District Governor Rtn. Sashi Sharma understands the needs of Rotarians. His desire to have an evolved Rotary movement in India has made him request me, whom he considers as a‘thought leader,’ to write about my journey in Rotary. While accepting his request, I humbly script a period of my life in Rotary, where I think I have been able to influence the destiny of a large fraction of humanity.
When India was on the threshold of getting freedom in 1947, I was born in July in a family known for the richness of its culture. Today my father, Shri. Mulkraj Mahajan and my mother Shrimathi Rajrani, are guiding me from their heavenly abode and it was because of them I acquired the skills I have now.
When I joined the Rotary Club of Mulund in 1973, I saw people around me in the club embracing the religion of positivism. As the President of the club in 1982, I began to look at tomorrow from where I was standing during those days. I noticed that in Rotary a paradigm shift is taking place as it moved into a multipolar organisation.
As the District Governor in 1993, I realised that the future of Rotary was in the hands of this generation. Adding over 700 members with 20 new clubs and raising US $2,58,000 for TRF and almost US $160,000 towards the rehabilitation work in Latur Earthquake that year was satisfying. Being a year of achievements in every sphere of Rotary, it was joyful to see our District Conference being telecast in local TV channels and BBC also gave coverage for seven minutes.
As the Director of RotaryInternational during 2007-2009, I was able to motivate every district in India about membership development and membership increased to over 1,10,000. What is that one important skill that Rotarians should have if they have to attract others into the fold? They must have the skill to stir up the humanity within people. So if stirring up humanity is the technique that will increase membership in Rotary, then you can’t do it to a crowd. You have to do it one at a time and it is a continuing process.
Rotary in India changed largely because of the explosion of high quality information the members got through our Regional Magazine, Rotary News, which came under my wings to guide.The magazine soared very high and captured the attention of every single Rotary Leader worldwide. I must appreciate the efforts of the then Editor who made this possible.
The magazine, which was earlier underutilized by the members, rose in stature and the paid subscription increased tremendously.The magazine’s leadership position vis-a-vis the other regional magazines was maintained till 2013. The magazine did the work of taking India to the world. The interviews with nearly all the top Rotary leaders worldwide, which were taken by me, was published in the magazine and even in the remotest part of India, the Rotary member was able to know about their leaders, their thoughts, philosophies and how Rotary functioned.
As a member of the India National PolioPlus Committee for over ten years I was able to promote the polio eradication programme in Maharashtra. Being a Co-ordinator for the Polio Eradication Private Sector Initiative, I was fortunate to contact Shrimathi Rajashree Birla and make a presentation. Shrimathi Birla immediately began supporting our cause and ever since I was elected R I Director has been supporting every year with a donation of US $ One million. My idea of forming the Muslim Ulema Committee helped in eradicating polio from India earlier than expected and was recognised as a great initiative by the Government.
My tenure as The Trustee of The Rotary Foundation from 2009 to 2013 was exciting. TRF contributions in India became transparent to every Rotarian as the district contribution statistics were published monthly. The contributions to The Rotary Foundation in India rose beyond US $ 14 million for the first time.
We cannot have a plan to develop Rotary when the members in the club are bystanders. Rotary has to again become member-centric and ethics must take the centre stage once again if we have to regain the confidence of the public.
Is a Rotarian, who has delivered more than what was expected out of him, become electable to higher leadership positions unless there is a group wishing for it? I found that for such a person, the priorities are many and not just positions.
My early steps in Rotary and my journey thereafter were supported fully by my wife Nayantara, my son Nikhil and daughter Namrata . My brothers and their family stood firmly by my side to take up and work for any challenging project that came up in Rotary.
In my journey in Rotary so far, there are many things I learnt. In the words of Albert Einstein, which I have slightly modified, “Many of the things you thought you can count on, don’t count and many of the things you thought you need not count really count.” It is said that ‘the best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them,’ and in this journey I have always had trustworthy people around me for which I am eternally grateful to God.
Undoubtedly, Rotary is an organisation with people of many talents. It is one of the world’s most respected and admired institution that serves the community in innumerable ways. I am an eternal optimist and a passionate believer in Rotary’s ideals so my journey continues and I must end by saying, “I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep.”
ASHOK MAHAJAN
Smile , Serve , Sacrifice, Satisfy