Rotary Club of Asansol is amongst the first 20 clubs formed in India. It is the 2nd oldest club in the erstwhile RI District 3290, second to and sponsored by Rotary Club of Calcutta (1937-1938), the first Rotary Club formed in India, which received its charter in 1920. In Asansol the needed spark of Rotary was kindled by Rtn. W. H. Bryant, Field Representative of R. I. President, when he discussed the ideals of Rotary to the elites of Asansol at the house of Late Rtn. Dr. Lolit Sen. That meeting was followed by a more formal conference at the Asansol Railway Officer’s Club, on a sunny afternoon in early March, 1938, when a group of professional and service minded people namely Mr. H. V. Peeling, Works Manager, IISCO, Mr. R. Sneddon, Manager, Burn & Co., Raniganj, Dr. L. Sen, Chief Sanitary Officer of Mines Board of Health and Mr. F. G. Williams of Ushagram Mission got together to discuss with Rtn. H. W. Bryant, about the prospect of Rotary at Asansol. They met again on 19th March 1938 and the provisional Rotary Club of Asansol was born, under the supervision of Rtn. Col. Newberry, Secretary of Rotary Club of Calcutta, at the Madath’s Hotel (subsequently known as Atwal Hotel). Harry V. Peeling, Works Manager, Indian Iron & Steel Co. Ltd., became its founder president and Dr. Frederic George Williams, Director, Ushagram Educational Colony, its Secretary. The club was finally admitted to Rotary International Membership on 22nd June, 1938 with the Charter No. 4737 sponsored by Rotary Club of Calcutta (1937-38). However, the formal Charter presentation was made to the club by Rtn. Jahangir Gandhi of the Rotary Club of Jamshedpur on Monday, 12th December, 1938 at the Railway Officer’s Club, Asansol. With the re-numbering of the districts in 1990-91, Rotary Club of Asansol, attained the status of being the oldest club in R. I. District 3240.