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In 1999, more than 100,000 Indian
Rotary members and their families joined the government of India
in immunizing more than 130 million children against polio on a
single day, signalling the largest public health event ever in
the world.
In November 2004, a team of 21
members participated in a trip of promotion in several villages
and towns of southern India on National Immunization Day (Nov.
21). That day 180 million children in India became immunized.
By joining this event, Rotarians
will have a close experience of the India that most tourists
never see.
The deep south of India remained
relatively unaffected by the alien invasions that rocked the
North after 800 AD. As a result, the ancient Hindu civilization
has survived here in its purest and most fascinating form. As
we went on our mission on this trip, almost every day presented
us with a breath-taking architecture and sculpture of South
India’s temples. We couldn't miss them even if we tried!
The sub-tropical beauty of the
palm-fringed countryside, the warm welcome of gentle village
folk deeply rooted in the highly–developed culture of ancient
India, these are some of the images that shall remain with us
for a long time. |
