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.
District Conference hosted March
3-4, 1962
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.
1980-81
President : Rtn. B.M. Singh
Secretary: Rtn. D.S. Swani
Rotary Youth Leadership (RYLA)
Camp organised. Sweaters and uniforms provided to School children in Bapu Dham
Colony.
Diabetes detection camp organised.
A herd of goats donated to Lepers
Colony to promote self reliance.
1981-82
President : Rtn. U.D. Pathak
Secretary: Rtn. R.M. Suri
R.I. President E.M.C. Caffery
and R.I. Secretary Herbert A. Pigman visited the Club.
Rtn. R.K. Saboo becomes a Director
of Rotary International.
107 cycles donated as an incentive
for Family Planning Operation.
1982-83
President : Rtn. J.R. Khanna
Secretary: Rtn. K.K. Seth
Construction of Rotary P.G.I.
Serai started and Rs. 75,000/- presented to P.G.I. Director by R.I. President Hiroji
Mukasa.
Seminar on `Dowry or Death’
inaugurated by Shri Vasant Sathe, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers.
2000 Subabul trees planted in
schools.
Rs. 1.75 lacs raised for P.G.I.
Serai and ground floor completed. Toy Train worth Rs. 25,000/- presented to
Chandigarh Administration through the efforts of Rtn. R.K. Saboo and Rotary Club of
Embengin West Germany. New Interact Club started in Sector 10 Government Model
School.
1984-85
President : Rtn. R.M. Suri
Secretary: Rtn. Partap SIngh
Rs. 2 lacs collected for the
P.G.I. Serai which was completed and the keys handed over to Director P.G.I. to Director
P.G.I. on 28.6.85. A total of Rs. 46 lacs had been collected by the club.
Eye camp at Manimajra organised.
District’s First President’s Elect Training Seminar held.
1985-86
President : Rtn. S.K. Lamba
Secretary: Rtn. D.S. Jaaj
A plot acquired in Sector 18 for Rotary Vocational Training Centre. Braille typewriter donated to Institute for the Blind, Sector 26, $700 sent to District 417 in Mexico for earthquake relief.
1986-87
President : Rtn. Tosh Kasliwal
Secretary: Rtn. Madhukar Malhotra
Equipment and apparatus arranged
for Speech and Hearing Aid Centre at Prayaas in Sector 11.
Rotary Village Corps started in
Village Kansal.
Rotary Club of Chandigarh Central
sponsored.
1987-88
President : Rtn. Partap Singh
Secretary: Rtn. Rattan Advani
Health Camp at Village Dhanas. Rotary Village Corps expanded. Funds collected for Polio Plus Programme.
1988-89
President : Rtn. K.K. Seth
Secretary: Rtn. K.K. Gupta
A unique scholarship was floated
for World Peace & Understanding. Our Club hosted Miss Christ, sponsored by R.C.
LA. JOLA, Los Angeles, USA under the scheme. She took training from Rock
Garden Creator, Mr. Nek Chand for 3 months.
Construction of Rotary Vocational
Taining Centre started, boundary wall completed and last installment of land paid. Many
Medical Camps and one Blood Donation Camp were organised. Best President award was
conferred on Club.
1989-90
President : Rtn. Madhukar Malhotra
Secretary: Rtn. J.B. Bhasin
Rtn. R.K. Saboo nominated as
President Rotary International for the year 1991-92.
Four lady members inducted. On the
Spot Painting Competition on the theme “Blood Donation” where 1600 children
participated. Sponsored Chandigarh Football League Matches. Rs. 45,000/- donated to Rotary
Speech and Hearing Centre at Karuna Sadan in Sector 11.
1990-91
President : Rtn. K.K. Gupta
Secretary: Rtn. Ravi Pal Singh Mann
Health Camps held at Village
Dhanas. Distributed free medicines worth Rs. 10,000/- Rs. 360/- per month given
to a lady student in Patiala as aid.
In collaboration with Heart Beat
International, U.S.A. free pacemakers provided for poor patients in P.G.I.
1991-92
President : Rtn. Abhilash Kapoor
Secretary: Rtn. S.N. Sharma
Rtn. R.K. Saboo becomes second
Indian to be President of Rotary International.
Health Camps and Adult Literacy
Classes held at Village Kaimbwala. Rs. 7.5 lacs collected for R.V.T.C.
Building. Vocational Training Courses started for Electrical Repairs, Tailoring,
Book Keeping and Health Assistants.
1992-93
President : Rtn. J.B. Bhasin
Secretary: Rtn. Dr. P.S. Chari
“Freedom 45” week
celebrated with Rotaract Club on August 16-20. New Interact Club started at Bhartiya
Vidya Bhawan. R.V.T.C. Building progresses and ground floor completed.
Chairs for the Auditorium.
New training courses started in
Electronics repairs and Embroidery.
1993-94
President : Rtn. Dr. P.S. Chari
Secretary: Rtn. Harbhajan Singh
9 New Paul Harris Fellows made,
US$9,500 collected for the Rotary Foundation.
Club awarded Balanced Achievements
Award.
22 new members inducted.
Provided relief to flood victims in
Ropar.
