Mangaluru: On July 1, 2020, Ranganath Bhat formally took over the mantle of the District Governor (DG) of Rotary Club District 3181. He has been a Rotarian for the last 31 years and his ascension to the post of DG will be another feather in his cap of many colors. Ranganath Bhat told Newskarnataka.com that his association with Rotary has helped him stretch the limits of his personality’s potential including public speaking ability and leadership skills.
It was Ranganath’s father M Achutha Bhat, a Rotarian himself who first brought him into contact with the Rotary movement, and the tradition continues. At present, his wife Rajani and son Rohit are also active members of the club.
He was elected and named as the District Governor nominee (2020-2021) of Rotary District 3181 in 2018. Comprising of four administrative districts – Dakshina Kannada (DK), Madikeri, Mysuru, and Chamrajnagara, the Rotary International District 3181 has altogether 82 clubs and about 3500 members. “Being the DG during this COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath is very demanding since the challenges are unprecedented. But Rotarians, using their skills and experience will be able to serve in the best interest of the community and country at large”, says the 61-year-old Bhat.
Having closely monitored the needs of the respective districts for over several decades and receiving co-operation of all the members, Ranganath said that it was not difficult for him to draft a blueprint for his upcoming term.
The veteran Rotarian has at least four projects he would like to pursue during his tenure as the head of District 3181. The plans include project like ‘Ek Chamach Kam, Char Kadam Aage’ – encouraging consumption of one spoon less oil, sugar and giving thrust to exercise among kids and adults, ‘WINS – Wash in Schools’, where handwashing facility will be provided in local schools, creating awareness on menstruation among girls, providing first aid training for students from schools, colleges and holding tree-planting drives in the district.
District 3181 along with Rotary International, is going to streamline all its efforts against the pandemic. “Rotary Foundation is contributing to procuring ventilators, beds at hospitals in Mangalore, Coorg, Mysore, and Chamarajanagar,” Bhat told NewsKarnataka.com. He says every government definitely needs help from people’s organizations and NGOs for effective functioning.
Apart from these plans, Bhat says Rotarians have been very active during the pandemic serving the public in myriad ways. Besides contributing Rs. 100 Crore for Prime Minister’s Fund for COVID-19, mask distribution, Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) distribution, and food to migrant laborers were undertaken by Rotary members across the nation. “Most of the projects were sanctioned in record speed by the organization hierarchy, all keeping in mind the needs of the ordinary people and tacking the shortcomings faced by the frontline warriors,” he said.
Rotarians will need to address the pandemic and its priorities, said Bhat. “We aim to do this through online interactive sessions at which Rotarians will equip themselves with best practices to serve the community effectively. Further, Rotary will create awareness and take forward the message of social distancing and hygiene among the masses”, Ranganath adds. “No one knows how our present decision (owing to pandemic) will impact the future. In fact, its a daily learning process. This year we had district sensitization training and assembled around 600 Rotarians from all parts of the district through a webinar. The program was effective, in fact during a recent event of an installation ceremony in Dakshina Kannada, being concerned about COVID-19, all members agreed to part-take through a virtual platform and only about 40 people were present at the venue” Ranganath said.
“As a Rotarian, you are dedicating yourself for humanitarian causes along with the company of likeminded people, both at the local level and through the global network of Rotarians, and as DG, I will try to continue to encourage all members to render themselves to serve people and society; so as humankind we all will be able to overcome this viral-phase at the earliest,” a determined Ranganath signed off.
All you wanted to know about Rtn. Ranganath Bhat
Manjeshwar Ranganath Bhat is a Mechanical Engineer and an Alumnus of NITK-Surathkal. After a brief stint in Industry, he joined his family business of Motor Freight Transportation. Nowadays he is into Tyre Retailing, Computerised Wheel Alignment, and Allied services in Mangalore under the name of ‘Rohit Auto Care’. He was one of the first to introduce Computerised Wheel Alignment during 1988 in Mangalore. He has been an Insurance Surveyor/Loss Assessor for Insurance Companies and a Valuer for Banks and Financial Institutions.
Ranga, as he is popularly known, joined the Rotary movement in 1989 and is a second-generation Rotarian. He was president of the Interact Club of Canara High School-Main during 1973-74. He was president of Rotary Club of Mangalore North during 1997-98 and Assistant Governor for the term 2000-01. He has served in various capacities in the Rotary at Club and District levels. Ranga is a Major Donor to The Rotary Foundation.
Ranganath Bhat has been the Honorary Secretary of the Canara High School Association, a 129-year-old organisation that owns and manages 14 Educational Institutions from Kindergarten to Engineering levels and has over 11000 students. Philanthropy is his second nature.
Ranganath Bhat is married to Rajani. Rajani was president of the Inner Wheel Club of Mangalore North and is a Rotarian. She is an Artist and a Painter. They have two children, son Rohit who after a 7-year stint at L&T Ltd joined his father’s business and is married to Dipti; daughter Rohini is studying at Pre University and a grandson Vihaan.
Widely traveled, Ranganath Bhat is an avid photographer and rides the bicycle to keep himself fit.
