Apeejay Stya University’s Rotaract Club begins a new chapter of service and leadership

Welcoming the incoming club leadership and renewing its commitment to service, the Rotaract Club of Apeejay Stya University(ASU), Gurugram, held its installation ceremony for Rotary Year 2026–27. The programme brought together university leadership, members of the parent Rotary Club of Delhi Premier 3011, district and zonal Rotaract representatives, faculty members and students to 

First of all, dignitaries were warmly welcomed by student volunteers of the Rotaract Club of Apeejay Stya University. President designate along with Dean Students Welfare and Rotaract Club Incharge were also available to welcome all the dignitaries of the installation ceremony.

Students warmly welcomed the Chief Guest of the Installation Ceremony Rtn. Anurag Rathi along with Rtr. Nandita Rathi upon their arrival in the campus. 

The programme began with a plantation drive of fruit saplings and neem plants after the guests were welcomed by university officials. Chief Guest Rtn. Anurag Rathi, President of the Rotary Club of Delhi Premier 3011, and Rtn. Nandita Rathi initiated the drive with President-Designate Rtr. Philip J. Dolo. Guest of Honour Rtn. Rtr. Archit Bhatia, District Rotaract Representative, joined Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Vijay Vir Singh, Dr. Renu Batra, Dr. Mithlesh Kumar Singh, Mr. N. Nayyar, Prof. Sanjay Ahirwal, Dean of Students Welfare, and Faculty In-Charge Dr. Vijay Kumar in planting saplings. Their participation set a service-oriented tone for the installation ceremony. These plants were arranged with the help of Government Nursary, Office of Forest Officer, Gurugram Range at Sohna. 

Proceedings of the Installation Ceremony

Following registration and the welcome by masters of ceremony Aastha Balhara and Vanshika Bhardwaj, District Rotaract Representative Rtn. Rtr. Archit Bhatia was invited to call the meeting to order in the absence of outgoing President Srishti Vashisht who is doing her internship and was out of station. Video messages from past executives and mentors acknowledged the club’s earlier work and offered encouragement to the incoming team. The dignitaries then lit the ceremonial lamp. The National Song and a Ganesh Vandana performed by Dakshika Sharma followed.

After the innovation of Lord Ganesh, ceremonial lighting of the lamp ceremony was done by the Chief Guest Rtn. Anurag Rathi, President of the Rotary Club of Delhi Premier 3011, and Rtn. Nandita Rathi initiated the drive with President-Designate Rtr. Philip J. Dolo. Guest of Honour Rtn. Rtr. Archit Bhatia, District Rotaract Representative along with the President Philip J Dolo among others. 

Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Vijay Vir Singh along with other university leadership felicitated the visiting Rotary and Rotaract guests. 

Rtr. Akol Nyok Den Tol led the Four-Way Test, and Event Chair Rtr. Dikshita Sarkar addressed the gathering. Faculty members introduced the distinguished speakers.

Dr Sonam Raheja introduced Dr Neha Berlia, Director, Family Business Board, Apeejay Stya and Svran Group, Lead – Education Vertical, Office Bearer, Apeejay Education, Pro-Chancellor, Apeejay Stya University. In her message, Dr Neha Berlia while giving her blessings to the newly installed team. Led by Philip J. Dolo and advising them to lead with empathy, understand community needs, and undertake service projects that leave a lasting impact. She said that do not measure the success of your activities by numbers, but the impact and differences it makes in the life of ordinary, deprived and needy people. She encouraged students from across the University to participate and thanked the Rotary Club of Delhi Premier for its mentorship. Her central message was to make service part of their definition of success.

Further, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Vijay Vir Singh welcomed all in the installation ceremony. He thanked all outgoing teams for doing good services, believing in the service above self. He congratulated the new people with new energy. He said only inspired people can do the services. He further said that students studying in the university system are privileged because more than 70 % of people are not fortunate to enter the university system. They do not know what higher education is all about. So when you are privileged, you have a duty towards the society who has supported you. There are many issues which our country is facing today like education, health, lack of awareness etc. So Rotaract Club should take on a few areas in which it can work effectively. ASU is perhaps the only university which made community services a compulsory component of the academic system much before the NEP 2020. He also thanked the Rotary Club of Delhi Premier 3011 for supporting ASU initiatives.

