Lodge Keys Freemasons from Hyderabad on a mission to propagate eye donation

Embark on ‘Masons on Wheels’, a 40,000 kms car journey
Now reach Visakhapatnam to coincide with RGL Meet being held in the city

Visakhapatnam... 1st March 2008: Eyes are windows to the world. Loss of sight is a devastating experience. Corneal blindness affects mainly children and young adults who have a long life ahead of them. The number of Corneal Blind in India is estimated to be about 1.1 million and a majority of them are children. Sight can be restored by corneal transplantation, but only 13,000 corneal transplants are done in India every year. Hence, eye donations are the need of the hour as thousands of patients are waiting to be operated and recover their vision.

To address this issue members of Hyderabad’s Lodge Keys No.297, a primary unit of Freemasonry, a 3000 years old one of the oldest secular fraternal society spread across the globe embark on a mission to propagate the message of eye donation and urge people to come forward and pledge their eyes. ‘Masons on Wheels’ – an initiative taken up by them for the cause to travel 40,000 kms all over India reached Visakhapatnam traveling a distance of 12,000 kms through ten states. The visit of the ‘Masons on Wheels’ initiative coincides with the Annual Investiture of the Regional Grand Lodge of South India being held in the city.

Giving details, addressing a press conference here in city today W. Bro. Praful Kumar Sahgal, Worshipful Master, Lodge Keys No. 297 said, "The Masons on Wheels initiative has traveled 12,000 kms till date covering ten states viz. Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Karnataka and Goa. During the journey, the members sporting white T-shirts and red hats with eye donation messages on their T-shirts stopped at various places interacting with the people, displaying banners, distributing information and spread the message of brotherhood and promoting eye donation. We plan to travel a total of 40,000 Kms covering various parts of the country."

Bro. J. Sampath Kumar, Project Chairman for the ‘Masons on Wheels’ initiative informed that ‘Masons on Wheels’ tour connecting Masonry with society was flagged-off in September 2007 at Hyderabad by Justice Devinder Gupta, Former Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court, who is also associated with Freemasonry as The Grand Master of Grand Lodge of India.
Freemasons are deeply involved in helping other people. From its earliest days, charity has been the most visible Masonic activity, with Freemasons concerned with the care of underprivileged, he added.

The team of Lodge Keys No. 297 on the ‘Masons on Wheels’ journey comprises of W. Bro. Ramana Gudipati, W. Bro. D. Ramchandram, Bro. J. Sampath Kumar, W. Bro. Praful Kumar Sahgal, Bro. Vijay K. Beerval, Bro. P. S. Chiranjeevi, Bro. P. S. Ramesh, Bro. A. Shree Nagesh, Bro. V. Ksheera Sagar, Bro. K.H.B. Atmaram, Bro. Madhusudhan Bojja, Bro. MVV Seshu Kumar, Bro. Kaja Nagaraju and Bro. G. Vidhyakar Rao

About Freemasonry: Freemasonry is one of the world’s oldest secular fraternal societies. It is a worldwide organisation based on the principle of the ‘Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man’. It has existed in India for over 250 years and in Andhra Pradesh for 200 years. It has over one and half crore members globally across 150 countries, 18000 all over India and 1500 in Andhra Pradesh. Its primary unit of organisation is called a ‘Lodge.’ There are 360 lodges in India functioning under the Charter of Grand Lodge of India. In Andhra Pradesh there are around 30 number of lodges in places such as the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, Warangal, Kurnool, Vijayawada, Guntur, Rajahmundry, Kakinada, Anakapally, Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram.

Globally Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Pythagoras, Benjamin Fraklin, Henry Ford, Clive Lloyd and All Presidents of United States of America were its member. In India Swami Vivekananda, C. Rajagopalachari, Motilal Nehru, Fakruddin Ali Ahmed, Madhavrao Scindia, Nawab of Pataudi, locally several Nawabs of Nizam, many judges, bureaucrats, officers and well-respected individuals and others are its members. Some of the members from Andhra Pradesh include Nawab Sir Salar Jung Bahadur and Maharaja Sir Kishen Pershad (both Prime Ministers of the state of Hyderabad), Sir Terrence Keys (The British Resident), Raja Venkat Ram Reddy, many High court judges, to name a few from the list of distinguished personalities.

