R. I. President Kalyan Banerjee District Governor Vijay Jalan Club President Kersi Hilloo April 2012 I Mid-Town Musings I 1 President's Address Dear Fellow Rotarians, The second half of February was made memorable by the visiting doctors from Germany, who came to India once again to perform plastic surgeries in Jalna. Ten German doctors and nurses, accompanied by some of our Rotarians, carried out free surgeries on poor children and burn patients in Jalna. Over 150 surgeries were performed during the 10 days of this camp, with the doctors working ceaselessly from morning to night. Visiting this camp was indeed a moving experience for me. I must acknowledge the tremendous contribution made by Rtn. Dr. B.R. Barwale for this camp, which was jointly carried out with the Rotary Club of Jalna. I also thank Rtn. Dr. Anil Tibrewala. Without the tireless efforts of these two stalwarts, this effort would not have been possible. The children of the Kamla Mehta School for www.bombaymidtown.org April is Magazine month Vol. No. 44 Issue No. 10, April 2012 For Private Circulation the Blind gave a moving performance during our meeting on February 15, which was applauded by all present. Due to the unstinting efforts of Rtns. Narendra and Gaurav, we are now second in the District in our contribution to the ISKCON midday meal project, having paid for feeding over 1,200 children for the year. Our Matching Grant projects are flourishing and are the talk of the District. In spite of his illness, Rtn. PP Arrow (with the able help of Rtn. Yogesh) continues to manage these projects efficiently, and has received several compliments from our colleagues in India and abroad. Our bulletin is going from strength to strength, and I am sure we will receive prizes and accolades from the District for our efforts. Thank you, Nargis, and congratulations to you and your team. Thank you all for your continuing support. - Kersi Hilloo
Transcript
R. I. PresidentKalyan Banerjee
District GovernorVijay Jalan
Club PresidentKersi Hilloo
April 2012 I Mid-Town Musings I 1
President's Address
Dear Fellow Rotarians,The second half of
February was made
memorable by the
visiting doctors from
Germany, who came
to India once again
to perform plastic
surgeries in Jalna. Ten
German doctors and
nurses, accompanied
by some of our Rotarians, carried out free
surgeries on poor children and burn patients
in Jalna. Over 150 surgeries were performed
during the 10 days of this camp, with the
doctors working ceaselessly from morning to
night. Visiting this camp was indeed a moving
experience for me. I must acknowledge the
tremendous contribution made by Rtn. Dr.
B.R. Barwale for this camp, which was jointly
carried out with the Rotary Club of Jalna. I
also thank Rtn. Dr. Anil Tibrewala. Without
the tireless efforts of these two stalwarts, this
effort would not have been possible.
The children of the Kamla Mehta School for
www.bombaymidtown.org
April is Magazine month
Vol. No. 44 Issue No. 10, April 2012 For Private Circulation
the Blind gave a moving performance during
our meeting on February 15, which was
applauded by all present.
Due to the unstinting efforts of Rtns. Narendra
and Gaurav, we are now second in the District
in our contribution to the ISKCON midday
meal project, having paid for feeding over
1,200 children for the year.
Our Matching Grant projects are flourishing
and are the talk of the District. In spite of
his illness, Rtn. PP Arrow (with the able help
of Rtn. Yogesh) continues to manage these
projects efficiently, and has received several
compliments from our colleagues in India
and abroad.
Our bulletin is going from strength to strength,
and I am sure we will receive prizes and
accolades from the District for our efforts.
Thank you, Nargis, and congratulations to
you and your team.
Thank you all for your continuing support.
