer Neola was accompanied by musicians on drum, mouth organ and violin. This was followed by a Kathak dances performed by the Nadam Dance Troup consisting of 2 men and 8 women. Their dances took us through a full range and pace of the Kathac Dance which is one of eight forms of classical dance and is a means by which stories are told from epics to mythology. The pace of the dances performed move from a slow delicate performance of two performers to a crescendo of the full troupe performing rhythmic moves and delicate arm and face work. This delightful troupe will tour North America later this summer. The grand finale was Bharathanatyam performed by Ramaa Benugopal and Group. Ramaa was so proud to perform with her 2 talented students all dressed in highly ornate dance costumes. The Bharata Natyam is performed only by women to Carnatic music and is inspired by sculptures in ancient temples. Such dance was originally performed as a court dance representing fire and the mystic manifestation of metaphysical elements. Indeed the gloriously coloured and ornate costumes reflected dancing flames and celebrated the beauty of the material body.

The temple setting is chosen as it reflects a creation of an open culture that recognises and understands the diversity of people’s approach to the supreme godhead. The temple of the Vedic times was the Yaaga Shala, the elements and Mother Nature. It is reflective of the Indian culture that recognizes that all are part of creation: plants, animals, the elements and the entire universe. Host for the evening was Heritage, a not for profit trust that promotes, preserves and disseminates heritage and culture. The setting, surrounded by flowering and fruit bearing trees and the back-drop of the highly ornate temple, called upon participants to respond to the environmental crisis of today, to relearn to respect and nurture Mother Nature and to revive and restore classical and folk traditions.

Posted by Sheila Hart

A Week in the Life of the GSE Team

A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF THE D5080 GSE TEAM VISITING D3190 BANGALORE

It has been some time since an entry was made on our blog upon our return to Bangalore from Mysore. No wonder – we have had very full days often starting at 7 a.m. and finishing at midnight. GSE, like other Rotary programs such as Rotary Friendship Exchange are intense social experiences that expose participants to many aspects of life in the host district. In the past week, we have been hosted by the Rotary Club of Bangalore South and the Rotary Club of IT Corridor. However, our Rotary contacts don’t stop there as there have been joint meetings with Bangalore Brigades, Bangalore Central and Rotary City Centre. Tomorrow we move to our last hosts, the Rotary Club of Yelahanka. We also look forward to one final meeting, hopefully with all of our hosts present on Feb. 27.

Our exposure to the scope of Rotary projects in this District continues.

Vocational placements have a general flare but have introduced us to some very interesting sites. The Namdhari Seed Farm visit introduced us to the largest hybrid seed and vegetable growing operation in India that not only provides the local markets with choice 40 products but ships throughout South East Asia and as far west as Turkey and the UK. We toured the vast hydroponic greenhouses in which seedlings are grown in fumigated and sanitized coconut peat. We enjoyed a few brief minutes in the 4 degree coolers, which not only cooled us but reminded us that within a week we will be reintroduced to life at this temperature. This farm provides work for over 2000 farmer-growers and has a massive workforce.  As a result of this visit, I believe that I have found the answer as to why a bottle of pickles from India is half the cost of a similar product produced in Canada.

The team has been exposed to a range of medical facilities during our visit. All provide some form of indigent care. The Sankala Eye Centre provides care to 1850 beds in 8 centres. To date some 503,322 eye surgeries have been performed with a 98.8% success rate.  Care starts with camps being held in rural locations. Patients needing surgeries are transported to the Eye Centres where surgery is performed, care is given over 3 days to ensure infection does not set in and a 30 day review is provided. In 2 years some 150,000 children have been assessed and over 3 million glasses prescribed. The Centres work on an 80:20 model in which revenues from the 20% of patients able to pay assist in supporting the 80% who are unable to pay for needed care. We have also visited several other health centres including a Paediatric Chemo Unit, a haemodialysis unit and the 100 bed multi-specialty Hinduja Sindhi Hospital funded by the Hinduja Foundation and the Sindhi Youth Association. One of the most structurally magnificent buildings that we visited was the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Science founded by Sai Baba. This organization provides medical services free of charge in many facilities located throughout the world.

The ISKON Centre in central Bangalore was not only a feast for the eyes with numerous deities displayed that are ensconced with gold, silver and precious jewels. In the bowels of this huge building, we were surprised to find a fully automated kitchen that supplies 30 million meals per day; 1 lahk is spent on food each day and donations come from the government, private corporations, and Rotary. Although we did not have the opportunity to eat at The Higher Taste Restaurant, perhaps we will in the future in the huge amusement park that is now being created or when we source out ISKON temples in North America.

