THE ROTATOR - Issue 11

Happy reading!
Your Rotator Team 2025–26

Rotary Club of Bangalore Golf Academy

RCB made history by taking Golf to a government school in Begur in its bid to take this sport to the grassroots level. RCB has constructed a practice range consisting of three driving and one putting facility in the school premises, which will be managed by Tarun Sardesai Golf Academy ( TSGA). RCB will provide training at its expense to students showing interest in the game.
Inaugurating the facilities President Sukhen and Rotarian Praveen spoke to the students . Golf is not just a game played in a field, they explained; it builds discipline, character, and resilience.

The students and the teachers were very excited that a game generally considered a ‘rich man’s prerogative’ is being taught to them right at their own school. Teachers expressed that the motivation from this activity will improve attendance and academic performance at the school. RCB welcomes donations in the form of used golf equipment that the students can use while training.

RCB and Education Department ink a partnership

An MOU was signed with the department of education Government of Karnataka on September 9th stating that RCB will be providing digital smart boards and benches to government schools to a minimum of 100 schools.

Along with the district and other rotary clubs the aim will be to cover 1000 schools. District Governor Rtn Elizabeth Cherian, our President Rtn. Sukhen Padmanabha, Rtns. Srinivas Velidanda, Anand Bindagi, Girish and Sanjay Udani were present at the signing ceremony in the presence of education minister Mr. Madhu Bangarappa. The commissioner of the department of education signed on behalf of the Government.

RCB and Hunsur Collaborate for Rural School Infrastructure Enhancement

In a joint initiative aimed at enhancing the safety and security of a rural school, Rotary Club of Bangalore and Rotary Club of Hunsur donated ₹1,00,000/- towards the construction of a boundary wall, installation of a gate, and setup of CCTV cameras. This project was undertaken on the way to Mangalore to conduct Rotoquiz Mangalore prelims. A strong contingent of 18 Rotarians attended this project. We also distributed biscuits to 125 children of the school.

Project Details:
Enhance safety and security of the rural school premises for which a sum of Rs 1,00,000 was contributed. Rs 75,000 by Rotary Club of Bangalore and Rs 25,000 by Rotary Club of Hunsur.
COMPONENTS –
– Construction of a boundary wall.
– Installation of a gate.
– Setup of CCTV cameras for surveillance.

IMPACT
This contribution is expected to significantly improve the security of the school, providing a safer environment for students to learn and grow.
This joint effort by the Rotary Club of Bangalore and the Rotary Club of Hunsur reflects their commitment to supporting community development projects, especially in rural areas.

ShieldHer Inspires the Next Generation at Kendriya Vidyalaya Malleswaram

The *48th session of ShieldHer: United Against Cervical Cancer* was conducted on September 12, 2025, at *PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya, Malleswaram, Bengaluru*. The program engaged 283 students from Classes 8 to 12 along with 10 teachers, across two batches.

Dr. Shubha Rao* (life member of KSC-AGOI and retired HOD OBGYN, St. Martha’s Hospital) delivered age-appropriate presentation that broke down the science of cervical cancer in simple language. She explained how early awareness, healthy living, and HPV vaccination can play a pivotal role in prevention. The students actively participated, asking thoughtful questions about HPV transmission, genetic risks, and menstrual health. Many expressed their intent to educate family members and advocate for vaccination. Notably, a group of already vaccinated girls motivated their peers to follow suit and protect
themselves from this disease.
The success of this initiative was made possible through the support of the KVM school management, reinforcing the importance of equipping young minds with knowledge to safeguard their future health. The presence and encouragement of fellow Rotarians Anju Agadi & Jayanth Rudra, Ann Shilpa Rudra and Sharmila Perumal (President, Inner Wheel Club of Bangalore) was truly appreciated.

Soaring beyond limits: How paragliding is changing lives in Kamshet.

At the 11th Rotary Club of Bangalore (RCB) meeting, members were treated to an inspiring talk on how paragliding can transform lives. The speakers were husband-and-wife duo Avi Malik, an ex-IAF pilot, and Anita Deshpande, co-founders of Temple Pilots Paragliding School in Kamshet, Pune district.

Founded 25 years ago, Temple Pilots has grown into one of India’s foremost paragliding schools. “We train about 500 students every season and now have nearly 750 active club pilots who have completed their training and own their own gliders,” explained Anita Deshpande. “Every piece of equipment we use, from the bullet-proof helmets to the gliders, is imported to ensure safety and international standards.”

For Deshpande, paragliding is more than an adventure sport. “It is free-flying—the closest you come to flying like a bird, aligning with the wind. But more importantly, our venture is transforming lives in the local community of Kamshet,” she said. Young people from the village are identified, trained to be certified instructors, and equipped with soft skills. “It is a matter of pride that local youth now teach a Western sport to foreigners in their own language.”

The ripple effect has been transformative. Once a sleepy town, Kamshet has become a tourist hub, dotted with shops, bed-and-breakfasts, and small businesses that thrive on the global paragliding traffic. Among the many success stories, Deshpande highlighted the remarkable journey of Divyanshu from Pune, who lost his sight at 18 due to glaucoma. “For seven years, he searched for a paragliding school that would accept him. At Temple Pilots, we trained him to fly solo in just four days, assisted only by radio guidance. He went on to establish Adventure Beyond Barriers, an institution encouraging persons with disabilities to embrace adventure sports.” 

Avi Malik spoke of the broader impact. “Flying has made me realise that humans have no limitations. That is reflected in the journey of our instructors—village boys who are now internationally qualified trainers, teaching hundreds of students every season from October to May. We even presented this model to the Skill India Ministry to demonstrate what is possible.”

Yet, the path has not been without challenges. “Families often resist because they would rather see their sons in steady jobs than flying in the sky, which they consider risky. It even affects marriage prospects, so our instructors have to lie about their profession,” Malik said with candour.

Despite such resistance, the school has helped establish Kamshet as India’s premier paragliding destination, attracting enthusiasts from across the world. “People of all ages and from every walk of life come to fly. When they take their first solo flight, something shifts inside them. There is a self-realisation that you can achieve anything you set your mind to. Flying is just the tool—it makes you realise you are limitless,” Malik concluded.

AM AM TOURNAMENT

The Biogen IGU ROTARY Southern India Championship flagged off on 14th September for ladies and top amateur boys from ages 10 to 24. This is the 8th consecutive year, and to encourage the amateurs, the AM AM tournament is conducte,d where 3 club members play with the top amateurs of the country.

RCB in the NEWS