Interesting topics. Well-researched and enthusiastic participants. Three debates held recently, featuring students from a host of schools, were proof that the art of debating in the city is alive and kicking  

CLIFFORD HICKS MEMORIAL INTER-SCHOOL DEBATE

The victors were declared, prizes were distributed and trophies were held aloft. But, as the judges said, the true winner at the first Clifford Hicks Memorial Inter-school Debate was the art of debating. The debate was held in two categories over two days. The first category featured students from classes XI and XII while the second saw participants from classes IX and X. In Category I, St. James’ School, The Frank Anthony Public School, the Park Circus and Liluah branches of Don Bosco High School, La Martiniere for Boys, La Martiniere for Girls and the hosts, Calcutta Boys’ School, made it to the finals. The topic of the debate, “Patriotism has no place in a modern globalised society”, saw spirited arguments on both sides. Roshni Chakroborty and Aratrika Brahmachari, both Class XII students of La Martiniere for Girls, won the individual best speaker awards and their school was declared the winner of Category I (picture left). “The level of debating was high and I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of it,” said Roshni. The hosts, represented by Rajarshi Mukherjee and Abhigyan Saha, took home the runners-up trophy. In Category II, the finalists were Calcutta Boys’ School, St. James’ School, Don Bosco, Park Circus and Liluah, and the two La Martiniere schools. The motion be debated on was: “In today’s world, we need more Mother Teresas than Shah Rukh Khans.” Treenok Guha and Deep Mehta of St. James’ School ensured their school finished on top with the former being adjudged as the best speaker supporting the motion. The host school won the runner-up trophy as Devanshu Dutta, Class X, was declared the best speaker against the motion. 

Bosco Polemic

Eight teams and 16 debaters made sure their points were noted and arguments appreciated as they proposed and opposed the motion at Bosco Polemic, the inter-school debate competition of Don Bosco, Park Circus. The motion: The press should have unrestricted freedom. The best team award went to the boys from St. James’ School (picture above). “This was my second year in a row. The standard of debate was high and some of the points raised were out of the box and refreshing,” said Ved Mehta, Class XII, St. James’ School. The best speaker (for the motion) went to Anant Gupta, Don Bosco, Park Circus. “It was a serious topic. I have been taking part in debates for quite some time now and I have never been this nervous. For a Bosconian, this is an ultimate opportunity,” he said. Priyam Marik, Class XII, St. Xavier’s Collegiate School, was adjudged the best speaker (against the motion).

Inter-School Debate Challenge 2015 

Is the country better in the hands of the youth or is it more secure with the elderly? That’s what was discussed and deliberated upon at the Inter-School Debate Challenge 2015, presented by Rotary Club of Greater Calcutta District 3291, at Rotary Sadan. The motion was: “In the opinion of the house, it is the student brigade that can provide a meaningful leadership in India today”. St. Xavier’s Collegiate School, La Martiniere for Boys, La Martiniere for Girls, Apeejay School Park Street, Apeejay School Salt Lake, Sushila Birla Girls’ High School, Birla High School, The Heritage School, DPS Ruby Park, St. James’ School and Don Bosco Park Circus took part in the debate. Those for the motion argued that the youth, armed with their new ideas and the zeal to change things for the better, are the rightful leaders of tomorrow. Speakers opposing the motion focused on the “inexperience” of the youth. The chairperson of the debate was Suman Mukherjee while the judges were Ashoke Vishwanathan, Joei Basu and Gopinath Ghosh. Muskaan Sofet from LMG bagged the best speaker award and Pulak Taneja, Class IX from LMB, bagged the second position. St. Xavier’s Collegiate School were crowned the best team (picture above), followed by LMG in second spot and Sushila Birla Girls’ High School in third. “This is the third time I have won the best team award for my school. The debate was fantastic. It was about students and everyone put up decent arguments. It is always a pleasure to debate with my partner, Aditya P Bhattacharya,” said Priyam Marik, Class XII, St. Xavier’s Collegiate School. For Mitushi Mukherjee, Class XI, Sushila Birla Girls’ High School, the debate was constructive “as the motion wasn’t just a random one”. “It was regarding students and it got us thinking,” she said.

Text by Samabrita Sen and Prashun Mazumdar. Pictures by Arnab Mondal and Ankit Datta