THE ROTATOR - Issue 47

RCB Exemplars 2025 – A Tribute to those who Illuminate our World
There are evenings that dazzle with lights and applause—and then there are those that shine with the quiet brilliance of purpose. Exemplars 2025 Awards Night, held at a Gala Function at Hotel Radisson Blu Atria on 23rd May 2025, was one such evening.
Instituted in this format in 2016, The Exemplars is RCB’s signature recognition platform — an initiative that honours individuals and organisations who have gone beyond the ordinary, whose selfless work uplifts communities, and whose impact has touched lives. These are partners in purpose—those who walk the same path as Rotary, driven by compassion, commitment, and integrity.
RCB Exemplars has come to represent more than an award. It is a testament to lives lived in the service of others, to innovation with conscience, and to the spirit of excellence with ethics. This year, eight outstanding individuals and institutions were recognised across eight categories. Each of them stands as a beacon, exemplifying what it means to be a changemaker in today’s world.
In the words of PP Rtn. Ranga Rao, Chair of the 2025 Exemplars Committee, “The work of Rotary is mirrored and magnified by the work of these remarkable individuals and organisations. Recognising them is not just an act of honouring, but also of amplifying goodness — so that their stories inspire, their efforts are supported, and the ripple effect of their impact continues to grow.”
Kudos to PP Rtn. Ranga Rao, VP Rtn. Vineetha Chinappa, Rtn. Sandeep Ohri, and not least, President Rtn. Gowri Oza and Secretary Rtn. Sohil Shah for such a memorable and well-curated program!

The RCB 2025 Exemplars

1. Citizen Extraordinaire
Dr. H. Sudarshan Ballal – Chairman, Manipal Health Enterprises A clinician par excellence, a respected teacher, and a compassionate physician. Recognised for his role in building Manipal Hospitals into India’s second-largest healthcare provider.
2. Corporate Citizen – Alpha Design Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
One of India’s leading defence and aerospace R&D and production companies. Honoured for its innovative technologies that proved critical during the recent Sindoor operations.
3. Pride of Work
Thomas Raja (Auto Raja) – Founder, Home of Hope For his unwavering service to the abandoned and destitute— providing hope to the hopeless, shelter to the homeless, and dignity to the dying through the Home of Hope initiative.
4. Youth Icon – Satyarup Siddhanta – Mountaineer For transforming his life from an asthmatic child to becoming the youngest person in the world to scale both the Seven Summits and the Volcanic Seven Summits. A shining example of courage, resilience, and self-discipline.
5. Community Service – Nightingales Medical Trust
For its impactful work in dementia care, active ageing, elder livelihoods, social integration and prevention of elder abuse — transforming the landscape of senior care in India.
6. Start-up Success – Digantara Research & Technologies
A pioneering space surveillance and intelligence company, for its leadership in the field of Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and its contributions to sustainable space operations.
7. Environment & Conservation – Hasiru Dala
A social impact organisation for its work in empowering waste pickers through access to identity, education, healthcare and livelihood opportunities—driving both environmental sustainability and social equity.
8. Vigyan Veer – Col. H. S. Shankar (Retd.)
A highly decorated Indian Army officer and visionary in indigenous defence manufacturing. Celebrated

Pragatipatha
Empowering Graduates Through Employment

On 22nd May 2025, the Rotary Club of Bangalore, in association with Rotary Bangalore Vijayanagar, hosted Pragatipatha, a large-scale recruitment mela at Nrupathunga University. Designed to support graduates from government colleges in and around Bangalore, the event drew over 2,000 job seekers and nearly 100 companies from sectors such as banking, FMCG, logistics, ITES, and services. Nearly 80% of candidates were shortlisted or offered jobs.
To improve outcomes, Rotary had conducted pre-event orientation sessions on resume writing, interview techniques, and communication, which significantly boosted candidate readiness. As part of its community service, RCB also donated a RO water unit and a biological waste incinerator to the university—enhancing campus hygiene and access to clean water.
The event was inaugurated by MLC M. Nagaraja Yadav, in The presence of university leaders including Vice Chancellor Prof. Fajeeha Sultana, Placement Cell Convener Dr. Sumithra, Prof. Ramakrishna Reddy of the Collegiate Education Dept., and C. Jagannatha from the Sub-Regional Employment Exchange. Rotary leaders present included President Rtn. Gowri Oza, who spoke of the initiative’s long-term impact, and Rtn. Shashimouli V of Rotary Bangalore Vijayanagar, who lauded the partnership.
Rtn. Elizabeth Cherian, District Governor Elect, emphasized Rotary’s vital role in bridging education and employment, calling the event a model of service-led collaboration for youth empowerment.
Rtn. R.V. Srihari, Vocational Services Director
Congratulations to Rtn. R V Srihari and his Team for championing and successfully coordinating the meaningful event!

