Round Table India
Encyclopedia
The Round Table is internationally a friendship organisation, founded in Norwich, England in 1927. The Round Table is a club for young men aged between 18 and 40 (45 in the United Kingdom
, Ireland
and the United Arab Emirates
) that provides a selection of social and community service related opportunities for its members. Its aim is to promote service, fellowship and goodwill in national and international affairs. The Round Table movement went to India in 1957 with the formation of Madras Round Table No. 1 on 14 November, 1962 with a membership of 100. Over the last four decades it has grown to become a 2,500 member strong association.
Round Table India believes in Community Service through the Fellowship of its members. Members come from all parts of the community and from differing professions.
— 'The young business and professional men of this country must get together round the table, adopt methods that have proved so sound in the past, adapt them to the changing needs of the times and wherever possible, improve them'. The phrase "adopt, adapt, improve" is a key facet of the organisation, and is often seen on Round Table literature and regalia. The design of the Round Table emblem is an adaptation of the table which hangs in the Great Hall in Winchester. Although this is claimed to be the Round Table of the mythical court of King Arthur, it is in fact a representation which was made in the 13th century. The Arthurian concept that all members are equal around the Round Table is one of the guiding principles in this organisation.
The founder, Louis Marchesi
, was a young member of Norwich Rotary Club who felt a need existed for a club where the young business men of the town could gather on a regular basis. At their meetings they could exchange ideas, learn from the experiences of their colleagues and play a collective part in the civic life of Norwich. Within a year of inception the membership of this Round Table had grown to 85 and interest was being shown in establishing Round Tables elsewhere. A second Round Table was established in Portsmouth and subsequent growth was rapid, with 125 Tables and a membership of 4,600 by 1939 . Round Table proved it had international appeal with the first overseas Table formed in Copenhagen
in 1936.
After 1945 the pattern of growth was rapidly re-established with Tables being 'chartered' all over the UK. Today there are about 900 Tables with a membership of around 10,000. Round Table now flourishes in the majority of European countries, throughout Africa, the Middle East, India
, Hong Kong
, New Zealand
and America. Over the recent few years it has expanded in Asia with new clubs being formed in Colombo
, Nepal
, Russia
, Bangladesh
and Singapore
. From a very early stage it was agreed that Round Table would be a non-political, non-religious, and non-sectarian club and this has continued to the current day.
The focal point of Round Table is its regular meetings. Normally, most Tables meet twice a month, usually in the evening and often with a meal and sometimes with family. The regular meeting is the forum for speakers and many other forms of activity and entertainment. Visitors and potential members are always made particularly welcome as Round Table provides an ideal opportunity to establish new friendships. Another opportunity of the Round Table, rarely acknowledged by its members, is that it allows its members to socialize and form lasting friendships.
There are more than 180 Tables (clubs of Round Table India) located in 72 cities and towns, composed of businessmen, entrepreneurs, technocrats, and professionals. Men who can rise above personal concerns to seek and serve the larger needs of the community. On the administration front, Round Table India has a 25 member National Board, which guides the affairs of the association. Round Table India is divided into 10 Areas, which have their own Area Board to administer them.
The National Secretariat, the hub of all activities of Round Table India, is located at Chennai
. The "Round Table India Foundation" provides financial support every year for projects done by Tables. The Corpus of the Foundation is close to Rs.20 Million now. The wives of Tablers have their own National Association called "Ladies Circle India". Ladies Circle
India is assisting every activity of Round Table India, apart from having their own service projects. Ladies Circle India is also a part of Ladies Circle International, an International consortium of Clubs similar to Round Table. The Past Tablers of Round Table India have formed the "41 Clubs of India". This National Association of Past Tablers provides a lot of support to our service activity. Round Table India is a member of "Round Table International" and also of the World Council of Service Clubs "(WOCO)".
projects. Service Through Fellowship is the lifeline of Round Table India. It is through the fellowship of young men that this organisation has served the community for the last 40 years.
Round Table India started its efforts in helping the community with small projects directed towards service. Over the years, we have grown from strength to strength and today we are building big projects and have moved over from community service to community development. The concept of National Project for Round Table India was introduced in 1992.
Blood Typing, the National Project for the year 1992 enlisted over 30000 Blood Donors across the country. Operation Thirst in 1993 was the first Community Development Project to provide drinking water source to village people by sinking over 500 borewells at a cost of over Rs.10 Million. AIDS being the killer disease, its awareness was promoted by Round Table India in the year 1994. Project SMILE, providing dental hygiene
for rural children by conducting several dental camps benefiting about 300,000 children in the year 1995. In 1996, "Right to Learn" the National Project to provide school infrastructure was very successful and over 140 school buildings were constructed at a cost of over Rs.70 Million, benefiting 200,000 rural children across the country. In 1997, Round Table India launched "Project Touch" and we adopted 2000 orphan children in association with SOS Children's village at a cost of Rs.1.5 Million.
