[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
[PHOTO: The winner Megha (center) flanked by the two judges, Prof B K Kumar (left) and Mr. Abhishek Bajaj (right)]