One of the organizations that benefits from the ISKON meal project is the Siddapura School which is sponsored by the municipality and located nearby the community in which Bangalore IT Corridor members live. This school provides basic elementary education in the local language. For some reason that is beyond the comprehension of the GSE Team members, the municipality did not provide toilets or hand-washing facilities for the students. Coming from a North American perspective, we found this hard to reconcile with our training about infection control, sanitation and personal hygiene. Again, Rotary came to the rescue and provided Toilet facilities. In addition, club members are assisting with an English as a second language program and music and art training.

AWAKE or the Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Karnataka, was another NGO that we visited that strives to be a major force in economic empowerment through entrepreneurship.  Membership consists of home based industries that assist women with developing a marketable product in a manner that meets manufacturer’s standards. Many of their products are sold through the store, Mother Earth. As with the Grameen model, the business development is done on a group basis, with members being accountable to the group. This model ensures that financial accountability is taught. So too business consulting, marketing support and credit references are given.

These are just a few of the various Rotary projects and vocational services sites that we have visited. We have been patiently attended to by Rotarian hosts throughout all of our visits, who have ensured that all of our questions are answered. Organizing the visits, transportation, coordination and meals has been a major feat and we are thankful for all that has been done to make our visits so interesting and meaningful.

Posted by Sheila Hart, Team Leader

Mysore Visit!!

MYSORE – A TANTALIZER FOR EVERY HISTORY LOVER

Rotary District 3190 provided the team members of the D5080 GSE Team the trip of a lifetime by taking the team to Mysore. The hospitality provided to us exceeded even the most memorable of Rotary adventures. We would like to thank the D3190 leadership, especially DGE KS Nagendra & Sameer Hariani for providing the team with this opportunity. But our thanks does not end there. Our every need was attended to by our Rotarian hosting team of S. Deepak and Kumar Ankalkoti, who thrive on showing inbound teams the best of times. However, the very special experiences that we had would not have been possible without the Rotary relationship that exists between Rotarians in D3190 (Bangalore and area) and D3180 (Mysore and area). This relationship provided the team several unique opportunities. Team members, guided by Rotary Club of Mandya President K. Ravindra, presented students at the Rotary sponsored school in Mandya with dictionaries. Though the relationship with Engineer Vijayakumar, we were given permission to visit the gardens at Brindavan and enjoy the wonderful water & light show, set to wonderful music and involving thousands of fountains in different shapes and sizes. These exquisite gardens lie below the 3 km long Krishnasagar Dam, built in 1924, on the River Cauvery. This was followed by a sumptuous dinner at the Royal Orchid-Brindavan.

Our second day in the Mysore area started at St. Philomena’s church, one of the oldest churches in India built in the Gothic style. By chance, we had the opportunity to see the adjacent school’s student population in the Prayer grounds, where to the beat of drums and the sounds of horns, they start their school day with the Karnataka anthem and prayer. We then climbed some 335 meters to the 12th century Temple of Chamundeshwari atop the Chamundi Hills. Here we were escorted through the temple in which a long procession of devotees was waiting to give and receive their offerings to the various deities of the Hindu religion. The panoramic view over Mysore is quite spectacular. Here we began our history lessons about Mysore and the Wodeyar family that ruled from 1578 until the establishment of the Republic of India in 1947, except for an interruption between 1761 and 1799. During the period of the Wodeyars Mysore reached the zenith of its glory. Part of that glory is captured in the Art Gallery in the Jagan Mohan Palace. Through the contacts of PDG Rtn Lakshminarayan, we were provided with excellent guides at the Gallery and also at the Mysore Palace. This magnificent structure, built in the Indo-Saracenic style with domes, turrets, arches and colonades, is a feast for the eyes. It includes works of art from all over the world, be it the magnificent tiled floors, exquisite ivory inlaid wooden doors or stained glass. Our guide ensured that we appreciated the special features of the Ceremonial Hall or marriage pavilion, in which huge oil paintings on canvas depict the Dasara procession from the outer Mysore Fort, passing by St. Philomena’s Church and ending in the front of the Palace with a depiction of the king, brother and nephew seated in the Golden Howdah. The artist K. Keshavaiah created a 3 dimensional effect to the entire composition so that viewers feel that the procession is following them. A special treat was provided as we toured the Armoury Room containing a collection of 725 weapons of historical and artistic interest. So too, was the tour of the Trophy Room of Maharaja Sri Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar that contains an interesting collection of specimens, including the pet dog. The Golden Howdah, weighing 720 kgs in which an elephant carries the patron Goddess of Chamundeshwari during the last day of Dasara was a magnificent sight to behold. We too enjoyed a brief elephant ride on the palace grounds. Through special arrangements with the palace electrical engineer, we were invited to view a special evening sound and light show depicting the history of the palace that culminated in the lighting of the 100,000 light bulbs illuminating this magnificent structure for 5 minutes.
On our last day in the Mysore area, Assistant Governor and member of the Rotary Club of Mandya, K.Prabhakar, attended to our every need and provided us with a final history lesson about the history of Mysore, We visited Srirangapatna and viewed the cemetery containing the remains of the celebrated Tipu Sultan. The magnificent detailed wall paintings in the nearby Summer Palace depict the history of the period between 1761 and 1799 when Hyder Ali and his celebrated son Tipu Sultan ruled the state. The political alliance with France is depicted in detailed battle paintings. So too is the battle that ended the life of the Tipu Sultan, otherwise known as the Tiger of Mysore, by British troops that overpowered the significant defences built on this island fortress in 1799. Locals have scratched away the details of the face of the man, Kahn, who was considered to be the traitor responsible for the death of Tipu Sultan.