- Kersi Hilloo
Celebrations
2 I Mid-Town Musings I April 2012
CCC&B
Rtn. Pres. Kersi Hilloo, Rtn. Mehli Cama, Rtn. Robert and R/Ann Cathrin Lenzen
Rtn. PP Anil Kamath making a point
Cake cutting ceremony
Rtn. PP Shalehbai, Rtn. Ashwin Shah and Rtn. PP Anil Kamath
First Lady Binaifer Hilloo and Rtn. B.D. Kataria
R/Ann Rajul Shah, Rtn. Prasanna Bhagat and Rtn. Suruchi Chand
Rtn. PP Mohan Lalvani with Mrs. Madhu Mehra
Rtns. Gaurav Kapadia and Robert Lenzen greet each other
Rtns. Kishore Jhaveri, Kiran Shah, Dr. Varsha Vadera, R/Ann Dr. Sandhya, Rtn. Anand and R/Ann Shivani Didwania Rtns. R.C. Sinha and R.P. Anand
R/Anns Hansa Kejriwal and Cathrin Lenzen with First Lady Binaifer Hilloo
Rtns. Dr. Varsha Vadera and Kiran Shah with R/Ann Usha and Rtn. Yogesh Pandya Rtns. Aditi Choksey and Kiran Shah
R/Anns Urmila Mehra and Elinor MirzaRtn. Santosh Kejriwal, Rtn. Pres. Kersi Hilloo and Rtns. Robert Lenzen and Mehli Cama
(Left to Right) Rtn. Kishore Jhaveri, Rtn. PP S. B. Anand, and Rtns. Ramesh Sinha and Ram Prakash Anand
R/Ann Usha Pandya, R/Ann Cathrin Lenzen and First Lady Binaifer Hilloo
R/Anns Sonali Jalan and Sapna Punjabi Rtns. Robert Lenzen and Kiran Shah with Rtn. PP S.B. Anand
Projects
4 I Mid-Town Musings I April 2012
The Gardening Haven
On March 7, 2012, the Environment Committee, headed by Rtn. PP Lalit Goculdas, organised a review visit to the Victoria Memorial School For Blind at Tardeo, to see the progress made on the beautification of the garden in the premises. The members visiting the site were Rtn. Pres. Kersi Hilloo, along with First Lady Binaifer, Rtn. PP Anil Kamath, and Rtn. PP Firoze and R/Ann Elinor Mirza.
The members went around the school accompanied by the head teacher and were shown the various plants blooming with flowers – beautiful and colourful, it was an artistic view of perfect, natural scenery.
We have helped the school a lot over the last five years. Rtn. Dr. Kirit Mody also examined the eyes of 50 of the students studying in the school. r
– Reported by Rtn. PP Lalit Goculdas
A teacher, R/Ann Elinor Mirza, First Lady Binaifer and Rtn. Pres. Kersi Hilloo, Rtn. Dr. Firoz Mirza and Rtn. PP Lalit Goculdas
Students in the school's garden
A teacher explains something to the First Lady, R/Ann Elinor and Rtn. PP Anil Kamath
A view of the beautified gardenRtn. PP Lalit Goculdas viewing the plants
Rtn. Pres. Kersi Hilloo and First Lady Binaifer walking through the garden
Projects
April 2012 I Mid-Town Musings I 5
Transforming Lives
The members of the team from Germany were received at the airport and taken to Atithi Hotel, near the domestic airport, for the night. We reached Jalna on the morning of February 18. Here, we were welcomed by the Rotarians from Jalna in the traditional Indian style of tika and flower garlands. After breakfast, we went on to the Jalna Mission Hospital, where a brief but mandatory opening ceremony was held. In his speech, team leader Dr. Schlosser stated that the main attraction of returning to Jalna was that the camp was getting more efficient. Thus, more people were able to benefit from it.
Screening of patients for surgery started immediately after the inaugural function. The teams separated into the cleft lip and palate teams (headed by Dr. Jihan Mohasseb and Dr. Gerhard Schlosser) and the reconstructive surgery team (headed by Dr. Fons van der Hoofd and Dr. Detlef Cramer), and the work began! Over 300 patients were screened, so that about 125 could be selected for surgery. These were patients who had already been screened by the Rotarians from Jalna — including Rtn. Dr. Christopher Moses, Medical Superintendent, Jalna Mission Hospital — and had been specifically selected for the camp. The selection was based purely on the need for surgery, and the feasibility of performing these operations, given our circumstances. Patients who had been operated upon in the past few years also came for follow-ups and to meet us and express their gratitude. I had personally sent 4-5 patients from Mumbai to this camp, as they were unable to afford treatment in Mumbai.
