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In 1965, Bhubaneswar the capital city of Orissa with a population of about fifty thousand was almost an adolescent of only 17 years old. Within its periphery there were a few Govt. offices and Commercial concerns. Some institutions like, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Regional College of Education, German Volunteers Corps and CARD etc. also grew up with foreign aid giving the town and international touch.
That was an era when Bhubaneswar faced a transition from a town to a city.
Towards 1964-65, Dr. S. Lewis Land, a veteran Rotarian from USA came to Bhubaneswar to help organise Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology. It was he who took the initiative of forming a Rotary Club in the town. He had to approach the Rotary Club of Cuttack for sponsoring a Club at Bhubaneswar. Ultimately
Rtn. Khatau Sundar Das of Cuttack Rotary Club was appointed as the Governor’s Special Representative for Extension. The first organizational meeting of the Club was held at State Guest House on 28.02.65 (Sunday) at 11 AM under the Chairmanship of
Rtn. C.R. Bose, the then District governor of R.I. District 325. Exactly after a week on the next Sunday i.e. on 07.03.65 the second meeting, which was the first meeting of the provisional Rotary Club, was held at the same venue, the State Guest House, at 12 noon under the Presidentship of Shri Nilamani Senapati to elect the first Board of Directors. In that meeting Sri Nilamani
Senapati, I.C.S. (Retd.) was elected as the Charter president and Sri Nalinikanta Panda, IAS as the Charter Secretary. A luncheon was hosted by the Rotary Club of Cuttack at 1 PM on that occasion. The next meeting of the Club was held on Thursday, the 11th March, 65 at 6.30 PM which was followed by a dinner hosted by
Rtn. D.P. Gupta of M/s. Gupta Cables Limited. All the required paraphernalia were completed and the survey report was sent to the Rotary International incorporating a list of 30 Charter members. Within a short span of one and a half month the Club was admitted as a member to the Rotary International on 11.05.65.
On 19th June, 1965 the charter presentation ceremony was held in the premises of Raj Bhawan with Dr.
A.N. Khosla, Governor of the State of Orissa, as the Chief Guest.
Rtn. C.R. Bose, Governor R.I. Dist. 325 presented the charter to
Rtn. Nilamani Senapati as Charter President. Along with thirty Charter members, four more were also inducted by the District Governor as Rotarians on that day. The bright sunny day of June suddenly changed its colour towards the afternoon and there was heavy down-pour with storm, thunder and power failure. But nature could not prevent the function from attaining its colourful success. Blessings were showered on the club from all corners; the best of such was perhaps Dr. Khosla’s who wished that the Rotary Club of Bhubaneswar should rotate non-stop for the service to community but not as a Roti club indulging itself in food and drinks. The charter members who are still continuing on rolls of the Club today like
Rtn. PP R Pani, Rtn. PP CJ Singh and Rtn. SS Agarwala amply feel that the blessings of Dr. Khosla on that evening had really very deep meaning and for keeping it up the club has always tried with utmost sincerity not to deviate from the motto of Service Above Self. It will not be out of place to mention here that an ex-member and Vice-President of our Club Dr. Sadashiv Mishra who consequent on his transfer joined the Rotary Club of Cuttack could become Governor of Dist. 326 R.I. during the year 1976-77 and another member Dr. Sreenivasa Sahu could also decorate the exalted office of the Dist. Governor in the year 1988-89. By dint of their active fellowship and selfless service to the Community, they have proved that He Profits Most Who Serves Best.
VENUE:
The weekly meetings of the Club were being held in the State Guest House. But to run the club at a centrally located place, the venue had to be changed from July 65 to the premises of Bhubaneswar Club Limited. There the weekly meetings were conducted upto December, 1967 and from January 68 the club functioned in the State Red Cross Building for two years. Again the Board of Directors of the club decided to reshift the venue to the building of Bhubaneswar Club. Accordingly since 1970, the Rotary Club of Bhubaneswar functioned till March’ 92 in the Bhubaneswar Club building. Since April’ 92 club’s regular meetings are being held in our own building Rotary Bhawan on Sachivalay Marg on every Monday at 6.30 PM (Winter) / 7 PM (Summer).
WEEKLY MEETING:
Coming to the weekly meeting originally the meetings were held on Thursdays. In order to suit the convenience of the members, it was changed to Monday, then to Wednesday and lastly back to Monday again with effect from June, 1984. There has been no further change in the day of meeting till now.
MEMBERSHIP GROWTH:
The club started with 30 charter members and on the date of presentation of charter, 34 members were decorated with lapel pins with four inductions. In course of time many new
names have come in and disappeared too from the Roster either due to transfer, change of place, ill health , extraneous engagements or death. In the initial years there was practically no growth. Although some new members were coming in, the departure of a few old ones could not be stopped.
By the end of June’ 70, the net growth was nil, membership remaining stagnant at 30. This went upto 52 by the end of the next decade, i.e., June’80. The year 1988-89 ended on 30.6.89 with 81 members on the rolls. By the mid 1990-91, the membership went upto the record growth of 97 and came down again to 71 by 30.6.92.
BULLETIN (KONARKA):
There was no regular bulletin published upto 1967-68. It was being occasionally brought out in the shape of souvenirs on the occasion of special functions such as Installation ceremony, District Governor’s visit etc. The first issue of the bulletin was published on 17.2.66 under the editorship of Wing
Commr. Shehgal. From 1968-69, it came out in almost printed form with the title of “KONARKA” once in a month and that was also not regular.
From the year 1976-77, the publication of the bulletin became regular in cyclostyled form with demy one-forth size. Presently it comes out with a beautiful get-up containing ample information on R.I., District and Club activities. Konarka in the mean time has won district award as best printed bulletin of the district in the years 1977-78 and 1988-89. |
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