[PHOTO: The winner Megha (center) flanked by the two judges, Prof B K Kumar (left) and Mr. Abhishek Bajaj (right)]
“It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle a question without debating it.” Said the French essayist, Joseph Joubert. These words are the essence of the Global Youth Debate Conclave initiative from IIPM, Bangalore stands for. After hosting two successful editions in 2007 and 2008, the GYDC was back in 2010 with the theme ‘Shifting Sands – The Times they are A changin’. And with participants from southern India as well as a participant from Tanzania, there was a lot of variety and enthusiasm on offer.
From the initial 18, 12 speakers advanced to the team face off which was spread over three topics (1. ‘Clean Energy: A myth or reality, 2. Liberal societies can never be terror free and 3. Urbanization is the key to development). They were drawn into teams and it was the team of Megha (from Rajagiri Institute of Mgmt Studies, Kerala) and Shreesho (from Jain University) who outshone the others to win the team face off. While Megha presented a balanced and powerful assessment of why developing clean energy would be a challenge, Shreesho presented an earnest appeal of trying to better utilize the resources we have. They tackled the cross examination well to end up winners while the team of Bina and Archana were the runners up (topic: Liberal societies can never be terror free – Affirmative) and Awadesh and Kahela (our international participant from Tanzania) were the second runners up.
In the individual showdown on the final day (topic: As a society, we should be sending an unambiguous sign that no individual or family should be allowed to accumulate unlimited wealth), it was Megha who performed superbly again blending in facts and anecdotes like a seasoned debater and walking away with the honours as the winner of Global Youth Debate Conclave 2010. She impressed the judges, Prof. B K Kumar (Sr. faculty, IIPM) and Mr. Abhishek Bajaj (Sr. PR Consulatant, Brand Comm) with her deft handling of questions. Exchange of ideas, new friendships, networking among the youth are all things that the GYDC aims for and it was present in huge measure this year. Team GYDC would like to thank everyone associated with the event and till we meet again next year, keep the debating spark alive! After all like Margaret Thatcher had said – “I love argument, I love debate. I don't expect anyone just to sit there and agree with me, that's not their job.” That’s precisely what we stand for.
Warm Regards Prof. Tareque Laskar Tournament Director GYDC Sr. Program Manager IIPM, Bangalore
THE IIPM GLOBAL YOUTH DEBATE CONCLAVE 2010 EDITION
SHIFTING SANDS - “The Times they are a-changin'"
THE YEARS GONE BY:
GYDC 2007 Edition
Millennium Development Goals: Why it’s everyone’s business
As a B-School, The Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM) is unique. IIPM wants to contribute to the creation of a movement, backed by proper education and research which will create a society where exploitation of man by man does not exist, where each individual has the scope to achieve his / her potential to the fullest extent. In other words, universal humanism is the social vision of IIPM.
Keeping in line with this vision, we at The IIPM, Bangalore presented The Global Youth Debate Conclave that brought forth forceful and wide ranging discussion and debate on issues that concerned the world today in March of 2007. This 2007 Edition addressed the Millennium Development Goals.
The Global Youth Debate Conclave brought together the finest debating talent from Bangalore and across India as well as abroad. There were three rounds of fierce Individual and team face off debating judged by the best in the business—Mr. Rishikesh Chhabra (Communications Director, WUDI) and Mr. Francis from Toast Masters International. The Conclave also had participants from the East Asian countries of Sri Lanka and Mauritius. The best debater was Abhinav from the Mahaveer Jain college who walked away with prizes worth Rs.20, 000 and a magnificent shield.
GYDC 2008 Edition
Climate change and its worldwide impact
The 2008 Edition Global Youth Debate Conclave focused on opening up an interactive and international platform for discussions to stimulate awareness and action towards `Climate Change and its Worldwide Impact'. The debate was across three rounds (One preliminary and two final rounds), and the topics were all related to Global Warming and climate change.
The Debate Conclave attracted 50 participants from 15 countries including USA, UK, CzechRepublic, Nepal, Tanzania, Ivory Coast, Afghanistan and Kenya. The finals of the competition, which had topics themed around ‘Climate Change and its Worldwide Impact’, were judged by Chippy Gangjee, renowned theater personality and trainer in Bangalore and he was joined at the judges panel by Mr. Prahlad Rao, Managing Director, Thomas Assessments and Prof. V Krishnan, a veteran corporate trainer.
After intense team face off on issues like ‘E-Waste is a global challenge’ and ‘Tax incentives should be given for green living’ the team comprising of Abhinav Sarna and Yash Marda from SBM Jain College walked away the winners while Lucas Caress, from the University of Vermont, USA was selected the best debater of the competition who won prizes worth Rs. 50, 000!
