The Late PDG Rtn Pravat Krishna Rohatgi – An Eulogy

[Note: PDG Rtn Pravat Krishna Rohatgi passed away on the 17th June 2026. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Calcutta since 1958. He became its President and later District Governor of District 3290. He was a stalwart of the Rotary movement. Upon his passing, the Rotary Club of Calcutta organized a meeting on the 26th June 2026 at the Rotary Sadan to celebrate his life. Among many others, I paid my tributes to him with the following words.] 

Mr President, fellow Rotarians, their spouses, ladies, and gentlemen. 

When we think of Pravat Krishna Rohatgi, the first thing that comes to mind is his extraordinary journey in Rotary — sixty-eight years of service. Sixty-eight years. That is not just a number; it is a lifetime of commitment. By the year he joined, he was the seniormost member of our Club. In every sense, he was a true Rotarian. 

To many of us, he was like the Bhishma Pitamaha of our Club—a wise elder, someone we looked up to, someone who quietly guided us. 

I remember an evening not very long ago, at a Holika Dahan gathering at the home of Rajkumar Agarwal and Asha Agarwal. In one corner of the lawn sat Pravatda—as we all fondly called him—and Shashi Bhabhi. And almost without thinking, each of us, as we arrived, went straight to him first. We greeted him, spoke to him, sought his blessings… and only then moved on with the rest of the evening. It became a kind of unspoken ritual. And he accepted it with such grace, because that was who he was—a mentor, a guide, a natural leader. 

My own association with the Rohatgi family goes back a very long way—to 1958. That was the year Pravatda joined this Club. And by a happy coincidence, that was also the year I shared some classes at St Xavier’s College with his younger brother, Ranjan. 

The Rohatgi family itself was quite remarkable—a large family of eleven siblings. Many of you here would know Pravatda and Dilip. They grew up in their home on Armenian Street, in the heart of Burrabazar. The old Armenian Church stood close by, and its bells could often be heard from their house. And the river Bhagirathi flowed not very far away. 

Over the years, I came to know several members of the family—his sisters, Dr Krishna Kamini and Dr Sudha, and his brothers, Ranjan, Dilip, and Ajit… and of course, their spouses, including Shashi Bhabhi and Veena. 

I came to know Pravatda and Shashi Bhabhi more closely in 1975, when they invited me on a day trip to Shantiniketan. Pauline was visiting from England at the time—she was then engaged to Ranjan. We had a wonderful day. Pravatda drove the car himself, all the way there and back. 

On the return journey, the car broke down. But he remained completely calm. We managed to get it repaired, and we finally reached Kolkata in the early hours of the morning. That night, at their insistence, I stayed at their home on Armenian Street. 

That one journey told me so much about him. He led from the front. He was soft-spoken, with a gentle sense of humor. He was practical, clear-headed, and always ready to help. In every sense, he was a “Dada”—an elder brother one could depend on. 

Some years later, around 1985, he took on a very different role—as Chairman of the International Evening at the Calcutta Club, which was a major event in those days. He thought big. The entire lawn was transformed into a setting featuring food from different countries, music, and a grand atmosphere. 

He asked me to design the layout and two of the main marquees—the Turkish and the British. We created large, distinctive spaces, and the event was a great success. That was Pravatda—he had vision, and he brought people together. He inspired, encouraged, and carried everyone along with him. His strengths were clear—passion, patience, perseverance, and persuasion. 

Shashi Bhabhi, who is with us today, has always shown great affection towards me and later towards my wife, Kalpana. It is deeply painful to see her without Pravatda by her side. They were truly a wonderful couple. 

We share the same sense of loss with Veena and with all members of the family. We also remember Dilip, who brought me into Rotary and into this Club. 

I could say much more… but I will stop here. 

My respectful pranam to the one and only Pravat Krishna Rohatgi.