Udaipur : The MMPS Golden Jubilee Debates and Critical Thinking Conclave held at Maharana Mewar Public School, Udaipur on 4th and 5th October 2024 emerged as a symbol of wisdom, eloquence, and the art of discourse. The prestigious event saw participation from 16 teams representing 10 prominent schools from seven states across India, featuring participants from various educational boards such as CBSE, IB, IG, and ICSE-ISC.
The intellectual journey began with the lighting of the lamp, led by Mr. Sanjay Dutta, CEO of MMPS and MMVM, Mr. Mayank Trivedi, Principal of MMPS, and the event curator, academician, and playwright Mr. Parnab Mukherjee. Judges Mr. Sahaj Bhatia and Mr. Devanshu Sengupta were also present, offering their insightful judgment throughout the event.
Competitions on Day One
The first day witnessed various competitions, including Turncoat Debate, Extempore Writing, Installation, and the much-anticipated Shakespeare Duologue – Bards Banter. The day concluded with a felicitation ceremony at Hotel Shikarbadi, where Mr. Pramod Sharma, Chairman of the IPSC Trust, awarded prizes to outstanding participants.
Bards Banter – Shakespeare Duologue Winners:
- Best National Team: Sunbeam School, Varanasi (Saraswati Keshari and Sakshi Mehta)
- National First Runner-Up: Palzor Girls’ School, Gangtok, Sikkim (Anisha Manger and Vanshika Chhetri)
- National Second Runner-Up: Modern School, Barakhamba Road, Delhi (Anana Sinha and Nargis Malhotra)
- Critics’ Choice Award: Delhi Public School, Sector 45, Gurugram (Ojasya Chugh and Ayushman Chaudhary)
- Best Performances: Agrata Joshi (Rajkumar College, Rajkot), Nayomi Menaria (St. Anthony’s, Udaipur), Navya Sharma (Neerja Modi, Udaipur)
The Tipping Point – Creative Writing and Visual Art Installation Winners:
- Best National Team: Mayo College Girls’ School, Ajmer (Sehaj Sanghera and Amayra Arora)
- National First Runner-Up: Singapore International School, Mumbai (Riya Sawant and Ivana Bandopadhyay)
- National Second Runner-Up: Punjab Public School, Nabha (Anya Bath and Manteshwar Singh Ranu)
- Critics’ Choice Award: La Martiniere College, Lucknow (Darryl James Rogers and Aaron Stephen D’Costa)
- Best Written Piece: The Indian School, Delhi (Ashmin Malhotra and Dipanshi Moitra)
Day Two Debates
On the second day, participants engaged in multi-format debates, culminating in a grand closing ceremony at the historic Khush Mahal, Udaipur. Dr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Trustee of Vidya Dan Trust, addressed the participants, encouraging them to pursue their intellectual goals with determination.
Plurilogues (Multi-Format Debates) Winners:
- Overall Championship and Best National Team: Modern School, Barakhamba Road, Delhi (Zara Javed, Siya Gupta, Ahana Sinha, and Nargis Malhotra)
- National First Runner-Up: Sunbeam School, Varanasi (Samridhi Agarwal, Ayaan Mehta, Sakshi Mehta, and Saraswati Keshari)
- Joint Third Place: Punjab Public School, Nabha (Aakash Veer Singh Sandhu, Kudrat Kaur Rai, and Anya Bath), Mayo College Girls’ School, Ajmer (Arna Jaiswal, Anika Singh, and Amayra Arora), Maharana Mewar Public School (Audad Ahmed, Salma Afreen Hussain, and Diya Soni)
Special Recognitions:
- Best Research Team: Seedling Modern Public School, Udaipur (Shoaib Biverwala, Aanchal Bedi, and Anurag Singh Rao)
- Best Speech Coordination and Synergy: Rajkumar College, Rajkot (Soumya Panjwani, Agrata Joshi, and Zeel Selarka)
- Best Speakers, Turncoat Debate: Anika Singh (Mayo College Girls, Ajmer), Asmita Sharma (Paljor Namgyal Girls School, Sikkim), Advika Singh (Heritage Girls School, Udaipur)
- Best Speakers, Extempore: Soumya Panjwani (Rajkumar College, Rajkot), Monal Bhatia (St. Anthony’s, Udaipur), Ashmin Malhotra (The Indian School, Delhi)
Closing Panel Discussion
At the closing, a panel discussion led by event curator Mr. Parnab Mukherjee on “Skills for Children of Tomorrow” was held. Mr. Pramod Sharma and Dr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar emphasized the importance of critical thinking, social awareness, and creativity in shaping the future of young minds.
This conclave stood not just as a competition, but as a celebration of intellectual curiosity, dialogue, and critical thinking. The MMPS Golden Jubilee Debates and Critical Thinking Conclave will continue to serve as an inspiration for the younger generation in the years to come.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
