The history of Rotary Club of
Chandigarh is closely entwined with the history of ‘the city beautiful’. It
has grown with the
city, bringing into its folds some of the most dedicated service-minded individuals
in pursuit of reaching out to the people in
need, who have not only excelled in their respective professions but also contributed
to the growth of Rotary.
It was in 1958 that 22 prominent citizens of the city decided to form a Rotary Club
in the city. Sponsored by Rotary Club
of Patiala, the Rotary Club of Chandigarh held its first meeting in February 1958.
Rtn. Mr.Justice R.P.Khosla was elected founder President and Rtn.Dr. J.R.D.Ahuja,
was the Founder Secretary.
Late Rtn. K.J.Khosla, the then member of Rotary Club of Patiala, was the Governor’s
Special Representative, who
helped organise the club.
Our Club received the Charter from Rotary International on 10th day of May 1958
from the then District Governor Fazil-i-Ahmed.
The Club is proud to have amongst them a highly devoted Rotarian in Raja Saboo,
who brought glory, not only to the Club
but to the country as well, bringing Chandigarh on the world map.
Raja headed the Rotary International in 1991-92 and had been the Chairman of the
Rotary Foundation during 1996-97.
The information below highlights some of the major projects and activities of the
Club through the years.
1958-59
President : Rtn. Justice R.P.Khosla
Secretary: Rtn. Dr. J.R.D.Ahuja
The club hosted the District Assembly on 26-27 April, 1958, even before the
presentation of the Club’s Charter.
1959-60
President : Rtn. Justice R.P.Khosla
Secretary: Rtn. J.S.Kalra
Intercity meeting held on 27th March, 1960.
1960-61
President : Rtn. Gurdial Singh Dhillon
Secretary: Rtn. P.C. Loomba
Weekly bulletin started. Monetary aid to poor students.
1961-62
President : Rtn. Gurdial Singh Dhillon
Secretary: Rtn. P.C. Loomba
Funds raised for a Funeral Van. Secretary: Rtn. P.C. Loomba
1962-63
President : Rtn. Dr. J.R.D. Ahuja
Secretary: Rtn. P.C. Loomba
Wounded soldiers of the China War and relatives given free rations and clothes.
Members attended Intercity meeting at Lahore presided over by the Pakistan President,
Gen. Ayub Khan.
1963-64
President : Rtn. L.D. Kaushal
Secretary: Rtn. V.K. Verma
Funeral Van given to Red Cross. Woollen jerseys distributed amongst the poor.
1964-65
President : Rtn. P.C. Loomba
Secretary: Rtn. R.P. Manocha
Interact Club and Book Bank started in Sector 16, Model Secondary High School.
Book Bank also started in Punjab
Engineering College.
1965-66
President : Rtn. V.K. Verma
Secretary: Rtn. Mahavir Gupta
District Conference held April 23-24, 1965.
1966-67
President : Rtn. Hira Lal Sibal
Secretary: Rtn. V.P. Gandhi
Scholarships to needy students. Foreign students invited to Rotarian homes
on festivals.
1967-68
President : Rtn. K.J. Khosla
Secretary: Rtn. V.P. Gandhi
An `At home’ for foreign students studying in Chandigarh was organised.
Diwali was celebrated with the foreign students.
1968-69
President : Rtn. Mahavir Gupta
Secretary: Rtn. C.P. Dhawan
Scholarships to poor students.
1969-70
President : Rtn. K.S. Kwatra
Secretary: Rtn. U.D. Pathak
25 foreign students from Portland, U.S.A. hosted in the homes of Club members
for one month.
Donated Water Cooler to Saket Home.
Started weekly magazine `Chandigarh Rotarian.’
1970-71
President : Rtn. R.K. Saboo
Secretary: Rtn. S.M. Chadha
Membership rose from 46 to 72. Community Welfare Centre started at Village
Kajheri and 4 sewing machines
donated. Recreational equipment donated to start a Children’s Park at the
Industrial Workers Colony, Sector 30-A.
`Mukesh Nite’ and Raffle held to raise funds.
1971-72
President : Rtn. Parampal Singh Mann
Secretary: Rtn. H.M. Monga
Completed School and Community Centre in Village Kajheri. During Indo-Pak war organized
a Free Community
Kitchen for relatives of Active Service Personnel visiting Chandigarh. Rs.
12,000/- collected for Handicapped
Children and distributed.
1972-73
President : Rtn. B.K. Mehan
Secretary: Rtn. H.M. Monga
Funds donated for Blind Rehabilitation Centre and Rotary Cancer Hospital at Delhi.
1973-74
President : Rtn. V.P. Gandhi
Secretary: Rtn. Lalit Mohan Suri
Rs. 1 lakh collected for Community Development Project at Sector 25, Labour Colony,
for a School, Dispensary
, Latrines and Balwari. Scholarships for needy students. District Conference
hosted December 15-16, 1973.
1974-75
President : Rtn. Dr. C. Balakrishan
Secretary: Rtn. V. Seshadri
Intercity meeting held on 21-04-74. Creche started in Labour Colony, Sector
25, Funds provided for artificial limbs
and care of the blind.
1975-76
President : Rtn. C.P. Dhawan
Secretary: Rtn. J.R. Grover
A room added to Balwari in Sector 25.
Equipment for indoor games donated to children of Airman’s School.
Group Study Exchange Team from District 587, U.S.A. hosted.
1976-77
President : Rtn. Lalit Mohan Suri
Secretary: Rtn. V.S. Suri
Membership grows to 110.
Crech-cum-Health Centre and Primary School completed in Village Dhanas. Family
Planning Camps held in Village
Kajheri and Modella Woollen Mills. Blood Donation Camp in S.A.S. Nagar
and Sector 17.
On the spot Painting Competition organised.
Rotary Club of Chandigarh Mid-Town sponsored.
1977-78
President : Rtn. J.R. Grover
Secretary: Rtn. Vinod Peshawaria
1000th meeting of the Club celebrated by an Intercity Meeting with Bapu Jagjiwan
Ram as Chief Guest.
Rotary Primary School opened at Village Dhanas.
First Inter District Golf Tournament organised.
Eye Camp organised.
Bus to P.G.I. Blood Bank.
Rs. 11,000/- sent to Rotary Club of Machilkapattam in Andhra Pradesh for relief
aid to cyclone victims.
T.V. Set donated to Saket home.
1978-79
President : Rtn. S.M. Chadha
Secretary: Rtn. V.P. Gandhi
Mobile van donated to the Blood Bank Society through the efforts of Rtn. R.K. Saboo
and a Rotary District in Australia.
Scholarships for needy students.
Special project initiated for Leprosy patients in Chandigarh.
1979-80
President : Rtn.Vinod Peshawaria
Secretary: Rtn. J.R. Khanna
Exhibition “Magic World of Toys” organised to celebrate International Year of the
Child.
Donated plastic bags to the Blood Bank at P.G.I. for Haemophillia patients on behalf
of Rotary International,
District 268. Handed over Rotary.
Dispensary building at Dhanas Village.
Rotary God Fathers scheme started where 10 Rotarians adopted bright school children
and paid for the school and uniform.
Celebrated 75th Anniversary of Rotary International.
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