Round Table World Meet Pre Bash Party

Round Table India to host “Wah India’ – The Round Table International World Meet 2012 at Hyderabad

Hyderabad, August 19th, 2012: The Round Table India is hosting “Wah India’ – The Round Table International World Meet 2012 for the first time in India at Hyderabad from 26th to 30th September 2012. The theme of the event is 'Atithi Devo Bhava'. This was announced at press conference by Sudhanshu Shah, Chairman, RT International World Meet 2012 (RTIWM 2012) Organising Committee; Himanshu Gupta, Vice Chairman, RTIWM 2012 Organising Committee & Past National President, RT India; Sumeet Bhalotia, Secretary, RTIWM 2012 Organising Committee; Siddharth Karan, Area 9 Chairman- Round table India and Kishore Kumar, Area 9 Vice Chairman- Round Table India, here today.

The Logo of Wah India is an extraordinary, iconographic of the representation of the rich and diverse cultural heritage of India. The dancing and moving figure represents the fluid and energetic organizations of Round Table India and Round Table International. This marvelously unified composition expresses the rhythm of fellowship and the harmony of life that round table builds through its service and projects. The multiple hands show the many directions from which tablers will be a part of Wah India. The symbol has been taken from a cosmic dance form of India and it symbolizes creation, preservation, salvation and illusion.

The overall image also represents five activities: 'Shrishti' (creation, evolution); 'Sthiti' (preservation, support); 'Samhara' (evolution); 'Tirobhava' (illusion); and 'Anugraha' (release). The slogan "Aththi Devo Bhava" is an age old Indian tradition of treating your guests as equivalent of God. We, Wah India, promise to stick to this tradition.

We are looking at ensuring that India and Round Table India truly etches itself through this event into the memories of tables across the globe and also establishes itself as a true contributing member in Round Table International.

The venue for the event is Leonia Holistic Resort at Hyderabad. The entire resort has been booked for this event from 26th September to 30th September 2012. Apart from the official meetings during the day, grand entertainment programs have been planned for all the 4 days and nights. We are expecting more than 700 people from both India and abroad.

RTI is an is an international non-religious, non-political and non-sectarian organization comprising of Successful Businessmen and Professionals with the objective of Community Service focusing on Building Infrastructure for Education of Underprivileged Children. RTI has 43,000 members across 52 countries committed to community service focusing on Building Infrastructure for Education of Underprivileged Children. The motto of RT is ‘Freedom Through Education’ and has built more than 2500 classrooms across India.

According to Sudhanshu Shah, Round Table India has always been passionate about eradicating illiteracy from the nation and the organization staunchly believes in the fact that real freedom comes through empowerment, which in turn comes from quality education. RTI has been accomplishing this goal through ‘Freedom through Education.’

Freedom through Education focuses on rendering a better learning environment for children, through basic infrastructure and facilities such as quality school buildings, classroom furniture, deep tube wells for sanitation, toilets, computer rooms, lights & fans, science labs, filtered drinking system and open library rooms.

The untiring efforts of Round Table India in the last 13 years have given 700,000 children access to education and will continue to serve and impact generations to come. Our projections over a 25-year life cycle of a school building, estimates 23.87 Lac children impacted from schools already constructed, says Sumeet Bhalotia.

Significant accomplishments of RTI include

• 1262 schools built at a cost of Rs.80 Crores; 7 Lac children directly impacted.
• Gujarat Earthquake Aftermath – First Organization to rebuild 20 Schools in Kutch & Surendranagar (Bhuj) within 4 months. Azim Premji Foundation contributed Rs.80 Lacs on a total outlay of Rs.2.4 Crores.
• Operation Tsunami – RTI was the only NGO entrusted by TN Government to work in Tsunami affected areas for rebuilding of schools. 126 Schools built at a cost of 25 Crores and commemorated in presence of His Excellency Governor Surjith Singh Barnala.
• “Operation Sadhbhavana” for Orissa Cyclone Relief in 1999 – 2000 – Construction of 4 schools at a cost of Rs.2 Million directly by the Tables in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Subsequently another 6 Schools built.
• 75 schools built in Andhra Pradesh under Project Janmabhoomi.
• Projects worth Rs.25 Crores Million completed under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in Tamil Nadu.
• Recently 55 Classrooms & 22 Toilet Blocks inaugurated in Chennai by President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
• 100 schools built at a cost of Rs.60 Million in matching partnership with Round Table Netherlands and doubling by International Aid Agencies like CORDAID & NOVIB.
• 22 schools built in partnership with MV Foundation in Nalagonda and Ranga Reddy backward districts.
• Dutch World Tour for Children – Group of 45 Dutch Nationals traveled across the country. 18 Schools were built with Euro 90,000 contribution leading to total spending of Euro 300,000.
• New Business School, Amsterdam contributed Euros 150K to build 15 Schools in Maharashtra, Chattisgarh & Gujarat.
• ‘Freedom Through Education’ has twice been awarded the prestigious ‘Best National Project’ of World Council of Service Clubs (WOCO) – an umbrella organization of Community Service Associations across 80 Countries.

Going by the current numbers, it is projected that by the year 2020, Round Table India would complete more than 7000 classrooms and impacting more than 45 lac children.

About Round Table: The Round Table is internationally a friendship organisation, founded in Norwich, England by Louis Marchesi, then a Rotarian in 1927. From a small group of 8 members, today it has grown to 43,000 members across 52 countries representing every corner of the world. Round Table came to India in 1957 with the formation of Madras Round Table No 1 on November 14th 1962 by John Barton with 100 members. Over the past four decades it has grown to become a 2,850 member strong association.

From the day of its inception, Round Table has been a non-religious, non-political and non-sectarian organisation offering its members the best opportunity to connect with each other, have fun whilst giving something back to their community.

The young business professional men of Round Table India get together round the table, adopt methods that proved good in the past, adapt them to the changing times and wherever possible, improve them, emphasizing the speech of the Prince of Wales. The phrase ‘Adopt, Adapt and Improve’ is a key facet of the organisation.

Round Table India has around 200 Tables located in 76 cities and towns, comprising of businessmen, entrepreneurs, technocrats and professionals, men who can rise above personal concerns to seek and serve the larger needs of the community.

Round Table India: Currently, in Round Table India, there are more than 200 Tables located in 76 cities and towns, comprising 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 National Board, which guides the affairs of the association. Round Table India is divided into 11 Areas, which have their own Area Board to administer them.

Amongst the various personalities who have supported us include Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, Former President of India who had very high words of praise in the activities of Round Table India while he inaugurated 55 classrooms built by us in Chennai a few months back (click here for details).