1994-95
President : Rtn. Ramesh G. Bhatia
Secretary: Rtn. Rtn. Kawal Bedi
Four day workshop on
conservation of Art Objects and Materials held. Intercity on Rotary Foundation
hosted. Record participation of 578 delegates.
Medical and Polio Camps organised.
Rotary information Library
established.
Donation to earthquake victims in
Japan.
Health Education and First Aid
booklet published.
14 New Paul Harris Fellows.
Club’s main project of service
welfare of Senior Citizens wins the Best Project shield.
1995-96
President : Rtn. Harbhajan Singh
Secretary: Rtn. Sunil Khera
Ist phase of RVTC building
completed.
Rotary Chandigarh Shivalik
Chartered, Medical and blood donation camps held. Diwali celebrated with poor school
children and with inmates of Blind Home.
60 Rotarians participated in the
District Conference.
Membership rose to 112 from 98.
Club awarded Best President Award.
R.I. President’s Citation for
the Club.
Participated in the 1st Round of
Pulse Polio Immunisation adopted 30 Polio booths - highest by any Club in Chandigarh.
1996-97
President : Rtn. Maj. T.A.S.
Bedi
Secretary: Rtn. Praveen
Chander Goyal
Saved the life of a poor young boy Lakha Ram by collecting
and spending over Rs. 2,00,000/- for his heart
operation.
Introduced and commenced Computer Centre at RVTC to impart
training at subsidized rates to poor students.
Designed and introduced new Presidential Collar.
Celebrated 2000th Meeting on 23rd November, 1996.
Rotary Anns started independent Innerwheel Club.
Immunized a record number of over 79,000 children on two NIDs.
Successfully hosted District Assembly.
Inducted 19 new members making the club as the largest Rotary Club
in District 3080.
Awarded certificates of appreciation from RI President in all
avenues of services.
Club was adjudged as number one club in the District for percapita
contribution to Rotary Foundation.
Secretary, Rtn. Praveen C.Goyal was adjudged the Best Secretary of
the District.
Past RI President Raja Saboo appointed as Chairman of the Trustees
of the Rotary Foundation.
Sponsored a new Interactor Club having membership of over 1000
which is the largest Interactor Club in the world.
1997-98
President : Rtn. Sunil Khera
Secretary: Rtn. Sumeet Gupta
Hosted District Assembly, and special Intercity on the visit
of R.I. President.
Hosted the Reunion 1991-1992, comprising of 40 PDGs from all over
the world.
Immunised children on two NIDs.
Set up Rotary Mini Family Welfare Centre at Bapu Dham Colony
inaugurated by the Advisor U.T. Administration.
Won the Trophy for PulsePolio and R.I. Presidents Citation.
1998-99
President : Rtn. Ms. Kawal
Bedi
Secretary: Rtn. Charanjit Singh
The Club
received innumerable awards and recognitions for its overall achievements
in every sphere of service activities from the District, while the
President and the Club were adjudged the Best in the District 3080.
1999-2000
President : Rtn. Darshan
Mehandru
Secretary: Rtn. Vijay Wadhawan
The Club hosted the District Conference.
Mrs. Usha Saboo, & IPP Kawal Bedi, received the Awards of Excellence at
the District Assembly, besides host of other awards for the Best Club, Best
Bulletin, Maximum contribution to The Rotary Foundation.
2000-01
President : Rtn. Praveen
Chander Goyal
Secretary: Rtn. Manmohan Singh
The club has initiated matching grant
Rs.3.5 crore project to The Rotary Foundation
for a Rs.3 crore Rotary BBS Blood Resource Centre in Chandigarh, which has
received nod from TRF.
Another matching grant project is in pipeline for providing a Rotary
Mobile Dental Van to the city administration.
The Club has immunised more than 30,000
children against Hepatitis-B in 3 months period October - December 2000
Has organised two Rotary Community Corps
in a slum on the outskirts of the city. One of them is an all-women
RCC for whom various vocational workshops are being held.
Many new vocational training programmes
have been introduced at the Rotary Vocational Training Centre.
More than 11,000 and 14,000 children were
immunised respectively at the two polio immunisation days observed in the
country. In the second National Immunisation Day, an 11-member team
of Rotarians and their spouses from Wisconsin, USA joined at the polio
booths.
Organising a massive artificial limbs
project for the needy in collaboration with the UK Rotarians under the
Jaipur Limbs Project.
2001-02
President: Rtn. Anil Khanna
Secretary: Rtn,. A.S. Kalsi
2002-03
President: Rtn. Atma Ram Singh
Secretary: Rtn.
Visit of RI President Bhichai Ratakul.
The Club hosted the Joint Intercity to Welcome the RI President.
Initiated Rs.4 crore Blood Resource
Centre in collaboration with Blood Bank Society of Chandigarh.
2003-04
President: Rtn. Vijay Wadhawan
Secretary: Rtn. Paramjit Singh
Our member, Rtn. Kawal Bedi, the first
women from D-3080 takes over as District Governor.
Constructed Rotary Peace monument in
collaboration with State Bank of India at a cost of Rs.5 Lakh at Sukhna
Lake. RI President Jonathan B. Majiyagbe visited Chandigarh and unveiled
the monument at a glittering function at the lake on 12th December 2003
and handed over the same to HE Governor of Panjab Justice O.P. Verma.