Both teams made operative schedules for the entire duration of the camp. As a matter of fact, the surplus patients’ addresses were noted down, so that they can be informed about the next camp by post. More than
The ninth plastic surgery camp was held at the Jalna Mission Hospital between February 18 and March 2, 2012.
100 patients were operated, and over 130 procedures were performed on them.
The beauty of this work is manifold:• The joining of hands from diverse parts of the world.
• The understanding and friendship that it is helping to bring about.
6 I Mid-Town Musings I April 2012
Projects
Health first
The Club’s fourth agriculture, health and hygiene shivar was held on February 8, 2012, at the Ramakrishna Mission Rural Health and Welfare (RMRHW) Centre, Sakwar.
About 180 participants from Mokhada, Javahar, Palghar, Wada, Shahpur and Vasai talukas attended the shivar. Field training on subjects such as harvesting vegetables, dairy upkeep, biogas plant upkeep and organic fertiliser production was imparted by specialists in each field at
the Centre. Thereafter, individuals’ questions about their particular problems were answered.
Besides this, the doctors and staff of RMRHW also gave instructions on sanitation and preventive healthcare. The next shivar was scheduled for March 28, 2012. r
– Text and Photos by Rtn. Kishore Sharma,Chairman, Sakwar Adivasi Area Development Committee
The womenfolk from the village line up for lunch Rtn. Kishore Sharma helping in lunch distribution
• The single, binding common thread of selfless service for someone who just could not afford it.
• The treatment is done compassionately (the German team actually gets soft toys for the children who come for surgery!).
• Surgically, complex, state-of-the-art procedures are being done by experts, purely for charity.
I must vociferously laud the role of the members of the Rotary Club of Jalna, including seniors like Mundhraji and Sharmaji, who spare no effort to make this camp a success. Dr. Moses — or Christo, as we call
him — who oversees the running of the camp and much more, long after we have all left, deserves a very special mention.
I needn’t add that the deep interest taken by our very own Rtn. Dr. B.D. Barwale smoothens out all the bumps in the ride. Starting from clearing the team in Customs, to arranging their tickets and generally being there at every step of the way to financially support the camp when it is teetering – a big thank you, Sir! A very special mention must also be made of Ms. Aban Kapadia from Dr. Barwale’s office, who works behind the scenes quietly and patiently, making sure that all the organisation is completely seamless. Thanks, Aban! All in all, another wonderful year! r
– Rtn. Dr. Anil Tibrewala
April 2012 I Mid-Town Musings I 7
Meetings
4th Club Assembly
The periodic meeting of the office bearers of the Club was held on Wednesday, February 22, 2012, at the Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai. Here’s a report.
The Club Assembly was chaired by Asst. District Governor Gul Kripalani. All the major committee directors were present and many of the committee chairmen reported in person on their activities. The one person who was unable to attend due to health reasons, was the indefatigable Rtn. PP Arrow, who has overseen the Club’s major thrust in water harvesting and rural upliftment programmes. Everyone wished him a speedy recovery.
Asst. DG Gul Kriplani was extremely pleased with the efforts of the Club in a wide variety of service-oriented projects, and praised Rtn. Pres. Kersi Hilloo and his team. This was in reference to the Club as one of the navratnas of the District.
One area which needs to improve is attendance – a problem apparently shared by many clubs!
To end, Rtn. Pres. Kersi thanked the directors and chairmen for their continued support. r
Date: Wednesday, February 22, 2012Subject: 4th Club Assembly
– Reported by Rtn. Nargis Wadia
(Left to Right) Asst. DG Gul Kripalani, Rtn. Pres. Kersi Hilloo and Coussnet Octava from Brussels
The 4th Club Assembly in session
(Left to Right) Rtn. PP Tilak Raj Mehta, Rtn. Kishore Sharma, Rtn. PP S.B. Anand, Rtn. PP Lalit GoculdasRtn. Dr. Deepak Garg making a point
8 I Mid-Town Musings I April 2012
Meetings
Biomechanics made simple
“Scientific way to remain mobile and pain-free – at any age!”
Chaitanya Shah, an Engineering graduate from North Carolina State University, USA, made a presentation for the Bombay Mid-Towners about Biomechanics – the science of movement of a human body. He explained how muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments work together to produce movement. Faulty biomechanics can lead to poor posture, muscle tightness and misalignment, causing severe pain and reduced mobility.
