THE ROTATOR - Issue 13

Happy reading!
Your Rotator Team 2025–26

Stitching Dreams, Building Futures

Through the Rotary Club of Bangalore’s Share-a-Smile project – “A Sewing Machine. A New Beginning ,” 40 women from Motaganahalli Village in Nelamangala Taluk, received sewing machines and tailoring certificates at a memorable handover ceremony on September 23, 2026. Trained through the Karunada Siri Charitable Trust, Tumkur, these women are now equipped to turn their skills into home-based enterprises and sustainable livelihoods.
The sewing machines were made possible through generous contributions from RCB Rotarians, complemented by partial co-funding from the beneficiaries themselves-a powerful expression of shared commitment and ownership.
With immense gratitude, the women spoke of renewed confidence and hope, sharing their aspiration to build successful tailoring enterprises capable of earning 25,000- 40,000 per month. They thanked every sponsor, organiser and supporter who made this new beginning possible.
The event was coordinated by RCB, Sanjeevini (a women’s empowerment initiative supported by the Central and State Govt), Karunada Siri Charitable Trust, Tumkur and supported by the Motaganahalli Panchayat leaders. Thanks to Past President Rtn.
Gowri Oza, President Rtn. Vineetha Chinappa, Rtn. Dr. Girish Mood and Rtn. Anand Bindagi for their participation and support at this event.
Together, we are helping women stitch stronger, self-reliant futures.
-Rtn. Dr. Nita Roy

OFF THE CUFF – Rotarians Turn Roadies

Many firsts yesterday (19th September, 2026). My first visit to Mangalore, meeting Rotarians from Rotary Club of Mangalore and plus I got a ring side view of the efforts that go into conducting an inter-collegiate quiz, Rotoquiz.
The drive to Mangalore with ten members of RCB was filled with riotous laughter, camaraderie, great company and warm hearts.
The Rotarians in Mangalore take this collaboration really seriously. The State Police department hijacked their venue two days prior to the quiz. One must bow to Government duty. But this crisis didn’t frazzle them. Alternative venue at Sharada Vidyalaya was made, top notch equipment provided including a serial buzzer, something none of us had seen. Another first.
The Rotarians in Mangalore are so warm and friendly it felt like I’ve known them always! They hosted a lovely dinner for our team. I got to meet many of the Anns.
The quiz done, all heaved a sigh of relief. The drive back was even more entertaining. The highlight of the conversation was the love story and the high drama that preceded the wedding of our Director Youth Services Drs Anju and Anil Agadi! We wanted to know every juicy titbit. Lots of saas-bahu relationship material for a Bollywood Blockbuster! And the adoring son and husband waiting with bated breath !!
Two days went by in a jiffy. It seemed we had all the ingredients for a picnic. Rtn Gowri brought perfectly sliced guavas and mangoes, served with chilli salt powder, chaklis, Khaara buns, and chikkis. We celebrated Rotaractor Veekshita’s birthday too.
But behind the scenes also was the Quizmaster S V L Narayan ‘s efforts to make the quiz interesting, and the coordination of the Rotary teams of RCB and Mangalore was simply commendable to make the event go like clockwork.
Considering the importance of the occasion, and the long-running association our club has with the Rotary Club of Mangalore, it was only appropriate that President Vineetha and Secretary Vijay led our team. In fact, President Vineetha’s meaningful and touching speech summed up the event.
This is my takeaway.
“When creative environments and service organizations join forces, they do more than share knowledge-they ignite young minds, sparking a collaborative curiosity that turns today’s students into tomorrow’s visionaries.”

