Activity date: 4 October 2026 · Radisson Hotel, Lazimpat, Kathmandu
Six members of the Rotary Club of Patan participated in the Inter-City Meeting on “From Catastrophe to Preparedness: Understanding the Rasuwa–Bhotekoshi Floods 2026 and Managing Himalayan Floods”, held on 4 October 2026.
Hosted by the Rotary Club of Rajdhani with other Rotary clubs and the District Inter-City Meeting Committee, the programme brought together scientific presentations and discussion of lessons from the disaster and government policies.
Learning for community resilience
Reporting to the club on 5 October, Rtn. Khadak Singh Bisht highlighted the importance of preparing for multiple hazards, including earthquakes, floods, fire and pandemics. The meeting emphasised effective early warning systems and stronger coordination, with a clear command structure linking all levels of government.
The organiser subsequently thanked RCP President Rtn. Shiv Prakash Khemka for his participation and invited feedback. Participation certificates were also provided for Rtn. Shikha Prasai and Rtn. Preeti Khemka.
Sources: Lalitdhara issue 1679, reporting the meeting of 5 October 2026, and the organiser’s acknowledgement of 7 October.
On 26 October 2026, our regular weekly meeting at Yala Maya Kendra marked World Polio Day. Rtn. Gabriele Mallapaty presented the history of the fight against polio, and Mr. Krishna Gautam shared his journey as a polio survivor. The evening closed with contributions to PolioPlus that, with matching, add up to about US$1,200 and NPR 60,000 for polio eradication.
Our contributions, multiplied
Four members pledged a total of US$200 to PolioPlus, and our guest Dr. Abindra Sigdel contributed NPR 10,000 on the spot.
Rtn. Gabriele Mallapaty matched every contribution one-to-one, bringing the total to US$400 and NPR 20,000.
The Gates Foundation matches contributions to Rotary’s PolioPlus fund two-to-one, so the total impact is about US$1,200 and NPR 60,000.
Her offer is still open: Rtn. Gabriele Mallapaty will match new contributions to PolioPlus from Rotary Club of Patan members, one-to-one, until Friday, 30 October 2026. Members who wish to take part can speak to her or to the club.
How the world came this close
Rtn. Gabriele Mallapaty knows this story from the inside. From 2001 to 2008 she served with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, representing UNICEF, and her work was recognised with a Paul Harris Fellowship presented by Rtn. Robert Scott, then Chair of The Rotary Foundation Trustees and a former Rotary International Vice-President.
She traced the science behind the fight: Dorothy Horstmann’s 1952 finding that the virus travels through the bloodstream; Dr. Jonas Salk’s inactivated vaccine in 1955 (24 October, World Polio Day, is his birth anniversary); Dr. Albert Sabin’s oral vaccine, which he refused to patent; and Dr. Mikhail Chumakov’s 1959 trials, which reached 10 million children.
Rotary stepped in in 1979, when its first 3-H grant funded oral polio vaccine for 6 million children in the Philippines. In 1985, under RI President Dr. Carlos Canseco and with the advice of Dr. John Sever and Dr. Albert Sabin, Rotary launched PolioPlus. It set out to raise US$120 million by 1988 and raised more than US$247 million. In 1988, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative was launched, with Rotary as a founding partner alongside WHO, UNICEF and the US CDC; the Gates Foundation and Gavi joined later.
Since 1988, polio cases have fallen by more than 99.9%, from about 350,000 a year (close to 1,000 children paralysed every day) to a small number today. Wild poliovirus now survives only in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
A survivor’s journey
Mr. Krishna Gautam was born in a village in Rukum District. He contracted polio in 1978, before the polio vaccine had reached Nepal, and his legs were left paralysed. His family tried every remedy they could find, traditional and modern, including treatment in India, at the cost of all their savings, until they accepted that the paralysis could not be cured.
They did not give up on his future. His parents carried him to and from school, and he went on to complete his bachelor’s degree in 2004. He has since worked as an advocate and social worker for people with disabilities. After a year of training in Japan, he took up the concept of independent living and in 2006 helped establish a centre for independent living. Since 2017 he has served as Executive Secretary-General of the Independent Living Centre, Lalitpur, and as Executive Secretary of the National Federation of the Physically Disabled, Nepal, bringing more than two decades of leadership and advocacy to disability rights.
