Sharma spoke of how the youth could constructively use and explore social media’s transformative power.He cited how the #MeToo movement showcased the potential of social media to fight social ills. He acknowledged setbacks like cyberbullying but noted social media contributed to increased employment and changed lives.
Rathi countered by listing the detrimental effects of social media addiction, with the focus on garnering likes and followers and how people’s self-worth was often tied to social media metrics. His quoting of Akbar Allahabadi’s shayari, “Kya kahe dosto kya karay nibha kar gaye. Subah WhatsApp khola, shaam ko Instagram dekha, raat ko Facebook dekha, aur phir mar gaye”, eliciting chuckles from the audience. He also talked of how hate was spread on social media platforms.
In a conversation with TOI, Rathi, winner of the first Speak for India competition in 2016, said, “Debating skills are crucial for navigating everyday life, whether in corporate culture or bureaucracy”. Reflecting on his journey as a debater, he said, “Articulation is of immense importance. As an MBA student from IIM Indore, I’ve come to understand that it’s not just what you say, but how you say it that is important. Through debating, we master the art of delivering firm rebuttals with finesse.”
Sharma told TOI, “The Speak for India platform gave me legitimacy as a speaker.” Recounting a memorable moment from the competition, Sharma shared, “In the final round last year, minister for external affairs Meenakshi Lekhi was present. When she inquired about the duration of my speech, I confidently responded it would be three minutes. Her decision to stay and listen until the end was a tremendous motivation.” And like a budding budding politician, Sharma expressed his aspirations in familiar words: “My ultimate goal is to serve my country as a bureaucrat.”
This new series of debates is slated to end in February, with a possible extension to March. The winner will get the coveted prize of Rs 2 lakh. Students can participate for the competition by registering online.
Sharing the “ABC” of success, former SRCC student, lieutenant general Sanjay Kulkarni (retd) spelt out ABC to mean “avoid bad company”. Make good friends along the way, he advised. Commenting on the debate between the former winners, Kulkarni said, “The small glance that we saw today of the debating standard was excellent. Ultimately, of course, nothing is good, nothing is bad. Everything is bad if done in excess. Social media too is bad that way. So use it to your advantage in this very competitive world.”
Further encouraging students, lieutenant Sanjiv Kaura (retd), CEO, Times Foundation, said, “The key to life is to find your passion, be good at it and to ensure that it makes some money along the way.”
Speaking about effective communication, Sasidharan CM, vice-president and zonal head, Delhi, Federal Bank, said, “Communication is not about how proficient you are in your language but how well you convey your message to others. You should keep the perception of the receivers or listeners in your mind, else the process of communication is a failure.”
Hardeep Kaur, principal of Ramjas College, a 107-year-old college steeped in the legacy of social activism and intellectual discourse, said, “Started by Federal Bank, TOI and NBT, Speak for India echoes the spirit of Ramjas College. Here, you hone your arguments not just to win but to become agents of change, dissect issues not for academic points but to illuminate solutions for a country striving for progress.”