ROTARY CLUB OF DARJEELING
– on top of the world, since 1957
The Rotary Club of Darjeeling received its charter on 28th June, 1957. Rtn Khan Bahadur Avari was the charter president and Rtn W.A. Jhons, the club’s first secretary.
The club was then under R.I. District 325 comprising West Bengal, Bihar, North East India, Nepal, East Pakistan and Burma. Within two years of receiving the charter, the club was given the honour of hosting the district assembly in 1959.
The initial projects undertaken by the club included setting up a blood bank, oxygen bank – both of which were taken over by the Darjeeling and Dooars Medical Association (Planter’s hospital) later and a book bank was run by the club for the needy.
The club has always been in the forefront during the crisis and Rotary Darjeeling was recognized for its effort with a community service award at the district conference way back in 1972 only to repeat the feat with astounding regularity now.
In the 70s, the club adopted a village Rongmit in Darjeeling and constructed a primary school for the village. The club went to its upliftment by taking care of the medical education and food needs of the needy from the village.
Members of the Rotary Club of Darjeeling pooled in more than Rs 27 lakhs to set up a Rotary Tower in the heart of Darjeeling. The multi-purpose tower serves as a social service center, library and a giant fire hydrant for Darjeeling tower.
A free blood sugar and blood pressure screening clinic operates at the club five days a week.
The Rotary Club of Darjeeling has taken up many projects including setting up an open-air gym at Chowrasta, repairing schools, providing scholarships to students, setting up gardens, maintaining tourists’ spots, organizing marathons, creating public infrastructure, just to name a few.
At the club level, the Rotary Club of Darjeeling has the honour of hosting three District Conferences - in 1974, one 1982 and in 2001. The Club has hosted three District Assemblies in 1959, in 1972, in 1994, and three PETS – in 2000, in 2001 and in 2004 apart from the district foundation seminar in 2023 and RYLA in 2024.
The late Rtn. Ajit Prasad, one of the Past Presidents of the club (1973-74) served as the District Governor of District 3290 in 1981-82, and Rtn. Udaya Mani Pradhan served as District Governor in 2000-2001.
The Club has had the privilege of sending six outstanding young men of Darjeeling under GSE Team programme.
Rtn. J. B. Edwards went to the USA in 1974, Mr. Kabir Mustafi to Australia in 1987, Dr. Sanjay Gurung to South Korea in 2003, Dr. Diwakar Thapa to Canada in 2004, Mr. Sudeep Pande to USA in 2005 and Mr. Anup Shekar Chakraborty to the USA in 2008.
Five GSE Team Leaders have led the teams to USA in 1982 by Late Mr. Maurice Banerjee to Brazil in 1996 by Rtn. Udaya Mani Pradhan to Sweden in 1997 by Rtn. Sunirmal Chakravarthi to South Africa in 1999 by Rtn. Amar Singh Rai and to South Korea in 2003 by Rtn. Prolad Roka.
On May 16, 2017, Rotary Club of Darjeeling created history by unfurling the club banner on Mount Everest. On top of the world, since 1957.