Honouring the Past, Inspiring the Future…

RCB Charter Nite 2025-26

The Rotary Club of Bangalore (RCB) ushered in its 91st year with grandeur and gratitude at the third meeting of the year, celebrated as Charter Nite 2025—26. The evening was a tribute to enduring commitment, as Rotarians with over 25 years of dedicated service were felicitated for their invaluable contributions to the club’s legacy. RCB President Rtn Sukhen Padmanabha, addressing the gathering, reflected on the institution’s remarkable journey:

“We can say with pride that we are from the Rotary Club of Bangalore on account of the plethora of projects and the sacrifice of so many Rotarians over the years, from whom we can learn. “The atmosphere was set with the inspiring rendition of the RCB anthem, composed by Grammy Award-winning musician Ricky Kej, evoking a sense of pride and unity.

A highlight of the evening was a nostalgic presentation by Rtn. Riaz Basha, who chronicled the contributions of RCB’s stalwarts through three defining eras — the 1970s, 1981—1990, and 1991—2000. Each period was not only a marker of national and global change, but also a testament to RCB’s proactive role in community development.

In the 1970s, while India celebrated the launch of its first satellite and joined global efforts to eradicate smallpox, RCB was making quiet revolutions of its own. The Interact Club was launched, fostering leadership in young minds. A drinking water project under Rotary International’s Community Service Programme brought relief to a rural village. In 1977, Rtn G Ramanathan envisioned and initiated a Centre for Human Development in Yelahanka on a sprawling 30-acre plot. By 1979—80, the club had donated 15 Janata Awas (low-cost homes) to the poor in two villages — a striking gesture of empathy and outreach.

In the 1980s, as India lifted the Cricket World Cup in 1983 and the world witnessed the rise of personal computing, MTV, and the fall of the Berlin Wall, RCB made its mark with meaningful impact. A significant contribution to the Pulse Polio Programme underlined its commitment to public health. The decade also saw the establishment of the Rotary TTK Blood Bank and the introduction of a mobile science van, extending the reach of education to underserved areas.

In the 1991-2000 era, with India embracing globalisation and the world being transformed by the internet, RCB intensified its service. Health camps, women’s health initiatives, and environmental conservation took centre stage. Indiranagar Blood Bank, which was inaugurated in 1992, and the Muthappa Attavar Hospital,l which is in Uttarahalli (opened in 1993—94), bore testimony to the club’s medical mission. The jewel in the crown was the establishment of the Rotary Vidyalaya — a flagship educational initiative that continues to impact over 500 lives each year.

Several stalwarts took the stage to share reflections. They remarked on how RCB evolved from what was once perceived as an elitist enclave into a more inclusive, grounded, and responsive institution.

The increasing participation and leadership of women Rotarians was. celebrated. Fundraising in earlier decades even included humble yet heartfelt efforts like collecting old newspapers door to door — a nod to the resilience and creativity of the club’s members.

As an interlude, Riaz posed general quiz questions relating to the three different eras, eliciting enthusiastic responses from the Rotarians. As the club moved forward into its 91st year, the evening stood not just as a commemoration, but as a reminder: of roots, of renewal, and of responsibility.