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Why else have Rotarians spent billions of dollars and volunteer hours over the last
35-plus years to eradicate polio and serve mankind? Why else have we set up thousands
of schools, hundreds of hospitals, provided water in parched villages, brought dignity to
people by providing toilets in their homes, given the gift of life to tens of thousands of
children by doing their heart surgeries? Rotarians keep serving because we want to
change lives. One project in Nepal changes the lives of a few thousand people, the family
health program in Africa has served millions of people, a water project in Haiti has
changed the lives of more than 10 million people. Back home in India, the T-E-A-C-H
program of literacy and education has impacted the lives of millions of children.

Many of you have been an important part of similar service projects, and you have
changed the lives of people. There was a need to serve, and you served. Today the need
to serve has become even more necessary and apparent. So, my dear change-maker
governors, in the coming Rotary year, I request you, urge you, cajole you to serve people
and help to change their lives. So, my dear governors, our theme for the year 2021-22 is
Serve to Change Lives.

I urge you to lead by example and inspire Rotarians and Rotaractors to participate in
projects that have a sustained impact. Join hands with other Rotarians, other organiza-
tions, corporations, and do projects that impact your community, your city — projects
that can change lives of people across the country and around the world. At the end of
your term as district governor, you should feel that because of your leadership, because
of your inspiration to the Rotarians and Rotaractors, the world has changed for better
because of the service done by them during the year.

As we all serve, we change the lives of not only others; we change our lives, too.
Vivekananda, one of India’s greatest philosophers, said, “When you help someone, do
not think that you are obliging him or her. In fact, it is he or she who is obliging you by
giving you an opportunity to give back something to this world from where we have
received so much.” Also, he added beautifully, “In life, take the position of the donor or
the server, and yet be so humble in giving and serving that let the donor or server kneel
down and ask: ‘May I give? May I serve?’ ”

Friends, to live for others, to care for others, to serve others and change their lives is the
best way to live our own lives. Just as Albert Einstein said, “Only a life lived for others is
a life worthwhile.”

And friends, as we go about our service initiatives, our special focus this year will be on
empowering girls. One of Rotary’s core values is diversity. We have a public statement
that outlines our belief in DEI — diversity, equity, and inclusion. It is important that we
empower the girl as we all find that more often than not, the girl is disadvantaged. We
will serve all children, but our focus will be specially on the girl. There are many issues
that girls face in different parts of the world, and you as leaders will ensure that we try
and mitigate the disadvantage of the girl that they may have.

Friends, to do more and grow more, we have designed some presidential initiatives.

SHEKHAR MEHTA, 2021-22 THEME ADDRESS
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