GYDC 2010 Edition: SHIFTING SANDS - The Times they are a-changin’
‘Only the wisest and the stupidest of men never change’ – Confucius
The 2010 Edition Global Youth Debate Conclave focuses on opening up an interactive and international platform for discussions on the radical changes – political, economic and cultural that we are seeing today. In the new millennium all our realms of understanding are seeing constant upheaval and the impact on our lives and our future generations is going to be significant.
GYDC 2010 will try to make sense of it all and discuss issues of immediate concern. The debate will happen across three rounds (One preliminary and two final rounds), and the topics will all relate to various social, economic and cultural changes that have been taking place as well as the key issues being debated in these spheres today and how they’ll impact our world.
This debate conclave would be on the 28th, 29th and 30th January 2010 and is open to participation from undergraduate and Post Graduate Students of both International and NationalUniversities. The first round would be a preliminary round where the participants would be tested on their oratory skills and eliminated accordingly. The second round would be on a two team debating format and topics would be given in advance. The final round would be a decider of individual best debaters.
There would be special prizes that would be given out to the best orator on day one, best team in round two and the best debater in the final round overall.
LIST OF TOPICS
PRELIMNARY ROUND: PIC-TO-REALLY SPEAKING
The preliminary round would be an on the spot extempore on the various issues around the globe, where participants will be shown pictures/videos of live situations (e.g.: a pothole on the road, devastation from an earthquake etc) and asked to opinionate on what the picture/video speaks about. It will be totally extempore and no prior preparation time will be provided to the participants. However participants will get some time (about 15 minutes) for basic preparation after they see the picture.
SECOND ROUND: TEAM FACE OFF
All the participants will be paired into groups of two [via a draw of lots] and they are to participate in a face off against the other teams (two teams will be pitted against each other). The teams will have one topic (with one team for and the other against) and speakers will alternate from
each team. The best 12 individual scorers will move to the final showdown. Each speaker will have 3 minutes (+1 minute grace) to make his points. A minute rebuttal with one question each allowed from the opposition team will be after all 4 speakers have made finished
their debates. No cross questions will be entertained. Each team face off will have a winner who will receive separate recognition and accolades. However, only the best individual scorers will make it to the next round.
TOPIC ONE: The End of Poverty is just a utopian dream
TOPIC TWO: Financial Globalization only promotes speculation and ruin
TOPIC THREE: Urbanization is the key to development
TOPIC FOUR: World Peace is history
TOPIC FIVE: Liberal societies can never be terror free
TOPIC SIX: Clean Energy: A Myth or Reality
FINAL ROUND: BEST DEBATER
The selected finalists will debate individually on a given topic that will again be handed in advance to all participants. The topic will be handed after the results of the team face off are in. Only the stands will be allotted by a draw an hour before the round. The speakers again will have 3 minutes (+1 minute grace) to make his points. There would be no rebuttal. The best scorer will be the winner of the 'IIPM Global Youth Debate Conclave 2010'!
CONTACT INFORMATION
All interested in participating can request for registration forms and further details
Name: Prof. Tareque Laskar
Designation: Tournament Director
Address: #419, IIPMTOWER, 100 Feet Road Koramangala, Bangalore 560034, INDIA Hand Phone: +919845616250
Lots of people have been asking for clarifications on the rules of the debate competition. So here is a listing of the rules governing The Global Youth Debate Conclave: 2008 Edition [Climate Change and its Worldwide Impact] for the reference of participants:
A. Eligibility: Indian Universities: Undergraduates and Post Graduates students across any stream. The applicant must be above the age of 18 years currently pursuing a full time course at the Universities. International Universities/ Associations: Undergraduate, Post Graduate students or members of eminent debating associations. The applicant must be above the age of 18 years. [International Participants need to take care of their VISA and Travel would be arranged by us] B. Judges: The Tournament directors will empanel a set of judges for the debates selected from an invited group of eminent experts and delegates. The names shall be disclosed upon the commencement of the event. C. Seating: Contestants must seat themselves such that, from the audience's point of view, the Affirmative (For) is on the left and the Negative (Against) on the right. The arrangements at the venue will be made accordingly. D. Topic Areas & Resolutions: Please refer to the topics given on the home page. Topics for the first round will be disclosed only on the spot. The Tournament Directors reserve the right to alter the topics which will be communicated in advance, in case any such instance arises.
