The Indian School hosted the 24th edition of the Dr Amidas Goradia International Inter-School Debate in English on 8 and 9 August 2025, continuing a proud tradition of spirited dialogue, reasoned argument, and intellectual camaraderie. This annual flagship event of the School celebrated its unwavering commitment to democratic values, critical thought, and eloquent expression.
51 distinguished schools took part in the debate, including international teams from Nepal, Nigeria and Muscat, alongside 48 premier institutions across India representing the north, east, west, and south, with 18 esteemed schools from Delhi-NCR.
This year’s debate was dedicated to several landmark commemorations, each offering a vital lens on literature, civil rights, revolutionary struggles, and the arts. These included the 250th birth commemoration of Jane Austen, the birth centenary of Ritwik Ghatak, the centenaries of the Kakori train action and the Vaikom Satyagraha, the 145th birth commemoration of Helen Keller, the 125th birth commemoration of Margaret Mead, the centenary of photography maestro Art Kane, and the birth centenary of Prof. M. S. Swaminathan, father of the Green Revolution.
Principal Ms Tania Joshi opened the event with a resonant address, lauding the debate as a forum for examining uncomfortable truths and sharing diverse perspectives. She urged the young participants to harness the power of words with integrity and conviction.
The Chief Guest this year was Professor Somak Raychaudhury, Vice-Chancellor of Ashoka University, who shared a heartfelt and encouraging video message with the participants. As in previous years, the jury was helmed by Mr Pranab Mukherjee, independent pedagogue, knowledge curator, and a celebrated exponent of alternative learning and theatre. He was joined by Mr Devanshu Sengupta, independent scenario writer, lyricist, and performer, and Mr Priyanshu Gupta. Their wide-ranging expertise enriched the contest with academic rigour and intellectual depth.
The event was skilfully moderated by student compères, Ananya Chakraborty (XI), Manan Virmani (XI) and Vansh Sharma (XI) who ensured a seamless flow of proceedings and maintained the celebratory energy of the competition.
Preliminary Rounds
The preliminary rounds tested versatility and presence of mind through Extempore, Turncoat, and Bridge formats. In the extempore round, participants engaged with intriguing topics such as Trailblazers, Resuscitation, Unheard voices, unseen faces, Testimonies and reports, March of the Red Ants and Interface. The turncoat debates, which demanded that speakers shift persuasively between opposing sides within a span of ninety seconds, addressed a range of topical motions. Students examined issues such as the need to invest in more green energy, the proposal to lower the voting age to sixteen, the creation of additional national parks, whether social media comments should be protected under free speech, and the contention that zoos ought to be shut down. The format tested their agility of mind and rhetorical balance, as each speaker was required to argue with equal conviction both for and against the same motion. The bridge round called upon participants to compose reasoned affirmatives and negatives under time-bound conditions, sharpening their analytical and structural capabilities.
Semi-Finals and Final
12 teams advanced to the semi-finals, namely Sanskriti School, The Mother’s International School, Mayo College Girls’ School, Ajmer, The Future Foundation School, Kolkata, Springdales School (Pusa Road), Sunbeam English School, Bhagwanpur, Mayo College, Ajmer, Sunbeam School, Lahartara, Strawberry Fields High School, Chandigarh, The Indian School, The Indian School-Second Shift, and The Lawrence School, Sanawar.
The semi-final rounds were conducted on two weighty motions: the first, “This House believes that dialogue-based diplomacy in the geo-political scenario is dead vis-à-vis Gaza, Teheran, Crimea, Tripoli, Beirut and Kiev,” and the second, “This House believes that as a society, we are in a transition phase between the truth and post-truth.”
The finalists were Sanskriti School, The Future Foundation School, Kolkata, Sunbeam English School, Bhagwanpur, Strawberry Fields High School, Chandigarh, Sunbeam School, Lahartara, and The Indian School. They contested the demanding final motion, “This House believes that a neutral media house is an example of a 21st century paradox, conundrum, and oxymoron.” The concluding round was marked by spirited exchanges and incisive rebuttals, with the block-and-tackle segments highlighting the debaters’ quick wit, presence of mind, and capacity for nuanced argumentation.
The 24th edition of the Dr Amidas Goradia International Inter-School Debate proved once again that platforms such as this are more than contests of rhetoric, they are crucibles of intellectual growth, moral courage, and democratic expression. With electrifying performances, incisive analyses, and poised rebuttals, the young debaters from India and abroad left an indelible mark. The event closed with a gracious vote of thanks and a reaffirmation of The Indian School’s tradition of hosting debates that inspire critical thought and international camaraderie.
Result
Overall Best Delegation
First Runners-Up
Joint Third Position
Joint Best Research Delegations
Best Delegation Synergy
Category Awards
Best Speakers – Turncoat (Preliminary Round):
Most Promising Speakers – Turncoat:
Best Speakers – Extempore (Preliminary Round):
Most Promising Speakers – Extempore:
Best Analysts – Bridge Round:
Most Promising Analysts – Bridge Round:
Best Speakers – Semi-Finals:
Best Speakers – Finals:
Best Interjector:
In the Press
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