By AP Singh, past president and chairman of the Heartline Project
It all began with the tragic death of a young man awaiting surgery for a congenital heart issue. Our Rotary Club of Chandigarh, India, and our Inner Wheel friends had been raising money for the young man. Determined that no other person in need of corrective surgery would die from lack of money, we were moved to act, and our initiative, a part of Gift of Life International, came to be. That was May 1998. We received a grant from The Rotary Foundation in 2000 and combined that with funds from District 3080 (lndia), District 2630 (Japan), our club, and the Rotary club of Ebingen, Japan.
Today, we have saved 777 lives and counting. During a ceremony for the 100th surgery in 2004, the father of a young man from Pakistan who had received a surgery said, “Pakistan gave him birth, but India gave him life.”
Realizing the impact of the project in saving the lives of children suffering from congenital heart disease who could not afford surgery, our club rechristened our efforts as the Heartline Project, signed a memorandum of understanding with Fortis Hospital, Mohali, and continued to help children. The team of surgeons handled everything from a hole in the heart, to a faulty heart valve, to other congenital heart problems.
Signature project
This became our club’s signature project, funded by Rotary members, Rotary clubs, friends of Rotary and – most importantly – grants from The Rotary Foundation. We never faced a shortage of funds because we were in the business of saving lives. The project has been running for 24 years and going strong.
We passed milestones, reaching out to children from across borders and continents. We started getting requests from neighboring countries in the Indian subcontinent. Our club responded, and the Heartline Project has helped 34 children from Pakistan, 3 from Afghanistan, 8 from Mongolia, and 18 from Nepal.
Past RI President Rajendra K. Saboo, a member of our club, received numerous requests from even further away. Always eager to help, he would accept and assemble a team of doctors for another medical mission. We have had the opportunity to help 22 children from Malawi, 7 from Uganda, 6 from Nigeria, 50 from Rwanda, and 10 from Zimbabwe. One child from Iraq was also operated on. These add to the more than 600 children belonging to very poor Indian families who have benefited from the project.
Presidential visit
Rotary International President R. Gordon R. McInally and his wife, Heather, visited Fortis Hospital on 17 January. They met with Saboo and our district governor, Arun Mongia. They also met Anu, an 8½-year-old girl from Mohali, who had undergone a successful operation a day earlier.
They also met 16-year-old Daphne from Zimbabwe, who arrived a day earlier with her mother for her corrective surgery. She had received a previous surgery in 2016 at the age of 9 but was informed then that she would need another corrective surgery at a later date. Our club assured her and her mother that this would be done. On 22 January, she received her surgery and is recovering well. The Rotary Club of Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe, provided funds for Daphne’s travel to India.
McInally also met the team of cardiac surgeons and expressed his gratitude for their service in saving children’s lives. He presented a citation to Fortis Hospital Mohali on behalf of our Rotary club. Later he visited six children who were operated upon in the last few months.
This is Rotary in action. Together we create hope for children across borders to have normal, healthy lives.
Rotary Voices 
It is most fulfilling to see lives being saved. Thank you Rotary club of Charndigar, RC of Chitungwiza, Rotarians the World over and all friends of Rotary.when lives of young ones are saved, it also bring joy and a lot more to their families and communities.
We are greatful for Daphine’s life and we were hopeful as travelled to India and gr
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Hi AP Sir
There can never be a gift like Gift of Life. The Heartline project provides that gift. It takes a lot of effort and coordination to make the life saving process happen and bring smiles on the faces of beneficiaries. And you are doing that regularly !! 👍👍
Certainly, that’s Creating Hope in the World !!!!!!!!!!
I am proud to be a member of Rotary Club Chandigarh creating the Magic of Rotary !!
God Bless us ! May HE give you and us lots of strength to carry the good and selfless work ahead !!
Best Wishes –
Alok
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I am the member of Roatry club Rishikesh and also the AG ZONE 18 Dist 3080. Currently in past two months our club found 2 cases of small girls having hole in there heart and both the families couldn’t afford the operations and medicines. We the members approached To Dist team and got both the operations done. The process and the facilities given to the patient and family are really appreciatble and systematic this is true service.
