Order in the house

The Indian Debating Union does it all: disagrees, doubts and debates, but always with decorum.

I t’s not often you get to see people disagree respectfully in public. Uproar in Parliament, he-said-she-said press conferences, name-calling and mud-slinging on air are part of our everyday reality. So when everyone talked about the Indian Debating Union (IDU), I waited eagerly for July 30, for their second debate.

The advertisements declared loudly, “Want a fight?” Don’t we all? So soon after the July 5 Bharat Bandh, everyone had an opinion on the topic of debate: “This house would ban hartals and bandhs [industrial and political strikes].”

 

The IDU positions itself as a platform for free speech, informed opinion and convincing arguments supported by facts. Its members are carefully selected via rounds of screening on college campuses. Founded by Abhaey Singh, 31, IDU aims to be “India’s inspirational new platform for public debate”. Apolitical, sophisticated debate, cool argument, meticulous research and a sense of discipline maintain the focus on the debate, not on who shouts louder. What a refreshing change.

The audience proved fantastic as well. Friday evenings in Bandra, Mumbai, are chaos — with everyone in a hurry to get home or to some party or bar. But here were 200 people standing for the national anthem, sitting silently, listening intently, clapping appreciatively and arguing thoughtfully. Past 9.30 pm, as the Q&A continued, no one was in a hurry to leave. At the outset the audience were requested to register our opinions on the motion at hand — no “SMS A for yes” and “B for no”, just a missed call to a certain number depending on which side you chose. At the end, they took votes a second time. I’m not going to say which side had more takers, who ‘won’.

Every IDU member is a passionate debater, and also feels strongly about India. The mandate is to choose topics relevant to everyday concerns. The topic for the first debate, held in May at Mumbai’s Nehru Centre, was: “This house would repeal all constitutional amendments in favour of minority reservations.” Two speakers represent the Government and two represent the Opposition. No one represents any political party, so it’s easier to trust what each side is saying.

The IDU offers ideas, information, perspective and democratic participation, all in one evening, and all for, as their publicity says, “less than the cost of a soft drink at a posh bar”.
 

National debates

National Law School Debate
An annual event, started in 2002 by the Literary and Debating Society of the Student Bar Association of National Law School of India University. Some 30-40 Indian and 10 foreign colleges take part, a total of about 500 students. The format is 3-on-3, or three per team.
Where: National Law School of India University, Bangalore
When: November 5-9
Contact: debate@nls.ac.in 

Debating Matters India
This British Council-run debate is for high school students of the 11th and 12th standard. There are three stages: online elimination test, and regional and national finals. The winner goes to the UK for the Battle of Ideas festival on October 30-31. About 3,000 students from 650 schools participate.
Where: National finals in Chennai
When: Online, July 20-August 25; regionals, September 27 and 29; final, November 18-20
Info: www.britishcouncil.org/
india-projects-debatingmatters-home

The L N Birla Memorial Debate
Until last year’s swine flu, the Inter-Institutional L N Birla National Debate was a national event. There are two categories: school and college, both in Kolkata.
Where: Birla High School and J D Birla Institute of Management
b Every year in June
Info: www.birlahighschool.com/
lnbirladebate, www.jdbimana-gement.org.in/site

 

State-level debates

UNHCR, WEBFUNA and Statesman “Voices” Debate 
This inter-school debate was started in 2000 by the UN’s refugee agency, the West Bengal Federation of United Nations Associations and the Statesman’s student supplement, “Voices”. The theme always involves refugees. This year’s topic is “Refugees are an asset to the country they live in”, and 12 students of the 11th and 12th standards from 12 high schools in the state took part.
Where: Kolkata
When: Prelims in August, final in September, annually
Contact: Sitaram Sharma, Chairman WEBFUNA, S B Towers, 3rd floor, 37 Shakespeare Sarani, Kolkata 700 017. Call (033) 2289 5400, or email srs@mirondagroup.com 

Verbattle
This major state-level debate competition was started in 2004 by Deepak Thimaya, a television personality and founder of T V House Network Pvt Ltd. Around 5,000 Karnataka schools apply, and 500 are shortlisted for participation. There are three levels: Beginner, for primary school students; Junior, for 12-15-year-olds; and Senior, for 16-24-year-olds. Prize money ranges from Rs 5,000 for the young runners-up to Rs 100,000 for the senior winners. From 2011, the organisers plan to go national.
Where: Bangalore
When: August 8-27
Info: www.verbattle.com

The next debate will be in New Delhi in January 2011. For details, visit www.indiadebating.in