‘Masons on Wheels’ to reach Vizag tomorrow

‘Freemasons on an all India tour on a mission to spread the message of brotherhood and promoting eye donation

Visakhapatnam... 28 February 2008: ‘Masons on Wheels’ - a unique initiative to spread the message of brotherhood and promote eye donation all over the country is scheduled to reach Visakhapatnam city tomorrow. Four concerned citizens and members of Lodge Keys No. 297, a part of the Freemasonry organisation travelling by road in a car to various places such as Amravati, Nagpur, Raipur (Chattisgarh), Jharkhand, West Bengal, Kharagpur, Cuttuck, Bhuwaneshwar, Berhampur, Sambhalpur (Orissa) will reach Visakhapatnam tomorrow afternoon. Lodge Keys No. 297 is part of FREEMASONRY, which is a 3,000 years old movement spread all over the globe. It has existed in India for over 250 years and in Andhra Pradesh for 200 years. The visit of the ‘Masons on Wheels’ initiative coincides with the Annual Investiture of the Regional Grand Lodge of South India being held in the city.

The aim of this initiative is to bring Freemasonry closer to society and spread the message of brotherhood and promote eye donation. Hitherto, Freemasonry was perceived to be a secret society. It is now shedding its cloak and now is open to talk about it various activities and remove misconceptions, if any.

The team comprising of W. Bro. Ramana Gudipati, W. Bro. D. Ramchandram, Bro. Vijay K. Beerval and Bro. J. Sampath Kumar travelled to all these places by road in a car and stopped at various places displaying banners and distributing information promoting eye donation. The ‘Masons on Wheels’ initiative has covered 10 states and about 12000 kms of distance so far. It plans to cover a distance of 30,000 kms covering 144 cities all over India.

Another team led by W. Bro. Praful Kumar Sahgal, Worshipful Master, Lodge Keys No. 297 in two cars travelling from Hyderabad, will be joining the others enroute to Visakhapatnam. The seven member team comprises of W. Bro. Praful Kumar Sahgal, Bro. P. S. Chiranjeevi, Bro. P. S. Ramesh, Bro. A. Shree Nagesh, Bro. V. Ksheera Sagar, Bro. K.H.B. Atmaram and Bro. Madhusudhan Bojja.

The ‘Masons on Wheels’ tour connecting Masonry with society was flagged-off in September 2007 by Justice Devinder Gupta, Former Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court (who is also associated with Freemasonry as The Grand Master of Grand Lodge of India) at Hyderabad.
Freemasons are deeply involved in helping other people. From its earliest days, charity has been the most visible Masonic activity, with Freemasons concerned with the care of orphans, the sick and the aged. Large sums are given to national and local charities, with Masons around the world giving away millions of dollars to various charities each day. They are also actively involved in a great deal of community volunteer work.

Freemasonry is one of the world’s oldest secular fraternal societies. It is a worldwide organisation based on the principle of the ‘Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man’. It is a society of men concerned with moral and spiritual values. Its members are taught its precepts by series of rituals, which follow ancient forms and use stonemason’s customs and tools and allegorical guides. The motto of Freemasonry is Brotherly Love, Relief & Truth.

Globally Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Pythagoras, Benjamin Fraklin, Henry Ford, Clive Lloyd and All Presidents of United States of America were its member. In India Swami Vivekananda, C. Rajagopalachari, Motilal Nehru, Fakruddin Ali Ahmed, Madhavrao Scindia, Nawab of Pataudi, locally several Nawabs of Nizam, many judges, bureaucrats, officers and well-respected individuals and others are its members. Some of the members from Andhra Pradesh include Nawab Sir Salar Jung Bahadur and Maharaja Sir Kishen Pershad (both Prime Ministers of the state of Hyderabad), Sir Terrence Keys (The British Resident), Raja Venkat Ram Reddy to name few from the list of distinguished personalities.

Maons on Wheels -- a unique initiative

‘Masons on Wheels’, a unique initiative of city Freemasons members to travel all India by road in car covering a distance of 30,000kms on a mission to spread the message of brotherhood and promoting eye donation now reaches the city

A few concerned citizens of Hyderabad city and who are also members of Lodge Keys No. 297, a local unit of 3000 years old wordwide Freemasonry organisation are on a countrywide tour to spread the message of brotherhood and promote eye donation. Masons on Wheels, the novel initiative of the Lodge(primary unit of Freemasonry like a club in any other organisations) Keyas was flagged off at Hyderabad in Novmber has so far travelled 8,000 kms travelling many parts in South India which include Vishakapatnam, Vijayawada, Srikakulam, Chennai, Pondichery and others.

Sporting White Tea Shirts, logos of the organisation printed on the front side, eye donation message on back side and red hats bearing logos on heads, the car journey comprised of Ramana Gudipati, 45years (an architect) D.Ramchandram 43 years (public relations preofessional), J. Sampath Kumar 46years (an educationist), All the three rallyists are business men and professionals who are otherwise busy could take time under the banner of Lodge Keys No. 297 and ventured on the trip. The car is decked up properly for the occasion with stickers of Masons on Wheels pasted on all the sides of the car will zoomed out across India in next couple of months.