His story is a reminder of what polio takes from children and families, and of why no child today should have to face it.
Nepal’s polio journey
Following Mr. Gautam’s story, Rtn. Gabriele Mallapaty took us through Nepal’s own history: oral polio vaccine (OPV) in routine immunisation from 1981; National Immunisation Days and acute flaccid paralysis surveillance from 1996; elimination of indigenous wild poliovirus around 2000; certification as polio-free with the WHO South-East Asia Region in March 2014; and, the same year, the introduction of the injectable polio vaccine (IPV), making Nepal the first South Asian country to do so.
She explained why both vaccines matter. OPV, “the gut protector”, stops the virus spreading in the community. IPV, “the blood protector”, gives each child reliable individual protection against paralysis.
She closed with what lies beyond eradication: using the campaigns built for polio to deliver soap, clean water and other vaccines such as measles, typhoid and vitamin A; strengthening routine immunisation for children who have never been vaccinated; and reaching remote communities through civil society partners.
The questions members asked
Members asked the questions many people ask, and both speakers answered them:
Why do we still need to contribute? While polio exists anywhere, children everywhere are at risk. Stopping short of zero would undo decades of investment.
Why doesn’t Rotary look beyond polio? It does. Polio is one of Rotary’s areas of focus, and our club runs scholarships, heart health, disability inclusion and other projects alongside it. Polio is the promise Rotary made to the world’s children in 1985, and we intend to keep it.
Why mark World Polio Day every year? It keeps the unfinished job visible, brings new members into the story, and drives the giving that unlocks the Gates match.
Our thanks to Rtn. Mahendra S. Rawal, Rtn. Shiv P. Khemka, Rtn. Khadak S. Bisht and Rtn. Shikha Prasai for their pledges, and to Dr. Abindra Sigdel for his contribution. Thank you to Rtn. Gabriele Mallapaty for her presentation and for matching every contribution, to Mr. Krishna Gautam for sharing his journey, and to Rtn. Sandhya Regmi for bringing our guest speaker and giving the vote of thanks.
Source: minutes of the Rotary Club of Patan meeting no. 2023, 26 October 2026.
https://rotaryclubpatan.org.np/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/rcp-world-polio-day-2026-social.jpg6281200claudehttps://rotaryclubpatan.org.np/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/imageedit_3_9112703088-300x119.pngclaude2026-10-26 23:00:162026-10-27 23:09:35World Polio Day 2026: why we still give to end polio
Welcome meeting: 12 October 2026 · Honorary membership approved: 2 October 2026
The Rotary Club of Patan warmly welcomes Rtn. Ewerhard Engels of the Rotary Club of Tegernsee, Germany, as an honorary member, recognising his longstanding friendship, regular participation in club meetings and continued support for the club’s work.
Following a proposal by Rtn. Gabriele Mallapaty, the Board approved his honorary membership on 2 October 2026. President Rtn. Shiv Prakash Khemka welcomed him at the club’s regular meeting on 12 October.
In his remarks, Rtn. Engels expressed his happiness at becoming part of the RCP family and his intention to join club meetings whenever he is in Nepal.
A friendship built through fellowship and service
His friendship with the club is documented from 12 June 2023, when he attended a meeting as a guest of Rtn. Lochan Gyawali, who had met him at his tea shop. A film and documentary producer, he told members that he had first come to Nepal about thirty years earlier and had visited frequently since. He has returned to club meetings on later visits to Nepal.
At the club’s meeting on 8 April 2024, he spoke about his recent participation as a key speaker at the National Congress of Film Producers in Nepal, organised by the School of Art, Kathmandu University.
On 15 April 2024, he was among the guests at the club’s annual Vocational Service Awards meeting and joined members for a “Peace on Earth” photograph. The club prepared it for a Rotary initiative to carry a message of peace to the Moon, linked to the UN International Day of Peace.
Members and guests, including Rtn. Ewerhard Engels, in the club’s “Peace on Earth” photograph, 15 April 2024.Rtn. Ewerhard Engels with Rtn. Bijaya Mallapaty during an evening walk through Patan’s heritage area after the club meeting, 15 April 2024.
