RCB Celebrates UN International Peace Day

RCB’s International Service Committee celebrated the UN’s International Peace Day on September 21st with a glittering function attended by a full house. The event showcased eminent speakers, artists and musicians and, in a first for our Club, Zoom invitees from the Rotary Clubs of Petalingjaya, Greentown, Yangon, Yangon Central, Colombo East, Haute Rive (Mauritius), Delhi-South Extension, Vadodara-Heritage, Romania-Bucharest and Ardmore (USA). Also in attendance were District Internal Service Director, Rtn. Rashmi Tanksali, District Chair for ICC and Sister Clubs, Rtn. Vineetha Chinappa, President Rtn. Anand Ramachandra from Bangalore South Parade and President Rtn. Tajaswini Jaisimha from Bangalore Downtown.

The first speaker of the evening, Ms. Mahati Bharatesh, joined us from Nairobi where she serves as Regional Advisor for East Africa for the UN’s World Food Program, an agency that was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020 for its efforts to combat hunger and promote peace. Ms. Mahiti talked about her work with refugee populations, showed how armed conflict is a major cause of hunger in the world and, using her own life as an example, showed how each of us can promote peace in ways big and small.

Next, Ambassador N. Parthasarathi, who has served with distinction in the Indian Foreign Service for over three decades, gave us a sweeping overview of the evolution of global superpower dynamics since WWII, showcasing the collapse of the old world order, the rising belligerent expansionism of China and the growing stabilizing influence in our region of an increasingly powerful and multi-aligned India.
Children from the Raintree School inaugurated RCB’s International Peace Week program wherein students between 7th & 12th standards are asked to record their thoughts on what peace means to them personally, and upload their videos on social media for RCB to showcase.

The occasion was graced by the presence of two distinguished artists who have made generous contributions to our Kala for Vidya fundraisers, Shirley Mathew and G. Subramanian. They inaugurated the painting of the Peace Panels and inspired our Club members to the artistic heights that are now on display at the rear of the RHF main hall.

A highlight of the evening was a photo montage of RCB President Rtn. Sanjay Udani over the years that kicked off a joyful celebration of his birthday. Fellowship and dinner were accompanied by the Carnatic fusion stylings of the musical trio, Akhanda.

This entire event was made possible by the generous sponsorship by our own Rtn. Prashant Shah to whom the International Service Committee is most grateful.

Ultimately, however, the credit for the gala International Peace Day celebration goes to Rtn. Kavita Muthappa who came up with the idea for the event, and whose energy and creativity made it a reality. She was ably supported by International Service Director, Rtn. Sukhen Padmanabha, our International Ambassador, Rtn. Nilesh Kapse, tech guru Rtn. Sandeep Ohri and the rest of the IS Committee. Special thanks to our hosts for the evening, President Rtn. Sanjay Udani, Rtn. Kavita Muthappa, Rtn. Jayant Rudra, Rtn. Anand Bindagi, Rtn. Rajesh Jain and Rtn. Sohil Shah. The celebrants were unanimous in the hope that the event will become a permanent feature in RCB annual calendar of gala evenings.

Rtn. Vijay Rao