No one owns Rotary. Paul Harris. He has not left behind a trail of descendants saying, “Rotary is ours.” No clan or nation can claim him. The truth is Paul Harris eludes labeling. The most mystifying he is, the more appealing he has become and we can say that he is un-ageing. He founded Rotary that is guided by un-aging thoughts. Rotary was a simple idea, stunning in its tight-bound form with un-tied un-bound meaning. No religion can hold Paul Harris captive in its shrine or scripture. Paul Harris is in an altogether different category. You have to be a physical construct in order to be appropriated. Paul Harris was an intangible intensity, an impalpable voltage, an indefinable actuality of ideas, depictions and advice that no one can pack into a bag to carry home.
It was this philosophy that gave me the strength to take up the challenge of promoting polio eradication programme in India. Rotary has helped the Government of India to eradicate polio and there have been silent warriors in every Rotary club who fought for this cause.
What was the most distinguishing feature of this victory? The formation of the Ulema Committee in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar paved the way for me to bring together the different factions of the Muslim community to the discussion table. The leaders of these factions, who would have normally not seen eye-to-eye with each other on many issues, understood that I was reaching out to them as a Rotarian with no hidden agenda. My appeal was only, “Come together to save your children.” Removing the various doubts they had about the vaccine and appealing to them that the rest of India was still at risk if polio was not eradicated from these two States was the turning point in what can be said as a victory for Rotary. In a way, we as Rotarians did what the local governments could not do and that is finding a way into the homes of the Muslims community with the polio vaccine.
When I accomplished this task, I felt complete within myself on all levels – physically, mentally and spiritually. I felt that I am a happy Rotarian.