His connection with Patan includes shared cultural experiences. On 18 November 2024, he joined the club for a screening of Mythos Cerro Torre at Dhokaima Café, followed by discussion and fellowship with Rotarians, Rotaractors and guests.
He has also supported the club’s community service. During the recent flood emergency, he informed the club that WMF Barmherzigkeit e.V., a charity based in Tegernsee, was offering emergency assistance. That introduction led to WMF’s support for the club’s flood-relief work. Together with his friends, he also contributed to the club’s flood relief, and he encouraged his home club, the Rotary Club of Tegernsee, to support the club’s Bhote Koshi flood-relief efforts.
He has also supported education in Lalitpur. Together with his friends, he has contributed to the club’s Prajapati Education Endowment Fund (PEEF) Trust Fund, which supports students from low-income families in public schools.
This honorary membership celebrates a valued relationship across borders and the friendship that brings Rotarians together in service.
Sources: Lalitdhara No. 1512 (report of the 12 June 2023 meeting), No. 1552 (report of the 8 April 2024 meeting), No. 1553 (report of the 15 April 2024 meeting), No. 1679 (Board decision of 2 October 2026) and No. 1680 (report of the 12 October 2026 meeting). Read the club newsletters.
https://rotaryclubpatan.org.np/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/rcp-ewerhard-engels-acceptance-20261012.jpg5721600Shiv Prakash Khemkahttps://rotaryclubpatan.org.np/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/imageedit_3_9112703088-300x119.pngShiv Prakash Khemka2026-10-24 16:37:122026-10-25 09:26:43Rotary Club of Patan welcomes Rtn. Ewerhard Engels as an honorary member
Activity date: 24 October 2026 · Inauguration: Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Five members of the Rotary Club of Patan joined the Mega-Polio Cycle Rally on World Polio Day, part of a shared call for a future without polio. Three of them rode the 40/50 km route alongside more than 500 cyclists.
Rtn. Mahendra Singh Rawal, Rtn. Khadak Singh Bisht and Rtn. Bishnu Prasad Sigdel represented the club as cyclists. Club President Rtn. Shiv Prakash Khemka and Rtn. Maheswari Bisht Rawal attended the inauguration at Bhaktapur Durbar Square to support the riders and the End Polio Now campaign.
Heritage as a backdrop, children’s futures as the purpose
Organised by Rotary District 3292’s PolioPlus Subcommittee, with the Rotary Club of Bhaktapur as host, the rally ran from Bhaktapur to Patan, linking seven heritage sites of the Kathmandu Valley. The gathering brought cyclists and supporters together amid Bhaktapur’s historic surroundings, with red End Polio Now shirts and Rotary flags making the campaign visible.
The message displayed at the event was simple: “Vaccinate Today, Protect Tomorrow.” Patan’s participation supported that call and Rotary’s commitment to a polio-free world.
The Rotary Club of Patan thanks its three cyclists, the organisers, host club, volunteers and fellow participants for their contribution to this collective effort.
As we cherish the heritage we inherited, let us protect the future our children will inherit. End Polio Now.
Photographs from the inauguration
Rtn. Maheswari Bisht Rawal of the Rotary Club of Patan holds the Rotary District 3292 flag at Bhaktapur Durbar Square during the World Polio Day rally inauguration on 24 October 2026.Cyclists and supporters gather in End Polio Now shirts at Bhaktapur Durbar Square.Inauguration of the Mega-Polio Cycle Rally at Bhaktapur Durbar Square on 24 October 2026.
https://rotaryclubpatan.org.np/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/01-74457.jpg15361152Shiv Prakash Khemkahttps://rotaryclubpatan.org.np/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/imageedit_3_9112703088-300x119.pngShiv Prakash Khemka2026-10-24 08:26:292026-10-27 23:09:48World Polio Day 2026: Patan members join Mega-Polio Cycle Rally
Rtn. Sandhya Regmi presented “Faces of Buddha — A Journey Through Culture, Art and Identity” at the Rotary Club of Patan’s weekly meeting on 12 October 2026. Drawing on more than 20 years of her artistic and spiritual journey, she explored how different cultures express their understanding of Buddha through art.