Chaitanya Shah currently operates Orthofit, representing companies of international repute in the health industry, to market their clinical products in India. A unique business model has been developed on the principles of working with a network of medical practitioners who will dispense the appropriate products only after conducting a thorough evaluation and educating the customers. Orthofit remains committed to providing dedicated customer service. It represents the following companies in India:
(1) McDavid Knee Guard Inc., USA, for orthopaedic braces and supports.
(2) Vasyli Int’l, Australia/USA, for prefabricated custom-molded orthotic insoles and ready-to-wear footwear.
(3) Dr. Comfort, USA, for diabetic and complicated feet.
(4) Otto Bock, Germany, for marketing orthopaedic and rehabilitation products (Western Zone).
Mr. Shah’s colleague, physiotherapist Tejal Sanover, made a powerpoint presentation on the causes and
treatments of several problems. “Do you experience lower back or foot pain, or even impaired mobility without being sure of the cause?” she asked. She then proceeded to explain, in detail, various problems caused by a faulty posture and walking habits. She stressed the need for a balanced posture, likening it to the importance of ensuring the strength of a building’s foundation. Dr. Sanover described the various Orthofit products – these are used in the treatment of knee joints, for relief to the feet and, most importantly, diabetic numbness in the soles of the feet. This last condition, if not treated correctly and on time, can lead to gangrene and even amputation of the feet.
Correct evaluation of the cause of the problems is the most important step in finding a permanent solution. Usually, the treatment suggested is only of a temporary nature, since the actual cause is not addressed. This causes a recurrence after a few weeks or months. Orthofit clinics conduct a thorough examination of a patient for about 45 minutes to find out the cause, before prescribing a treatment. Mr. Shah suggested that it is best not to carry on with the injury or disability but to find its root cause. Orthofit’s mission is to enhance the physical performance of the individual, at any age! r
Date: Wednesday, March 21, 2012Speaker: Mr. Chaitanya ShahSubject: BiomechanicsIntroduced by: Rtn. Dr. Deepak GargVote of thanks: Rtn. Suruchi Chand
– Reported by Rtn. Nargis Wadia
Speaker Chaitanya Shah
Dr. Tejal Sanover made a powerpoint presentation
April 2012 I Mid-Town Musings I 9
Meetings
Miracles in Lonavala
"The hills are live with the music of service!"
In the hills of Lonavala, there is a planned miracle taking place in the lives of several homeless and destitute children who roam the streets by day, and seek shelter at the railway stations by night. These kids, several of whom are addicted to drugs, alcohol and tobacco, are being nurtured back into the world of love and caring by two Samaritans – Satish and Yogita Moon.
Some call it a mission, some a commitment or a passion. For Satish and Yogita Moon, the Strong Village project is simply their life’s work. All their efforts are focused on the 86 children whom they care for (incuding two of their own). The Moons themselves grew up in an orphanage.
To speak about their project, the Club had invited Ms. Shazar Robinson, an Australian lady, who has devoted the last six months of her time to the project.
Amongst many other projects, Mrs. Robinson is working toward aforestation in the area, as well as educational programmes about caring for Mother Earth. She has a background in healthcare, counselling, public speaking, web design and marketing.
“A conservative estimate of homeless children by UNICEF stands at a staggering 11 million!” said Ms. Robinson. To find out the root cause of why so many children drift away from their homes and communities, a study of three villages around Pune was done, and the causes identified. Most had dysfunctional families where the parents were alcoholics, jobless and/or lacking in
rudimentary education. There were no community activities and social values. In a nutshell, the children lacked ‘role models’ and had no one to guide them.
To provide role models for the kids, Satish involved 30 volunteers and a karate expert to teach them the art. The volunteers were also trained in nurturing skills. Today, all of them are helping to build and set up the new home for these homeless children.
The Moons started an educational project called ‘Shikshan Gram Shelter for Homeless Children’ in a shed. Thereafter, the Lonavala Lion’s Club donated a piece of land for expanding the activity and now a new building houses the Strong Village project. The new building will also house a library. Ms. Robinson has been speaking to several Rotary Clubs about the Strong Village project and she appealed to Mid-Town for help.
