Invigorating semis set tone for the finale
One of India’s biggest debating events, the semi-finals of the Speak for India Delhi edition saw 36 students discussing artificial intelligence and social media
NEWDELHI: Thirty-six young men and women took centre stage on Thursday, as they spoke with confidence and fluency at the semi-final of Delhi-ncr’s biggest inter-college debating competition, Federal Bank Speak for India Delhi edition, in association with Hindustan Times.
The event, held at the NCUI auditorium in south Delhi, saw the students engaging on a wide variety of topics, including the strength in the federal structure of the Indian government, whether innovation is more important than invention, if artificial intelligence can take over human intelligence, and if higher use of social media is beneficial or detrimental.
“This was my first time on the stage and this competition has helped me kill my stage fear and strengthen my personality. I hope I get more opportunities like these in future,” said Vipasana (19), a second year student of Political Science (hons) at Daulat Ram College, who was one of the semi-final participants.
One of India’s largest intercollege debate competitions, ‘Speak for India’ in Delhi NCR has been organised jointly by the Federal Bank and Hindustan Times.
The announcement of the debate, inviting applications was made in October 2019, and saw an exemplary response from more than 62,000 entries. The applicants went through competitions at the sub-zonal and zonal levels, and 36 were selected for the semi-finals.
Out of them, eight have been selected to compete at the grand finale to be held on March 20, at the Lalit Hotel.
The semi-final saw nine rounds of debates each with two speaking for and two speaking against the motion. Each round had two parts. In the first part, each of the participants were given two minutes to deliver their arguments. In the second, each of them was given a minute to refute.
The participants are allowed to speak in one of four languages: English, Hindi, Haryanvi and Punjabi. Almost an equal number of participants at the semi-final spoke in English and Hindi, and one spoke in Punjabi.
“The best thing about this competition is the way it is promoting vernacular languages,” said Sanju Kumari, 19, from Miranda College who chose to speak in Hindi at the semi-finals.
“I was very excited to be part of this event since I came across the announcement in the newspaper. In the course of the past few months I came to interact with so many students from different backgrounds and colleges. The competition has helped me become more innovative and influential in my oratory skills,” Kumari said.
Another participant, Kartike Garg, 19, from Motilal Nehru College said, “It was wonderful listening to so many speakers. Apart from helping me build my speaking skills, it has also helped me increase my knowledge on a large range of issues.”
Former IPS officer and Central Information Commissioner, Yashovardhan Azad, who was part of the jury, said he was pleased to hear so many young people and particularly those who debated in Hindi, speaking so cogently and with clarity.
“Debating is an art of persuasion and not one of scaring people. Neither is it a knowledge building exercise. When you get your topic it is imperative that you first establish your premise and your arguments should follow logically,” said Azad as he offered tips to the participants for the final.
“It was invigorating to hear so many articulate, intelligent young men and women speak on a wide range of topics. Hope we see more of the same in the final,” said Soumya Bhattacharya, Managing Editor of Hindustan Times, who was also part of the jury.
The Speak for India debate competition was launched in Kerala in 2014. It then expanded to Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu in the following years. The event last year saw the participation of more that two lakh students from across 4,450 colleges.
Winners can get a cash prize of Rs 1.5 lakh, a scholarship of Rs 50,000 and college reward worth R. 25,000.
The first runner up will also get a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and Rs 20,000 college reward. Apart from this, there is also a category of popular choice award with a cash prize of Rs 80,000 and consolation cash prize for five participants of Rs 25,000.
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Debating is an art of persuasion and not one of scaring people. Neither is it a knowledge building exercise. When you get your topic it is imperative that you first establish your premise and your arguments should follow logically.
YASHOVARDHAN AZAD,
Former IPS officer and Central Information Commissioner