An engineer, environmental PhD scholar, artist and Founder President of Buddha Harmony Foundation, Rtn. Regmi shared experiences from Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. Her presentation connected artistic expression with reflection on peace, compassion and cultural identity. Members described the evening as truly enjoyable.
A first for our club
For the first time in the history of the Rotary Club of Patan, venerable monks joined our meeting and offered prayers for the club family. President Rtn. Shiv Prakash Khemka welcomed Venerable Monk Uttam Stabir and Venerable Monk Vimalo Mahastabir of Buddha Shanti Foundation, who offered blessings in Pali. President Khemka presented them with the club’s Token of Appreciation.
“Inner Peace” for our senior members
As a gesture of appreciation and fellowship, Rtn. Sandhya Regmi presented framed Buddha artwork entitled “Inner Peace” to senior members of the Rotary Club of Patan and Club President Rtn. Shiv Prakash Khemka. The presentation recognised the valued place of senior members in the club’s continuing journey of service.
Art supporting service
Rtn. Regmi contributed two of her paintings of Lord Buddha, “Radiant Meditation” and “Magical Aura”, for social activities through the club. Rtn. Rabendra R. Pandey and Rtn. Lalita Chitrakar Thapa bought them at auction for NPR 60,000 each. Rtn. Regmi added NPR 15,000 of her own, making a total contribution of NPR 1,35,000, earmarked as follows:
NPR 25,000 for the Down Syndrome Society, through Rtn. Mahendra S. Rawal
NPR 25,000 for children with intellectual development disability, through Rtn. Sunil Gupta
NPR 25,000 for children with blood disorders
Guests at the meeting included Prof. Dr. Jyoti Regmi Adhikary and Rotaract Club of Patan President Deepa Lamichhane with four Rotaractors. A question-and-answer session followed the presentation, and Rtn. Bishwa Bandhu Sharma delivered the vote of thanks.
We thank Rtn. Sandhya Regmi for an enlightening evening, for her generous gifts to our members, and for turning her art into support for those who need it most.
Photos
Senior members with the framed “Inner Peace” artwork presented by Rtn. Sandhya Regmi.Rtn. Sandhya Regmi with the Venerable Monks beside one of her Buddha paintings.Rtn. Sandhya Regmi and guests with Venerable Monks Uttam Stabir and Vimalo Mahastabir.A presentation to the Venerable Monks, who blessed the club family in Pali.Members, guests and Rotaractors after the programme.
Source: Lalitdhara issue 1680, reporting the meeting of 12 October 2026; guest names checked against Rtn. Sandhya Regmi’s correction of 14 October; contribution total confirmed by the President.
https://rotaryclubpatan.org.np/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/rcp-faces-of-buddha-event-20261012.jpg9361600Shiv Prakash Khemkahttps://rotaryclubpatan.org.np/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/imageedit_3_9112703088-300x119.pngShiv Prakash Khemka2026-10-19 07:15:362026-10-24 19:22:25Faces of Buddha: a journey through culture, art and identity
Activity date: 17 October 2026 · Bluebird Secondary School, Kumaripati
The Rotaract Club of Patan hosted its signature Good Morning Tea Party at Bluebird Secondary School, Kumaripati, on Saturday, 17 October 2026. Organised by the Rotaractors under Rotaract President Rtr. Deepa Lamichhane, the morning brought nine members of the Rotary Club of Patan together with young Rotaractors to celebrate the Dashain season.
Rtr. Deepa invited our members in person at our weekly meeting on 12 October, and the invitation was shared with all members the following day.
A morning of performances and fellowship
The programme captured the spirit of Dashain. Guests received festive tika and jamara, and enjoyed tea, face painting and games. A dance performance in front of the decorated red-and-white stage was followed by a lively circle dance in the school courtyard, with Rotarians and Rotaractors joining hands. Members of different generations shared the celebration side by side—an informal chance for experienced Rotarians and young Rotaractors to spend time together and strengthen friendships across the Rotary family.
The event also served as a fundraiser for the Rotaract Club of Patan, with sale stalls alongside the sports and entertainment.