Over next couple of months they will travel to 144 cities in the country where the Freemsonry is active and cover 30,000 kms. The mission of this novel venture is to spread the message of brotherhood and promote eye donation. Through The Masons on Wheels, we will endeavour to take Freemasonry close to the society and its problems in this case Eye Donation, informed the three Rallyists.

Masons on Wheels is planned in response to the call given by India head of Freemasonry Grand Master Justice Devinder Gupta on liberalisation of Freemasony in India. Outlining his vision, he urged brothren to bring about Masonic Liberalization in the country, asked them not only to have more men in Freemasonry, but, also to ensure that more men will have more Freemasonry in them.

Lodge Keys No. 297 planned Masons on Wheels with a mission to despel the prevailing notion that Freemasonry is a Secret Society. And to spread a message of Brotherhood and promoting eye donation. Our endeavour is to connect masons all over India to society and its problems particularly Cornial Blindness informed the team member of the rally.

Though it is a Lodge Keys project, any Freemason member from anywhere across India are welcomed to join them on Masons on Wheels.

The Members of Masons on Wheels are overwhelmed by the response as Freemasons from different quarters of India have been inviting to visit them. Over next few months members of Lodge Keys are expected to travel 30,000 kms in different cars across length and breadth of India meeting masons in general and general public in particular.

Masons on Wheels symbolic rally return to city

Hyderabad, Oct 01......Masons on Wheels an all over India journey covering 144 Masonic Towns covering a distance of 30,000 kms in over next couple of months by road of Lodge Keys No. 297 brethren returned today after attending half yearly meeting of the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India held on September 29th and 30th at Rajahmundry.

The three car motor rally was flagged off on 27th September evening by M.W. Bro. Justice Devinder Gupta, M.W. The Grand Master of Grand Lodge of India and R.W. Bro. S. Krishnan, Grand Secretary, started its journey on 28th September morning in three cars. Eleven brethren inclduing W.Bro. D. Ramchandram, W.Bro. Ramana Gudipati, Bro. Praful Sahgal, Bro. J. Sampath Kumar, Bro. Vijay K. Beerval, Bro. Seshu Kumar, Bro. Shree Nagesh, Bro. P.S. Chiranjeevi, Bro. Kaja Nagaraju, Bro. Atmaram, Bro Madhusudhan Bojja returned to city today.

All the brethren sporting Masons on Wheels dress, White T-Shirt, Red Hat travelled 1200 kms(back and forth) to participate the RGL meet. Where they were received by ten other Lodge brethren. During the two day RGL meet at Rajahmundry Lodge Keys brethren were cynosure of all the brethren for their novel journey and equally suitable uniform for the journey.

At the RGL Masons on Wheels team met Grand Master M.W. Bro Justice Devinder Gupta, M.W. Bro. Arun Chintopanth, immediate Past Grand Master, Regional Grand Master of Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India R.W. Bro G.K. Selvarajan, R.W. Bro S. Krishnan, Grand Secretary and RGM of Northern Indian Region and R.W. Bro. Vasudev J. Masurekar, The Regional Grand Master of Western Region. They all appreciated the efforts of the Lodge as it would serve in making masonry known very well across India.

R.W. Bro. Vasudev J. Masurekar, The Regional Grand Master of Western Region was too happy to met the brethren on the Masons on Wheels and invited them to plan a trip to Mumbai. He assured them a rousing welcome to the Western Region. Overwhelmed by the response expected from the most unusual quarters, brethren are charged up to go to Western Region in near future.

Prior to that a large contingent of Lodge Keys No. 297 brethren are planning to undertake a trip to Chennai in November to participate in the Annual Investituture meeting of the Grand Lodge of India to be held in November.

Earlier enroute to Rajahmundry and back brethren were inteviewed by Siticable, The Hindu, Indian Express at a stopover in Vijayawada. Siticable aired a news about the Masons on Wheels on next morning. Three local dailies in Vijayawada Eenadu, Vaartha and Andhra Jyothi too covered the news. Andhra Bhoomi published photograph on the front page of Vijayawada edition.
At an another couple of stopovers, brethren met many people on their way and explained their purpose of the journey and importance of Eye Donation as are the only organs of human beings which work six hours after a death of a human being. Donate Eyes and Live Twice they told them.

The journey was full of fun and frolic. An elderly woman working at Surya Clones at Bayyangudem gave us blessings for the noble work we have undertaken, informed the brethren.
Masons on Wheels has so far covered three thousand kilometers in over six days including the trial drive taken up during July.

