The Annual Inter-School English Debate competition – The Ambassador’s Polemic Challenge- was organised this year by Indian School Al Ghubra on Tuesday, 30th August 2022. Thirty-two participants from sixteen Indian schools battled it out for the much coveted Rolling Trophy which was clinched by the team from Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir. The Chief Guest for the occasion was His Excellency Shri Amit Narang, the Ambassador of India to the Sultanate of Oman. Chairman Dr Sivakumar Manickam, Finance Director Mrs. Ashwini Sawrikar, Education Advisor Mr Vinoba M. P. and Mr Ahmed Rayees, the President of the School Management Committee, Indian School Al Ghubra, were among the dignitaries who graced the occasion.
During the debate, the participants put forth convincing arguments to support or oppose the motion ‘Social Media has brought people closer than ever before’. The competition was adjudged by Mr. Donald Pinto, Senior Manager, Corporate Services, Oman Data Park; Ms. Runita Marwa, Assistant Professor, CBFS, Muscat, and Ms. Tamanna Abdul Rahman Dalwai, Assistant Professor and Deputy Director of Quality Assurance, Muscat College.
The Best Team which won the Ambassador’s Rolling Trophy comprised Khushi Derai and Pavan Sundar of Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir.
The Best Speaker – First Position was awarded to Ruthik Maruti Kambali of Indian School Salalah.
Khushi Derai of Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir was declared the Best Speaker – Second Position.
Sweta Mishra of Indian School Muscat won the Consolation Prize.
The Prize for the Best Rebuttal was shared by Pavan Sundar of Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir and Kareena Karnani of Indian School Sur.
In his address, His Excellency Shri Amit Narang elaborated on the term ‘Polemic’ and added that the need of today’s world, a world that is defined by social media , is for our own public debate to be less underpinned by polemic attacks and more driven by the spirit of constructive dialogue. His Excellency also observed that though initially the topic appeared straightforward, yet the arguments of the debaters did indeed present two points of view.
The event was a tremendous learning experience for the young debaters as it gave them an ideal platform to express their views and enhance their public speaking skills.