-Ann Sukanya Narayan

Quizzical Minds at Play:Rotoquiz 2026 Lights Up the Night

The Monday night was unlike the usual speaker sessions or musical soirees that the Rotary Club of Bangalore often hosts. This time, the air was charged with anticipation, not for a lecture or performance, but for the battle of wits that unfolded in the form of the 67th Annual Ramnarayan Chellaram Rotoquiz, the flagship inter-collegiate quiz competition that has become a tradition in the city’s academic calendar. Students from five reputed institutions -two teams from Mangalore and three from Bengaluru – had gathered to test their knowledge, reflexes, and presence of mind in front of a packed audience.
The participating colleges were National Institute of Technology, Christ University, Manipal Institute of Technology, Suratkal, R V College of Engineering, and the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS).
The night began with an icebreaker question that set the tone for the contest. A visual of the iconic Hindi film Mother India flashed on the screen, and the audience was asked to identify the actor. The answer, of course, was Nargis, and with that, the quiz rolled into its rhythm. The rounds were varied and dynamic – visual, audio, buzzer, rapid-fire, and the intriguingly named Chow Chow round.
The questions themselves were a kaleidoscope of subjects, reflecting the breadth of human curiosity. From the geographical boundaries of nations to the branding of shoes, from the first woman fighter pilot of the Indian Air Force to the name of its acrobatic team Surya Kiran, the quiz traversed history, science, culture, and trivia.
Participants were asked to identify animals and flowers, decode PNR numbers, and recall the Venus Rosewater Dish – the Wimbledon shield awarded to women’s singles champions. A particularly charming question asked about the original name of Bengaluru’s Cubbon Park, which was once called Meades Park after Sir John Meades.
The audio round added melody to the contest. Hindi songs like Jadoo Teri Nazar were played, with participants tasked to identify the raga. A quirky twist came with a question about Taylor Swift’s album featuring the song Patient Zero, titled Life of a Show Girl: The Encore. Voices were also tested – students had to recognise the voice of Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, and later, the singer Yohani Singh from the Hindi film Thank God. The round reached into the archives of cinema with a question about Dil Tadap Tadap Ke from the 1958 classic Madhumati, tracing its roots to an 18th-century Silesian folk melody.
The competition was intense, with teams’ neck-and-neck, refusing to yield ground.
The audience watched in rapt attention, their own minds racing alongside the contestants.
As the scores tallied, the contest reached a nail-biting climax. A tie-breaker was needed to decide the winner, and in that final moment of suspense, the team from the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) emerged victorious, lifting the shield that symbolised triumph in intellect and teamwork. Yet, the beauty of Rotoquiz lay in its inclusivity – no team left empty-handed. Each participant carried home a trophy cup and cash prize, a gesture that underscored the spirit of encouragement and camaraderie.
The prizes were distributed by members of the Ramnarayan Chellaram family, whose legacy of sponsoring this quiz for decades has kept the tradition alive and thriving.
At the heart of the night was the Quiz Master, Rotarian S. V. L. Narayan, whose
command of the stage and flair for questioning kept the contest lively and engaging.
His ability to weave questions with wit and precision ensured that the quiz was not merely a test of knowledge but a celebration of learning itself.
As the night drew to a close, the RHF echoed with applause, laughter, and the quiet satisfaction of minds well-exercised. In its 67th edition, it reaffirmed why traditions like these matter – they create spaces where intellect is honoured, youth is celebrated, and the spirit of Rotary finds yet another expression in fostering education and fellowship.

WINNERS
1st Prize – Sangeeth & Manikranth – National Institute of Advanced Studies
2nd Prize – Aditya & Aditi, RV Engineering College
3rd Prize – Vidyuth & Niranjan, MIT Manipal
4th Prize – Girish & Arpan, Christ University
5th Prize – Himanshu & Riya, NITK Suratkal