Keeping the millions of underprivileged children in India in mind, Round Table India declared the Long Term National Project as "Freedom through Education". We believe that true freedom for an individual comes only through education. Several initiatives under this National Project "Freedom through Education" like Building Programme for Primary Schools, providing infrastructure, provision of educational accessories, Health Care, Vocational and Individual Child Related Programmes in schools adopted by Tables across the country have been undertaken.
In the last five years, Round Tables in India have really put in a lot of effort to provide infrastructure in schools. Over 505 projects at a cost of over Rs.420 Million have been completed during this period.
During the Earthquake
in Latur
in 1993, Tablers of Round Table India moved Relief Material within 24 hours to the earthquake hit villages, with construction of a Community Welfare Centre in Latur as a relief measure. Round Table India also worked very hard in Orissa during the Cyclone Relief Work in 1999-2000. "Operation Sadhbhavana" saw the construction of 4 Schools at a cost of Rs.2 Million directly by the Tables in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Round Table India also tied up with NOVIB of Netherlands and Centre for Youth Social Development to construct 15 schools at a cost of Rs.13 Million all over Orissa
.
The recent Gujarat Earthquake was another moment, when Round Table India was present in full strength to support the victims of the earthquake. Materials were moved to Gujarat from all over India to help with immediate relief. Over Rs.24 Million was spent towards construction of 20 school buildings in Kutch and Surendarnagar Districts of Gujarat.
Round Table India released Braille
Dictionaries in Tamil
and Marathi
languages and distributed the same to several blind institutions.
The Tsunami
disaster that struck the coasts of India saw members of Round Table India step in with immediate rehabilitation for the fisherpeople, as well as reconstruction efforts.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
) that provides a selection of social and community service related opportunities for its members. Its aim is to promote service, fellowship and goodwill in national and international affairs. The Round Table movement went to India in 1957 with the formation of Madras Round Table No. 1 on 14 November, 1962 with a membership of 100. Over the last four decades it has grown to become a 2,500 member strong association.
Round Table India believes in Community Service through the Fellowship of its members. Members come from all parts of the community and from differing professions.
History
The name "Round Table" is drawn from a speech made to the British Industries Fair in 1927 by the then Prince of WalesEdward VIII of the United Kingdom
Edward VIII was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, and Emperor of India, from 20 January to 11 December 1936.Before his accession to the throne, Edward was Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay...
— 'The young business and professional men of this country must get together round the table, adopt methods that have proved so sound in the past, adapt them to the changing needs of the times and wherever possible, improve them'. The phrase "adopt, adapt, improve" is a key facet of the organisation, and is often seen on Round Table literature and regalia. The design of the Round Table emblem is an adaptation of the table which hangs in the Great Hall in Winchester. Although this is claimed to be the Round Table of the mythical court of King Arthur, it is in fact a representation which was made in the 13th century. The Arthurian concept that all members are equal around the Round Table is one of the guiding principles in this organisation.
The founder, Louis Marchesi
Louis Marchesi
Eminio William Louis Marchesi founded the Round Table, an international fellowship and community charitable organisation for young businessmen....
, was a young member of Norwich Rotary Club who felt a need existed for a club where the young business men of the town could gather on a regular basis. At their meetings they could exchange ideas, learn from the experiences of their colleagues and play a collective part in the civic life of Norwich. Within a year of inception the membership of this Round Table had grown to 85 and interest was being shown in establishing Round Tables elsewhere. A second Round Table was established in Portsmouth and subsequent growth was rapid, with 125 Tables and a membership of 4,600 by 1939 . Round Table proved it had international appeal with the first overseas Table formed in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
in 1936.
After 1945 the pattern of growth was rapidly re-established with Tables being 'chartered' all over the UK. Today there are about 900 Tables with a membership of around 10,000. Round Table now flourishes in the majority of European countries, throughout Africa, the Middle East, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and America. Over the recent few years it has expanded in Asia with new clubs being formed in Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. From a very early stage it was agreed that Round Table would be a non-political, non-religious, and non-sectarian club and this has continued to the current day.
The focal point of Round Table is its regular meetings. Normally, most Tables meet twice a month, usually in the evening and often with a meal and sometimes with family. The regular meeting is the forum for speakers and many other forms of activity and entertainment. Visitors and potential members are always made particularly welcome as Round Table provides an ideal opportunity to establish new friendships. Another opportunity of the Round Table, rarely acknowledged by its members, is that it allows its members to socialize and form lasting friendships.
