September 2013 vol2

gap in skills by external outsourc-ing. Obtaining access to high-quality scientists, engineers and designers is on the top of the agenda of many major companies now.

The impact of the severity of the shortage of R & D personnel can be seen by citing an example from the European Union (EU). For EU to meet the goal set at the Barcelona Summit to raise R & D spending as a share of GDP to 3 percent by 2010 will require 7,00,000 new research-ers. Obviously, there will be a great demand-supply gap. It is not sur-prising that there will be a greater draw on ‘third world researchers’ as one of the EU representative put it recently.

The demographic shift in the developed world means that developing countries with relatively favourable demographic profile with a large proportion of working and tal-ented young people can become glo-bal innovation hubs, from which not only outsourcing of innovation will be done, but in which R & D based innovation centres will be set up by the companies from the developed world. This progressive shifting of the R & D location from the developed to the scientifically advanced develop-ing nations is likely to have strong social, cultural, political, economic and strategic implications. Increased local demand on high quality science and scientists as also a competition between local institutions and indus-try on one hand and foreign R & D enterprises on the other hand for access to superior human capital will be some key drivers of change. Shifting of the ‘centre of gravity’ of knowledge production to these scien-tifically advanced developing nations will have strategic implications in the long run. Such shifts will also lead to a gradual reversal of brain drain due to the increased opportunities in the country of one’s origin.

(Continued…)

42 ROTARY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013

Country Totals for Arch C. Klumph Society as on June 2, 2013

Country Trustees Circle

Chair’s Circle

Foundation Circle

Total

Argentina 1 - - 1

Australia 4 1 1 6

Bangladesh 1 - - 1

Brazil 2 2 - 4

Canada 10 4 2 16

England 1 1 2 4

Finland - - 1 1

Germany 1 - - 1

Hong Kong 3 2 1 6

India 15 3 4 22

Italy - - 1 1

Japan 15 3 2 20

Kenya 1 - - 1

Korea, Republic of 25 3 2 30

Macao 1 - - 1

Malaysia 1 - - 1

Mexico 2 - - 2

Nigeria 5 - 1 6

Philippines 3 1 4

Seychelles - - 1 1

Singapore - 1 - 1

Spain 1 - - 1

Taiwan 24 4 1 29

United States 166 54 55 275

Venezuela - 1 - 1

Total 282 80 74 436

Level Contribution (USD)

Trustees Circle 250,000 to 499,999

Chair’s Circle 500,000 to 999,999

Foundation Circle 1 million and above

This BI/NF report provides an estimate of the number of AKS members by country. Because of reporting complexities, true recognition numbers are maintained by Donor Relations.

Source : RI South Asia Office

WWW.ROTARY.ORG/ROTARYIMAGES

ROTARYIMAGES

A picture can speak a thousand words.

Now Rotarians can search and access thousands of high-quality photos taken by Rotary International photographers.

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SEPTEMBER 2013 ROTARY NEWS 45

GET MOREOUT OF MEMBERSHIP.CONNECTFOR GOOD.

JOIN LEADERS | EXCHANGE IDEAS | TAKE ACTION www.rotary.org


Your Rotary membership starts in your

club. Getting involved will develop your

leadership skills and knowledge and build

lifelong friendships.

Rotary brings together leaders — people like

you who want to make a difference. We’re

here to provide you with the resources and

opportunities to improve your community and

create change in the world.

Rotary Basics.indd 46 30-09-2013 13:54:03




Is it the TRUTH?

Is it FAIR to all concerned?

Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Of the things we think, say or do:

Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?1 3

4

Is it the TRUTH?



Of the things we think, say or do:

Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?1 3

4

CONNECTINGFOR COMMUNITYThe top two reasons people join Rotary are to give back to their communities and to connect with like-minded leaders and friends. Our members stay with Rotary year after year for the same reasons. What motivated you to join Rotary? What have you set out to accomplish with your club and as a Rotarian?

OUR COLLECTIVEIMPACTRotary brings together people like you — leaders from all cultures and occupations who want to use their distinct expertise for good. People whose sense of responsibility inspires them to give back to their communities. Who step forward to tackle the toughest challenges — and persevere to create lasting change in communities around the world.

Together, we empower youth, improve health, promote peace, and advance our communities in all corners of the globe.

With 1.2 million members worldwide, our global community’s impact has never been greater — and it continues to grow.

When Rotarians come together and commit to a cause, like our PolioPlus initiative, the magnitude of our impact is clear. And with the ongoing support of Rotarians like you, we will continue the fight to End Polio Now.

You joined Rotary because you want to make a difference. Because you believe in our motto: Service Above Self. Because you’re committed to integrity and making change happen, and because the areas that we focus on are important to you.

THE FOUR-WAY TESTOf the things we think, say or do:

Is it the TRUTH?


Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?


Peace and conflict prevention/resolution

Disease prevention and treatment

Water and sanitation global grant provided new toilets and clean water facilities and encouraged good hygiene and disease prevention for 2,500 students in four schools in Adana, Turkey.

Sponsors:Rotary clubs of Adana-Cukurova, Turkey, and Frutal, Brazil

1

2 4

3




Water and sanitation

Maternal and child health

Basic education and literacy

Economic and community development

Adopt-a-Village global grant renovated a schoolroom and provided books, computers and furniture; installed a water harvesting system; supported a vocational training team focusing on health issues; and formed and trained 25 microcredit groups in Nkondo, Uganda.

Sponsors:Rotary Club of Kampala-North, Uganda and District 5340 (California, USA)

Economic and community development global grant supported a grant recipient’s plans to expand Jhoole, the nonprofit clothing business she started to help impoverished women weavers in India.

Sponsors:Rotary Club of Crystal Palace & Norwood, Greater London, England, and District 6420 (Illinois, USA)

Rotary’s 1.2 million members combine their resources and connect across the world to move communities forward with clean water, health initiatives, education and more.

Share stories about yourclub’s connections atblog.rotary.org.




GET INVOLVEDWhen you get involved, it’s not just your community, club and projects that benefit — you benefit, too. As an active Rotarian, you’ll develop skills like public speaking, project management and event planning. You’ll meet interesting people from your community and from around the world. You’ll tackle local issues that are important to you and your fellow club members. You’ll feel the shared sense of purpose that comes from working together to better your community.

When it comes to being an active Rotarian, the opportunities are endless. Here are some ways to get involved.

START LOCAL AND HELP YOUR COMMUNITYVolunteer to help with your club’s signature service project.

Get involved with one of the programmes sponsored by your club.

Identify a need in your

community and design a hands-on project that addresses it.

Collaborate with other clubs in your area, including Interact and Rotaract clubs, on a joint service project or event.

Share your ideas about how to achieve club and project goals with club leaders, and take the lead on carrying them out. Your suggestions could become the next big initiative in your community.

GO GLOBAL THROUGH ROTARYParticipate in Rotary’s international service projects.

Browse others’ projects on Rotary

Showcase at www.rotary.org to inspire local initiatives.

Support The Rotary Foundation, which provides millions of dollars in grants for Rotary’s humanitarian

service efforts around the world.

Attend Rotary events to exchange ideas and celebrate with members

around the globe.

Host a Rotary Youth Exchange

student visiting your district, and learn about another culture.