Satish answered the question about the future of the children. He stressed that if the present is taken care of, the future is bound to be good. r
Date: Wednesday, March 14, 2012Speakers: Ms. Shazar Robinson, Mr. Satish and Mrs. Yogita MoonSubject: Strong Village projectIntroduced by: Rtn. Ashwin ShahVote of Thanks: Rtn. Manoj Jalan
– Reported by Rtn. Nargis Wadia
Ms. Shazar Robinson (Centre) with Satish Moon and a guest Ms. Robinson speaks about Strong Village and other projects
10 I Mid-Town Musings I April 2012
Meetings
No More a Chook-Chook Gadi
The members of the Rotary Club of Bombay Mid-Town were thrilled with Dr. P.C. Sehgal’s talk on the topic of the modernisation of Mumbai’s railway system.
The Rotary Club of Bombay Mid-Town was privileged enough to be witness to an illuminating presentation on this crucial service, which is truly the life sustaining system of our metropolis. Dr. P.C. Sehgal, the recently retired CEO and MD of the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation, made a comprehensive audiovisual presentation which covered the early years of the Railways from the British era to current times.
Having joined the Railways in 1974, Dr. Sehgal’s vast knowledge and familiarity with the service helped him describe the enormous hurdles a public utility faces in coping with the problem of the unbridled growth of the city’s population. He also spoke about the consequent pressure on its utilities, compounded by a lack of urban planning, which is skewed to the needs of the elite.
Dr. Sehgal rued the fact that although 60-70 per cent of the population cannot afford personal vehicles and depends upon public transport, judicious investments in the latter are lacking and investments in projects such as flyovers and the sea-link are favoured – which only results in increased congestion in central and south Mumbai!
Here are a few observations from Dr. Sehgal’s presentation which was replete with facts and figures:
• In 1925, there were trams and two railway companies – the Bombay, Baroda, and Central India (BB&CI) Railway and the Great Indian Peninsula (GPI) Railway. Later, the British introduced buses identical to those plying in
London. Unfortunately, in 1964, the tram service was stopped as trams were seen to be ‘choking’ the roads. In most developed cities of over a million, there are at least four transport systems, including metros.
• In the ‘20s, railway lines ran right up to Colaba, but later they were restricted to Churchgate.
• The two railway systems run north-south only, and there is no east-west connectivity, causing hardships for the commuters.
• The Railways are a highly subsidised service – the charges are as low as $1 for 500km. The resulting loss of profit is taken care of by the government.
• In 1940, the load factor was one person sitting : two standing. Today, the ratio is 1:16!
The Speaker, Dr. P.C. Seghal Dr. P.C. Seghal and Rtn. PP S.B. Anand
The audience pays attention as Dr. Sehgal delivers his talk
April 2012 I Mid-Town Musings I 11
Rotaract
This kind of overloading results in accidents and deaths. In the Kargil war, we lost about 3,000 jawans. In our trains, we lose 3,000 commuters annually!
The lack of modernisation over the past three decades has been due to the lack of finance/investment, even though the city’s tax collection from stamp fees is R11,000 crores. Builders charge premium rates on properties, proportional to their proximity to the railway stations. “Why can’t they be made to contribute to the development of the railways?” asked Dr. Sehgal.
The modernisation was only possible thanks to the funding and involvement of the World Bank. The Railway Vikas Corporation was set up with the central and state governments, with 50 per cent shares being held by each. The study took 17 years to complete and several foreign consultants were involved in the project.
It was hoped that funding could be raised from selling surplus land belonging to the Railways, but that was not possible, and neither was the hope of increasing the cost of tickets. Both of these things have resulted in a revenue shortfall of R5,000 crores.
