The last few days

16th February
Should have been a lazy day, just with host change over. However following on from the meeting with the police the day previously, at 7.30, I was on the beach to witness the start of an 'off road' vehicle rally. The police have acquired about 10 quad bikes and together with a contingent of motorcyclists from the Indian Navy they intend to ride along the beach as close to the water as possible from Chennai to the southern most tip of Tamil Nadu, I think about 1000 miles!! Coupled with the Rally was the launch of a toll free number for people wishing to report suspicious happenings in the vicinity of the shore line, eg, potential terrorist activity, illegal immigrants, smuggling, etc.

Interesting event fronted by the Head of the Police who happens to be a woman and a senior Navy guy. They had a lone helicopter giving a sort of display and a navy boat rushing backwards and forwards directly opposite the assembled crowd of about 100 police and navy personnel. Of course there was the media, but nothing like the numbers that had besieged us two weeks earlier!

Finally got to do some shopping, very afraid I am going to have excess baggage!

Both Teams have now been asked to produce a presentation on their views of the India experience. To be given on Thursday evening, we decided to get together at the home of my host, Paras, at 4 pm to work on our offering. Paras took this opportunity to lay on a party for us on his roof terrace and to ensure it went well he invited over about 8 incoming presidents form nearby clubs. When they arrived at about 8 pm we had just about got together most of our views. We understand that Thursday is to be an informal farewell event with just the GSE Committee present. We wait to see, the meeting is being held at the prestigious Madras Private Club! Paras ‘do on the terrace’ was a success, whether it was the drink, company, or the private caters he just happened to call in, but everyone had a good time.

The next morning was another round of vocational visits. Raj and I were programmed to visit the local anti terrorist branch office. We were taken to the old Chennai Training School where the Unit was supposedly based. We were introduced to a senior ranking officer, who said he was in charge of localized training. We then asked one, or two, general questions about security issues at which point he stated he new nothing about security and from this point on he would only give his rank name and number! Clearly he was unaware of our visit and realizing that we were not going to be able to convince him to divulge any general facts about the current situation, we decided to beat a hasty retreat and go and visit one of the all woman police stations that have been created all over the City.

It would appear that the stations have been set up to deal with women who are victims of crime. We met a very able corporal, who although not being able to converse in English provided, through one of the Rotarians acting as an interpreter, a good description of their responsibilities. The set up was very similar to the police woman’s departments that used to exist within the UK. There have clearly been issues with the attitude of male officers, when confronted by a female complainant. The police women do not deal with female accused; this still rests with the male dominated force. This was an interesting visit of about 45 mins.


After lunch, we went back to the Taj Hotel and I was formerly handed over to my final host Anand, the DG. After settling into his very pleasant home, it was time to go the Madras Coromandle Rotry Club, who were hosting a 5 Club gathering, just to hear our presentation – our final presentation. About 100 persons were present and after we finished giving our talk questions were taken. There was keen interest in Zoe’s profession, my views on police corruption and Chris’s favorite beer! Then followed fellowship, with a hot buffet and ‘free’ bar. I left at about 10 pm to be delivered by his driver to the DG’s home – oh such happy memories!

Thursday was due to be a half day visit to the Kingfisher Brewery. Despite his protestations to the contrary, we believe this visit was inspired by Chris. We were collected by 3 members from the Club hosting the visit and soon got a sense that this was not going to be a quick visit. We kept stopping to meet up with other Rotarians and soon there was a small convoy of us heading out on the 2 hr drive to the brewery. We stopped first at a liquor blending and bottling plant en route and it was at this time we realized that the GSE Teams now had 15 hosts. I came to the conclusion that such visits are the same the world over and by the time lunch came and the tasting started I was proved right.

We finally arrived back in Chennai at about 5 pm and so just had time for a quick freshen up, before going to the GSE Farewell Party. Both Teams had prepared a presentation on our time in India. It was an emotional time with two members being brought to tears, as they recounted the marvelous time and experiences they had had. Thanks were expressed to the organizers, hosts and the many other Rotarians, who had made this such a memorable visit. All too soon the evening came to an end and we left with our host to start the process of packing.

The final very long day.


After a bit of a lay in, I started to get my bags together. Afraid I am going to be about 3 kgs over the very small allowance given by BA (23 Kgs), which is some 7 Kgs less that the Sth Africans are getting with Emirates!


On giving up attempting to get a quart into a pint pot I went off with Anand for lunch at Fisherman’s Cove. Right on the beach overlooking the Bay of Bengal, this visit brought back many happy memories, as Margaret and I had stayed at the Resort on our previous visit, a little over 2 years ago. An excellent 'long lunch', when I was able to obtain an fascinating further insight into how Rotary operates in India and especailly in District 3230.


Then it was back to the packing. Anand and Gary (our UK liasion chair) spent a good deal of time attempting to increase the luggage allowance.


At around 6 pm Meena (Anand's wife) and I set off for a celebration party being hosted by the father of the Madras Rotary Club President, who was himself a Past District Govenor. Anand had DG duties elsewhere. Given that he has over 100 Clubs in the District and he spends one day with each Club, visiting their current projects and then attending a meeting, plus all the other responsibilites he has, it can be seen how much time and the personal commitment that the DG has to give during his year in office - there is rarely a free day!!!


The party was a grand affair. On an arab theme, the host had errected a large number of bedowyn like tents, lit by coloured lights, where food, drink and entertainment was provided also you could just sit and socialise. There were lit torches and the small braziers positioned to give the right ambience and it was a really very pleasant 'summers' evening, plus I was able to met up with a number of Rotarians who had had a significant hand in arranging our visit, meant that this was a really fitting end to the 30 days in India.


We left at around 10 pm to enable me to get to the airport and meet up at 12 mn with the other Team members and those from South Africa. Also present was a small group of local rotarians, including Raj to see us off. Given that our flight was at 4 am I was expecting this to be a lesuirly affair with there being sufficient time for genuine and sincere farewells. How wrong I was, the Airport was in a state of chaos. The airport was packed with extremely large numbers of frustated, irritable and hot travellers attempting to navigate the exit procedures Firstly luggage, Gary had done an excellent job and cleared our weight issues, but there was a problem with additional bags, so a guy Raj found, who was now with the Customs Dept and was an ex GSE member, did his best and we ended up having to pay for just one nominal package. Despite what we had been told earlier, the Sth Africans did not have such a good arrangement and ended up spending a great deal of time and money in getting their bags through. Their flight was at 3 am and so they ended up having to be rushed through all the other security checks and we believed they made there flight!


Having done our bags, we had to say a hurried farewell to Raj and to give him a gift from both teams. It was a shame, because therre were so many thankyous that we all wished to express.

Next it was immigration and it took longer to get out of the Country than it did top get in. Customs likewise, then onto the Departure Lounge checks. All in all we navgated all the checks just in time to get to the departure gate, as the plane was starting to board passengers. Almost 4 hrs without a sit down and in a very trying atmosphere - but we survived!


Without any real incident we had a pleasant return flight arriving at Heathrow at 3 pm India time - so all in all some 30 plus hours after we had first go up on the Friday morning. We were met by Gary and our relatives, said the farewells and then made our way home!


It is going to take some days/weeks to fully appreciate what we experienced in India. I know that all the UK Team really appreciate what Rotary and our Indian Hosts gave to us and we look forward to sharing with Rotarians in District 1260 over the next few months and at District Conference in May.