The Chief Guest of the programme, Rtn. Anurag Rathi, President of the Rotary Club of Delhi Premier 3011, thanked ASU for inviting them in the Grand installation ceremony for the year 2026-27. He congratulated every Rotaractors who did their best to scale the club to further heights and said that the new club’s efforts will take the club to much greater levels. He congratulated Rtr. Philip and his team and wish them a wonderful year ahead. He said he hoped to become a Rotary President someday as the Rotaract club is a younger version of Rotary Club. He said Gen Z must follow the 4-way test and 5 projects in the 7 avenues followed by Rotary. My new friends on campus reach out to fellow Rotaractors around the globe. We also work in similar areas of community service to create a lasting impact, the Rotary theme for the year

He said “We are happy to partner with you and lend a helping hand whenever required. To you Philip and your dynamic team, I wish you all the very best. I urge you to do activities in the Rotaract week, join us in Kaleidoscope and make rings and keep Insta pages robust. You deserve recognition for your pitch for blood donation in the district and the peace program that you did on September 21st. This year the theme for Rotary is to create lasting impact. And I hope this year the club thrives with a greater outreach. Dream big, soar high. Your parent club dreamt high and received a scale of ground and applied for the best Rotary project. Collaborate with us on Insta pages, make rings and apply for the 100 USD award for Rotaract Give. To the newly installed office bearers, wear your badge with pride and find your voice. (2:21) I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to Sushma Berlia ji and Dr. Neha Berlia for carrying out exemplary work. (2:30) Their vision and commitment and service about self is something outstanding. Let us all learn from their selfless dedication to service. President Philip, make sure that every voice is heard and every effort feels valued. Enjoy the Rotary year with great joy and enthusiasm. The little things that you learn outside the classroom is what shapes your character and with leadership comes responsibility. I hope you have Jomo when you miss out on an event, upwards and onwards for a beautiful journey ahead. In the words of Walt Disney, if you can dream it, you can do it. All the very best for the year to the new team for a very fulfilling and inspiring journey ahead. Thank you. Jai Hind” .

During his address, Rtn. Anurag Rathi, President of the Rotary Club of Delhi Premier 3011, announced an award of ₹50,000 for the vocational services of the Rotaract Club of Apeejay Stya University.

Further Guest of Honour Rtn. Rtr. Archit Bhatia, District Rotaract Representative (DRR) appreciated the efforts of Rotaract Club of Apeejay Stya University during the last year and urged that more and more students should be encouraged to join the movement of Rotary International

Inter Installation of the leadership team

The central moment of the ceremony was the change of guard. Installation Officer Rtn. Rtr. Archit Bhatia collared President-Designate Rtr. Philip J. Dolo, presented the charter and administered the President’s oath. Rtr. Dolo then delivered his acceptance address. The District Rotaract Representative shared his guidance for the year ahead.

The incoming core team and board were subsequently installed in the presence of the installation officer, parent club leadership and club coordinator. The incoming office-bearers included Rtr. Som Sarth as Vice President, Rtr. Dikshita Sarkar as Joint Secretary, Rtr. Rimjhim as Treasurer, Rtr. Aditi Gupta as Joint Treasurer, Rtr. Akol Nyok Den Tol as Sergeant-at-Arms and Rtr. Himanshu Singh Dhaila as Club Coordinator. Directors and members responsible for club service, international service, membership growth, community service, vocational service, the flagship project, media, creative work, content and public relations were also called to the stage. New club members were inducted.

A cake cutting ceremony was held afterwards in which all dignitaries participated. The cake was cut by the newly installed president of the club Rtr. Philip J Dolo.

President Rtr. Philip J. Dolo released the club bulletin. In the absence of Club Secretary Rtr. Aryan Pandey, Joint Secretary Rtr. Dikshita Sarkar made the secretarial announcements, while Public Relations Officer Rtr. Ankita Kumari delivered the vote of thanks. The gathering stood for the National Anthem, after which the President adjourned the meeting. The programme concluded with an official group photograph and fellowship and refreshments. 

The event ended with Formal Vote of Thanks to the Guests of the event, University Leadership and all the organising committee members. The event ended with the group photo and the National Anthem.