HOUSE OF FRIENDSHIP AVATAR 2 TAKES A MAJOR STEP FORWARD

A Landmark Redevelopment Project Moves into the Execution Phase The House of Friendship Avatar 2 project has reached a significant milestone, with the RCB Board and RCBCT Trust jointly approving the roadmap for redevelopment following a recent joint meeting. 
The foundation for this progress was laid at the Special General Body Meeting held on 27 April 2026, where members unanimously approved the redevelopment project, architectural designs, statutory approvals, CSR grant agreement, and execution of related documents. A comprehensive team of consultants-including architects, structural engineers, project management professionals, HVAC and acoustics experts, lift consultants, and electrical specialists-has now been appointed. The main contractor, Buildit, has also been selected, and the Letter of Intent has been signed. With GBA approval received and working drawings finalized, the project is ready to move into the execution stage.
The Club and Trust extends special appreciation to Rtn.
A. Manjunath for his tireless efforts to ensure that the plans and all technical drawings meet our requirements.
Operational Relocation Completed To facilitate the redevelopment, the RCB office has been relocated to Novel Business Centre, Queens Road. Monday meetings and committee meetings will now be conducted at KSBA. Important records are being maintained at the Novel office in Adugodi, while the safe with original documents will be secured at Rtn. Kamalacharan’s office.
Asset Transition Underway All movable assets from the House of Friendship have been carefully categorized as archival materials, donation items, or scrap. Major assets, including the generator and boardroom furniture, are being moved to RBV, while select items are being repurchased or donated to service projects.
Sincere thanks are due to PP Gowri Oza, PP Vincent Raj, Sohil Shah, PP Ranga Rao, PP Girish Ramanathan, Jigisha Rajguru, Subhash, Sathyanarayan, and the RCB staff for their dedicated efforts in managing this extensive transition.
The Road Ahead The next phase will involve vacating the premises, preparing the site for demolition, and conducting the Groundbreaking Pooja, tentatively scheduled for the first week of November 2026.
Construction is expected to take approximately 20 months, after which members can look forward to occupying a modern new House of Friendship.
Members are encouraged to contribute ideas, contacts, and support for sourcing construction materials such as steel, cement, RMC, flooring and sanitary ware at competitive prices.
The Board and Trust will continue to monitor progress closely and keep members informed of key developments.
As RCB embarks on this exciting new chapter, the Building Committee thanks all members for their continued trust, encouragement, and unwavering support. Together, we are building the future home of fellowship and service for generations to come.
As reported to the Floor on Monday, 21st September 2026.

– Rtn. S.R. Kamalacharan

ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARDS

Rotary Club of Bangalore along with Rotaract Club of Bangalore conducted a RYLA – Rotary Youth Leadership Awards on September 23, 2026 at Raintree school , Mysore Rd . It was a session dedicated to inspiring young minds and nurturing confidence, communication, and leadership skills.
IPP. Rtr. Akila A, District Interactor Committee Member, shared her experiences, perspectives, and valuable insights with young minds.
It was an afternoon of learning, inspiration and meaningful conversations as we empower young minds to become stronger leaders and create a brighter tomorrow.

-Rtn Anju Agadi

HPV Cancers Unmasked: ShieldAll Ignites Change to Beat HPV and Protect Futures

On September 18, 2026, Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering hosted Session #70 of ShieldAll:United Against HPV-Related Cancers for 81 Biotech students and 5 faculty.
Dr. Sumangala Gali, member of the Karnataka State chapter of the Association of Gynaecological Oncologists of India (KSC-AGOI) and faculty at Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, delivered a powerful talk on HPV-related cancers-cervical cancer in women and throat cancer in men-and how we can prevent, detect, and beat them. She stressed that HPV vaccination, ideally
at ages 9-14, protects girls and boys from most HPV cancers, while regular cervical screening finds problems early, when they’re easiest to treat. She also urged everyone to act early on persistent throat symptoms in men or abnormal screening results in women. The Q&A was lively and thoughtful, with sharp questions on vaccine safety, ideal age, and screening versus vaccination-showing a clear move from awareness to action.
Heartfelt thanks to Dr. Sumangala Gali for making the message clear and compelling, and to Dr. Supreetha K. and the college management for hosting.
Prevention is Power: Screen. Vaccinate. Protect.
-Rtn. Dr. Sowmya P. R. & Dr. Nita Roy.