Learn with other Rotarians by attending the Rotary International Convention.

Give to PolioPlus and join the movement to End Polio Now. For only 60 cents, you can vaccinate a child against polio.



GET CONNECTEDRotary is all about building lifelong friendships — connecting with fellow Rotarians across communities, cities, countries and cultures. Just one connection can lead to a great partnership.

ONLINEUpdate your Rotary profile at www.rotary.org to receive information tailored to your interests and connect with members who share those interests.

Use your Rotary profile to

connect with club leaders and get the information you need to participate in projects and your community.

Discover inspiring stories

of fellow Rotarians at Rotary Voices, the official Rotarian blog.

Learn about service projects

worldwide at Rotary Showcase and put your club’s projects on display, too.

Explore Rotary grants at www.rotary.org/grants to learn how to apply for global and packaged grants for international humanitarian projects.

Use social media to reach out and start conversations. Inspire others to follow your lead and spread the word about Rotary.

OFFLINE AND IN-PERSONYou don’t have to use a computer to make a connection. Outside of your club meetings, there are lots of opportunities to meet with other Rotarians in person. Here are a number of ways to get started.

Make Rotary a family affair.

Explore Interact, RYLA and Rotary Youth Exchange opportunities for your kids and invite your spouse to your club’s meetings.

Attend the RI Convention. Meet and celebrate with other members from around the world and learn how to expand our impact.

Go to meetings at other Rotary

clubs anywhere in the world to find international service partners and form new friendships.

Learn about another culture. Spend time abroad in a Rotarian’s home through a Rotary Friendship Exchange.

Join a Rotary Fellowship or

Rotarian Action Group. Meet other members who share your interests and passions.

OTHER RESOURCESWatch Rotary Video Magazine

and read your Rotary magazine, Rotary news and newsletters for stories about remarkable projects, helpful tips and inspirational ideas.

Explore special-interest

publications available at shop.rotary.org.

START MAKING YOUR CONNECTIONS TODAY!

JOIN THE CONVERSATION!www.rotary.org/ socialnetworking

facebook

flickr

linkedin

twitter

youtube

pinterest

blog

vimeo

rss

instagram



BEYOND CLUBS — THE ROTARY FAMILYRotary is made up of more than just our clubs. Service can start at any age, so we offer programmes for teenagers and young adults who want to discover new cultures, develop leadership skills and give back. We also provide opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds who want to help in their communities. Through clubs like yours, Rotarians organise and sponsor all of the following.

Interact is a leadership programme sponsored by Rotary clubs for anyone ages 12–18. With more than 12,300 Interact clubs in 133 countries, Rotary is inspiring the next generation of socially responsible and globally conscious leaders.

Rotaract is organised by Rotary clubs to promote leadership, professional development and service among adults ages 18–30. With more than 8,000 clubs in 167 countries, Rotaract members are helping to lead change in communities around the globe.

Rotary Community Corps (RCCs) are groups of non-Rotarians who work with Rotary to improve their communities through a variety of service projects. There are more than 6,800 RCCs in 78 countries, all organised and sponsored by Rotary clubs.

Rotary Youth Exchange offers students ages 15–19 the chance to travel abroad for cultural exchanges. More than 8,000 students participate in this immersive programme every year. Through these experiences, which last from a week to a full academic year, students learn about new cultures, gain an appreciation for diverse perspectives, and foster global understanding.

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is Rotary’s leadership training programme for teens and young adults that emphasises social responsibility, global citizenship and personal development.

Rotary Peace Fellowships offer students the opportunity to earn advanced degrees or professional certificates from universities that host Rotary Peace Centres. Rotary Peace Fellows focus on international studies and conflict resolution so they can advance their careers as promoters of peace.

595-EN—(613)


Future Perfect. Rings many a bell, doesn’t it? It is a 2002 album by V.V.V. Nation; a 2004 album by Autolux;

a 2005 video game; the book, How Star Trek Conquered Planet Earth; a sound system; a blog and of course a tense in English grammar!

To begin with a sample:

The dying wife said to her husband, “I know you will have married again by this time next year and that’s alright; She will have lived in this house for some time and used my dishes, that’s alright; But I want you to promise me one thing. I do not want your second wife to wear my clothes.” The husband thought for a moment. Then he said, “All right. Promise. Your clothes wouldn’t fit Betsy anyway.” In grammar, the Future Perfect tense is used to describe an event that has not yet happened but is expected or planned to happen before another stated occurrence. When we use this tense, we are projecting ourselves forward into the future and looking back at an action that will be completed sometime later than now. The verb phrase takes the form, shall / will have + past participle form of the verb. Often we use this tense along with the time expression ‘by’ + a point in future time.

By the time I understand this, I will have turned grey.

I shall have become thoroughly confused by the time I finish reading this.

The Future Perfect tense can take two different forms. The first is more common, with the form of the verb phrase ‘will have done.’ The other is less common: ‘be going to have done.’

You will have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.

You are going to have forgotten your English by the time you come back from Japan.

Notice that you cannot use the simple future tense in time clauses.

Once an Indian minister was travelling in an aeroplane alone with his private secretary. He said, “If I throw a

hundred rupee it will make one Indian happy.” “Ten ten rupees notes would be a better idea,” replied the private secretary, “That would make ten Indians happy.” The pilot who overheard the conversation, shouted, “I shall throw both of you out. By the time you fall, you are going to have made a hundred crore Indians happy.”

A doctor pats the patient’s chest. “Don’t worry. This swelling will have been made to go away in a week’s time.” “Not this one, doctor; that’s my wallet,” screamed the patient.

Here are some rules for using the Future Perfect tense.

• The Future Simple Perfect tense is used for actions that are non-continuous.

• A specific time is usually stated or understood.

• We use this tense to clarify the order of two future events.

• It cannot be used with time clauses beginning with when, while, soon, before, after, if, unless, until etc.

The Future Perfect tense talks about the past in the future. There is also a way of expressing the future in the past as seen below:

A kind passer-by assisted a small boy to push a heavily loaded cart up a long, steep hill. Reaching the top and at last getting his wind back, he said accusingly, “Only a scoundrel would expect a youngster to do a job like that! Your employer should have known it is too heavy for you.” “He did,” replied the boy, “but he said, ‘go on, you are sure to find some old fool who would help you up the hill.’ ”

Dr. V. Saraswathi, Vice President, English Language

Teachers’ Association of India, Reproduced with permission from

Education Times, The Times of India, Chennai.

GRAMMAR GURU

54 ROTARY NEWS JULY 2007

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MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

Invest in the world’s futureEvery year, 6.9 mil-lion children die before reaching their fifth birthday. Almost two-thirds of them — 4.4 million — die of infectious diseases, nearly all of which could have been prevented.

What would happen if 1.2 mil-lion Rotarians continued their service efforts in water, sanitation, health, hunger and literacy, but with children in mind?

If Rotarians provide insecticide-treated nets, fewer children will suc-cumb to malaria. If we dig wells and address sanitation problems, more children will have clean water to drink and a lesser risk of falling ill with waterborne diseases. And if Rotary clubs carry out effective nutri-tion projects, we can save some of the almost 2.6 million children who die each year from malnutrition. We can do even more by providing a com-munity with a trained birth attendant, a visiting nurse, a simple clinic, or a school food programme. These are direct ways to save children’s lives.

