THE PURPOSE OF A DEBATE

- A. P. Venkateswaran - Former Foreign Secretary

The purpose of a debate is to find out the truth about the chosen topic, which is being debated. It is certainly not intended merely for amusement of the audience, although it may add to the interest of the listeners to enliven the proceedings and sustain their interest in an otherwise serious subject.

The art of debate is closely linked with oratory and during Roman times, two thousand years ago, the debates in the Senate were crucial in reaching critical decisions. The marriage of truth to oratory is seldom the case but when that occurs it is irresistible in swaying the listener in taking the right decision.

There is an interesting story of Cicero and Cato, who both lived a century before the Christian Era and were both famous in Rome for their debating skills. Cato was fiercely wedded to the Truth and had few friends, although much admired for his advocacy of the people’s will. For example, he had become an implacable opponent of Creaser, who was popular with the masses, because he suspected him of fierce personal ambition and wanting to rule over Rome, no matter what the cost.

The only person who could match Cato in debating skills in the Senate, at that time, was Cicero. Some of the people who were envious of Cato, sought to provoke him by pointing out to him that Cicero had a statue erected for him in the Roman Senate, whereas Cato had not been accorded a similar honour. The reply Cato gave them was classic and firmly established his reputation. He addressed the persons who sought to demean him and answered:
“Is it not better by far that in the years to come people should wonder ‘Why is there no statue to commemorate Cato’, than to ask ‘Why is there a statue for Cato’!

In today’s debates in our Parliament and even in International Organizations like the United Nations, there is no fire or wit in any of the debates. Most statements made by national delegations are boring and liberally sprinkled with misinformation, even disinformation, so as to deliberately lead listeners astray and to score unfair points.

As young students on the threshold of life, I would urge all of you who like to take part in debates, to stick to the facts and present them to the audiences that you address, as fairly and interestingly as you can, without twisting the truth in any way. Only in that manner can you truly serve.

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A DEBATE KEEPS YOUR MIND TICKING

-Rajan Bala

One of the India's finest debaters in English was the great Utpal da's, the actor leftist. I remember debating with him when I was just out of school. The proposition was - life begins after 40. I think Utpal dutt was over 40 then, just about. I was allowed on to the podium and permitted to speak my bit. And in the few minutes I was allowed to hold forth, I saw a smile on his face. When it was all over he remarked to me, " You think well and speak clearly. Very good. I hope you read a lot."

Utpal da's deep voice remained with me for many years, till our next meeting. I was then his fan and in some ways a bhakta. I reminded him of my pretentious attempt to debate with him al those long years ago. He smiled, the same smile, and said, "I read you and I know that you read a lot."

It was during this meeting that I asked him about the qualities of a quality debator. And Utpal da replied in just one sentence, "Anyone who thinks clearly on a subject, is able to see both sides of the argument and knows what is right and how to establish it."

It is not that all subjects that are debated have to be serious and earth - shaking. There can be humorous subjects. Or, for that matter a subject like-are clowns the most serious people in society? That is worth a debate all right. Now, is this a serious subject?

After a healthy and energetic debate, one should emerge a better and more objective individual. Better because if one has lostor won, has learned something new-that one cannot always be right. And objective as your opponent has outwitted you and has another point of view on the same issue which he has substantiated as right.

Well kids, I hope I have generated in your little and wonderful minds an interest in debating on some of the subjects that I have written about. Good luck and God bless. (Rajan Bala)

Rajan Bala is a journalist of nearly 40 years standing and is the Consultant Editor of The Asian Age in Bangalore. as he has coached schoolboys at cricket he knows how children think.

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WHY DEBATE ?