Masons-on-Wheels flagged off

Grand Master flags of ‘Masons on Wheels’, a unique initiative of Brethren of Lodge Keys No. 297 to travel all India by road in cars covering a distance of 30,000kms on a mission to spread the message of brotherhood and promoting eye donation

Hyderabad, September 27 2007: Few concerned citizens and members of Lodge Keys No. 297 are on a countrywide tour to spread the message of brotherhood and promote eye donation. Masons on Wheels, the novel initiative of the Lodge was flagged off here in Hyderabad on September 27th at Goshamahal Baradari Masonic Building by Most Worshipful Bro. Justice Devinder Gupta, The M.W. The Grand Master of Grand Lodge of India. R.W. Bro. S. Krishan, The Regional Grand Master of Regional Grand Lodge of Northern India and who also Grand Secretary graced the function.

Sporting White Tea Shirts, logos of Lodge and Grand Lodge printed on the front side, eye donation message on back side and red hats bearing logos on heads, the four car rally of twenty brethren comprised of its Master W.Bro. D.Ramchandram, Project Chairman Bro. J. Sampath Kumar, W.ro. G. Dinakar, W.Bro. Ramana Gudipati, W.Bro. K.K. Parekh, Bro. Proful Sahgal, Bro. Dr. Dwarakanath, Bro. Veera Bhadrudu, Bro. Vijay K. Beerval, Bro. Seshu Kumar, Bro. P. S. Chiranjeevi, Bro. Madhusudhan Bojja, Bro Shree Nagesh, Bro. Dr. D.R. Venkatesh, Bro. Kaja Nagaraju, Bro. Vidyakar, Bro. Atmaram, Bro. Ksheera Sagar, Bro. PCH Ramaraju went a symbolic journey of two kilometers and returned. The cars decked up properly for the occasion with stickers of Masons on Wheels pasted on all the sides of the cars zoomed out The journey will be resumed tomorrow morning till Rajahmundray and to return on October first.
Masons on Wheels is in response to the call given by Grand Master on liberalisation of Freemasony in India. Outlining his vision, Grand Master in his Circular No. 5/13 dated 12th December urged brothren to bring about Masonic Liberalization in the country, asked to stop drop-outs by proposing suitable remedial actions and gave a call to adopt "Each One Bring One" as a slogan, not only to have more men in Freemasonry, but, also to ensure that more men will have more Freemasonry in them.

Stating further, Grand Master advised in that circular to instill more Freemasonry in Men, by spreading the message and philosophy of Freemasonry as widely as possible. And told brethren to contantly endeavour to make Freemasonry more vibrand and dynamic in the country.
Lodge Keys No. 297 planned Masons on Wheels in response to that call with a mission to despel the prevailing notion that Freemasonry is a Secret Society. And to spread a message of Brotherhood and promoting eye donation. Our endeavour is to connect masons all over India to society and its problems particularly Cornial Blindness said W.Bro. D.Ramchandram, Worshipful Master of the Lodge speaking to gathering on the occasion of flagging of the march.
Though it is a Lodge Keys project, any brethren from any lodge across India are welcomed to join the Lodge on Masons on Wheels, informed Bro. J. Sampath Kumar, Project Chairman--Masons on Wheels.

Addressing the brethren assembled in a meeting prior to the flag off, M.W. Bro. Justice Devinder Gupta, M.W. The Grand Master of Grand Lodge of India lauded the efforts of the Lodge for taking forward his vision. And told them to visit all 144 town in the country where Freemasonry is active and told them to collect the information and history of the ancient Lodge buildings along with their pictures for publication on Website of Grand Lodge of India.

Both Grand Master and Grand Secretary wearing White T-Shirt and Red Hat same as what Masons on Wheels sported they flagged off the rally and later posed for a group photo.
Over next few months brethren of Lodge Keys are expected to travel 30,000 kms in cars across length and breadth of India meeting masons in general and general public in particular spreading the message of Brotherhood and promoting eye donation.

Formal journey of all India will be kicked off tomorrow morning from Hyderabad to Rajahmundry to participate in half yearly meeting of Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India where 1000 Freemasons from all over South India are expected to participate. Twenty brethren are planning to travel to Rajahmundry and back in four cars covering 1200 kms.

Prior to undertaking Masons on Wheels, W.Bro. D. Ramchandram, Bro. J. Sampath Kumar and Bro. Vijay Kailash Beerval gone on a trial journey in July from Hyderabad to Srikakulam travelling about 1800kms participating in the Long Term Jewel Presentation of Lodge Waltair No. 56, a Centennary Celebrations of a Chapter in Vizag and Foundation Stone Laying function in Srikakulam.

Brethren of any Lodge and anywhere in India wishing to join on Masons on Wheels may seek more details on email: master.lodgekeys@gmail.com / secretary.lodgekeys@gmail.com