65th session - Table Topic Contest

The second contest season for RTC started with a bang. The invitation showed 12 knights gathered around a round table, locking swords. Indeed it would be an epic tournament when brothers-in-arms would exhibit their verbal swordsmanship and try to win the laurels. Topics on the table, folks!

Our SAA TM Raja and President Aji welcomed all the judges and tally counters who had come over from other clubs to ultimately select the winners.

SAA Raja then declared the session open and ceded the holy ground to the President.

President Aji Baskar was glowing with pride and anticipation. He also related the story of two brothers who shared their only possession, a cow, by assigning the front half to one and the rear half to another. Of course, the brother owning the front half fed the cow but got no milk. Ultimately he beat the head of the cow so that it kicked the brother at the rear. Moral is, teamwork is good for everybody. Contests require lots and lots of teamwork.

Today's contest chair was the ever cool and suave TM Kamil, who went over the rules of the contest and introduced the eleven contestants (one had withdrawn). The contestants were:

1. Alma
2. Kaviya
3. Kumar
4. Ananth
5. Viswanath
6. Rajat
7. Ramalingam
8. Saleem
9. Panna
10. Venkat
11. Nagesh

As per the rules, all contestants except the first one were led out to a secluded place, guarded diligently by TM Sabu. TM Alma, the first contestant who had stayed back, chose a topic that read: "Aging is automatic; maturity is a matter of choice."

SAA Raja assisted by TM Sabu managed the entry of all contestants excellently and there was hardly any point where the next contestant was not ready. Great co-ordination.

The topic was a good one, in the sense that all contestants could put in their two-pence worth of thought and opinion. By the nature of the contest, TM Alma could hear all contestants, while TM Nagesh could hear only himself. However, TM Raja, who had recorded every speech, diligently posted all the speeches in the fb site, to the delight of those who had missed some speeches.

DTM Varma and TM Aji also spoke on a couple of topics and enthralled all.

The officials were:

• Chief judge:       TM Ramki
• Judge 1:             TM Antony
• Judge 2:             TM Suryakanth
• Judge 3:             TM Pinto
• Judge 4:             TM Ashfaq
• Tally counter:      TM Anil
• Timers:               TMs Karthik and Kavita

Our heartfelt thanks to them for their enthusiastic involvement.

The winners were:

• Winner:             TM Rajat
• 1st Runner-up:   TM Kumar
• 2nd Runner-up:  MTM Kaviya

The winner and 1st Runner-up will be representing the club at the Area level. All the best to them.

See you all on a normal session on 11.2.17.