E. Topic Draw: In the first round contestants will meet for an extemporaneous topic draw before the scheduled start of the debate. Contestants must complete the topic selection process independently and without outside assistance. The second round onwards, the topics would be pre allotted and the contestants would be separated into teams. The final round would consist of individual speakers presenting their view point. F. Preparation: Debaters are permitted to use reference materials during their preparation time before debating. They may utilize extemporaneous speaking type files, dictionaries, reference books, libraries, or anything else for that matter. They may also consult with teammates and/or coaches for ideas and advice. However, no reference (other than flow sheets that the debater carries) is allowed once the debating begins. Debaters are encouraged to do their research on all topics well in advance to be better equipped to speak after selecting topics via the draw. G. Format: The team elimination second round will have the following format: 3 Minutes Affirmative Constructive 3 minutes Negative Constructive 3 minutes 2nd Affirmative Constructive 3 minutes 2nd Negative Constructive 1 minute Cross Examination question from Affirmative* 1 minute Cross Examination question from Negative --------- 14 minutes Total (approximate)
The Final Showdown round will have the format as follows (Individual Debaters) 3 minutes Affirmative / Negative Constructive
Cross Examination for the purpose of the GYDC would be defined as: One question each allowed from the opposition team (or debaters). No cross questions will be entertained H. Use of Evidence during the Debates: Contestants may not bring written reference materials into the round with them. No 'reading' of evidence will be permitted. Contestants may not even copy evidence verbatim onto their flow sheets to be read during a speech. They may only bring and reference case outlines and limited notes which they may have worked up during the preparation period before their round. Evidence must be memorized or paraphrased for use during debates. Serious violations of this rule would cause the judge to automatically award the decision to the opponent. I. Nomenclature & Procedure: The two sides in the GYDC will be known as the Affirmative and Negative. If debaters have questions or problems they should ask about them during cross-examination and/or raise them as points during their next speech. The decision of the judge(s) is final.
J. Etiquette: Debaters are expected to maintain a highly polite, civil, and professional demeanor during rounds. Judges will be instructed to reward appropriate ethos and count off for abusiveness.
The Global Youth Debate Conclave: 2008 Edition registration final date is 31st January 2008. We already have confirmed participation from the following countries:
The Global Youth Debate Conclave 2008 is gathering momentum as the day approaches. 6th and 7th March 2008 is the appointed hour when the finest debaters from around the world will square off to discuss the issues of global climate change. We already have registered teams from Egypt, the United States, Singapore and Pakistan. Join in the revolution and the experience at the Global Youth Debate Conclave. Last date for registration is 31st January 2008.
Looking forward to hosting more global citizens for the conclave.
Cheers!
Tareque Laskar / Ninfa Chacko
Tournament Directors
The Global Youth Debate Conclave
2008 Edition: Climate Change and its Worldwide Impact
The Indian Institute of Planning and Management, Bangalore
As a B-School, The Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM) [www.iipm.edu] is unique. IIPM wants to contribute to the creation of a movement, backed by proper education and research which will create a society where exploitation of man by man does not exist, where each individual has the scope to achieve his / her potential to the fullest extent. In other words, universal humanism is the social vision of IIPM.
Keeping in line with this vision, we at The IIPM, Bangalore presented The Global Youth Debate Conclave that brought forth forceful and wide ranging discussion and debate on issues that concerned the world today in March of 2007. This 2007 Edition addressed the Millennium Development Goals.
The Global Youth Debate Conclave brought together the finest debating talent from Bangalore and across India as well as abroad. There were three rounds of fierce Individual and team face off debating judged by the best in the business—Mr. Rishikesh Chhabra (Communications Director, WUDI) and Mr. Francis from Toast Masters International. The Conclave also had participants from the East Asian countries of Sri Lanka and Mauritius. The best debater was Abhinav from the Mahaveer Jain college who walked away with prizes worth Rs.20,000 and a magnificent shield.
The 2008 Edition Global Youth Debate Conclave focuses on opening up an interactive and international platform for discussions to stimulate awareness and action towards ‘Climate Change and its Worldwide Impact’. The debate will happen across three rounds (One preliminary and two final rounds), and the topics will all relate to Global Warming and climate change.
This debate conclave would be on the 5th and 6th of March 2008 and is open to participation from undergraduate and Post Graduate Students of both International and National Universities. The first round would be a preliminary round where in participants would be shown live examples related to climate change. The participants would be tested on their oratory skills and eliminated accordingly. The second round would be on a two team debating format and topics would be given in advance. The final round would be a decider of individual best debaters.
There would be special prizes that would be given out to the best orator on day one, best team in round two and the best debater in the final round overall.
More details relating to topics, schedule and prizes will be put up 10th January 2008. Do post your comments or mail us if you need any clarifications or have quuestions. We look forward to your involvement in this effort.
[PHOTO: The winner Megha (center) flanked by the two judges, Prof B K Kumar (left) and Mr. Abhishek Bajaj (right)]