In order to expand the service, additional land is required to enable the laying down of extra tracks. However, slums have heavily encroached upon railway land and to release these, the Railways undertook the enormous task of constructing new housing for about 15,000 families! The task of convincing the people who lived in unhealthy shanties to move to their new homes, was only successful thanks to the involvement of NGOs. It’s heartwarming to hear the stories of the people who received this boon – as to how their dismal lives have been changed for the better. r
Date: Wednesday, February 29, 2012Subject: Rail Vikas Talk by Dr. P.C. Sehgal
– Reported by Rtn. Nargis Wadia
When planning a major development project, ensure that it is: • Socially sustainable• Customer-wise sustainable• Energy-wise sustainable• Politically sustainable• Environmentally sustainable and• Financially sustainable
Dr. Sehgal's Wise Counsel A Joint Celebration
The Rotaract Club of Lala Lajpat Rai College of Commerce & Economics successfully undertook a seminar and a joint meeting with the Interact Club of Walsingham House School and its parent, Rotary Club of Bombay Mid-Town, on March 17, 2012, at Lala's College. The seminar was held in the celebration of World Rotaract Week. It was a one-of-a-kind meeting, as all the three partners were present for the same – Rotarians, Interactors and Rotaractors.
Rtn. PP Anil Ambo of Rotary Club of Bombay Mid-Town was the main speaker. He spoke to the Interactors and Rotaractors on the important topic of ‘Personality Development’, and made a presentation on the roles of the members of Rotaract and Interact.
Rtn. PP Anil Ambo spoke on the topic of Personality Development for 45 minutes. He also shared his personal life experiences with the Interactors and Rotaractors. Interactor Vidhi, the President of the Interact Club of Walsingham House School, said, “This was a great morning, and this session will help a lot.”
Rtn. Kiran Shah, the RCC, was also present at the meeting and was witness to this extraordinary meeting. Rtr. Neha Kayal, the District Chairman, T.R.S, and Secretary Designate for the year 2011-2012, made a presentation about the origin of the Interact and Rotaract movements.
The interaction between the three arms of the Rotary movement was truly inspiring. It was a session which gave guidelines for the future and had a positive effect on all of us. We are thankful to the Rotaractors of Lala’s College, who invited us for such an amazing session. r
– Reported by Rtr. Mudassir Mozawala, Vice President & Entrepreneurship Director, RC Lala's, and Vidhi Vaghela,
President Interact Club, Walsingham House School
Rtn. PP Anil Kamath has been appointed by the DGE Dr. Bal Inamdar
as the District Joint Secretary for Project 11, which includes the Rotary Club of Bombay Mid-Town and 10 other clubs. Congratulations to him!
Congratulations
Dr. Sehgal has authored books on management and has also written several articles.
Tête-à-tête
Tell us about your early years. Did your parents influence your career path?Shaunak: I grew up in a family of lawyers. My grandfather was one of the four magistrates of Bombay Presidency during the British Raj. My father was a solicitor and senior-most partner of Mulla & Mulla & Craigie Blunt & Caroe. While I was still in school, my elder brother was studying Law. Often, I used to overhear discussions between him and my father on the topic. Growing up in this environment, I had little difficulty deciding what career to pursue. After I took the Solicitor’s exam, I switched to the Bar.
Nainu: Although my father is a lawyer and an income tax consultant, it was Shaunak who insisted that I complete my studies and take up legal practice thereafter. I was studying Law and Design when we got married and, with the birth of both my children shortly after our marriage, my studies got disrupted. Shaunak, however, encouraged me to complete both my courses. This took several years; I finished studying Law when my children were giving their 10th and 12th standard exams respectively.
In hindsight, I feel that Shaunak saw a potential nag in me and decided that it was the best way to keep me busy and out of his way!
Tell us about your profession.S: After taking my Solicitor’s exam, I switched to counsel practice in the Bombay High Court. My work involves drafting and appearing in litigations in our High Court, Supreme Court and various tribunals, including commercial arbitrations. My field of practice is Commercial and Business Laws (such as Corporate Laws, Admiralty, Trademark and Copyright Laws); Construction Laws; Environment Laws and Electricity Laws. The Legal profession is very competitive and very exciting.
N: I have joined a law firm called DSA and mainly practice Property Law.
How do you and Nainu juggle your professional lives with family time?S: We try and plan our appointments in advance. Our place of work and fields of practice are different. As far
12 I Mid-Town Musings I April 2012
The Legal Eagles
You don’t want to cross this couple! Nainu and Shaunak Thacker are both high-powered lawyers, and eminent members of their field. With great difficulty, I was able to get an interview with them, and was rewarded with some fascinating answers.
