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The 13th Vasant Valley School Debate for the India Today Cup
28th - 29th October, 2010
Highest ranked team in the final round - Vasant Valley School
Best Speaker - Mallika Sobti (Vasant Valley School)
2nd Best Speaker - Ragini Jha (Sardar Patel Vidyalaya)
3d Best Speaker - Ishan Sardesai (Vasant Valley School)
Semi-Final Rounds
I - The Doon School vs Vasant Valley School (WON - Finalist)
II - Dubai Modern High School vs Sardar Patel Vidalaya (WON - Finalist)
Participants included students from Modern High School Dubai, and from across the country - The Doon School Dehradun, Scindia School Gwalior, Mayo School for Boys and Girls Ajmer, Bishop Cotton School Shimla, The Sri Ram School, Mothers International School, D.P.S. R.K. Puram, Springdales School Pusa Road and Sardar Patel Vidyalaya from Delhi. The adjudicators were debaters from Delhi University.
The unique feature of the debate is the debating camp held after the debate, in which each participant is given constructive feedback, and an exhibition debate by the adjudicators. The debate follows the Conventional Style for the Preliminary round on the 28th of October and the Cambridge format for the semi-final and final round.
The 13th India Today Debate was held on the 28th and 29th of October in Vasant Valley School. 21 Schools from across the country and Dubai Modern High School participated in the two day debating tournament. Teams from residential schools included The Doon School- Dehradun, Bishop Cotton School- Shimla, Welham Boys School- Dehradun, Mayo college-Ajmer and Mayo Girls School- Ajmer and The Scindia School-Gwalior. The schools from Delhi contending for the coveted and prestigious trophy included Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, Mother's International School, St. Columba's, New Era Public School, Bloom Public School, DPS R.K.Puram, DPS Vasant Kunj, Sanskriti School, The Sri Ram School, Modern School Barakhamba Road and Springdales School Pusa Road.
Over the years the India Today Cup Debate has become a highly anticipated event in the national debating circuit. Perhaps the highlight of the debate, the unique characteristic specific to the India Today Cup, is the nature of the judging. Adjudicators, who are prominent debaters from Delhi University Colleges understand the nuances of debating throughly. After each round they give specific and highly valuable feedback to all the participating teams. Speakers are judged on manner, matter and method, with most emphasis on matter. This transparency was appreciated across the spectrum of schools, as it not only acts as an obstacle towards any biases but also allows the teams to see exactly where they need to improve.
The Preliminary Round was held in the conventional style of debating, with one speaker from a team going for the motion and one against. The motions for this round were chosen on the basis of vetoes awarded to the teams in each pool. The winners of the four pools were Vasant Valley School, Sardar Patel Vidyalay, Dubai Modern High School, and the Doon School.
The Semi Final rounds were between Sardar Patel Vidyalaya and Dubai Modern High School (This house believes that India should be only content with a permanent seat in the Security Council), and Vasant Valley School and the Doon School (This house believes that it is time for India to ban Godmen). The winners of each Semi Final (Sardar Patel Vidyalay and Vasant Valley School) faced each other in the final, with the motion: This house will grant legal redressal to female victims of failed live in relationships.
After a grueling round and a close judgement call according to the judges, Vasant Valley School took the cup home after 8 years.
