Sai Pearls of Wisdom  34-A  “ROTARY INTERNATIONAL INTERVIEW"  (With Subtitles).
Channel: Sai Pearls of Wisdom - Prof. Anil Kumar Kamaraju
Date: 10/09/2022

I was teaching Medical Entrance Examination going students in the year 1975. Suddenly at 8’o clock in the evening, I received a message from the President, Rotary Club, Guntur Region 315. All of you know Rotary International Club sends annually 4 selected members to America on Group Study Exchange Program. These 4 members will be headed by a Rotary member. The selected 4 members should not be the members of any Rotary Club and they should not be related to any Rotarian also. They will be selected on the basis of merit – one representing Education; one representing Agriculture; one representing Industry; one representing Commerce and Business. These 4 members will be headed by a Rotarian who is again selected by The Rotary International. 

Seeing that message that I am selected and that I should send my application, I went to the residence of the then President of Rotary International, Guntur who happens to be Sri. P. Srinivasa Murthy, Advocate. I met him around 8.30 in the evening and he looked at me and just put just formal questions and told me, “Mr. Anil Kumar! You are known to many people here. You don’t need to be interviewed. You are selected. You can send your application form tomorrow!” Usually we send the application form, then we will be interviewed, later we received the letter selecting us – that you are selected now. 

Well, this appears to be rather strange – selection first, application next!  I could not believe that, but anyway, next morning I sent my application form. Mind you, this had happened in the year 1975. And later after sometime, I received another circular from The Rotary International asking me to appear for an interview at Hyderabad in Ritz Hotel. I was so busy teaching these Medical Entrance students, completely engaged – no time to stand and stare! But yet I wanted to appear for the interview. I could make it convenient and I was travelling by train to Hyderabad. There in the same train, I saw some youngsters also getting ready for the interview. They were studying books like ‘Manorama’, ‘India – Who is who’, ‘Competition Master’ – such journals they were reading because they were preparing for interview.

Let me be very, very honest in this matter. I was not at all prepared. I have not gone through any book for the interview. I just decided to go to Hyderabad and appear for the interview, that’s all! Watching this, a person asked me, “Sir! Would you like to read this book?” ‘Manorama’ - a book with full of data and statistics meant for those who are getting ready for an interview. 

Well, I was fresh into Sai fold. I just visited Prasanthi Nilayam in the year 1972 and that’s a fresh period of entry into Sai path. And as you know, most of Sai devotees, in the first, early period of their entry, they go on singing Sai bhajans. In the railway compartment, I started singing Sai bhajans. Maybe that boy was preparing for examination; he is disturbed with my singing and asked me to go through book, ‘Manorama.’  Then I told that boy, “Don’t worry! I know that you are disturbed. I don’t sing aloud hereafter. Don’t worry! You please proceed in your own way!”

Then another person, a senior man from The Rotary Club who is also appearing for the interview for selection as the team leader; he is also known to me very well and a distant relation also! He asked me, “Why are you not reading any book? What preparation you made?” 

I told him, “Sir! Let me be very honest with you. I have not made any preparation. I have not read any book. Still I am appearing for the interview!” That man laughed. He is quite elder to me. He laughed and laughed and said, “Then why do you waste your money for this travel? And time? I know you are busy with Medical Entrance classes there.

Then I told him, “Sir! My sister constructed a house there in Hyderabad and I could not attend their house-warming function – Gruhapravesam.  So at least, I want to see their house. On this account, atl east in the name of this interview, I want to take full advantage and visit her and their house also! That is my idea!”

Well, he laughed wholeheartedly and said, “Alright! Let us see!”

Well, it was the time, I was still having my very good Raymond’s’ woollen suit – a wedding suit, which was well ironed and I wore that suit - the blue colour suit with orange colour shirt and the blue tie and went to Hotel Ritz straight and appeared for the interview.

Well, they were calling one after one. Those of the great people, prominent leaders of Rotary International who interviewed us happened to be past Rotary Governors - Rotary Governors, who were all highly experienced. So we were called one after one and those who completed their interview were coming out of that hall and others were eager to appear for the interview..........

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