Mark Twain, the American author said, “India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grandmother of tradition. Our most valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only.”
When Rotary came into India, it was probably a new service organisation. But the philosophy of service was not new. That is why for the past several decades, Rotary has made enormous strides in India. It is true that for many years, Rotary clubs in India were largely seen as receivers of grants from abroad. But today, especially for the past three years, Rotarians from India have shown that they can be generous donors to TRF.
As we induct our friends as members of Arch Klump Society here today, we salute their generosity in putting India among the top giving nations to TRF.
There are some parts of the world that, once visited, get into your heart and won’t go. India is one such place. Foreigners are stunned by the richness of the land, by its lush beauty and exotic architecture, by its ability to overload the senses with the pure, concentrated intensity of its colors, smells, tastes, and sounds. People who had been seeing the world in black & white, when brought face-to-face with India, experienced everything about Rotary’s service above self concept in brilliant Technicolor.
India has dominated the world culturally for 20 centuries without ever having to send a single soldier across her border.
It is impossible not to be astonished by India and what Rotarians do there in terms of community service. Nowhere on Earth does humanity present itself in such a dizzying, creative burst of cultures and religions, races and tongues.
Every aspect of the country presents itself on a massive, exaggerated scale, worthy in comparison only to the superlative mountains that overshadow it. It is this variety which provides a breathtaking ensemble for experiences that is uniquely Indian. Perhaps the only thing more difficult than to be indifferent to India would be to describe or understand India completely. There are perhaps very few nations in the world with the enormous variety that India has to offer. Modern day India represents the largest democracy in the world with a seamless picture of unity in diversity unparalleled anywhere else.
We are proud that Rotarians from India who are now consistently donating over US $10 million every year are demonstrating that they can reach within to embrace humanity.