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RC Chandigarh started this unique project, rejoicing Rotary spirit and serving the communities both in India and abroad. The lives saved, the families touched and so many of these beneficiaries are now healthy adults leading normal lives. As Chairman of Heartline Project, Past President Rtn. AP Singh is now holding the baton and through his unmatched dedication and singular devotion is ensuring that the project reaches still greater heights and save more valuable lives. This is Rotary in action.
Rtn. Darshan Mehandru
Past President
RC Chandigarh
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RC Chandigarh and RC Chitungwiza Create Hope In The World.Daphne has been given a new lease in life.We hope to continue giving hope to others and bettering lives in Rotary.congratulations to all teams involved
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Blessed to be part of Heartline this year. Hats off to all the committed Rotarians before us. Daphne was a personal experience of hope. The entire history of project heartline, very well put together APji. Hurray Rotary Club Chandigarh!
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Heartline is an excellent project. It is helping so many children from economically weaker sections of society. This project should be promoted even more to reach out to more patients and to more people so that they can refer needs patients to the club.
Rotary Club Chandigarh has exemplified true service by saving so many lives. The platform of Rotary made it possible. I am proud of my club.
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it is one of the best project not only of Chandigarh or India but of the world… our club not only treat the local or Indian Children but from all over the world… true example of Vasudev Kutumbkum… wish that this program goes on for ever
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I really appreciate the hard work you put into getting the project to this heights, it is just right and the patients/family being benefited are equally impressed when rotary pitches in the leg work of logistics & execution at ground level.
It is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy.
Every single count of patient attended till the milestone figure of 777 as of this date , makes the team look back and realize- they were the big things.
Keep up the great work “Team- Rotary club of Chandigarh”
IPP Rtn. Govind Miglani
Rotary Chandigarh Shivalik
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Dear AP,
I take this opportunity to express gratitude and appreciation for the outstanding work you have contributed to the Heartline Project. Your dedication, hard work, and commitment have been instrumental in the success of this project.
Your contribution has been invaluable, and you have consistently demonstrated a high level of professionalism in all aspects of your work. Your attention to detail and ability to work collaboratively with the team have been particularly noteworthy.
Impressed by your positive attitude and your willingness to go above and beyond to ensure that the project reaches highest possible standards. Your contributions have not gone unnoticed the positive impact you have made on this project is praise worthy.
Regards,
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Imagine RC Chandigarh Create Hope In The World with the Magic of Rotary 🙏
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What a marvelous work you are undertaking AP. So satisfying and humanitarian. A silent health revolution in connecting heats and communities. Continue with the same style n gusto. God Bless..
Brig Daljit Dhillon
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Wonderful achievement , I express my heartfelt gratitude to Rotary Chandigarh, its dedicated members under the able chairman , healthcare professionals who all have worked tirelessly to make this project a reality.
Your selfless contributions have illuminated the path towards a brighter and healthier future for those in need….
Wishing you all continued success in all future endeavours….
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AP Singh,
very well summarized our Rotary Heartline Project over the years.
We are proud of our Club and leaders year after year under the able guidance of PRIP Shri R K Saboo Sir, for achieving the figure of 777.
Best wishes
PP. Rtn Ramesh G Bhatia
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This is a magic of Rotary.
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Excellent initiative which spreads the motto of rotary service. Together we can make a change
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very well composed and meaningful essay on heartline signature project motivating others to follow.
Arun Sharma
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Heartline project is unique and was started as Gift of Life probably before some USA clubs started Gift of Life and was renamed as Heartline to differentiate between the USA project.
We have treated children from around the world including our neighbours Pakistan and as far away as Mongolia besides patients from Africa over the years. No child should die for lack of funds to get surgical treatment required and till date we have not refused any child referred to Rotary Club of Chandigarh D3080 India
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I am pleased to share this story. Daphne will go back to Zimbabwe with a promising future, leading a normal life. It is inspiring to see so many Rotarians and non Rotarians coming together to make it possible. Our Heartline Project showcases the best of Rotary. It is a story of commitment, dedication, passion and resolve to save lives. As Chairman of Heartline Project, I am extremely grateful to everyone involved over the last 24 years for their contribution and service. It has been a great team effort. And we will continue to save lives.
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thank you for sharing this wonderful story.
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