Jesus & Mary College New Delhi

English Debating Society

NAME OF THE SOCIETY: The English Debating and Declamation Society, Jesus and Mary College

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About Society

The JMC Debating and Declamation Society (EDS) is a vibrant intellectual hub where students converge to engage deeply with pressing societal issues through rigorous debate and discussion. It serves as an inclusive space where diverse perspectives intertwine, fostering a culture of critical thinking, respectful dialogue, and the cultivation of well-informed opinions. At EDS, we firmly believe that debating is an inclusive activity open to anyone with a willingness to think critically and engage constructively. Our society provides a supportive environment where members develop essential skills in public speaking, research, and the art of persuasion. Through frequent mock debates, training sessions, competitive events, and non-competitive open-mic forums, we aim to nurture a robust debating culture that transcends mere argumentation to embrace the exploration of complex ideas and viewpoints.

The recruitment process for EDS is rigorous, ensuring that new members possess not only the aptitude and interest in debating but also a commitment to the values of intellectual inquiry and respectful discourse. Candidates undergo interviews and group discussions to assess their suitability, contributing to the society's intellectual diversity and growth.

Since the University reopened in the physical mode in 2022, the society has energetically hosted a series of engaging competitions, tailored for both its members and the wider student body of the college. These events have served as pivotal opportunities for participants to sharpen their debating skills, exchange ideas, and foster camaraderie among peers passionate about intellectual discourse.

A highlight event of the Society is the prestigious Natasha Ranjit Memorial Debate (NRMD) tournament, hosted yearly in April – May in the Asian Parliamentary Debate format. This national tournament is conducted in-person and attracts participation from students of various institutions across the country. In 2023, the NRMD was successfully relaunched in the physical mode after the disruptions brought by the pandemic. NRMD 2023 saw the enthusiastic participation of 20 external teams. In 2024, NRMD was held from April 2nd to 4th, 2024. It was widely acclaimed in the national debating circuit for its quality, excellent management and prompt disbursal of cash prizes and honorariums. The competition not only showcased the prowess of debaters from diverse institutions but also underscored EDS's role in promoting excellence and a healthy debating culture within the debating circuit.

RECENT ACHIEEMENTS

In 2023-24:

Shri Ram College of Commerce’s Gambit Freshers’ Debate 2023: Shireen Peter, Dhwanee Goyal and Anahita qualified as Octofinalist as a team in the tournament.

IIT Dhanbad (ISM)’s Parlance 2023: Shreya Singh, Daksayani Chandra and Akshita Kumari emerged as Semi-Finalist and broke 3 ^rd on tabs in the Novice Category.

Satyam Jha Memorial Pro-Am 2023:Anahita, in a cross team, emerged as Runners Up and also was the 2 ^nd Best Am Speaker at the tournament.

Kirori Mal College Freshers’ Parliamentary Debate 2023 : Dhwanee broke as an adjudicator and was on the judge panel for Pre-semis and Semi-Finals.

NIT Kurukshetra’s Confluence 2023: Darshika Gautam secured 1 ^st position in a Convention Debate competition which was followed by an Oxford format of debating.

Indian Women and Gender Minority Debate Tournament 2023: Irene Mariam was the 9 ^th Best Novice Speaker at the tournament.

Shivaji College’s Parliamentary Debate 2024: Shireen Peter broke as an adjudicator and was on the judge panel for Novice Semi-Finals.

Vivatam by Ramjas Economics Society 2024: Devakshi Sansanwal secured the 1 ^st position in the competition which had 3 rounds consisting of a Quiz, Conventional Debate and an Asian Parliamentary Debate round.

Vaagyudh Parliamentary Debate 2024: Irene Mariam and Nakshatra, in a cross team, emerged as Novice Semi-Finalist and broke 1 ^st in the Novice Category at the tournament.

Aatma Ram Sanatan Dharma College’s Ehasas Parliamentary Debate 2024: Shireen broke as an adjudicator was on the Novice Semi-Finals panel.

Xavier’s Parliamentary Debate 2024: Irene Mariam and Nakshatra broke 1 ^st on tabs in the Novice Category and emerged as the Novice Semi-Finalist.

Ramjas College’s Polemic 2024: Shreya Singh emerged as the 5 ^th Best Adjudicator at the tournament and was in the panel of Open Grand Finals.

Kamla Nehru College’s Munaazrah 2024: Irene Mariam, in a cross team emerged as the Novice Finals Runners Ups and was the 11 ^th Best Novice Speaker. Additionally, Dhwanee Goyal was a part of the tabbing team at the tournament.

College of Vocational Studies’s Mukhtalif 2024: Dhwanee Goyal held a part of the tabbing team at the tournament.

In 2022-23:

Satyam Jha Memorial Pro-Am 2023, St. Stephen’s College: Nandini Dube broke as an adjudicator at the British Parliamentary tournament.

Indian Oil Corporation Limited sponsored Conventional Debate Competition: Aakarshi Srivastava won the Best Interjector and Adamya Raj won the 2 ^nd Best Interjector. Harrgun Kohli and Simran Swaika were the first and second Runners Up at the competition.

Kamla Nehru College’s Munaazrah 2023:Nandini Dube and Srushti Sharma, as a part of a cross team, broke 7 ^th on tabs.

College of Vocational Studies’s Mukhtalif 2023: Dhwanee Goyal broke 12 ^th on tabs as an adjudicator and was on the Novice Finals judge panel.

Mumbai Speech and Debate League 2023: Dhwanee Goyal broke as an adjudicator and turned out to be the 4 ^th Best Adjudicator at the tournament.

Maitreyi College’s Conventional Debate “Adamya 4.0”: Snehil Smriti bagged the 1 ^st prize at this competition.

Shyam Lal College’s “Extemporaneous – 22”: Snehil Smriti won the 3 ^rd prize at the conventional debate competition.

COMPETITIONS AND TOURNAMENTS HELD IN ACADEMIC YEAR 2023-24

· Conventional Debate for Freshers 2023 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Shahid Bhagat Singh – organized in collaboration with the Department of History, JMC

· Conventional Debate to mark Vigilance Week, organized in collaboration with Hindi Debating Society, JMC – supported by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)

· Natasha Ranjit Memorial Parliamentary Debate Tournament 2024

COMPETITIONS AND TOURNAMENTS HELD IN ACADEMIC YEAR 2022-23

Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) Debate 2022
Open-mic on "Continuing Legacies of the Revolutionary Freedom Movement: From the North-East to the North-West, From Hijam Irabot to Bhagat Singh"
Conventional Debate for Freshers 2022
Natasha Ranjit Memorial Parliamentary Debate Tournament 2023