Children are dying not because we can’t help them, but because too often, nobody does. If every one of us does our part, we can challenge these high child mortality statistics and save the lives of thousands.

In 2008–09, I asked Rotarians to open their eyes to the needs of children in communities near and far. This Sep-tember, Rotary celebrates New Gen-erations Month, and there’s no better time than now to focus on giving all children the opportunity to have the future they deserve.

Dong Kurn (D.K.) LeeFoundation Trustee Chair

Membership in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives

As on August 1, 2013 Source: RI South Asia Office

RI Zone

RI District

Rotary Clubs

No. of Rotarians

Women Rotarians

Rotaract Interact RCC

5 2980 150 6,267 120 42 248 1835 3000 82 3,901 297 81 194 674 3010 129 5,457 563 41 153 805 3020 64 3,074 176 20 166 2584 3030 80 4,204 373 30 163 1204 3040 91 2,164 235 13 79 1314 3051 61 2,570 182 28 113 3284 3052 62 3,279 462 10 106 1154 3053 48 1,775 160 9 29 894 3060 79 3,439 237 23 94 984 3070 108 3,264 239 35 102 554 3080 82 3,388 165 37 134 954 3090 73 2,208 109 8 27 1224 3100 86 1,959 77 3 72 1466 3110 105 3,430 179 35 36 596 3120 65 2,477 144 18 30 484 3131 99 4,200 538 30 139 624 3132 69 3,072 219 19 80 524 3140 128 6,868 863 78 291 1315 3150 90 3,438 248 49 138 1075 3160 56 2,058 73 4 37 805 3170 127 4,874 232 17 245 1515 3180 133 5,362 205 32 340 1385 3190 86 3,553 247 29 89 415 3201 117 4,489 257 42 68 435 3202 95 3,808 209 33 324 365 3211 124 3,841 159 4 54 1115 3212 78 3,501 128 3 122 1155 3220 59 1,650 175 44 174 935 3230 123 5,537 319 79 316 2666 3240 71 2,497 220 33 102 1056 3250 85 3,054 330 25 96 1576 3261 68 2,143 116 6 88 406 3262 67 2,410 177 12 57 636 3271 70 1,242 135 24 15 136 3272 81 1,759 262 11 31 316 3281 117 3,423 305 134 37 586 3282 79 2,198 158 109 17 366 3291 138 4,075 574 36 88 5006 3292 82 2,668 291 82 82 82

Total 3,607 1,34,576 10,158 1,368 4,776 4,505


ROTARY ACTS

Th r o u g h o u t P D G D e e p a Willingham’s youth she was

reminded by her mother to “finish the food on your plate, there are starv-ing children outside the window.” In spite of her privileged upbringing in Kolkata, Deepa saw many families struggling to survive. She was particularly moved when she saw that other children, especially girls suffered most. Their lives lacked the most essential element of human life: hope. To exist without even the most basic of human needs is devastating, but to live without hope was to live without dreams.

Deepa was fortunate to reap the benefits of schooling, and she discovered that with literacy comes freedom, and with freedom comes choice. She came to believe what studies would later show: education is the way out of poverty. So, when Deepa left India to attend graduate school in the United States she knew she was lucky. As she flew away from her homeland, she made a vow. She would return someday and make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.

Today, after a successful career as a hospital administrator in the

United States, Deepa’s promise to herself and to the helpless children she saw so long ago, took form in PACE Universal, a not-for-profit organisation in the US committed to working with impoverished com-munities, to empower individuals, particularly girls and women, to lift themselves out of extreme poverty, and prevent associated crimes like abuse and trafficking. PACE is the acronym for Promise of Assurance to Children Everywhere and it is made up of several Rotarians and other partner organisations. Rtn. Deepa Biswas Willingham, the Past District

The enduring dream of PDG Deepa Willingham, RI District 5240, USA to empower girls with education culminated in an excellent centre that provides precious opportunities for learning and skills development.

Welcome to Piyali Learning Centre, a project lovingly nourished by the Rotarians of RC Calcutta Metropolitan, RI District 3291.

Ode toLEARNING


Governor of District 5240 is the Founder/Chair of PACE Universal.

In November 2003, PDG Deepa visited Piyali, an impoverished rural community 45 km from Kolkata. She found the village steeped in the depravity of abject poverty, barely subsisting on $1–$2 per day. Limited access to potable water, proper sanitation, food, education and medical care that perpetu-ated diseases, economic stagnation and absence of hope defined the community. For girls, the situation was worse; none were in school. Instead their lives held the premise of child marriage, forced labour, trafficking and physical, sexual and emotional abuse.

Beneath the weight of generation of poverty and gender-based social norms, PACE in association with The Hope Foundation opened the doors to Piyali Learning Centre (PLC). PLC started off as a modest village school with just two classrooms; through the support of US-based sponsors, the centre has grown to provide more than academic learning. Students receive breakfast and lunch, medicines, vitamins, hygiene kits and perhaps most importantly, a safe and caring environment. Slowly but steadily, the centre which was until now function-ing from a rented facility, acquired a land of its own, with help from PACE and Hope. The project evoked great interest in PDG Vijay Bhandari, Dis-trict 3291, who is now an Advisory Board member at PACE Universal, and the Rotarians of Rotary Club of Calcutta Metropolitan.

When asked why she started this school for girls in India, PDG Deepa was spontaneous with her heartfelt answer: “Girls’ education in the severely poverty-stricken areas is still a luxury for many and it is certainly not a given. And yet when girls are educated, they grow up to be responsible citizens, changing not only their own lives but also the lives of their children and communities.

When it is such a win-win situation, how can I not do it?”

Nearly a decade after opening its doors, PLC continues to impart the elements of education from its new building. Built at a cost of Rs.2.5 crores, the school would now facilitate more than 300 young girls to grow into literate, self-reliant, confident and emotionally stable young women while simultaneously instilling in them pride and respect for their roots, their environment and their culture. Sponsored by donors from across the world, PLC students, ranging from nursery classes to higher secondary level, receive quality academic, cultural and social educa-tion, stationeries, uniforms, medical care, after-school activities and two nutritious meals five days a week.

The PLC team has ambitious plans to set up the Sanctuary Abode for Education (SAFE), a residential facil-ity for girls who face high risk of abuse and exploitation. PLC also works with the women of Piyali equipping them with facilities such as adult literacy courses, vocational training in sew-ing and jewellery-making, and micro-credit. These social and economic tools would empower them to become agents of change and advocates of

equity within their homes and through-out the community.

The world has changed for the Piyali community when Rotary made its way into the village.The strategic partnership between PACE, RC Calcutta Metropolitan and other Rotary clubs enable PLC to implement projects that allow individuals to access the basic necessities of life. To date, about 25 clean water wells, 165 sanitation units and more than 10,000 fruit-bearing trees can be found around the village.

These transformational projects have been a source of inspiration not only for the Rotarians of the District but it also attracts youngsters from abroad who evince keen interest in volunteering at PLC. For them, these visits are not vacations; they are opportunities to learn, to contribute and to grow. The Piyali Learning Centre is more than a promise being fulfilled. It has become an effective proto-type model for the eradication of extreme poverty that can be replicated in impoverished communities across the world.

