IIM Calcutta hosts the first Vidyasagar Memorial Debate

Kolkata: The Debating Society of IIM Calcutta hosted the inaugural Vidyasagar Memorial Debate at the institute premises on December 13. The inter-college debate was supported by the Calcutta Debating Circle and is a landmark event since it was a curtain raiser for the newly formed Debating Society . Apart from the host institute, the list of participating colleges which showcased their exemplary oratory skills and knowledge were IIT Kharagpur, St. Xavier’s College Kolkata, Jadavpur University.

The debate was moderated by renowned neurosurgeon and founder of CDC, Dr. Sandip Chatterjee.The esteemed judges for the event were Mr. Pradeep Gooptu, veteran journalist and founding member of Calcutta Debating Circle(CDC) along with Mr. Shankar Ramalingam, entrepreneur and member of CDC and Mr Yashoroop Dey.

The motion for the debate was “This House believes that the individual does not bear the moral burden of environmental sustainability”. The teams from each institute consisted of two members who shared their opinions for and against the topic and garnered much appreciation from the judges and the audience. The team of IIM Calcutta were declared winners and received a cash prize of Rs 10,000/-. The runners up team were St Xaviers College and received a prize of Rs 5,000/-. Paras Gala of IIM Calcutta was adjudicated as the ‘Best Speaker’.

According to the Core Team of the Debating Society, the Vidyasagar Memorial Debate was organized with a purpose to create a platform in East India for young minds to discuss relevant social, political and economic dilemmas. “It is a medium for students of various academic backgrounds to share diverse perspectives. The success of the event in the first year itself motivates us to further the initiative for years to come.” they said.