The final treat for our team, was to enjoy a row boat cruise in the nearby Bird Sanctuary, where almost every foot of land was filled with busy birds building nests or attending to their young, while several Crocodiles patiently lay in wait in the still waters.
Needless to say, a brief interlude for shopping therapy had to be found for this all female team. Our Rotarian tour guides were so very patient as we lost ourselves in the delicacy of Mysore silk which we hope we will be able to squeeze in our already overweight luggage.

Rotarian hospitality is always very special but the memories of this trip to Mysore will last a life time.

Posted by Sheila Hart

Indian Music – Our Day with Dr. Bhave

A DISCUSSION ABOUT MUSIC BEGETS MORE THAN JUST MUSIC

Ask and it shall be given may be words that epitomize many relationships in Rotary. However, when GSE Team Member Taryn expressed an interest in Indian music, she did not anticipate the unscheduled treasure that awaited us. The team was taken to the home of Dr. Shyamala Bhave where we were introduced to the creative genius of this celebrated performer. Her music spans Hindustani Classical, Carnatic Classical and light music in several languages. She conducts choirs involving more than 500 artists, has provided musical scores for over 500 documentary films and continues with an Institute that started in 1930. The Honors and Distinctions for this enchanting lady are so numerous that she no longer has space to house them. The team was enthralled with their introduction to a significant array of beautiful antique musical instruments such as a Veena, Been, Tanbura, Foot Organ, Hand Organ, Sitar, and Taals. Given that Dr. Bhave hopes to perform again in America, the team plans to follow her website until we find a concert that we can attend.

Posted by Sheila Hart

Karunashraya – The Bangalore Hospice Trust

KARUNASHRAYA – THE BANGALORE HOSPICE TRUST

As our vehicle entered the peaceful laneway leading to Kaunashraya, we sensed that we were stepping away from the busyness that envelopes Bangalore 24 hours a day. Gardens, a children’s play area, a multi-denominational prayer centre calmed us as we approached the serene interiors of Karunashraya built in 2009. Some 8500 patients diagnosed with terminal cancer and their families have received palliative services through free Inpatient services, Home Care programs and a Day Care program offered by 3 full time physicians, 8 Registered Nurses, 3 Social Workers and many Health Assistants who are trained on site in a six month program.
The open-aired building is an architectural delight utilizing rock walls, large reflecting pools and greener to provide tranquility. Ward space is divided to give each patient a small area to call their own. Some private rooms are availability for patients experience significant distress. Alternative therapies such as physio, massage and music are provided.
Palliative care is a relatively new concept in India, but the movement is growing and Karunashraya is the model for future development. The Karunashraya Team provides training for physicians so that they can better understand the concept and appropriately refer patients so that they can receive appropriate treatment for pain, pre-death counselling and pre and post death support for the family. The program enables terminally ill patients to cross over without pain and suffering. Right to die with dignity, free of pain and in peace is everyone’s right.

Karunashraya is the apt name of a hospice that offers “ashray” and ”kuruna” to the dying irrespective of caste, creed or economic status. The Bangalore Hospice Trust is a project of the Indian Cancer Society and the Rotary Club of Bangalore Indiranagar. As a charitable trust, its services are completely free of cost and run solely on donations. Several Corporates, Charitable Trusts and Benevolent Funds and individuals have contributed generously. With the support of the Rotary Club of Bangalore Indiranagar and BHT, the Centre for Palliative Education opened in 1999 and has succeeded in spreading growing awareness of palliative care.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to Rtn. Gurmeet Randhawa for receiving us at this site and to the Rotary Clubs of Bangalore Junction/E-Club for providing transportation to Whitefield to view this site.

Posted by Sheila Hart

Rotoplast from a hosting club’s perspective

ROTAPLAST FROM A HOSTING CLUB’S PERSPECTIVE

Rotary makes the world a very small place and it caused me great joy to discover that my (Sheila) hosts in the Rotary Club of Bangalore North club were indeed the very people that D5080’s world renowned plastic surgeon, Dr. Frank Walchak and his wife Carolyn had suggested that I find. I (Sheila) was graciously welcomed into the home of Vijay and Manju. This beautiful home also welcomed the last 30 member Rotaplast team into their home to celebrate the successful 2011 mission that saw over 100 children receive cleft lip and palate surgery. The dedication to Rotaplast did not end there as the club will be sponsoring the hosting of another mission in August 2012.