Jaishree with PDG Vijay Bhandari,

RI District 3291

PDG Vijay Bhandari (extreme left) and PDG Deepa Willingham (extreme right) with visitors at the Centre.


When my two sons were young, I would cringe whenever one of them received

a gift. That’s because, as a stay-at-home dad, I was the parent in charge of thank-you notes. And although my wife is flexible about most things, she is uncharacteristically obstinate when it comes to thank-you notes. In her way of thinking, all gifts require thank-you notes, and all thank-you notes should be sent promptly.

There are few things more agonising than watching a kid agonise over a thank-you note. Apart from the formation of letters and concern for neatness, there’s the bigger question of what to say.

How about, “Thank you for the gift?” I would suggest. That was rarely good enough, but after extended delib-eration, it might find a place in the final draft — as in, “Thank you very much for the gift.”

For an adult working without the delightful burden of a child’s help, writ-ing a thank-you note should be a sim-ple task. But when added to the other tasks that tend to pile up in busy lives, it can mushroom into a challenge, espe-cially once a little guilt is sprinkled in. And deciding on the format for express-ing our thanks can

present yet another hurdle. Email is faster, but does it convey the same level of appreciation?

“With all the choices available today, the medium you choose is actually the beginning of the content of the message.” So says Daniel Post Senning, the great-great grandson of Emily Post and the webmaster and technology specialist at the Emily Post Institute in Vermont, USA. His book Emily Post’s Manners in a Digital World was published in April.

Post Senning is a staunch advocate of the handwritten note. “There are lay-ers to what the handwritten note con-veys about you,” he says. “It shows that you’ve invested something of yourself in it; you’re giving someone something personal that can be touched and held.” It stands out “not in spite of technology, but because of technology,” he adds.

One reason writing a thank-you note can seem daunting is that we see it as an obligation. Post Senning offers some reassurance: “The thank-you-note police are not coming for you. Writing a note of thanks is a chance to distinguish yourself in an increas-ingly informal world.”

Advances in technology have managed to both simplify and complicate the thank-you note. A colleague found herself befuddled after receiving a gift from a relative. Almost immediately after opening it, she received a phone call from her mother, who was calling on behalf of the sender to find out whether she liked it.

“That left me irked,” she says. “I am conscientious about writing thank-you notes. But I didn’t have any time to think about the gift or the

note. Even if I had, the only way I could have communicated my gratitude that quickly would have been to call or email, and I feel that an email is not as mean-ingful as a handwrit-ten note. If it doesn’t require a stamp, it feels empty to me. But after that phone call, when I did write the thank-you note, it was anticlimactic.”

In simpler times, the sender of a gift would not have been on the lookout for a thank-you note for at least a week.

“What are you supposed to do?”

Writing thank-you notes is hard. Too bad.

MISCELLANY

Much Obliged


she asks. “Send a thank-you email and a thank-you note?”

Yes, indeed. At least that’s the advice that Post Senning offers. “Unless you want to risk offending that gift giver, you’re better off email-ing or calling to confirm that you have received it and then taking the time to write a real thank-you note,” he says.

One area in which the thank-you protocol has become murky is following a job interview.

Mike Grant, a Chicago-based executive search specialist, says that in a competitive employment environment, the thank-you note can be the deal maker — or deal breaker — when it comes to landing a job. “The thank-you note after an interview is not really a thank-you note,” he says. “It’s an opportunity to improve on your performance in the interview. While it conveys a sense of courtesy, it’s also an element of your strategy, a chance to add a detail or clarify a point.” Because time can be a factor, Grant leans toward email. He suggests waiting at least 24 hours before sending your thanks, to give yourself time to think. “Quicker is generally better, but interviewing in the morning and emailing in the afternoon is too hasty,” he cautions. “And opt for a handwritten note only if you are sure the time frame permits.”

In the employment arena, Post Senning concedes that email may be a preferable medium of thanks, especially if time is a consideration. But he thinks that mastering the handwritten note can be a valuable skill for “younger people who have grown up with electronic technology — i t helps them to distinguish themselves. In hiring at the Emily Post Institute, we give preference to the interns who follow up with a note.”

Yes, that’s right. Even would-be interns at the Emily Post Institute may not grasp the basic etiquette or value of a thank-you note — which gives me a bit of added satisfaction when I think about a recent phone call from my mother-in-law to my wife. It seems that my mother-in-law received such a nice thank-you note from our 20-year-old son that she felt compelled to call and say thanks.

By Paul Engleman Reproduced from The Rotarian

Duly NotedExpressing thanks is a fundamental social skill and should be a simple task, but time and technology sometimes conspire to make it a challenge. Daniel Post Senning, of the Emily Post Institute, offers some advice on getting it done.

The things that clearly merit a thank-you note, he says, are a gift (if you haven’t had a chance to thank the giver in person), a meal, a job interview and a condolence card. There is no need to send thanks for a get-well card — or a thank-you note.

Consider your audience in choosing how to thank someone, he says. Some people appreciate a handwritten note; others may be OK with an email. In thanking someone you’ve been working with, he says, “thanks usually comes in the form of the medium you’ve been working in. But you may want to kick it up a notch — for example, if you’ve been emailing each other, you might give the person a phone call.”

When it comes to composing a good old-fashioned thank-you note, “get all your information and supplies together ahead of time,” Post Senning says. “The likelihood that you will send a note increases exponentially if you have envelopes, stamps and addresses available.”

The note itself should be brief. “It’s a note, not a letter,” he says. “Open with a thank you; write one or two original sentences, being specific about what you are thanking the person for; then close with a thank you.” If you have procrastinated and are feeling guilty about it, “just begin by acknowledging that you are late.”

As on August 1, 2013 Source: RI South Asia Office

Country No. of Clubs Rotarians

India 3,118 1,21,634

Pakistan 148 2,954

Bangladesh 196 5,621

Sri Lanka 58 1,618

Nepal 81 2,651

Afghanistan 3 47

Bhutan 1 17

Maldives 1 32

Total 3,606 1,34,574

Rotary Clubs and Rotarians in South Asia


When elderly people speak of serv-ice, do young people connect?

What is their perspective on service and organisations that carry out serv-ice projects? People value something more when they have some memory of the event. Youth in today’s world might not relate to the 1950’s or even 1970’s generation of service activities in the community. One of the reasons is even their parents were perhaps not part of the service projects that were so essential during those years to make people live a better life. It is something they hear people talk about or read in books and magazines.

The meaning of service for today’s youth must come from their experience of it. What they have or do not have is part of their own life. The definition of the word ‘service’ is context-sensitive. An adult’s experience of serv-ice may be linked to absolute sacrifice, whereas the youth of today may not see it that way. To the youth, the reality may not be sacrifice of personal wealth but dominantly sharing time through the various modes of

YOUTH SERVICE

communication. To the youth the pri-ority is to have freedom to go out on their own, have money, have friends and spend time with them.

However, even for the youth what service means depends on where they come from — small town or big city, what kind of family they were born into or raised in, their economic sta-tus, educational background and so on. Typically a girl in India may not enjoy as much freedom as a boy does for many reasons including safety concerns.