The Good Morning Tea Party is a Dashain fellowship tradition established in Rotary Year 2004–2005. The Rotaract Club’s review of its 2019–2020 year, published in Lalitdhara Souvenir Vol. 35, describes the event as celebrated since then together with the Rotary Club of Patan.
Our club records trace that connection over the years. In 2005, the tea party was held at Patan High School on 10 October. In 2016 and 2017, Rotaract invited the full RCP family to celebrations at Bluebird College, and in 2018 our members joined the event at Future Stars School. In October 2024, then Rotaract President Rtr. Aman B. Shrestha thanked the RCP family for attending.
Why this tradition matters
Beyond the festive celebration, the Tea Party creates space for Rotarians and Rotaractors to know one another across generations, away from the formality of regular meetings. Organising the programme gives young members opportunities to practise planning, teamwork, hosting and fundraising, while participation by Rotarians offers encouragement and connection. Carried forward by successive leadership teams of both clubs, the tradition preserves a shared Dashain celebration and strengthens the relationships that support our collaboration throughout the year.
Our thanks to Rtr. Deepa Lamichhane and the Rotaract team for organising this year’s celebration, and to Bluebird Secondary School for welcoming us. We look forward to continuing this tradition with our Rotaract partners.
Sources: Rotaract Club of Patan invitation (13 October 2026); Lalitdhara issues 1579 and 1680; Lalitdhara Souvenir Vols. 21, 32, 35 and 39; minutes of meeting no. 2023 (26 October 2026); event photographs; programme confirmed by the Club President.
https://rotaryclubpatan.org.np/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/tea-party-stage-group.jpg6471400Shiv Prakash Khemkahttps://rotaryclubpatan.org.np/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/imageedit_3_9112703088-300x119.pngShiv Prakash Khemka2026-10-17 12:00:002026-10-27 23:10:14Good Morning Tea Party 2026: A Rotary–Rotaract Dashain Tradition Since 2004–05
A selection of results from Rotary Year 2025–26 (July 2025 – June 2026), as reported in the club’s Annual Report 2025–26 (Lalitdhara Souvenir Vol. 41, pp. 29–37). Each figure refers to that year and to the activity named; figures are not added together.
Heart health: screening programmes in Bhakundebesi (Kavre) and Sotang–Chepel (Solukhumbu) with the Nepal Heart Foundation and other partners reached 6,657 children and community members.
One Health: on 16–17 May 2026, 86 community dogs in Bagmati Rural Municipality were sterilised, vaccinated against rabies and dewormed with NZFHRC. More →
Environment: 655 native tree saplings and 500 vetiver plants were planted at Hattiban using the Miyawaki method, with four other Rotary clubs. More →
Education: the 2026 KEEA and GSSA award ceremony brought together 62 participants, and the club mentored three PEEF students studying on full scholarships at Ullens School. More →
Disability inclusion: the STAR club-to-club model extended from the Rotary Club of Birgunj to the Rotary Clubs of Hetauda, Himalayan Golfers and Kathmandu Heights. More →
Club milestones: the club’s 2,000th regular meeting on 11 May 2026; the 15th Vocational Service Awards on 1 June 2026; the first Celebrating the Lives of Late Rotarians event on 22 June 2026; and the launch of the radio programme “महिलासँग रोटरी” on 29 June 2026.
Adapted from Bhawana Lama Moktan’s contribution, “A Personal Journey Through Rotary Club of Patan”, in Lalitdhara Souvenir Vol. 41 (p. 69). This is her personal experience; the programme details that follow her story describe PEEF more generally.
Bhawana was a Grade 7 student at Shree Krishna Secondary School when the Rotary Club of Patan visited and interviewed students for PEEF scholarships. “What began with a simple hope of receiving a scholarship gradually turned into an opportunity that changed my life, built my confidence, and opened doors I never thought would be possible for me.”
“Rotary’s support gave me the motivation to work harder and take my education seriously.” In Grade 9 she won first position in the Kamalmani Educational Excellence Award (KEEA). “I still remember seeing the happiness and pride on my father’s face.”