Nainu and Shaunak on a holiday in Egypt Family time for the Thackers
April 2012 I Mid-Town Musings I 13
Tête-à-tête
professional contacts, I have made many wonderful friends and have met people from so many different walks of life, whom I wouldn't have met otherwise.
India is not a litigious society by the standards of the US. Is that good or bad?S: It is a good sign if it reflects tolerance, patience and alternative dispute resolution systems. However, if this means that people do not know their civil rights, or they do not stand up for themselves and other weaker sections or when things are going wrong in our society, then such ignorance or apathy is extremely unfortunate and reflects a social problem which needs to be addressed. If the affected people are avoiding legal action due to indefinite delays in getting results or the exorbitant costs involved for the same, then it is an even more serious problem which needs to be addressed urgently.
What changes are required in the legal system to make it more streamlined and time sensitive?S: Society cannot exist without law and order. But what we need is stricter implementation of existing laws, rather than having new laws. We all know that when the state is more corrupt, the laws are most multiplied. ‘Justice delayed is justice denied’. The way to get a speedier disposal of litigations is by increasing the number of judges at all levels of our judiciary. We need more judicial manpower to do the work that is required to clear the huge backlog of litigation, and deliver speedy justice. Courts should think of introducing some deterrents such as levying penal adjournment costs.
Are you a pessimist or an optimist?S: I am an optimist. When there is hope, there is a possibility of success. But I do plan for many eventualities and I prepare for the worst in any matter.
Do you have faith in God or something else?S: I do not like to personify God. I believe there is a supernatural force that has created us and our sense of perceptions of this world and life. I have faith in this life force and I believe it loves us and that is why it gives us a new day every morning filled with so many opportunities and challenges, and makes it worth living!
Is life complicated, or do we make it so?S: I think life is simple if we decide to live truthfully and simply. The choice is entirely ours.
Let’s end with your philosophy on life.S: The art of life is to deal with problems as they arise, rather than destroy one’s spirit by worrying about them too far in advance. r
– Interviewed by Manika Krishnamurti
as family is concerned, for both of us, family time is completely sacrosanct.
As parents, what is your philosophy on the issue of raising children?S: Francis Bacon once said, “He that gives good advice, builds with one hand; he that gives good counsel and example, builds with both.” We believe in giving our children a good education, proper values, exposure to the world and timely counsel. Thereafter, they can soar high in the sky in the direction they choose.
How did you meet Nainu?S: That was a long, long time ago! Even before we met, Nainu followed me everywhere! She was born in the
Nainu and Shaunak share a laugh
same hospital as I. She went to the same colleges too (Sydenham College and Government law College) and it seemed like Providence had decided my fate.
If you were not in this profession, what would you have wanted to do?S: I enjoy photography, so maybe I would have been a wildlife photographer.
Do you feel that life is a rat race? If so, what can one do about it?S: I guess life can be a rat race if you look at it that way and play like a rat. Ever wondered how an eagle looks at the world and at life?
How do you relax and unwind?S: I stay out of Nainu’s way! And I play tennis, go for long walks, listen to music, read, etc.
How has Rotary affected your life?S: It has opened a great new window to the world and thrown up many opportunities. Besides building
14 I Mid-Town Musings I April 2012
Special FeatureWebsite News
You will be glad to know that our Rotary Club of Bombay Mid-Town has a website, which is operational and regularly updated. Apart from the website, we have a Facebook page, a YouTube channel and our own domain-related email.
We are also publishing Mid-Town Musings in PDF (Adobe Acrobat) format, which will enable you to share the same with your family, friends and associates. The electronic copy will be in addition to the usual printed copy that you receive. Over a period of time, we are also building an online archive of Mid-Town Musings that is easily accessible. This can be found at:
An Internet presence is required for most organisations (whether social, government or commercial) in the current scenario. However, the real benefit from this presence will be reaped when our Club uses the power of the Internet to effectively:
Rotary Online
• Attract new, like-minded and committed members (popularising our Facebook page, liking and sharing content on Facebook, mailing Mid-Town Musings' PDFs, etc.).