So if we were to engage the youth in service through Rotary, what is to be done? One way is to convert their desire to be of use to the soci-ety into action without much of


the jargons and bureaucratic hurdles. Today’s youth have greater freedom to choose. Since their desire is always at the heart of their actions, it may be worthwhile finding out what the desires of the youth are when it comes to undertaking service projects rather than thrusting ideas such as rallies and other awareness programmes through Rotaract and Interact. Today’s youth demand personal space, their own rooms in their homes if possible. Since the concept of joint family has disappeared, the need to adjust to the needs of others at home is no more learnt. The concept of service is born

out of this character. The acute aware-ness of the quality ‘me’ shows that the notion of service is restrictive rather than inclusive. Aided by technol-ogy the notion of personal contact is becoming slowly irrelevant and hence the need for e-clubs.

The ability of social norms to define personal behaviour is disap-pearing. Technology savvy youth are increasingly showing tendency to become an island. So, to engage youth in service through Rotary, their sense of meaning of life has to be redefined. It comes through transactions. Prob-ably telling them that their responsibil-ity was to future generations and not just to themselves and their immediate family might help.

Youth is what most would call a joyous state of life. Probably some even categorise them as care-free people. But they do follow certain ethical and moral principles that are meant to improve the quality of life. Is that enough? People who are in service organisations get upset that the youth of today do not participate in rituals. But the youth of today are wise enough to discover for them-selves why service to the community is needed. The personal experience of people who have delved into their own awareness has brought them closer to Rotary and other such organisations.

What service organisations should teach is the method to dis-cover an identity beyond the ego. Youth today must discover that they are not perfect, either in their love for humanity or in their abil-ity to protect the community. Their minds are constantly darting either to the past or to the future owing to a chain of thoughts that cloud their

mind. Making them realise that these thoughts are influenced by the environment, the society in which they live, can awaken certain characteristics that may be desirable to engage them in

service through Rotary.Engaging youth to serv-

ice can have a slogan like, “Create a little happiness for others.” Youth should

think that when they are good to others, they are happier themselves. Show them where they can reach in life. Show

them that you believe in them much more than what

they believe in themselves. Just one idea, one thought, one insight, one revelation, one experience, one incident ... that is all that is required to pre-pare the youth for engaging in service through Rotary.

Rtn. T.K. Balakrishnan

ROTARY ACTSROTARY ACTSROTARY ACTS

Parur, the land that opens its shores as the gateway to the Malabar is also the gateway to care and love for spe-

cially-abled children. Pratheeksha the concrete fort built by the Rotary Club of Parur, RI District 3201, fosters the growth and development of children with mental disabilities. Pratheeksha believes that love and care is what acts like a catalyst for the action that unfolds the journey of any human being’s life. Children who are men-tally handicapped deserve equitably the same measure of love and care any normal child does. While we boast over the developments in the field of education we fail to see beyond the horizon of schools, for the classified normals. Education is for all whether within or beyond the horizon. Invest-ment in the area for developing the mentally and physically challenged will bear returns of an educated and advanced nation. Rotary Club of Parur has with no apprehension, invested in the most attention seeking scenario

The challenge, the hope, the victory and finally the joy, this is the story of the inmates of a humble abode set

up by the Rotary Club of Parur. Love and care instilled within the concrete is visible in the form of service to

the most special children in the world. Welcome to Pratheeksha, the world of special care.

Special yoga classes.


of today’s indifferent and rational world.

Pratheeksha, the signature project of the Rotary Club of Parur which was inaugurated on 15th April 1987 celebrated its pre-eminent silver jubi-lee and hopes to continue its sojourn of love and care for the differently- abled children. In the last 25 years of its service the institution has trained over 200 children with mental disabili-ties in various aspects of life like self realisation, economic efficiency, social competence and civic responsibility through the medium of well trained

teachers and appropriately designed teaching aids. The strength of the insti-tution is currently 25 children and it also provides a transport facility for these children. The Rotary Club of Parur has plans to extend its human gesture on the outset of a School for Spastic Children. The school would facilitate the children with physi-otherapy and speech therapy sessions along with training parents of the spe-cial child.

The Rotary Club of Parur has lit the flame of love and care that continues to illuminate the world of very special children. The light of Pratheeksha is expeditiously spreading into an aurora that would reach every child who

needs special attention, a little more love and a little more care. The efforts of the Rotary Club of Parur are like an alchemy that is working towards devel-opment in its true aspect. Sports activi-ties, yoga, dance and entertainment are initiatives the club is making to bring out the best in these differently-abled children. Pratheeksha is truly a blessing in disguise. This shower of blessings will continue to flood the world of many more special children. The Rotary Club of Parur is and will continue to carve a beautiful smile on the face of each special child who enters Pratheeksha.

Kiran Zehra

OBJECTIONS

Man : “I can’t marry you. My family is totally against it.”

Lady : “Who is objecting in your family?”

Man : “My wife and two kids.”

Above from left: Cultural performance; Humble home of care.

OCTOBER 2010 ROTARY NEWS 65

The Rotary Foundation Top 30 Giving Countries in 2012–13

(in US Dollars)

As of July 18, 2013 Source: RI South Asia Office

Rank Country AnnualGiving

Other Giving

Permanent Fund

TotalContributions

Annual Giving

Per Capita

1 United States 39,692,404 54,572,164 11,379,517 105,644,085 116.41

2 Japan 11,872,130 1,445,347 2,497,052 15,814,529 137.24

3 Korea, Republic of 9,826,099 560,495 1,583,860 11,970,454 167.60

4 India 8,096,004 2,167,234 1,342,418 11,605,656 70.17

5 Canada 4,339,493 3,131,898 756,381 8,227,772 169.69

6 Taiwan 4,378,867 1,134,893 1,532,528 7,046,288 205.39

7 Germany 4,061,171 2,027,989 1,006 6,090,166 78.86

8 Australia 3,841,250 1,563,958 101,996 5,507,204 122.34

9 Brazil 4,242,722 836,686 32,497 5,111,905 74.12

10 Italy 3,156,634 1,363,546 118,130 4,638,310 75.96

11 UK 2,932,317 1,663,583 29,466 4,625,366 57.41

12 France 2,642,485 1,022,803 27,734 3,693,022 80.58

13 Nigeria 732,149 1,373,686 1,160,070 3,265,905 119.05

14 Philippines 1,832,871 140,358 1,600 1,974,829 88.30

15 Mexico 1,443,246 472,213 29,574 1,945,033 133.99

16 Thailand 874,685 366,112 37,559 1,278,356 116.67

17 Belgium 632,943 354,933 969 988,845 64.82

18 Netherlands 721,596 238,475 755 960,826 37.72

19 Finland 187,043 697,404 1,500 885,947 16.69

20 New Zealand 723,281 161,125 1,000 885,406 82.79

21 Sweden 440,477 432,028 2,198 874,703 16.22

22 Switzerland 638,265 223,076 2,323 863,664 52.09

23 Austria 739,125 42,041 3,078 784,244 102.41

24 Bangladesh 671,303 30,268 29,822 731,393 130.93

25 Hong Kong 437,614 182,440 105,000 725,054 300.77

26 Argentina 548,988 319,850 (170,188) 698,650 46.75

27 Denmark 338,022 165,398 1,371 504,791 30.30

28 South Africa 323,139 142,040 31,980 497,159 71.19

29 Malaysia 270,804 97,096 111,311 479,211 101.50

30 Spain 165,832 259,078 18,377 443,287 37.66

Total 30 Countries 110,802,959 77,188,217 20,770,884 208,762,060 101.13

Rotary at a glance

Rotarians : 12,05,662*

Clubs : 34,348*

Districts : 537*

Rotaractors : 1,33,860

Clubs : 5,820

Interactors : 3,65,125

Clubs : 15,875

Community Corps : 1,74,547

Corps : 7,589

*As of August 1, 2013As of June 30, 2013

Source: RI South Asia Office

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RC KOTHAMANGALAM RI District 3201

Rotarians donated a virtual smart classroom kit

to St. Stephens Higher Secondary School. This

would make the experience of learning more inter-

active and the children will learn to use technology

as tool for learning.

