Dr. SK and Kaplana Dash were recognized for their substantial contributions to Rotary International and became members of the Arch Klump Society as part of our July 13, 2023 Rotary meeting. Friends, colleagues, members of the Rotary Club of Edina, Rotary Club of Maple Grove, Wayzata Rotary Club, current and past District 5950 governors and other local dignataries including a video message from Senator Amy Klobuchar joined in celebrating Dr. Dash's generosity and spirit. Senator Klobuchar's message can be seen HERE.
Member, Geetu Sharma, shared the following poem for invocation to commemorate Indian
Independence Day on August 15th. “Where the mind is without fear” by an Indian writer Rabindranath Tagore,
who was a Nobel Laureate in Literature. He wrote this poem in the 1900 during the British Rule. Geetu mentioned
she recited it often during assembly in her school in India.
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.
More pictures follow. Click on read more. . .
The program began with an Indian dance performance. The dancers
were from Academy of Performing Arts.
Professor Bruce P. Corrie presented the economic contributions of
Asian Indian in the US.
Mrs. Nash Shaikh, India Association of Minnesota presented a
brief history of Indian coming to Minnesota, preserving traditions,
their contributions and how they are looking forward.
Current Rotary Foundation Director, Raj Kumar and President Shelly Loberg presented
some of the ways Dr. Dash's generous gift will return back to the Rotary Club of Edina
through support of our international grants.
Pictured here: Rotary Foundation Director Raj Kumar, Dr. SK Dash, President Shelly Loberg
and India Association of MN, Tanwi Prigge
Dr. Sita Dash giving his acceptance speech.