“Jodi tor đak shune keu na ashe tôbe êkla chôlo re”, roughly translated into English it means "If no one responds to your call, then go your own way alone"
This Patriotic song was penned by non other than Nobel Laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore in the year 1905.The song exhorts the listener to continue his or her journey, despite abandonment or lack of support from others. The song is often quoted in the context of political or social change movements.
But that was then,because we all know that if you are out to do a humanitarian activity and especially with organizations like Rotary, this Ekla Chalo re will not do,since we all need support of society at large.
Rotary basically is an organisation for Humanitarian Service.It acts as an bridge between haves and have-not. And like in any other humanitarian activity one man army is never enough.
Sahir Ludhiyanvi,the famous lyricist had written a beautiful song long back for a film “Naya Daur”,that to my mind sums up the very ethos of Rotary.
“Saathii Haath Badhanaa, Saathii Haath Badhanaa
Ek Akelaa Thak Jaae To, Milakar Bojh Uthaanaa
Sathi Hath Badhana …”
Long back in one of my blog page I had written “ Man is gregarious by nature,and aloneness militates against sociability.”
We all are creatures of society and therefore,should give back to society in our small little way,what ever we can.
And What better forum that Rotary.
Rotary is a service club. Its business is mankind. Its product is service. Rotarian provide community service to both local and international communities. This is perhaps the best reason for becoming a Rotarian: the chance to do something for somebody else; to sense the self-fulfillment that comes in the process; and the return of that satisfaction to one's own life. It is richly rewarding.
Rotary is an Open Club.Rotary has no secret handshake, no secret policy, no official creed, no secret meeting or rituals. It is an open society of men and women who simply believe in helping others.
The month of August is marked as Membership and Extension Month.Let us all put our heads together and ask good citizens to join Rotary.
You know,when we embark on the journey of enrolling new members, the common refrain we all face is "I am alone in my business/Profession.No time”
That is the first hurdle we all have to overcome.Most of the time it turns out that the person we are talking to are not aware of Rotary’s plans and programs.I am sure once they are properly educated about the benefits of joining Rotary,their objections whatever they be ,will surely go away and they shall contribute to the organisation in their own little ways.
I sometimes feel that we don’t ASK enough.
Billi Wittich,Past President of Rotary Club of California (USA) puts it very succinctly “How do you invite someone to join Rotary ?? Just Ask”
This act of just asking someone to join Rotary is not given adequate importance. We are all surrounded by people from every walks of life.How many times do we ask some one to join Rotary?? Try doing it.Believe you me,Results will be fantastic
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Just ask someone “ Why are you not a Rotarian ? And nine out of ten people will tell you “Oh ,we have heard about Rotary,but really do not know what they did or were “
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And it is here, dear Rotarian we have all to pitch in and explain the benefits of being a Rotarian, and once inducted, ensure that they stay for ever.
I Guess the key to membership is to ASK and EXPLAIN.
So let us all join our hands together and endeavor to lighten up as many lives as we can.Remember, not with Ekla chalo re, but with our sathis together.
There is nothing more fulfilling than to lighten up some soul.
Giving is fulfilling.