Meet the superstar of RCB. She is the poster girl of International Services drive to make all 330 of RCB’s a proud Paul Harris Fellow.
“She wears her PHF medallion with more pride than her diamonds”, says an admiring Rtn. Sagarika Ghosal.
Wearing the PHF pin is a mark of pride, recognized globally as a symbol of your dedication not just as a Rotarian but also as a Paul Harris Fellow.
Contact Rtn. Mustali Vagh, Director International Service if you are still not a PHF.

Rotarians Nite: A Tribute to the Poetry of Six Yards

Rotarians Nite — an annual celebration hosted by the Inner Wheel Club to honour its partnership with the Rotary Club of Bangalore — was held at RHF on May 26th. This year’s theme was a poetic ode to the saree, that iconic six yards of grace that has adorned generations of Indian women.
The evening was a dazzling spectacle tracing the saree’s evolution, symbolism, and timeless appeal. IW President Pavitra Reddy opened the program, describing the saree as “a form of art, a canvas for storytelling, and a symbol of our tradition and culture.” Anchored by Usha Vijayarajan, with direction and choreography by Chitra Ganapathy and Sudha Dinesh, the showcase unfolded in six themed sequences, each supported by evocative music.
Raja Ravi Varma’s immortal portrayals of mythological women were brought to life by Shanthi Baliga, Meera Shankar, Malavika Krishnamurthy, Supriya Raghunathan, and Sudha Rao, their drapes echoing his divine aesthetic.
The regal Kanchipuram silk—with its vibrant colours and intricate zari—was modelled in splendour by Shalini Prabhu, Padmini Nagachandra, Usha Vijayarajan, Anuradha Reddy, Chandini Iyer, and Chitra Shyamsunder.
As Western influences emerged, narrower pleats and puffed sleeves shaped a new look, embodied by Ranjana Raju, Geetha Shenoy, Mala Jyothi, Beju Makhija, Raji Hari, and Uma Manay.
Chiffon sarees, paired with pearls and grace, evoked modern Indian royalty—elegantly presented by Usha Nair, Sudha Dinesh, Rajshri Day, Bhavana Srinivas, and Rekha Rudra.
Richly embroidered drapes—featuring Chinese motifs and Mughal Zardosi—were worn by Kiran, Pragya Jain, Prabha Pai, Jalaja Murthy, and Sobha Murali.
Finally, the saree’s modern reinvention was celebrated by Shilpa Rudra, Reema, Sharada, Sharmila Perumal, and Pavitra Reddy, capturing its enduring relevance.
The evening concluded not just with applause but a standing ovation—for the saree as a living legacy. In every pleat and pallu, The Poetry of Six Yards beautifully bridged past and present, tradition and trend.

Theatre in Education

RCB Youth Service initiated another teacher training workshop on 27th May, this time at JES Public School, focusing on integrating theatre techniques into teaching. Led by noted theatre professional Mr. Srinivas Besetty, the session aimed to simplify and enrich classroom methods.
Through role-play and real-life classroom simulations, teachers explored creative, empathetic, and effective responses to challenging situations. The exercises encouraged collaboration, quick thinking, and a deeper understanding of classroom dynamics. The workshop offered not just practical strategies but also a reminder that classroom management is both a skill and an art—one that can be enjoyable with the right approach.
The school staff expressed heartfelt thanks to the Rotary Club of Bangalore for this valuable initiative.
-Rtn. Solomon Paramel

PRID Panduranga Setty Memorial Tennis

The RCB Tennis Tournament, instituted in 2020, saw PRID Rtn. Panduranga Setty personally present trophies to the winners in its inaugural edition, where he spoke of the inspiration he drew from Rotary.
This year’s tournament was held on May 25th at the Century Club Tennis Courts and was inaugurated by President Gowri Oza. Rotarians from RCB and Districts 3191/3192 participated enthusiastically, in association with the International Tennis Fellowship of Rotarians (ITFR).
A big thank you to Rtn. M. P. Shyam for his steadfast support and for
sponsoring this annual event.