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Despite Xavier’s participation in Delhi’s St Stephen’s College and Shri Ram College of Commerce and Chennai’s Loyola this year, college authorities admit that the Xavierian Debating Society (XDS) had gone into a slumber.
Good old days: the legacy of XDS
The debating society dates back to the 50s. A vital part of the college, the society has always been instrumental in winning innumerable laurels. The society has been a great platform for budding debaters and has earned a reputation of churning out the state's greatest speakers.
Reviving the old passion
The present lot of debaters of St. Xavier's has taken up the challenge of reviving the passion towards debating. The deputy secretary of the Xaverian Debating Society, Sunny Lyngdoh, said, "We are coming up with various innovative forms of debating to encourage more students to take up debating. We have started a weekly debate programme called 'Supernova' which would enable potential debaters to sharpen their skills.
XDS is not only an inspirational force for its own college but also for the city's Presidency College and the Jadavpur University. Nilanjan, a regular debater of Presidency College, said, "XDS has raised the spirit of debating in Kolkata. It has taken a holistic approach towards the city's spirit of debating.
Where’s the charisma?
Prof. N Vishwanathan, who represented India in various debate competitions held at Oxford and Cambridge during the 50s, expressed dismay over the dying art.
He feels most of the colleges today do not encourage debating. Academics, he adds, has pushed debating to the back seat, which appears more like a declamation contest.
“It is sad that even a college like St. Xavier's, which has had a rich debating tradition, does not promote this art. They are more interested in tamashas.”
Suman Mukherjee, one of the most proactive presidents of the society, recalls the days when the college had won more than 42 debate competitions. The college had won more than 42 debate competitions when he was the secretary of the society.
Noted filmmaker Ashoke Vishwanathan, who has been the longest serving secretary, says along with his partner, Jacob Robins, he spoke in front of Prince Charles at Delhi IIT. He feels XDS has been extremely instrumental in shaping up his career.
He said: “The standard of debating has declined. Today, students have become extremely conscious and do not have time to learn about the world at large.”
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