After the SEE, she went through a selection and interview process, supported and encouraged by a Rotary mentor, and was offered a full scholarship to study Grades 11 and 12 at Ullens School. She was nervous at first, but found the students and teachers friendly and supportive. Projects, presentations and a research assignment in Grade 11 helped a once-shy student grow in confidence: “I still get nervous sometimes, but I can clearly see how much I have grown since Grade 7.”
When she wrote her article, Bhawana was a Grade 12 student at Ullens School.
“My journey with Rotary has taught me that sometimes, one opportunity is all a student needs to discover how far they can go.” — Bhawana Lama Moktan
About PEEF
PEEF connects school scholarships with further opportunities: KEEA recognises academic achievement, selected students may receive full scholarships at Ullens School, and GSSA supports eligible students in higher education. These opportunities have their own selection criteria; students do not necessarily progress through all of them. Learn more about PEEF.
The Rotary Club of Patan has completed the 2026 scholarship distribution of the Prajapati Education Endowment Fund (PEEF), the club’s flagship education programme since 1991.
374 students supported this year
24 public schools in Lalitpur
NRs 22,21,000 total distribution (grades 7–10: NRs 18,29,000; grades 11–12: NRs 3,50,000; payments to non-selected students: NRs 42,000)
234 girls (63%) and 140 boys (37%)
Source: PEEF selection and distribution completion update, 11 October 2026.
As of 16 July 2026, the total PEEF fund stood at NRs 2,48,71,233, made up of the Trust Fund (NRs 1,79,61,136) and the Programme Fund (NRs 69,10,097).
Thank you to every member, family and supporter who made this year’s distribution possible. Read more about the programme on the PEEF page, or make a pledge to support next year’s students.
Activity date: 10 October 2026 · Royal Friends Sports Center, Lalitpur
The Rotaract Club of Patan, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Patan, held an Inter-School Futsal Competition at Royal Friends Sports Center, Lalitpur.
Boys’ and girls’ teams from our four adopted schools took part: Lubhu Secondary School (Lubhu), Shree Mahendragram Secondary School (Tikathali), Shree Mahendra Adarsh Secondary School (Imadol) and Shree Siddhimangal Secondary School (Sano Gaon). Matches were played as a knockout in separate boys’ and girls’ categories, giving students from different schools a chance to meet and compete through sport. The competition forms part of our work with our adopted schools under Rotary’s TEACH framework.
Results
Around 50 students played in eight teams, one boys’ and one girls’ team from each school.
Boys: Lubhu Secondary School beat Shree Mahendragram Secondary School 2–0, and Shree Mahendra Adarsh Secondary School beat Shree Siddhimangal Secondary School 1–0. In the final, Lubhu Secondary School won by one goal. Winner: Lubhu Secondary School. Runner-up: Shree Mahendra Adarsh Secondary School.
Girls: Shree Siddhimangal Secondary School beat Shree Mahendragram Secondary School 4–0, and Shree Mahendra Adarsh Secondary School beat Lubhu Secondary School 5–0. In the final, Shree Siddhimangal Secondary School won by two goals. Winner: Shree Siddhimangal Secondary School. Runner-up: Shree Mahendra Adarsh Secondary School.
Most Valuable Player awards went to a boys’ player from Shree Mahendra Adarsh Secondary School and a girls’ player from Shree Siddhimangal Secondary School.
The day concluded with a friendly futsal match bringing together members of the Rotary, Rotaract and Interact families. This offered a shared opportunity for fellowship and interaction across generations.
We thank the Rotaract Club of Patan team led by President Rtr. Deepa Lamichhane, the teachers who accompanied their teams, the students, volunteers and supporting Rotarians for their contributions.
Photographs from the programme
Rotarians, Rotaractors and students together at Royal Friends Sports Center.Participants and organisers coordinate before play.Futsal play on the covered court.Girls’ team with their medals.Trophies and medals ready for the prize distribution.
https://rotaryclubpatan.org.np/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/01_Opening_Briefing_125956.jpg12001600Shiv Prakash Khemkahttps://rotaryclubpatan.org.np/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/imageedit_3_9112703088-300x119.pngShiv Prakash Khemka2026-10-10 14:00:002026-10-26 16:38:57Inter-school futsal brings adopted schools and Rotaract together