There are more than 180 Tables (clubs of Round Table India) located in 72 cities and towns, composed of businessmen, entrepreneurs, technocrats, and professionals. Men who can rise above personal concerns to seek and serve the larger needs of the community. On the administration front, Round Table India has a 25 member National Board, which guides the affairs of the association. Round Table India is divided into 10 Areas, which have their own Area Board to administer them.
The National Secretariat, the hub of all activities of Round Table India, is located at Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
. The "Round Table India Foundation" provides financial support every year for projects done by Tables. The Corpus of the Foundation is close to Rs.20 Million now. The wives of Tablers have their own National Association called "Ladies Circle India". Ladies Circle
Ladies Circle
Ladies' Circle is a social networking organisation for young women aged between 18 and 45, founded in 1932. It aims to promote friendship through social contact at local, national and international level and to be of service to the community...
India is assisting every activity of Round Table India, apart from having their own service projects. Ladies Circle India is also a part of Ladies Circle International, an International consortium of Clubs similar to Round Table. The Past Tablers of Round Table India have formed the "41 Clubs of India". This National Association of Past Tablers provides a lot of support to our service activity. Round Table India is a member of "Round Table International" and also of the World Council of Service Clubs "(WOCO)".
Community Service Projects
Round Table is frequently associated with its charitable fund raising activities and community serviceCommunity service
Community service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions....
projects. Service Through Fellowship is the lifeline of Round Table India. It is through the fellowship of young men that this organisation has served the community for the last 40 years.
Round Table India started its efforts in helping the community with small projects directed towards service. Over the years, we have grown from strength to strength and today we are building big projects and have moved over from community service to community development. The concept of National Project for Round Table India was introduced in 1992.
Blood Typing, the National Project for the year 1992 enlisted over 30000 Blood Donors across the country. Operation Thirst in 1993 was the first Community Development Project to provide drinking water source to village people by sinking over 500 borewells at a cost of over Rs.10 Million. AIDS being the killer disease, its awareness was promoted by Round Table India in the year 1994. Project SMILE, providing dental hygiene
Dental hygienist
thumb|right|300px|Dental hygienist holding a scalerA dental hygienist is a licensed dental professional who specializes in preventive oral health, typically focusing on techniques in oral hygiene. Local dental regulations determine the scope of practice of dental hygienists...
for rural children by conducting several dental camps benefiting about 300,000 children in the year 1995. In 1996, "Right to Learn" the National Project to provide school infrastructure was very successful and over 140 school buildings were constructed at a cost of over Rs.70 Million, benefiting 200,000 rural children across the country. In 1997, Round Table India launched "Project Touch" and we adopted 2000 orphan children in association with SOS Children's village at a cost of Rs.1.5 Million.
Keeping the millions of underprivileged children in India in mind, Round Table India declared the Long Term National Project as "Freedom through Education". We believe that true freedom for an individual comes only through education. Several initiatives under this National Project "Freedom through Education" like Building Programme for Primary Schools, providing infrastructure, provision of educational accessories, Health Care, Vocational and Individual Child Related Programmes in schools adopted by Tables across the country have been undertaken.
In the last five years, Round Tables in India have really put in a lot of effort to provide infrastructure in schools. Over 505 projects at a cost of over Rs.420 Million have been completed during this period.
During the Earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
in Latur
LaTur
La Tur was a Mexican airline that operated from 1988 until 1992 when it was taken over by TAESA.-Company history:Set up in 1988 to help develop the tourist market, La Tur began operations using McDonnell Douglas MD-83 aircraft. One year later, the Airbus A300-600 was introduced for flights to Europe...
in 1993, Tablers of Round Table India moved Relief Material within 24 hours to the earthquake hit villages, with construction of a Community Welfare Centre in Latur as a relief measure. Round Table India also worked very hard in Orissa during the Cyclone Relief Work in 1999-2000. "Operation Sadhbhavana" saw the construction of 4 Schools at a cost of Rs.2 Million directly by the Tables in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Round Table India also tied up with NOVIB of Netherlands and Centre for Youth Social Development to construct 15 schools at a cost of Rs.13 Million all over Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
.
The recent Gujarat Earthquake was another moment, when Round Table India was present in full strength to support the victims of the earthquake. Materials were moved to Gujarat from all over India to help with immediate relief. Over Rs.24 Million was spent towards construction of 20 school buildings in Kutch and Surendarnagar Districts of Gujarat.
Round Table India released Braille
Braille
The Braille system is a method that is widely used by blind people to read and write, and was the first digital form of writing.Braille was devised in 1825 by Louis Braille, a blind Frenchman. Each Braille character, or cell, is made up of six dot positions, arranged in a rectangle containing two...
Dictionaries in Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
and Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
languages and distributed the same to several blind institutions.
The Tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
disaster that struck the coasts of India saw members of Round Table India step in with immediate rehabilitation for the fisherpeople, as well as reconstruction efforts.