The Gift of Rotary

When I joined Rotary in 2015 as a charter member of Rotary Club of Pune Heritage, it was entirely unplanned. At the time, I was primarily focused on my business and spent most of my free time with family and close friends. Life was certainly good.

And then came Rotary. I owe it to Dr. Milind Kanitkar for inviting me. From the moment I stepped in, I found myself surrounded by people from diverse professions, talents, and passions, each contributing in their own ways to meaningful causes. Sonali and I became active participants right away. Our first fundraising event for the club was a turning point and the appreciation we received gave us a deep sense of belonging. Guidance from experienced Rotarians like Rajeev/Madhumita Barve, Jaywant Shintre and Avinash Ogale was critical for early success.

In 2018, the opportunity to serve as Club President under the inspiring leadership of DG Shailesh Palekar expanded my exposure to Rotary, connecting me with many district officers and other clubs. The projects we initiated brought tangible benefits to people’s lives, and immense personal satisfaction!

Another defining moment came when PDG Pankaj Shah invited me to serve as District Secretary. That opportunity allowed me to contribute at a larger scale in district administration. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with leaders like PDG Manjoo, IPDG Shital, and Rtn. Vivek Dixit, each adding a new dimension to my Rotary experience.

I take pride in supporting major service initiatives such as Happy Schools, hospital facilities, artificial limb fitments, river cleaning, and many more. I could also apply my professional skills in contributing towards enhancing district websites, facilitating Rotary CSR Awards, enabling crowdfunding through Rotary KindHearts, assisting digital publication of GML, and other such initiatives.

This journey hasn’t just impacted my personal growth, it has enriched my professional life as well. Rotary has given me numerous friends all over the district, who all are successful professionals and experienced business leaders, giving access to valuable strategic insights. Rotary is also meaningfully shaping the lives of my daughters, Ishita and Anvita, who are actively participating in Rotaract and Interact respectively.

Looking back, I realize that Rotary has positively transformed my life. It has given me a sense of purpose beyond business success, a platform to serve, a community to grow with, and a space where personal fulfillment and social impact go hand in hand. Rotary is now woven into the fabric of our family life and I truly cherish this relationship!

RTN. Mohan Chaubal 
RCP Heritage