On July 1, the District Changeover Ceremony of Rotary International District 3291, hosted by the Rotary Club of Calcutta Elite at The Silver Spring Club, featured two indigenously developed humanoid robots—Indira and Dodo—and an autonomous drone that welcomed distinguished dignitaries. The event also marked the 3rd Installation Ceremony of the Rotary Club of Calcutta Elite.
Dignitaries and Highlights
The ceremony was graced by Past Rotary International President K. R. Ravindran from Sri Lanka as Chief Guest, alongside Past Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta, District Governor (2026-27) Rtn. Tapas Kumar Bhattacharya, Immediate Past District Governor (2025-26) Rtn. Dr. Ramendu Homchaudhuri, and District Governor (2027-28) Rtn. Purnendu Roy Chowdhury. Several Past District Governors, District Officials, Assistant Governors, Zonal Coordinators, Rotarians, and distinguished guests from across the district also attended.
Innovative Welcome by Robots and Drone
The highlight was the welcome by humanoid robots Indira and Dodo, accompanied by a synchronized drone presentation. Developed jointly by members of the Rotary Club of Salt Lake Silicon Valley and students of the Institute of Engineering & Management (IEM) and the University of Engineering & Management (UEM), the demonstration received a standing ovation. Many senior Rotarians described it as one of the most innovative and technologically advanced welcome ceremonies ever witnessed at a Rotary programme.
Quotes from Key Figures
Prof. Dr. Satyajit Chakrabarti, Vice Chancellor of the University of Engineering & Management, said, "Innovation finds its true meaning when technology serves humanity. The collaboration between IEM-UEM and Rotary reflects our commitment to nurturing young innovators who can create impactful technological solutions while contributing to society."
District Governor Rtn. Tapas Kumar Bhattacharya appreciated the initiative: "District 3291 has always encouraged innovation and leadership. The remarkable presentation by the humanoid robots and drones has added a completely new dimension to Rotary events. This initiative by the Rotary Club of Salt Lake Silicon Valley, together with IEM-UEM, has demonstrated how technology and service can beautifully complement each other."
Rtn. Dr. Prabir Kumar Das, Past President of the Rotary Club of Salt Lake Silicon Valley and Chief Mentor of the Humanoid Project, expressed gratitude: "This achievement is the outcome of months of dedicated teamwork, mentorship, and the relentless passion of our students and Rotarians. Our objective was not merely to showcase robotics but to demonstrate how advanced technology can become an integral part of community service, education, and leadership."
Technical Execution and Support
Souhridya Bhattacharya, Chief Executive of the Humanoid Project from the IEM-UEM Group, stated, "Every movement, interaction, and synchronization of Indira, Dodo, and the drone was carefully engineered by our student team. The overwhelming appreciation from the Rotary leadership inspires us to continue pushing the boundaries of robotics and artificial intelligence for meaningful real-world applications."
The project was actively supported by the Rotary Club of Salt Lake Silicon Valley under President (2026-27) Rtn. Dr. Ranabir Banik and Rtn. Dr. Chandan Adhikari, with guidance from Immediate Past President Rtn. Dr. Samapika Das Biswas. Mentoring was also provided by Rtn. Dr. Animesh Kundu, Rtn. Dr. Debasmita Bhattacharya, Rtn. Dr. Anubhab Ray, and Rtn. Santanu Ghosh.
The technical execution team from IEM-UEM comprised Sayan Dey, Soumanka Sarkar, Sounak Samanta, Agnik Mitra, and Amit Debnath.
Impact and Recognition
District 3291 formally acknowledged the contribution of the Rotary Club of Salt Lake Silicon Valley and the IEM-UEM Group for introducing cutting-edge robotics into a Rotary event, appreciating it as a pioneering example of integrating innovation with Rotary's spirit of service. The demonstration reflected the technological excellence of IEM-UEM and reinforced Rotary District 3291's vision of embracing innovation to inspire future generations. The event set a new benchmark for Rotary programmes in India and beyond.
