Rotaract & Rotary

Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who envision a future where people come together and take action to make a positive difference — throughout the world, in our communities, and ourselves.

Rotaract clubs bring people aged 18 and above together to share ideas with community leaders, develop leadership and professional skills, and have fun while doing good. Rotary and Rotaract members work together in communities all around the world to make a difference through service. Rotaract is altering communities all over the world, from major cities to small towns.

Rotaract was founded in 1968 as a Rotary International youth program at Charlotte North Rotary Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, and has evolved into a global organization with over 10,904 chapters and over 203,000 members in 189 countries. It is a service, leadership, professional, and community service organization for young men and women aged 18 and above (commonly referred to as a Social Service Club).

History of Rotary & Rotaract Clubs in Rotary International District 3292, Nepal-Bhutan

The Rotary Club of Kathmandu was founded on November 20, 1958, fifty-four years after founding the first Rotary Club in the world (Rotary Club of Chicago), and received RI participation on April 13, 1959. At the Royal Hotel in Kantipath, King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah publicly launched the Rotary Club of Kathmandu as Patron-in-Chief. THE FOUR LEADING MEMBERS WERE Dr. J.N. Giri, General Kiran Shamsher JB Rana, Gopal Raj Bhandari, and Dr. Dev Rath.

By 1995, Nepalese Rotarians began to believe that the Rotary Clubs in Nepal required their District to thrive. In 1995, when Rotary International President (RIP) Herbert Brown visited Nepal, it marked a watershed moment for Nepalese Rotarians to aspire to and strive to establish a separate District. The late His Majesty King Birendra met with RI President Herbert, who emphasized Nepal’s desire for a separate Rotary District. The RI President stated his willingness to accept a different District for Nepal if Nepal could handle 25 clubs rather than the 40 necessaries at the time. The Rotary movement in Nepal gained pace after that.

In 1996, the Presidents of Rotary Clubs in Nepal created a Task Force led by Rtn. Yogendra Man Pradhan, then-President of Rotary Club of Kathmandu Midtown, expanded the number of Clubs and membership to satisfy the conditions for a distinct District. In the three years leading up to 1999, Clubs grew to 20, and membership grew from 380 to 650.

During the first five years of the new millennium (2000-2004), 46 new Rotary Clubs were established, bringing the total number of clubs to 66. In addition, 1,386 new Rotarians were recruited, bringing the total number of Rotarians to 2,045 by 2004. In the year 2003, twenty new clubs were chartered. As shown by His Excellency Kedar Bhakta Shrestha, Nepalese Ambassador to the United States, meeting with RI President Glenn Estess on January 17, 2005, the Rotary activity in Nepal has grown substantially. As a centennial gift to RI President, three Rotaractors from the Rotaract Club of Newroad City, Nepal (Pema Dorje, Moni Mulepati, and Kami Sherpa) hosted the Rotary flag on top of Mt. Everest.

With effect from July 1, 2008, Rotary District 3290 India-Nepal was bifurcated into two districts: District 3291 for West Bengal and the Andaman Nicobar Islands, and District 3292 for Nepal Rotary Clubs. In the presence of Past Rotary International President Rtn. Raja Saboo from India, the new District, was inaugurated by the then-Prime Minister of Nepal, Mr Girija Prasad Koirala.

Later, the Rotary Club of Thimpu from Bhutan was added to RI District 3292, making it a district that encompassed both Nepal and Bhutan. The Royal Government of Bhutan initiated and funded the formation of the Rotary Club of Thimphu. The fact that the Rotary International President personally travelled to Bhutan to attend the Charter Ceremony shows how important Bhutan is to the Rotary Community throughout the world.

In 1991, the Rotaract Club of Birgunj became Nepal’s first Rotaract Club. Rotaract Clubs in Nepal, on the other hand, have only been active and effective since 1998. Before 2008, the Rotaract District Council of RI District 3290 was the facilitating body for Rotaract Clubs in Nepal. Though it was part of RI District 3290, the Rotaract Clubs in Nepal used to exist as an autonomous self-functioning entity from 2005 under the leadership of Mr Avash Piya as Associate DRR.

The last DRR of RI District 3290 was Rtr. Anil Shrestha. He also happens to be Nepal’s first DRR. After the split of RI District 3290 in 2008, the Rotaract District Committee of RI District 3292 was formed. Following the formation of District 3292, the Rotaract District has contributed many components over the years to professionalize the organization.

With around 50 clubs, Rotaract Clubs in RI District 3292 started under the leadership of Mr Rajan Piya as the first DRR from RI District 3292. In the 14th year of Nepal, Rotaract Club in RI District 3292 had a club strength of 175+ Rotaract Clubs and over 6000 Rotaractors from Kakarvitta in the east and Dhangadi in the western parts.