• Increase interaction and camaraderie among Rotarians (wishing fellow Rotarians on their birthdays and anniversaries etc.).
• Give wider coverage to our activities and projects (more photographs and video recordings will help in content for the website, Facebook page, YouTube channel and Mid-Town Musings). Exemplary social work, which is documented and recorded well, has a good chance of going viral on the Internet and getting us more funding for projects.
While attendance at our weekly meetings is absolutely essential, we could explore the possibility of video recording some of the more interesting talks to be put up on the YouTube channel. Those who missed attending a meeting could, thus, have a chance to catch up.
Screenshots of our website and Facebook page are given below for your reference:
Yours in Rotary,Kersi Hilloo
The Internet is a place where almost everyone is present these days – so is the Rotary Club of Bombay Mid-Town. Rtn. Pres. Kersi Hilloo explains our Club's online presence.
April 2012 I Mid-Town Musings I 15
Humour
Kindly note the change in Moorad Fazalbhoy’s private email ID. His new E-Mail ID is [email protected]. The old ID, [email protected], is now defunct. He can also be contacted at the office E-Mail ID, which is [email protected].
Notices
ROTARY CLUB OF BOMBAY MID-TOWN
OFFICE BEARERS 2011-12President : Kersi HillooImm. Past President : Bipin JainVice President and Pres. Elect : R.P. AnandHon. Secretary : James BrunnerJt. Hon. Secretary : Manoj JalanHon. Treasurer : Mehli R. CamaSergeant at Arms : Munna Mitha
DIRECTORSGaurav Kapadia, Robert Lenzen, Anil Ambo, Jamsheed Patel, Piyush Khaitan, Yogesh Pandya and Nirbhay Jain
INVITEES TO BOARD MEETINGS 2011-12PP Dr. F.D. Mirza, PP Arrow Sinha Roy, PP M.R. Currawalla, PP Mohan Lalvani
Directors In charge and Committee Chairmen
MEMBERSHIP – Dir. Gaurav KapadiaClassification : PP Yog ShankardasMembership : Naren MohattaMembership Development : Ashwin ShahRotary Information : PP S.B. Anand
CLUB ADMINISTRATION – Dir. Robert LenzenProgrammes : Mahesh KrishnamurthyFellowships Activities : PP Mohan LalvaniFinance : PP Vishnu HaribhaktiAttendance : Munna MithaBye Laws : PP Anil Kamath
PUBLIC RELATIONS – Dir. Anil AmboPublic Relations : Kishor Jhaveri4 Way Test : Manoj JalanFinancial Opportunity Forum : Parag ParikhIntouch : PP Tilak MehtaBulletin/ Magazine : Nargis WadiaScholarships and Awards : PP Bhushan Anand
SERVICE PROJECTS – Dir. Jamsheed PatelSakwar Adivasi Area Development : Kishore SharmaNere Village and Eye Care : Nirbhay JainChild Welfare : Naren MohattaMedical Interpast : Dr Anil TibrewallaCareer Guidance : Krishan KhannaSenior Citizens Welfare : Kishore JhaveriEnvironment : PP Lalit GokuldasPolio and Care of Handicapped : Gaurav KapadiaInteract : Jamshed PatelRotaract : Kiran ShahInnerwheel : PP Mohan LalvaniSports : James BrunnerInternational Family Exchange and Tours : Santosh KejriwalInternational Projects : PP Arrow Sinha Roy
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION – Dir. Piyush KhaitanFunds Raising : Mehli R. CamaDistrict Meets : PP Navin ShahRotary Foundation : Vicky Punjabi
4 Wednesday CCC&B Fellowship - Wodehouse Gym at 7.00 p.m.
11 Wednesday Speaker: To be announced
18 Wednesday Speaker: 2.30 p.m - 10th BOD Meeting at Taj Mahal Hotel
25 Wednesday Speaker: To be announced
02 Neeta Rohit Patel06 Radha Lalit Goculdas
CongratulationsKudos to Rtn. PP Ajay Gupta from the Rotary Club of Bombay Pier, on being elected as the District Governor Nominee for the RY 2014-2015 at the recently concluded District 3140 Conference, which was held in Mumbai.