RC BANGALORE SADASHIVANAGAR RI District 3190

Under Matching Grants with RC Oriental, RI Dis-

trict 7720, USA, RC Pavada, RI District 3190 and

TRF, the Rotarians built a check dam at Pavada

village to help the village store rain water. Nearly

6,000 villagers will be benefitted by this project.

FOCUS

After first rain


RC MADRAS CENTRAL AADITHYA RI District 3230

The club in association with RC Klang, RI District

3300, Malaysia distributed 150 spectacles to

children hailing from economically weaker

sections at Malaysia under the project ‘Help a child

to see.’

RC NAGERCOIL CENTRAL RI District 3212

The club accepted the sponsorship of polio affected

men to participate at the national level body build-

ing competition for the differently-abled. This

comes as a source of encouragement and rehabili-

tation to the polio affected people.

RC QUILON NORTH RI District 3211

Relief material was sent to the victims of the

Uttaranchal flood disaster. The gesture of care and

concern was wrapped in boxes to assist the people

in the most badly affected areas.

RC TIRUPUR GANDHINAGAR RI District 3202

Uniforms were provided to the orphan children at

Sankara Sevalaya who are taken care of by the

club in their ongoing project. The children are pro-

vided with all their needs and the club also facili-

tates the education of these children.


RC BURDWAN GREATER RI District 3240

The club enabled clean and safe drinking water at

Samanti High School. This would be immensely

beneficial for 1,000 children and the staff at the

school, quenching their thirst and protecting them

from water-borne diseases.

RC CENTRAL CALCUTTA RI District 3291

Steel Cupboards and kitchen accessories were

distributed to Mentaid, a special school for the

mentally challenged. This would help in better

comforts for the 65 children who are looked after

at this school.

RC GAYA CENTRAL RI District 3250

A mega health camp was organised by the club

along with RC Magadh Gaya at the village

Khurar. Medicines were distributed to 250 needy

patients and those requiring further treatment

were referred to the District Hospital.

RC INFOCITY BHUBANESWAR RI District 3262

Water filters were distributed to Tangi Girls High

School by the club to provide clean drinking water

within the campus.


RC VIJAYAWADA RI District 3020

Hearing aids were distributed to the hearing

impaired people. This was done with a view to help

the ageing people hear with more clarity so that

they can participate in the happenings around

them.

RC DINDIGUL RI District 3000

Artificial limbs were donated to the physically

challenged. This would help them to stand and

walk without support or dependence.

RC SALEM TEXCITY RI District 2980

The club organised a roller skating rally to promote

its message of polio-free India in Salem. The event

enabled a massive awareness about the dreaded

disease and Rotary’s role in its eradication, among

the public.

RC DHULIKHEL RI District 3292

The club jointly with RC Edwardstown, RI District

9520, Australia and TRF facilitated 9 bore wells to

provide water for a school and over 450 households

who are ex-bonded labourers. The Matching Grant

project cost US $14,500.


RC CHANDRAPUR RI District 3030

Squint eye surgery camp was organised by the

club at the Civil Hospital, Chandrapur. Eleven

patients were operated and the eyes were recti-

fied of the squint to help them enjoy comfortable

eyesight.

RC KARNAL MIDTOWN RI District 3080

Water coolers were donated to the Mata Parkash

Kaur Deaf and Dumb Viklang Welfare Centre by

the club. This was done under the view to provide

the institute with clean drinking water.

RC CAMBAY RI District 3060

Food materials and new clothes were distributed

to the children residing in an orphanage. This

visit by the Rotarians would cheer them up and

secure them with a feeling of warmth of being

cared for.

RC LUDHIANA GREATER RI District 3070

A workshop on the correct technique of brushing

teeth and hand wash was conducted at Ramgarhia

School in Ludhiana. Children were also taught

other hygiene habits. Tooth brushes were also dis-

tributed to the children.


RC BUTWAL RI District 3292

A literacy programme for the senior citizens was

organised at Devdah and Kerawani villages by the

club. The training lasted for three months enabling

the old women to read and write in basic form.

RC BAGALKOT RI District 3170

The club inaugurated ‘The Rotary Circle’ in

the heart of the city. The emblem is an excellent

image-building endeavour and stands as the

proud symbol of Rotary and its good work in

Bagalkot.

RC BAREILLY CENTRAL RI District 3110

The sponsorship for school fees, bag, books, uni-

form and shoes of the children at Kushtha Ashram

has been undertaken by the Rotarians. The chil-

dren are supported in all aspects for the purpose

of education.

RC NABHA RI District 3090

A medical check-up and distribution of sweaters

and shoes was organised by the club for under-

privileged students of an elementary school at

Nabha. The sweaters and shoes will make the chil-

dren feel warm in school during the cold days.

HEALTH WATCH

IronVegetarian

content in

foods

What is iron and why do we need it?Iron is an essential nutrient because it is a central part of haemoglobin which is found in red blood cells, which help carry oxygen to all parts of the body. If iron intake is low the amount of haemoglobin in the red blood cells can fall leading to iron-deficiency anaemia. Symptoms include tiredness, weakness, feeling cold and an inability to concentrate.

Types of ironThere are two types of iron in food:

Heme and non-heme ironHeme iron is found in animal tissue. It is a component of haemoglobin (oxygen-carrying protein in the blood) and

myoglobin (an oxygen-carrying molecule in muscle) and makes up around half the iron found in red meat, poultry and fish.

Non-heme iron makes up the other half of the iron in animal tissue and all of the iron found in plant foods, dairy foods (which contain a very small amount) and eggs.

Non-heme iron is less well absorbed. Vegan diets only contain non-heme iron. Because of this, iron recommenda-tions are higher for vegetarians than for non-vegetarians.

Are you iron deficient?Lack of iron is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world. Women are most particularly at risk for iron deficiency. The average woman needs 18 mg iron a day. The average man needs 10 mg of iron in their diet every day.


Vegetarianfoods

What are the main causes of dietary iron deficiency?• Not eating enough iron rich foods. For example, those

on restrictive diets and in some cases, vegetarians who do not eat enough of the proper foods.

