DAY OFF FROM HARD LABOR (Feb. 13. 2007)

As I probably mentioned before, flexibility seems to be the rule of the day… with one scheduled duty or activity being “adjusted” to another time or priority. Originally, the TEAM had been advised that we would be attending the Rotary South Asia Goodwill Summit, being hosted in Delhi, and this would be followed by the opportunity to attend an event hosted at the Presidential Palace, by India’s President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Well, all of this did, in fact occur, but a day earlier than we had understood.

The TEAM all arrived at Sanjiv’s farm for breakfast, kitted out in our finery – a sharp contrast from the muddy, smelly work clothes and boots from the previous two days of working at the site. We enjoyed yet another wonderful breakfast at the hands of the two lads in the kitchen, who seem to be able to produce an endless variety of very tasty and hearty meals from the kitchen. To the best of my knowledge, we have only enjoyed “normal” electrical power for possibly one full day since our arrival. With horrendous thunder and lightning storms each day or night, power has been lost and the generator was called into duty. The two in the kitchen have been cooking on top of a four unit gas burner – for twelve people each meal.

Once fed, we boarded our coach to travel the two hours into Delhi. We encountered trucks filled to the brim with rocks collected from the unforgiving landscape nearby Sanjiv’s farm and the village site. Traffic jams slowed down the progress into the city, particularly from one side of Gurgaon to the other, and we had the opportunity of being “parked” directly on the flight path for the airport, watching as jumbo jets came in for landing directly over our heads!

When we arrived in Delhi, we were dropped off at the ASHOK HOTEL, where the Summit was being held. This event marked the 25th anniversary of the first such event, held in December 1981. At this Summit, issues such as powerty alleviation, unemployment, empowerment of women, rural credit, literacy, primary health care, nutrition and immunization, the strengthening of democratic institutions, and the role of NGOs in the development process.

Nobel Prize recipients from the region were among those addressing the 600 attendees, which came from the principal countries of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, as well as Canada, the United States and several others. Rotary International President-elect Wilf Wilkinson presided over the Summit. Government officials from India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka also addressed the Summit, including the former president of Sri Lanka, Chandrika Kumaratunge.

The Summit had already been in session for the previous day, but the issues being discussed today were of particular interest to us – POLIO ERADICATION. The executive Director from the World Health Organization, the chairman for Polio Plus in India and others addressed the group, urging us not to relent in our efforts to once and for all succeed in killing this maming demon from the face of the earth.

When we arrived, I was pleased to renew my acquaintance with President-elect Wilf Wilkinson, who was being escorted by District Governor Damanjit Singh of District 3010. He recalled the two occasions when he had been to Maine, once for a Zone Institute held at The Cliff House in Ogunquit, and the second when he addressed the District Assembly, the year Michael McGovern was incoming District Governor for District 7780. We had a few minutes to chat, and Jayne Britton joined the conversation, also recalling having met the incoming President in Ogunquit. This being my sixth journey to India, there were many opportunities for me to renew friendships with club members, district leaders and other friends in Rotary.

We sat in on several speeches before the Summit was adjourned for luncheon, and then returned for the major addresses of the afternoon. First to speak was Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar – Union Minister of panchayati Raj, Youth Affairs and Sports and the Development of the Northeast Region in India. His address touched on the rich history of south Asia, and how through following the philosophy espoused by Rotary International, we hold the possibility of realizing world peace, through greater tolerance and understanding.

President-elect Wilf Wilkinson was then introduced, and again, reinforced the basic tenets of Rotary – those of SERVICE ABOVE SELF, and all the honors and responsibilities inherent therein. If each of us moves to serve others, with less attention paid to our own needs, how can we fail?

The Summit concluded with the unanimous passing of a resolution of rededication to the principles of unity and peace and the commitment, specific to the region of south Asia, with the goal of reaching beyond the geographical borders of this region to extend across the planet.

Shortly following the conclusion of the Summit, we all boarded buses to be driven to the reception. We were not allowed to take any pens, cameras, liquids, mobile phones, briefcases or purses, automatic car door openers, automatic car starters, etc. These would be confiscated, should we arrive and go through security and such items were to be found. Off we set in our buses, across Delhi, until we reached the Rashtrapati Bhawan – the official residence of the President, as well as the houses of parliament and other government offices.

The red carpet welcomed us all, with clay pots of yellow and orange marigolds on each ascending step. We were processed through security, and then escorted to reception hall, where we were all seated and waited for the arrival of the President. The security was very high, and quite evident. We were all seated in the first six or seven rows of what appeared to be twenty or thirty rows of chairs, extending about forty chairs across. The Governor of Uttaranchal, Mr. Argawall, himself a prominent Rotarian, had arranged for this reception, and along with the former President of Sri Lanka, was seated on the small stage at the front of the room. Two attendants pulled the long velvet drapes back, and President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam entered the hall. Several introductions were made of the various dignitaries in attendance, including President-elect Wilf Wilkinson, and then President Kalam began his remarks. He is very slight in stature, but as India’s foremost leader in space research, himself a nuclear expert, he easily held more than six hundred people in the palm of his hand. He told a story about his guru of many years ago, and then proceeded to discuss what he believed to be the center of the Summit – the seeking of world peace through greater cooperation and understanding. He concluded with a moral lesson, and then we adjourned to a very long reception hall, where tea, water, soft drinks and several different types of food were served.

As we stood to move to the other hall, I was pleased to see my good friend, past Rotary International Director Sushil Gupta. He and I caught up on the events which had occurred since the last time we were together at his home in Delhi, one year ago. We walked (or should I say moved along with the crowd) into the other hall, and Sushil introduced me to several other Rotarian friends. At one point, it appeared that the equivalent of the secret service was attempting to move the President through the crowds, leaving us to enjoy the hospitality of the evening. I was most fortunate to have the opportunity to meet the President, as were a number of the other members of the Team. President Kalam asked me where I lived in the USA, and was particularly intrigued with the fact that as Rotarians who had come to India at their own expense, to first participate in the National Immunization Day (NID), that we had moved west to serve as laborers in the tiny village of Chahalka. Being Muslim himself, he seemed very grateful that we had undertaken this project, along with members of the Rotary Club of Delhi-West. He wished me well and moved along through the crowd.

We finally returned to the hotel, where we located our coach (traveling home for the past several days) and all of the members of the Team climbed aboard to head for Sanjiv’s farm for dinner. Sanjiv named the property Dera Aravali (Camp Aravali) as it is more or less of an outpost in the rugged terrain of the Aravali mountains. Sanjiv had explained to us earlier that the Himalayas are the newest mountains on earth and the highest and most pointed, while the Aravali mountains were perhaps the oldest chain in India, if not the entire world.