- Justice M. F. Saldanha

Since Ancient Greece debating has been raised to the level of a fine art and in today’s world it is crucial whether at a meeting, in business, in Parliament or in Diplomatic relations. It makes you think, express yourself effectively and convincingly, drive home points and at the same time accept and consider other shades of opinion. Apart from its being a well-defined mental exercise what is more important is to realize that every honest and right-thinking citizen is duty-bound to speak out and oppose if necessary all that is not in conformity with the public good. The tragedy of our times is that we prefer to be silent and allow wrong things to happen, we do not oppose what is bad and later on regret the mess that results. It is therefore absolutely essential that we are more alive, that we keep our eyes and ears open and that we take anticipatory action to PREVENT the wrongs from happening. At the same time we must be ready with the better alternatives. Debating requires moral courage and commitment of the right order and the skills to sustain the rightful course of action. If Democracy is to be meaningful and effective every citizen needs to participate in what is happening through vibrant expression. For a student therefore the art of debating is a vital skill.

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WHAT DO I SEE IN A DEBATE ?

- Harish Bijoor

A good to great debate is one where all facets of what’s being discussed are put forth. The points of view need to be balanced and zero-agenda oriented. If you are in a debate, and if you are defending a proposition, you need to be passionately convinced about the point of view first. Your personal passion makes for a passionate debate.

Never represent a point of view you are forced to represent. If you do not believe with conviction in the point of view on defense, do not participate in the debate. It is not worth the effort to represent a cause you do not personally believe in.

A great debate is one in which all points of view are discovered and debated. A 360 degree view of the issue is important. A debate done with stained glass attitudes will never be a true-blue debate. A debate needs to be transparent, and must cover every facet of the issue at hand, whether convenient to the discussion point or not.

Remember, the point of a debate is not to win and score a point. The point of a good debate is to be able to discover new facets, explore, and present the case with passion. No point of view in life is actually 100 per cent right or wrong. Therefore, feel passionately for a point of view, discover, cover the point elaborately from every view there is, and rest your case.

Presentation ability is reasonably important in a good debate. A good presenter however will not necessarily win as a hollow set of thoughts can never ever be couched in the comfort of good diction and presentation ability.

Do not be a demagogue as well. A good debate is about conveying passion. Passion can be communicated without a loud voice. Without anger. Without a shout even! Some of the most powerfully words are spoken softly.

Be passionate. Be real. Never compromise values that you represent. Don’t make a point for the sake of making a point. The integrity packed debate is the best debate.

If you are a chicken and you have laid an egg, tell the whole world that you are a chicken and you have laid an egg. Don’t shout from the rooftop that you are a Pea-hen and that you have laid an asteroid. Be real. Be truthful to the point.

Harish Bijoor is a brand-domain specialist and CEO, Harish Bijoor Consults Inc. He can be mailed at: harishbijoor@hotmail.com

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A GOOD DEBATER

- K. Jairaj - an aspiring speaker

To be a good debator is both an art and a science. " Art" because there are innate qualities, which spring from the inner self and which, in the ordinary course, cannot be cultivated. These are, for example, the speed of repartee, the quick thinking on one's feet while replying to a debate, the sense of humor and the magical elegance of language. In terms of repartee, there can be no better example than the memorable riposte of Benjamin Disraeli to Gladstone. Both were bitter political rivals in 19th century Britain and headed the Lab our and Conservative parties. Disraeli was once asked the difference between misfortune and calamity. He replied: “if Mr. Gladstone fell into the River Thames, it would be a misfortune. But if some one pulled him out of it that would be a calamity". The elegance of language and the powerful appeal it commanded are evident in the "Blood, sweat and tears" speech of Winston Churchill when he assumed the Prime Minister ship of Great Britain at a time when it seemed that the island would be overrun by the might of Nazi military supremacy. Or, his memorable defiance in the ringing address to the people: " we will fight in the beaches, we will fight in the hills... we will never surrender". At home, the 'tryst with destiny' address of Jawaharlal Nehru on the eve of India's independence is awe inspiring" tonight, at the mid night hour, when the world sleeps, India awakes to freedom. A moment comes but rarely in history when the soul of a nation long oppressed finds delivery in freedom"