• Increased demand for iron, for example to replace blood loss (e.g. from menstruation in some women) or in times of accelerated growth (such as during adolescence) or extreme and/or unusual physical activity or during and after an aggressive blood donation programme.

Iron status in vegetariansSome might expect that since the vegetarian diet contains a form of iron that is not that well absorbed, vegetarians might be prone to developing iron deficiency anaemia. However, surveys of vegetarians have found that iron defi-ciency anaemia is no more common among vegetarians than among the general population although vegetarians tend to have lower iron stores.

The reason for the satisfactory iron status of many vegetarians may be that commonly eaten foods are high in iron. Foods such as spinach are good sources of iron. Dried beans and dark green leafy vegetables are especially good sources of iron, even better on a per calorie basis than meat.

Good sources of iron include pulses (peas, beans and lentils), soya bean products (soya milk and tofu), dark green leafy vegetables (parsley, broccoli, pak choy and watercress), fortified breakfast cereals, whole grains (whole meal bread, whole meal pasta), dried fruits (raisins,

prunes, apricots and figs) black treacle and plain dark chocolate.

Another reason for the satisfactory iron status of veg-etarians is that vegatarian diets are high in vitamin C. Vitamin C acts to markedly increase absorption of non-heme iron. Adding a vitamin C source to a meal increases non-heme iron absorption up to six-fold which makes the absorption of non-heme iron as good or better than that of heme iron. Fortunately, many vegetables such as broc-coli and bok choy which are high in iron are also high in vitamin C so that the iron in these foods is very well absorbed. Commonly eaten combinations such as beans and tomato sauce or stir-fried tofu and broccoli, also result in generous levels of iron absorption.

Source: The Indian Vegetarian Congress Quarterly



CULTURE

Luz Church, Chennai.


Tucked into one of the by-lanes of the bustling Mylapore area in Chennai stands a glorious

testimony to the Portuguese era — the Church of Our Lady of Light. This Roman Catholic shrine referred to as ‘Luz Church’ by the locals is one

of the oldest churches in the city.


Traditionally, the advent of Christianity to India is referred to as two phases; one is when St. Thomas, the Apostle of Jesus

brought the religion to the country in the first century and attained martyrdom in Chennai in 53 A.D.; the second phase is after the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century. The Portuguese were great sailors and pioneers in discover-ing the sea route to many countries, particularly to India, after the invention of the sea route in 1498 by the most cel-ebrated Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama. His landing on the Indian soil at Calicut on the Malabar Coast was

considered the pinnacle of world his-tory as it marked the beginning of global multiculturalism. His discovery of the sea route connecting Europe and India was very significant and it paved the way for the Portuguese to establish long lasting colonial empire in Asia. This dis-covery meant that the Portuguese traders need not cross the Mediterranean or the deserts of Arabia.

For these traders who were until then trading with Northern and coastal West Africa, the legendary Indian spice route proved to be highly attrac-tive. They found the pepper and cin-namon very interesting for their trade and soon included other products, all

The presiding deity, Our Lady of Light.

new to Europe and enjoyed commer-cial monopoly for several decades. The spice trade also proved to be a major asset to the Portuguese royal treasury.

India was not a new territory for the Europeans; Alexander had conquered central and northwestern India in 330 B.C. This first wave of exploration was by land. The second wave of exploration of the Indian soil, this time by sea was paved with the discovery of sea route by Vasco da Gama. From then on, several Portuguese explorers have found the country resourceful for their trade. They remained in the country till 1961.

The Portuguese traders were Catholics and they would take the mis-sionary priests along with them during their sailing expeditions to administer the sacraments and to say the mass for them. In 1500 A.D., a group of sailors accompanied by the priests (referred to as Friars) of the Franciscan Mission-ary (followers of St. Francis of Assisi) led by Fr. Pedro Alvares Cabral set sail from Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, to India. They routinely sailed between India and East Malacca for commer-cial activities. Their business was flourishing and they even built a fort, Fort Abmosa, in Malacca in 1511. They had their halting point at Pulicat, which is today a stunning lagoon, a perfect weekend get-away and a bird- watchers’ paradise, 55 km from Chennai. The traders established their own Portuguese settlement there and also erected a fort and a small church, Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres (Our Lady of Joy) in 1515, which today is renamed as Church of Our Lady of Glory. This church grew into a pilgrimage spot for the wealthy Portuguese who lived in Madras (present day Chennai).

Luz Church LegacyDuring one of their ventures, when the sailors along with the Friars were sail-ing from Malacca, their ship was tossed by a violent hurricane at mid-sea. The merchants and the missionaries could do nothing against nature’s fury but to pray fervently to Mother Mary for their


safety. Suddenly, the dark sky was illu-minated by a mysterious bright light. The amazed sailors set their sails in the direction of the light. The divine light led them to the shores of the fish-ing village, San Thome (present day Mylapore). San Thome was the place where the church of St. Thomas was located and where the Apostle was ini-tially buried. There stands the grand St. Thomas Basilica today. The light continued to precede them inland. The mariners anchored the ship at the shore and followed the light through a thick forest and it disappeared at a clearing there. Moved by the experience and to honour the divine light that saved them, the Portuguese led by Friar Pedro erected a church in 1516 A.D. at the very spot where the light disappeared. They called the church, ‘Nossa Senhora da Luz’ which translates as ‘Our lady of Light,’ in reference to the divine light that saved the lives of the sailors.

The church even today is referred by the locals as ‘Kattu Kovil’ in Tamil meaning ‘Forest Church.’ The forest has long disappeared in the metropolis of Chennai. And today the Mylapore area where the church is present is a bustling commercial region. The his-torical importance of the church is not diminished for the area is officially called ‘Luz,’ the Portuguese word for ‘Light’ and the road leading to the church is named as ‘Luz Avenue’ after the church itself.

It is a pity that battles and wars target such heritage properties wreak-ing havoc on them. The Luz Church was also a victim of such attacks. In 1672, the French seized Mylapore from the Sultan of Golconda. Soon they besieged Mylapore but could not take it. They then sought the help of the Dutch and seized the city from the French in 1673. The church suffered great damages during these struggles; the French and the Golconda forces used it as a base from where they directed their attacks. The English East India Company also occupied the Luz Parish residence for some time and did

not tolerate the presence of the Catholic priests there. On a later occasion, Hyder Ali invaded Mylapore and plun-dered the place which also included the church.

The Portuguese were the first to establish a colony in Madras. But they did not survive long here. After lot of struggles, they relinquished the settle-ment to the British in the 1800s but during their sojourn, their cultural sig-natures and Baroque-styled churches spread across the city. In fact, there is a tombstone in a Portuguese monu-ment in Chennai, St. Lazarus Church, which records that the name ‘Madras’ which was the former name of today’s

Chennai derives from a prominent Portuguese family, Manuel Madra, that lived in the 1600s.

Despite the troubled times, Luz Church today stands tall — a testi-mony of faith and hope for genera-tions to come. The church built in 1516 has been renovated and restored to its former glory. Its foundation stone marks it as one of the oldest Euro-pean monuments in India. The church remained in the hands of Franciscans until the middle of the 19th century.

