Biography: PDG Krishnan Chittur

Past District Governor (2018-19). Krishnan Chittur is a lawyer in private practice.  A gold-medallist from University of Bombay and a graduate of Harvard Law School, he is admitted to practice in Mumbai, India, in several jurisdictions in the United States, and in the U.S. Supreme Court . He was also an arbitrator with the New York Stock Exchange and with the National Association of Securities Dealers.  Having litigated in India and the United States, Mr. Chittur has extensive international litigation experience. He is the “little guy’s lawyer,” focusing on protecting the interests of consumers and small businesses.

Rtn. Chittur’s involvement with Rotary began in 1972 when he joined a Rotaract Club in India, a vibrant Club which was awarded the “Best Club” in the District the next year. In 1981, he was selected by R.I. Dist. 314 (Mumbai and neighboring areas) as a member of the Group Study Exchange Team to visit Southwestern Pennsylvania (R.I. Dist. 733).  He formally joined the Rotary Club of Briarcliff Manor in 2010, becoming its Vice-President (2011-‘12), and President (2012-‘13).

As President, he started several new projects in Briarcliff Manor, such as “Preventative Health Series” to increase consumer awareness of health issues.  He also started the “ElderAct” club, the sixth ElderAct in the World, and the first in our District. With that ElderAct Club, and the Interact Club of Briarcliff Manor, he organized a three-generation gardening project involving ElderAct, Rotary, and InterAct. In 2016, he started an InterAct club at St. Christopher’s, Inc., a school which provides residential programming for teens with learning challenges, which has since then become one of the most vibrant InterAct Clubs.

Rtn. Chittur started the Friendship Exchange Program in our District in 2012-’13, with a Friendship Exchange with Bangalore, and with Turkey (2014-’15).  He was Chair of our District’s Friendship Exchange Committee from 2012 - 2015.

He was given the District Award for Community Service (2012-’13), and District Peace Award for International Understanding (2012-’13).  He is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, and a member of the Paul Harris Society.  He is a sought-after speaker and has addressed many Rotary audiences in U.S. and elsewhere in joint club meetings, seminars, and District Conferences.

His five-year goal for District include a 10% annual increase in membership, and well-established and systematic participation in Rotary’s international programs such as Peace Fellowship Program, Vocational Training Team Program, Youth Exchange Scholarship Program, and Friendship Exchange Program.