Sponsoring a Rotaplast mission takes a great deal of time and energy and money for the host district or club, Rotaplast and the sponsoring district or club. While the sponsors fund medical team transportation, medications, publicity, equipment, and Rotaplast coordinates the mission, the cost of hosting is borne by the host club and any other institution that they have partnered with. It is estimated by my host Vijay that Bangalore North spends about $7500/year hosting Rotaplast missions. The club has a working relationship with AIMS (Adichunchanagiri Medical Institute) in nearby Nagamangala that donates team accommodations, 4 operating theatres and a staff of about 100 to assist the team. In addition, all of the 100 or so patients and their attendants are housed for the 7 day period during which the operations take place and post-operative check-ups are done. Bangalore North starts working on a Rotaplast mission at least 6 months in advance of the mission to find the 100+ potential patients, complete pre-surgery screening, formalise arrangements with Rotaplast and the other supporting organizations. From the minute that the team arrives, there is 24/7 involvement. Clearing customs can be problematical in any country and the smooth transmission of boxes of equipment and supplies is critical to the success of the mission; a day or two of issues with the customs authorities can play havoc with the schedule. Club members commit to staying with the team at the site to ensure that all is well with all parties concerned and facilitate problem solving as needed. The team is accompanied on a hospital supplied bus and a picnic lunch is supplied for the one day of mid-mission sightseeing that the Rotaplast team enjoys. On the last day in India, the team completes the post-surgical check-ups, climbs onto a bus to do a bit of sight-seeing and shopping and then heads to Vijay and Manju’s house for a relaxing cup of tea, lots of socializing and last minute picture taking, a sumptuous dinner; late in the evening the bus heads out through the organized chaos of Bangalore’s traffic to the airport for the flight home.

As a Rotaplast Ambassador, I (Sheila) feel privileged to have enjoyed some of the same fine hosting that the Rotaplast team experienced and to have had the opportunity to have been able to view a Rotaplast mission from the host club’s perspective.

Posted by Sheila Hart

A Rural Village Uplifted – Rotary Bangalore North’s Involvement in Kamashettyhalli

A RURAL VILLAGE UPLIFTED – ROTARY BANGALORE NORTH’S INVOLVEMENT IN KAMASHETTYHALLI

As the traffic thinned, the D5080 GSE Team, gave a collected sigh of relief, for this was the first time that we have been out of the organized chaos of Bangalore traffic since we came here 13 days ago. A modern highway took us past a million scenes of rural India; ditches being dug manually with a large hand trowel and earth carried away on small trays the size of a small wok; many backs bent as rice paddies were tended, wheat was cut, the earth was cultivated. Bullocks with highly painted horns transported men, tools and product. The remaining walls of an old fort have stood the test of time, while on the other side of the road, a bore well drilling apparatus was drilling through rock to service a Jain temple high on a hill. Wheat was not only being crushed by a tractor with a large grinding stone rapidly running around in circles, but also by the wheat being spread along the roadway so that traffic could do the job as it passed over the wheat. Communal wells serviced many areas and a young lad carrying about 30 large plastic water vases on a stick across his shoulders added a flash of colour. A stop at a roadside stand selling coconuts provided us with an opportunity to taste fresh sweet coconut water as well as watching the local colony of monkeys as they rapidly climbed the coconut trees to steal their share of food.

Finally we turned off the road and came to a road that had been built by the Rotary Club of Bangalore North about 15 years ago to service Kamashettyhalli. The projects undertaken by the club to uplift this rural village are significant. A bore well was dug. A school was constructed. A temple was built. As this village has really good drinking water, many folks from surrounding villages walk to avail themselves of this treasure. As a result, the club once again partnered with Rotarians in the USA to drill a second well and build a huge water tank Jal Seva Water Project. It is unfortunate that we did not get to meet the Rotarian who many years ago had inspired members of this club to work with this village. He was having a rest under a coconut tree and a large coconut fell on his chest and broke several ribs. We did get to meet a welcoming committee of a dozen or more bright eyed children who had just finished their day at school – Saturday, for school runs 6 days a week.

Following our visit to the village, we were given a delightful tour to the Nandi Hills. Here we tried to have a picnic lunch but the local troop of monkeys soon circled us and with speed and nimbleness were able to steal something from all of us. A short walk took us to the sheer cliffs that the Tipoo of Mysore used to eliminate anyone considered to be a traitor; more about this when we visit Mysore.

Posted by Sheila Hart