ArchitectureThe church is designed based on the 16th century European architecture

The prayer hall.


consisting of Gothic arches and the typical Portuguese Baroque ornamen-tation. The structure is small, very mod-est and compact. A flight of steps leads up to the main entrance at the centre. The façade of the church shows a three- storey arrangement. There is a staircase that leads to the belfry on the left side of the façade. The grotto of Mother Mary and a statue of St. Jude are present on the right side near the main entrance.

The prayer hall inside the church has a single nave with a square recess at the end. A transept extends from either side of the sanctuary. A wooden com-munion railing divides the nave and the sanctuary. Richly carved shrines with the statues of St. Joseph and the Sacred Heart are present at the end of the nave, before the sanctuary. They are made of wood, and decorated with ornamental designs and painted in gold.

Another remarkable feature of the church is the thickness of the walls which are so typical of Portuguese edi-fices. The doors and windows testify the antiquity of the building. The ceiling of the nave is a semi-circular barrel vault. Two columns support the choir. The apse or the sanctuary vault depicts an emblem of the Five Holy Wounds, the five piercing wounds suffered by Jesus Christ during the crucifixion.

The main altar is a striking feature of the church. The altars are gilded with silver and gold leaves and the ceilings are covered with powder-blue fresco paintings. Beautifully carved wooden reredos covers the entire wall behind the altar. The statue of Our Lady of Light, represented as the Madonna with the Infant Jesus, stands above the main altar in the central niche of a very ornate reredos. Above the niche are two cher-ubs holding a crown. The upper niche has a statue of the Divine Child with an Armenian inscription mentioning

From Top: Inscription testifying the origin of the church; Symbol of the Franciscan Order; Facing Page: Ornamentally designed statue of St. Joseph.


the name of Petrus Uscan, the 18th cen-tury benefactor of religious institutions. He was instrumental in laying the long flight of steps that lead to the Church of Our Lady of Expectations atop St. Thomas Mount. The altar-table has a striking motif of the symbol of the Franciscan Order: a pair of crossed hands, that of St. Francis of Assisi and that of Christ intertwined, with a cross at the centre. The wooden brackets on either side of the reredos hold a Pieta on the left and a statue of St. Michael holding a sword and a pair of scales, triumphing over the dragon, on the right. The arch in front of the sanctuary has a painting of St. Francis of Assisi blessing five of his companions.

Framed paintings of the Stations of Cross adorn the walls of the nave. The legend behind the origin of the church is commemorated in stucco work in the vaulted ceiling of the church. A black stone plaque in the side wall of the church has the message testifying its tradition of the miraculous light and its dedication to ‘Our Lady of Light’ engraved on it. The inscription cut in relief reads thus: Fre Pedro Da Atougia Religio Observte De St. Franco Edifi-cou Esta Egreja De Nossa Senhra Da Luz Em 1516.

A number of memorial tablets can be seen in high relief on the walls around the church. Numerous tomb slabs and monumental records are spread over the church; one can see them in front of the church, on the left of the main entrance, against the wall, against the nave and close to the transept wall. The cemetery of the priests belonging to the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore is also located within the church premises at the entrance on the right.

FestivitiesThe Church of Our Lady of Light was declared Shrine of Our Lady of Light on August 15, 2010 by Rev. Dr. A.M. Chinnappa, the then Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore. The Feast of Our Lady of Light is celebrated on August 15 every year. The day is also observed

as the Feast of Assumption of Mary. The church commemorates the feast with a grand mass and a magnificent car procession.

Approximately 500 families belong to the parish of Luz Church. The Par-ish Priest, Rev. Fr. L.C. Rayanna has been guiding the smooth function-ing of the church since 2010 before when he was serving the Church of Our Lady of Glory at Pulicat for nine years. The church takes care of the education of children hailing from poor families and runs a night school with the support of retired teachers and professionals who volunteer their services. Around 300 children of different ages attend the Sunday school which is served by about

25 teachers. Various service activities are conducted regularly by the church administration for the welfare of the community.

The Luz Church occupies a promi-nent part of Chennai’s history surviving the vagaries of each era and when one sets foot on the church’s soil one can-not help feel shaken by the number of years, or millennia that has rolled by. It is just three years short of the 500 year mark since the establishment of the shrine and it is truly a well maintained, magnificent monument that holds its own amidst the hugely transformed area which slowly developed from a forest to a significant landmark in the city.

Jaishree

ANNOUNCEMENTWith effect from August 1, 2013 the revised

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US $1 = INR 60.00Source: RI South Asia Office

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Ever thought of a journey through the universe? Well here’s your

chance to get on board the bird’s eye view express to see the stars, plan-ets and galaxy. We live on the earth moving around from place to place accomplishing tasks that would keep us in pace with the other inmates of the earth. The earth on the other hand is moving around its axis and around the sun at a pace much faster than that of ours. You are moving and so is the earth; so where are you positioned in the solar system? You could come up with witty answers — “I’m on planet earth.” but what is your position on earth while you’re juggling between office and home and the earth rotating and revolving? If you want an answer to mind-boggling and flummoxing questions like this one then ‘Our Place in Universe’ is your key. You will unlock your position in the universe at any given point in time in the past and present and identifying planets with the help of your fist. Sounds unbelievable but this book features such interesting enterprise.

A compendium of stars, planets and galaxies the book allocates loca-tion for Nava Graha Nakshatra Vana for long lasting happiness. Vibrant diagrammatic charts make the under-standing of the affair very simple and easy. The interesting link between the VIBGYOR and the human body is also revealed in a colourful fash-ion. Obtaining spiritual energy by focusing on stipulated stars and planets procures this colourful sub-ject. This book works as a virtual experience by making the reader the intermediary, connected to the stars and planets around. Dr. Mylswamy Annadurai, Director Chandrayan projects, ISRO regards this book as a move to inculcate knowledge about space and the universe in young minds. Many untold facts about the stars and planets unfold on the pages of this book.

The author, Rtn. C.V. Subramaniam is an engineer and industrialist from Coimbatore. After his retirement he has shown deep concentration on yoga and spiritual farming. He has also

given PowerPoint presentation at the Global Conference on cosmology. He now lives in a humble abode follow-ing the principles of One With Nature (OWN) eco and nature friendly homes. This book is the author’s attempt to throw light on the solar system and our association with it. Simple termi-nology and diagrammatic representa-tion of the stars and planets with the reader at the centre makes this book an enchanted read. Each page engulfs with amazing facts about the celestial spheres and its dwellers.

Want to know how the stars were placed when you were born? Read this amazing book that visualises the scene of the solar system at a given point in time in the past, present and the future. This book is a complete indulgence into outer space and will spark interest in knowing more about our solar system. So if you’re looking to do something beyond the beyond pick up ‘Our Place in Universe’ and start reading now!

Kiran Zehra

Cosmic PanoramaOur Place in UniverseRtn. C.V. SubramaniamRC Coimbatore Central, RI District 32013R Spiritual PublicationsThenamanallur, Coimbatore – 641 109Email: [email protected]: 91 422 2906200, 99943 68998Price: Rs.475

The Rotary Foundation has

For nearly 100 years,

The Rotary Foundation

has supported

international

vocational exchanges.

In 2013, it still will.Find new ways to support vocational exchange activities with new Rotary Foundation grants.Learn more at www.rotary.org/ futurevision.

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September 2013 vol2

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