Rotary Club of Madras elects first woman president

Indra Subramanyam, being welcomed by the outgoing president of the Club, Ravi Katari.On Tuesday, the Rotary Club of Madras saw the dawn of a new era.Seventy-eight years after its inception, the club elected a woman to the post of President, with Indra Subramanyam taking over the baton from the outgoing President of the Club, Ravi Katari.Mr. Katari put it succinctly: “It is a special day for us, as it is the first time we are installing a lady president. It is a milestone and it’s been a long time in coming…”

Ms. Subramanyam is the Managing Director of Ehrlich Laboratory, a 70-year-old institution.She has held the post for 10 years, having been a director for 15 years before that.District Governor of Rotary International (3230) J.B. Kamdar said, while introducing the new president, that it was worth waiting 78 years for the right person, and the right person to claim this honour was indeed Ms. Subramanyam.In her inaugural speech as the 79th President of the Club, a beaming Ms. Subramanyam said “I’m a confident president, thanks to my board members, all of whom voluntarily took up there posts.”

She added that in the Rotary Club achievement was secondary and bonding primary.“Your reward in this work is the unparalleled joy you get…we should enjoy Rotary,” she said.The ceremony also served as a forum for the outgoing team to detail the achievements of the last year.Outgoing secretary of the club, Vasanthi Vasudev, took the audience through some of the highlights.In addition, awards were presented to several Rotarians for their outstanding achievements over the last year.