Through constant practice and focusing on self improvement, a conscientious speaker can improve his speaking abilities. Churchill was wont to practice his important speeches before the mirror and many times over. Another practice recommended is to read aloud from the daily newspapers for at least half an hour daily. This improves intonation, brings about voice modulation and provides cues to a speaker on where to emphasize his words and where not to. The 'science' part also comes in by utilizing as many opportunities to speak as are possible and in different formats: impromptu, prepared speeches of various time durations and so on. From experience, it can safely be said that the more speaking opportunities one utilizes, the better one becomes as a speaker with reference to the context and content. Reading from classical texts, including the speeches of Particles, Edmund Burke, Nehru and the works of Shakespeare are ways of fortifying the use of language and getting that special phrase which will light up your speech. Practice makes perfect.

While in College I was both an active and avid debator. My mentor,
T.G. Vaidyanathan always an unsparing critic, would emphasize that a speaker must accomplish four tasks: (a) never speak more than the allotted time (b) refrain from hand and facial gestures and (c) have a structure which ensures logical flow of ideas including an introduction and conclusion (d) speak to the occasion and avoid bombastic delivery, rhetorical flourishes and histrionics. The late TGV (as he was affectionately known by generation of students) was also a teacher in the classical sense, wedded to the idea of improvement in his wards and protégés. He would be present at important inter collegiate debates and frown if any mistake was made in terms of usage of words, or in speech. A huge smile would light up immediately after the judges announced their results and if I was awarded the first prize. Looking back now after all these decades, I realize that the incentive for me to do well in debates was not the first prize but the glow of satisfaction in TVG’s face.

Here are some tips for an aspiring debator:

From my own experience as a Debator, I can testify that there can be no greater joy than a speech well prepared and delivered and which receives audience approval. Good luck.

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SCHOOL DEBATES

- DeepakThimaya

Remembering with trepidation my attempts to participate in debate competitions while in school I can’t forget how much admiration I had for those veteran debaters among my classmates who could scream their arguments into any listening ears and get appreciative nods from compassionate judges and win prizes.

It is only after many years I found out, that those debates did not, even by a faintest measure, match my idea of a good debate which evolved out of my conviction to stand in favor of or against any subject or issue that I strongly felt about. In fact, I believe that at a macro level, democracy itself is a debate – a debate with opinions and emotions expressed by way of votes, where political parties and candidates represent or replace issues. I think no healthy democratic society can survive without debating. For that matter, I strongly believe that nothing should be accepted unless it is debated thoroughly.

School debates that I have noticed are shouting contests of speeches learnt by-heart, and in most cases one cannot make out the difference between a debate and an elocution contest. At least elocution sometimes can be more somber. Coming to the point, what would I like to see in a good school debate and a good student debater? I would like, first of all, a debater to be a quick thinker and have a thorough understanding of the topic. If a debater thinks that his points can be heard, only by way of putting it forth with the loudest of voice, and wild gestures, he could never be more wrong. I would most prefer a person who can kill with a smile on his face.

All said and done, give whatever weight to the argument, still, the personality of the debater, the attitude and demeanor, will earn considerable points at the judges’ end. Speak whatever you may, however convincingly, but if there is no logic, the points won’t be remembered. So, in the end, the judges may only well remember a lot of noise and nothing else. A good debate garnished with enough examples, anecdotes, statistics and facts from personal experience, if any, would certainly be an entertainer too.

It may be easy for me to expect all this and a lot more, while it is actually an achievement for a lot of children to even just stand on a stage, in front of an audience and rattle a few words. But anyway, who said that a good effort doesn't’t pay off. So, all young debaters – try very hard and win. Good luck!.

Stupid people use knives and guns. Wise people use tongues - Deepak Thimaya

Deepak Thimaya is a well-known communicator, consultant and television personality. He may be contacted at :mail@deepakthimaya.com

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